Independente Bica

Beautiful hotel in a great location, but the hotel doesn‘t fulfill its full potential unfortunately due to a lack of effort from the staff. It‘s the little things that matter: When the electricity partly didn‘t work in our room (the light in the entrance area could not be switched off; some light switches were not working), the first response from the receptionist was more than unsatisfactory. She said we should have notified the reception in the morning already (although it was 6 pm and we had only arrived 1-2 hours prior); then - when the maintenance team wasn‘t available anymore - she said we should just spend the night without proper electricity. Only when we said we wanted a room change she said she would ask the hotel manager for approval. We then got a new room - but one that was already occupied, so we surprised a man in his underwear. No one even thougut of apologizing. The receptionist rather found the mistake by her colleague quite amusing. Also when you enter the lobby don‘t even expect anyone from the staff to say hello to you. Big exception: The restaurant staff (during breakfast) was very friendly.

Location absolutely perfect. Right in the centre. And also conveniently close to the metro and train station. The breakfast was also outstanding. The staff were very polite. The room itself was my least favourite part. It was perfectly adequate but there was nowhere to sit during the day except the bed. The room is spacious enough to add a chair. The WiFi also cut out a few times during my last evening but only very briefly. What bothered me the most was the room temperature. It was definitely on the warm side and the thermostat didn't seem to be of use.

Breakfast was wonderful. Location was fabulous. Right near transportation center, many restaurants and Time Out Market. But the highlight was the staff. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful with a shout out to Anna, Paola, and Gui. And all the breakfast staff. Will definitely be returning.

The room is so cute! I liked having a balcony room. They offer room service for a fee. There’s an elevator. Note that the check in desk is basically in the restaurant of the hotel. Strong WiFi so I could work remote. The breakfast is amazing. They have buffet style, but then you also get a selection of one main food from a menu.

We loved our stay at Independente Bica, and I would absolutely love to visit again. The bedroom was small but comfortable, and I loved how the bar/restaurant area was decorated so much that I want to recreate it in my own house. The staff were friendly and the breakfast was great. The location is fantastic. Close to a main train station so easy to get to and from the airport, but we walked pretty much everywhere during our stay. Even though we visited several areas of the city, many of our favourite bars and restaurants were just a few minutes walk from the hotel. I'd recommend Cosmo, just further along the street, for a special dinner or a nice cocktail.