4 Best Hotels in Ipanema and Leblon, Rio de Janeiro

The Italian-owned Fasano Group is renowned for its stylish, elegant hotels and restaurants, and Fasano Rio has the added glamour of having been crafted by the French designer Philippe Starck. The location, in front of Ipanema Beach, could not be better, and the building's understated facade masks a wealth of quirky style inside; unique touches abound, but the real star of the show is the white-marble plunge pool on the rooftop terrace.

Formerly known as the Marina All Suites, this intimate beachfront hotel was redesigned in 2018 by eco warrior and founder of fashion brand Osklen as an ode to Carioca style. Expect spectacular ocean views from the soft-toned suites and a hip local crowd who flit between the first-floor restaurant and cocktail bar, and the ground-floor beach-bar, which acts as an extension of Leblon’s golden sands.

Between the upmarket neighborhoods of São Conrado and Leblon, this hotel has the most spacious leisure area in the city, with three pools, two tennis courts, and a children's playground; this is the only hotel in Rio with a "private" beach. Rooms are tastefully decorated, and all have balconies with sea views, although some are very limited.

Another of Rio's tall, slender hotels, this one has a great location at the eastern end of Ipanema Beach between Rua Vinicius de Moraes and Farme de Amoedo. Though it isn't luxurious, the hotel has comfortable accommodations with crisp, clean, and modern interiors. Deluxe front rooms have panoramic beach views, and back rooms from the eighth floor up have views of the lagoon and Corcovado.