This is going to be my one and only review for Rio because it is the only place where the staff and owner were friendly towards me as a visitor and as a client.

A rather small discreet gateway off the street. Followng my theory of always trying to look like a local (it saves the hassle of getting mugged), I actually gave directions to another guy who was looking for the place as I was standing around the corner finishing a cigarette before I went in.

Nicely laid out with all the facilities you woudl expect including masseurs etc. The 'bar' area seems to serve as a 'club' for the regulars

The sauna was scorching both temperature-wise and with the action that occured from time to time, the steam room was steamy and hot for the same reasons.

The towels are a bit small, unless you ask for a big one (!!you will need a good phrasebook while you are in Rio), as it happened after about 30 minutes in one of the cubicles someone took mine as it was drier than theirs (at least I think it was the towel he was talking about), and I ended up with his which was a larger towel tha I started out with!

Upstairs (when are they going to start putting chairlifts in these places), is another sitting area and a nice little cruising area around a corridor, this has cubicles off it and a 'dim corner' where tings seems to kick off before they move on...If you see what I mean.

It seems they are a bit better at using condoms in Rio these days, having read reports elsewhere that they don't...Certainly there were used ones in the bins in the cubicles (which could have done with an empty out by the way), I didn't look but I think you must have to get them from reception unless you are going to walk around with a packet of them slung around your neck, but this is the same in Peru and Chile.....

Put this on the recommended list.....