Belmond Copacabana Palace

The Fasano is legendary designer Philippe Starck’s first venture into Brazil, a striking 5* contemporary hotel that rises above the golden sands of Ipanama beach. Inspired by the 1950’s golden age of bossa nova, the hotel blends an eclectic mix of styles and materials from native tropical woods, Grecian marble and industrial brick work yet still feels typically Brazilian. The in-house Gero restaurant is among the best in Rio and delivers exquisite Italian dishes while other facilities inc...

The PortoBay Rio Internacional is no great thing of beauty but it is the pick of Rio’s mid-range option – warm, friendly, excellent value for money and unsurpassed views across Copacabana beach! The rooms are comfortable, many with balconies or verandahs overlooking the sand; La Finestre restaurant delivers delicious international dishes and there are good facitlites throughout. Guests can relax on the beach with total peace of mind at PortoBay’s own designated stretch of sa...

A welcome alternative to Rio’s high-rise towers, the Santa Teresa is a charming boutique hotel and once historic coffee plantation house perched in the hills above the city. Lovingly restored, the hotel is light and airy and recaptures its former elegance. Polished hardwood floors and hand-painted tiles combine beautifully with the warm décor and original Brazilian artwork and handicrafts. Outside, tropical gardens echo with birdsong and afford captivating views over Santa Teresa and the d...

The Hotel Arena Copacabana is a more recent addition to Copacabana, a comfortable 4* hotel with good facilities and breathtaking views across the golden expanse of the beach. Although admittedly “cosy”, the rooms are simple, light and airy and we highly recommend upgrading to the “ocean-front” category for the sweeping ocean vistas. Rio has no shortage of dining options but the Arena’s in-house Otaviano restaurant is an excellent starting point coupled of course ...

Janeiro epitomises urban chic, a contemporary hotel, launched in 2018 and which marks a first collaboration between the local hotelier Carlos Werneck and fashion designer Oskar Metsavaht to create that perfect marriage between city and nature based on sustainable materials. Indeed, the façade sets the town nicely with clean, unfussy lines while inside sleek, open spaces are dressed with warm freijo wood timbers, soft furnishings and rattan furniture – “textures from the beach: sand, ...

The Hotel Windsor Martinique may not be the flashest hotel in the city – originally 2 separate buildings that were patched together – but its location is ideal and it is excellent value for money, a comfortable and relatively inexpensive base from which to explore the city. The staff are friendly, professional and happy to help organise excursions to the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain or to the iconic Sugar Loaf.