Ipanema (Arpoador end)

Fasano Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★

The Fasano is the hotel that made Ipanema the most fashionable place to stay in Rio. It belongs to the Fasano family, whose name has stood for Italian food and sophisticated hospitality in Sao Paulo for generations, and it was the first project in Brazil by the French designer Philippe Starck, who took his inspiration from Brazilian design of the 1950s and 1960s and the bossa nova era: warm woods, leather, vintage furniture, mirrors and a palette of soft neutrals. The hotel stands on Avenida Vieira Souto at number 80, on the seafront at the Arpoador end of Ipanema, so the beach is just across the road and the Arpoador rock, with its famous sunsets, is a few minutes on foot. There are 89 rooms in five categories, many with balconies facing the ocean. The signature feature is on the roof: an infinity pool on the eighth floor that looks along the whole length of Ipanema to the twin peaks of Dois Irmaos, and across to Arpoador and Corcovado, with a pool bar serving light meals, juices and cocktails that is reserved for hotel guests. On the ground floor, Gero Rio serves classic Italian cooking in the Fasano tradition and is one of the most reliable fine-dining rooms in the South Zone, and the Fasano Caffe serves breakfast. The Fasano Spa offers holistic treatments, and the fitness centre has personal trainers. The hotel has thoughtful extras for a beach city: complimentary surfboards for guests, bicycles arranged through the concierge, and an electric vehicle charging point. Service is polished and discreet, and the hotel attracts a stylish international and Brazilian crowd, especially at weekends and in the summer season.

Choosing a room: ocean-facing rooms are worth the premium, because the view of Ipanema from the balconies is spectacular, and the higher floors give the widest panorama towards Dois Irmaos. City-facing rooms are quieter and less expensive but lose much of the magic. Suites add space for longer stays. If you are visiting in the peak season from December to March or at New Year and Carnival, book early.

What the stay is like: days are spent between the beach across the road and the rooftop pool, evenings at Gero or in the restaurants of Ipanema and Leblon a short walk away. The location is excellent for the best of the South Zone: Arpoador for sunset, Ipanema's boutiques and juice bars, the Lagoa and the Botanical Garden a short ride inland, and the metro at General Osorio for trips to the centre. The beach in front of the hotel, near Posto 7 and Arpoador, is popular with surfers and families.

Who it suits: couples, design lovers and travellers who want style, a great pool and Ipanema on the doorstep. The trade-offs are rooms that are elegant rather than large, a rooftop that can feel busy in high season, and prices at the top of the Rio market. For a beach-focused, stylish stay, it is the benchmark. Book well ahead for New Year and Carnival, when minimum stays apply, and ask for a high-floor ocean room when you reserve.