Hotel Fasano

With its cool-as-a-breeze rooftop pool and bar (with views both of the Christ and the whole sweep of Ipanema Beach), expanses of glass, billowing Philippe Starck drapes and swinging 1960s London-meets-Tropicalia lounge bar, Fasano is the hippest hotel on Rio’s hippest beach – Ipanema.

Its shorefront location is unbeatable, its restaurant is a destination in itself, and its guest list twinkles with the rich and famous. Long, thin rooms in dark woods, creams and light yellows have designer flourishes (organic Dali mirrors, Eames chairs) but book one at the front of the hotel – it’s the ocean-from-the-bed views that have the real wow factor.