15 Best Hotels in Minas Gerais, Brazil

In a beautiful 19th-century building, this hotel feels like a bed-and-breakfast, with elegant yet comfortable decor, quiet floors, and well-appointed guest rooms. An intimate atmosphere and the world-class Senhora do Rosário restaurant are among the draws. When you're not exploring the town, have a swim in the luxurious hilltop pool or stop by the atrium for afternoon tea. The hotel even has a section of the mine, discovered during renovations, that originally was on this site. Ask for a room on the first floor; rooms by the garden can be noisy and lack privacy.

On a main city avenue, close to Savassi and not far from central Belo Horizonte, the Mercure is popular with executives, artists, and athletes. The hotel was recently renovated and now has modern, comfortable rooms. The restaurant's menu includes French, Italian, and international dishes. There's also a small café and souvenir shop with items made in Minas Gerais.

A favorite of well-off Brazilian honeymooners, the palatial Ouro Minas has rooms with large beds and well-appointed bathrooms. The largest of the three presidential suites occupies more than 300 square meters (3,229 square feet). Hydromassage bathtubs, CD players, a pool with waterfalls, a menu of 10 different kinds of pillows, and a multilingual staff are among the many amenities not found in most other Belo Horizonte lodgings. Despite its location, farther away fom the center, this hotel is closer to the attractions around Pampulha.

This intimate hotel in a 1747 merchant's mansion has period furnishings, gorgeous veranda and dining room (where an exceptional mineiran breakfast is served), and one-hour city tours given in a 1930s minibus. It sits next to the Igreja de São Francisco de Assis and opposite the soapstone market. Mondego is part of a Brazil boutique hotel network, so expect the same modern conveniences you'd get at a high-class hotel.

In every respect—from the stunning antiques to the comfortable beds to the elegant place settings—this inn is a faithful example of regional style. The gardens are beautiful and the pool area is stunning. The hotel serves an afternoon tea with a selection of cakes and breads baked on-site. With sufficient notice, the English owner and his Brazilian wife can arrange historical, botanical, and ecological tours on foot or horseback. This hotel is located right next to the bus station and it is just a stone's throw from all the action, but far enough to provide a good rest and relaxation.

The area's best hotel has dozens of activities for adults and children; right next to a river, it sits amid some of the country's most beautiful nature. The rooms have king-size beds and views of the forest.

The lobby of this centrally located hotel, one of the city's oldest, is often crowded with conventioneers. Rooms are clean and in fine working order, but are inexpensively furnished and outdated style-wise. Ask for one of the refurbished rooms on the higher floors. There is a small rooftop pool and bar with great views of the city.

Designed by the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer and Ouro Preto's premier modernist structure, the Grande is, as its name suggests, one of the city's largest hotels by overall size. It is a curving two-story building on concrete pillars; the hotel is immense by local standards, though room sizes are comparable to those at other lodgings. All the suites have views of the historic center; the other rooms look out on the garden. If you've ever wanted to stay in a piece of art, this is your chance, but don't expect attentive service or modern facilities such as strong Wi-Fi.

Across from the Parque das Águas, this luxury hotel has its own pools, fountains, and mineral waters, as well as games rooms and tennis courts. The rooms are large and airy; ask for a room with a park view.

Oscar Niemeyer designed the sleek structure that houses this historic-district inn as a present to former Brazilian president Juscelino Kubitschek. The rooms are huge and have interesting furniture that does justice to Niemeyer's interior design.

Its central location, elegance, and warmth place this hotel above others in its price range. It's an old but well-maintained hotel with polished hardwood floors, local artworks, and large bathrooms with bathtubs. The Wi-Fi is free and reliable. The rooftop bar, next to the pool, is the perfect spot for an afternoon drink. Rooms at the front of the hotel have balconies overlooking the avenue and rooms on higher floors are quieter.

A neat and comfortable budget option, the Ibis has spacious rooms with white oak furniture and large beds. It has all the modern amenities and its staff is well trained and professional. The hotel, which hosts numerous conventions, is in the backyard of an old mansion that has been well maintained, and is close to the Praça da Liberdade and the city's best museums.

Across from beautiful and exotic Parque Municipal, the Othon Palace has comfortable rooms with incredible city and park views. Despite the slightly dated decor, rooms are large and relaxing. The rooftop pool and bar are among the best in town, and the on-site Restaurante Varandão is very good.

Near the main churches and museums and the prime shopping area, this pousada occupies an elegant house. The breakfast is lavish and delicious, as is the afternoon tea. The most tranquil rooms are in the back, but their views aren't as good. One of the suites has a hydromassage bathtub.

The wonderful Pousada Minas Gerais occupies a new building that replicates Ouro Preto's colonial exteriors. All rooms are enormous, with sweeping views of the countryside, beautiful king-size beds, flat-screen TVs, and marble bathrooms. This is the perfect choice for vacationers seeking amenities like fluffy robes and potent hair dryers, but business travelers will find their needs met, too. Three luxury suites have whirlpool bathtubs.