I've been there more times than you can count.
The big problem is that Benfica is not the nicest or safest of bairros. Within spitting distance of Sao Januario, the home stadium for Vasco football club here. One of my friends here was the national champion in the butterfly for Brasil and came up in their swimming program.
The fruit, vegetable, foodstuffs, plant and flower vendors close between 9AM and Noon pretty much. Then it turns into a yuppie dining place. The 472 and 474 buses stop within a block of the front doors. The Triagem metro stop is about a three block walk. This walk is definitely not for the first-time visitor to Rio de Janeiro, except for the adventure tourist.