The best hotels near Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro
An expert guide to the best Rio de Janeiro hotels near Ipanema Beach, including the top places to stay for rooms with sea views, swimming pools, stylish cocktail bars, pampering spas and excellent restaurants, near Copacabana, Rua Visconde de Piraja and Leblon.
The Sofitel group has created the sort of easygoing place Rio’s sassiest neighbourhood has always deserved. It's right on the beachfront road between lifeguard towers nine and 10; this is the heart and soul of Ipanema, where TV stars, former international footballers and teenagers alike mingle freely. Beachside service means you don’t have to fight for a deck chair and there's complimentary water and fresh fruit, but it will be a struggle to leave behind the luxurious pool area and its new bar, complete with views along the beach to Dois Irmaos mountain.
• The best five-star hotels in Rio de Janeiro
The Fasano has usurped the Copacabana Palace as the A-listers’ Rio stay of choice, bringing a much-needed touch of contemporary cool to Ipanema's hotel scene. If the hotel's understated luxury isn’t reason enough to justify the price tag, then its prime location in the heart of affluent Zona Sul and on the boundary of the wonderful Arpoador and Ipanema beaches will. Entry to the guest-only, open-air infinity pool is so sought-after that São Paulo's high-flyers book rooms on weekends just for a Saturday afternoon's lounging across the state border.
• Where to stay: the best hotels in Rio by district
This establishment occupies an unusual place in the Rio hotel scene: a boutique hotel in the heart of trendy Ipanema that won’t blow your budget. The family that have owned the hotel since 1976 have updated it using high quality materials, smooth wood, highlights of colour and classic pieces like Anglepoise lamps. For a small hotel, Ipanema Inn's restaurant, Quitéria, has grand ambitions. In the hands of Argentinean chef Christian Garcia, it uses local and seasonal to produce sophisticated and elegant dishes. The duplex suite is like having your own a mini penthouse one block back from the beach.
• The best luxury hotels in Rio de Janeiro
The Mar Ipanema is an unfancy little hotel on Ipanema’s main drag. With simple bedrooms, a small roof terrace and a partnership with the next-door restaurant, it covers the basics well, providing a good jumping off point for those wanting to explore the city. Bedrooms here are pretty no-frills, though you can expect big clean white towels, a small selection of toiletries and perfectly comfortable beds, but overall functionality trumps luxury. The hotel has standard triple rooms – a good option for families or groups of travellers on a budget.
This is a world away from Rio’s laid-back, beach-cool image – a haven of monochrome minimalism and sophistication. It's located where Ipanema and Copacabana meet, in a prime spot for exploring those beaches and neighbouring areas. The hotel is Fifty Shades of White with a touch of the Devil Wears Prada: runway videos play in reception and arty shots of moody models hang on the walls. Each room has its own tall white column lamp, inspired by a Coelho dress, and the baths are contemporary curved tubs in glossy white with standalone taps.
