Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
INFORMATION AND TOURS
Tourist information
You'll be able to get some limited
information from the tourist of
ce in the centre of town
on Rua Voluntarios da Patria close to
Pousada Ecoverde
(see below), on the corner with Rua Ricardo Franco (in
theory, daily 8am-6pm;
T
65 3613 9302).
ACCOMMODATION
With the rodoviária relatively close by, most people prefer to stay in or near the busy
city centre
, where there's a good
range of accommodation options. There are also numerous two- and three-star hotels around the
airport
and on the way
into town.
Amazon Plaza
Av Getúlio Vargas 600
T
65 2121 2000,
W
hotelamazon.com.br.
This is one of the smartest and
most comfortable downtown options. Rooms are large
with TV and a/c, and there's a small pool and garden
patio-
bar. Breakfasts are fantastic and the service is good.
R$440
★
with private showers, TVs and a/c. Directly
oppos
ite is a
popular local lunch spot,
Emporio Alimentos
.
R$130
Mato Grosso Palace
Rua Joaquim Murtinho 170
T
65
3614 7000,
W
hotelmatogrosso.com.br.
This modern
hotel is situated in a grand building behind the Palácio
Instrução. It has excellent service and pleasant enough
rooms, some with good views. Unfortunat
ely the
re's no
pool, but there is a new, fully equipped gym.
R$160
★
7
Deville
Av Isaac Póvoas 1000
T
65 3319 3000,
W
deville.com.br.
A five-star hotel, at the top of its range,
with 182 rooms, an elegant high-ceilinged lobby, Arctic-
strength a/c, pool, gym, games room and a decent
restaurant serving Brazilian buffet food as well as à la carte.
There's also a separate spa - it's not technically part of the
hotel, but is open to guests. N
ote that
weekday rates may
be up to R$60 more expensive.
R$189
Hostel Pantanal
Av Isaac Póvoas 655
T
65 3624 8999,
W
portaldopantanal.com.br.
Linked to Youth Hostelling
International, this place has all the usual facilities, plus
internet access and a communal kitchen. Rooms are mostly
dorms, though some private doubles are available at a
higher cost; the Beija Flor private room has colourful
murals of local flora and fa
una. T
The hostel
also of
rganizes
trips to the Pantanal. Dorms
R$56
; doubles
R$96
Mato Grosso
Rua Comandante Costa 643
T
65 3614
7777.
Within three blocks of Praça da República, this place
has decent breakfasts and offers excellent-value rooms
Pousada Ecoverde
Rua Pedro Celestino 391, Centro
T
65 3624 1386,
T
65 9605 5406,
W
ecoverdetours.com
.br.
This lovely
pousada
is based in a safe, self-contained
colonial house with patio and rear gardens, right at the
heart of the old city centre. It has six rooms, all with fans.
Bathrooms are shared, but there are four of them and
they're kept clean. There's also a good reference library, a
rest area with shade and hammocks, laundry and cooking
facilities, as well as links to one of the best Pantanal tour
operators
(see b
ox, p.473). Breakfasts are stupendous and
very fresh.
R$60
Samara
Rua Joaquim Murtinho 270
T
65 3322 6001.
A
rather dingy but friendly and clean hotel that's a good
option if other budget places are full. All of the rooms have
private bathrooms and you can
choose
between a/c or fan
(the latter is obviously cheaper).
R$90
EATING
Cuiabá has a surprising range of cuisine and some excellent restaurants, although you'll find almost everything closed on
Sundays
. Some of the best restaurants are listed below, but for cheaper eating and
lanches
there are plenty of places in
the area around
Praça Alencastro
, at the north end of Travessa João Dias near Rua Comandante Costa, and in the
shopping zone between
Rua Pedro Celestino
and
Rua Galdino Pimentel
.
★
Choppão
Praça 8 de Abril, Goiabeiras
T
65 3623 9101,
W
choppao.com.br.
Probably the best and most traditional
restaurant-bar in the city centre,
Choppão
is very lively in the
evening, with lots of tables in a big corner space and some
outside where there is occasionally street entertainment. They
serve traditional
escaldo
(egg- and fish-based soup) along
with beer and have some fascinating historical photos on the
walls.
Mon-Sat 11am-3pm & 6pm-midnight.
Getúlio Grill
Av Getúlio Vargas 1147
T
65 3624 9992,
W
getuliogrill.com.br.
A bar, restaurant and club in one,
Gétulio Grill
is popular with twenty- and thirty-something
locals. Typical meat and fish dishes at the restaurant come
in big portions, and the bar has outdoor seating where you
can watch the cream of Cuiabá cruise by in their dream
wagons.
Tues-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm & 5.30pm-2am,
Sat & Sun 11.30am-4pm.
Mana Bar
Rua Pedro Celestino 119,
T
65 9239 6032.
Enjoy
inexpensive food and drinks, and occasional live
Brazilian music, in this modest but inviting place - as good
as any to meet the local people. One of the few inexpensive
spots open on Sundays.
Daily 12-2.30pm & 7-10pm.
★
Mistura Cuiabana
Rua Pedro Celestino 8.
In the
refreshingly cool interior of an airy colonial mansion at the
heart of the city, this is a popular lunchtime restaurant with
excellent hearty and healthy self-service
comida por quilo
.
Very good value.
Mon-Fri 11am-3pm.
