Fasano Rio

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Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

50s style meets Noughties chic: this 92-room addition to the Fasano dynasty is set to shake up Rio's hotel scene

Recommended, awaiting i-escape visit

OVERVIEW

Elegant, understated and fabulous: three words that sum up the Fasano hotel, which has lifted Rio's stylish Ipanema district after much hype. Sister hotel to the supremely classy Fasano in São Paolo, this is owner Rogério Fasano's 14th business venture, sitting alongside the hotel and 12 top-notch restaurants. It looks like it's living up to the Fasano reputation – and it's what Rio's been crying out for. Designed by Philippe Starck, the 82 rooms and 10 suites are a decadent blend of period furniture and cool contemporary style. Rich hardwoods sit alongside Art Deco lamps, marble bathrooms and quirky fittings; the beds have 300 thread-count Egyptian linens and plump goose-down pillows. What's more, each room has a private balcony, most overlooking the clear Atlantic Ocean.

Spend a few day lazing by the rooftop infinity pool and admiring the panoramic view, or wander down to the golden beach, where Rio's bronzed and beautiful strut their stuff in tiny swimwear. Then when you're suitably relaxed, slip on your complimentary Havaianas and explore: Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Mountain) and Corcovado are nearby, and there's a wealth of designer shops to explore. After sundown, chill out at a beach bar, heat up at one of Rio's über-trendy nightclubs or have an unforgettable meal at the Fansano Al Mare Restaurant.

HIGHS

Knowing you're staying in what promises to be the best hotel in Rio
The rooftop infinity pool, which overlooks the city, the ocean and Dois Irmãos
Strolling out of the door, straight onto the beach
A rooftop bar – the perfect place to sip a Caipirinha as the sun goes down
The décor: a sumptuous mix of 1950s furniture and 2007 chic
Londra – the super-cool lounge bar – is hot-spot for Brazilian celebs

LOWS

The Superior rooms are on the small side – if you're going to splash out, do it in style and upgrade to a Suite
At this end of Ipanema, you're close to the Copacabana Beach, which some say has had its day
The street in front of the hotel is a bit noisy - but hey, you're in Rio, baby!
There are no bathtubs, although the Suites have Jacuzzis
Breakfast is not included

ROOMS

The 82 rooms and 10 suites are beautifully designed and full of character. Parquet floors and whitewashed walls show off period furniture and original artwork from the 50s and 60s, and the mod cons you'd expect from a luxury hotel blend in seamlessly. The beds are kingsize – loaded with crisp white linen and mounds of goose-down pillows – and the walk-in showers overlook the Atlantic Ocean. The attention to detail is first-rate: fluffy white dressing gowns and complimentary WiFi. There's even a butler service for that extra degree of luxury.

Most rooms are Superior or Twin, but although these are the cheapest rooms, they're by no means spartan. Each has a dark-wood desk and retro leather armchair, as well as sliding French doors onto its private terrace.

The Ocean Deluxe rooms are more spacious, with fantastic sea views, while the Suites have separate living areas, 2 bathrooms, jacuzzis and walk-in closets. However, the supersize Deluxe Suites are the pièce de resistance – almost five times the size of the Superior rooms, with their own private bar and a panoramic view of the ocean.

EATING

Fasano is a name that's synonymous with gourmet cuisine – in São Paolo, their Italian restaurant is booked days in advance, and is often referred to as "the best restaurant in South America". It's not just the food that's fabulous though; the über-cool Fasano restaurants are places to rub shoulders with the city's movers and shakers.

The Fasano Al Mare Restaurant serves Italian cuisine with a seafood twist: think raviolo stuffed with fresh fish in a white wine sauce or risotto with saffron and rock lobster, as well as very high-quality steak tartare. The wine list is endless, the service promises to be impeccable.

Breakfast is also served in the Al Mare Restaurant, which seems wonderfully serene without the night-time bustle. See Cost and Booking for details.

The Rooftop Bar is open all day, serving a mix of hot and cold light meals and freshly squeezed tropical fruit juices. The panoramic view makes it a great place to eat lunch or to enjoy sundowners and late-night cocktails.

If you'd prefer to eat on your terrace (or stay curled up in bed with a DVD!), room service has an extensive menu, serving everything from burgers to a la carte meals from the Al Mare Restaurant.

There are also several excellent restaurants within walking distance, in both Ipanema and Copacabana. Alessandro and Frederico R Garcia D’Avila are both very good for brunch, salads and pastas plus alfresco dining. If you’re into ice cream, swing by bijou Mil Frutas in the same street for dessert.

ACTIVITIES

Lie on the beach at Ipanema and watch beautiful Brazilians play volleyball and parade up and down
Learn to water ski; the hotel can arrange a variety of watersports
Soak up the sun on the rooftop terrace of the hotel – its infinity pool has staggering views of the city and Dois Irmãos
Go and see the enormous Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer statue) – either catch the train up the steep hills or go in a private taxi. The views from the top are incredible, as is the size of the statue itself (30m)
Buy a suitcase and fill it with new clothes – the designer shops on Rua Prudente de Morais and Rua Visconde de Piraja are fantastic, and there's a hippy market on Sundays
Take in some live samba and forro (a native Brazilian dance) at Rio Scenarium and Carioca de Gema in Lapa. Locals flock there at weekends and the atmosphere is carnival-esque
Visit the Instituto Moreira Salles, a former private residence with landscaped gardens which now houses 19th and 20th century photographic exhibitions, rotating exhibits of contemporary Brazilian artists. Closed Mondays
Take the cable car up Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Mountain) and look over Rio from a different angle
Get a taxi to Rio’s old town and the bohemian hillside
neighbourhood of Santa Teresa, both a 30-minute taxi drive - the latter offers a dose of local colour and colonial colour
Stroll around the peaceful Jardin Botanico – beautiful sculpted gardens with statues, fountains and rare plants from the Amazon
Take a tour through H Stern’s gem workshops in R Garcia D’Avila where Brazil’s most exquisite stones are on display (Brazil is famous for its aquamarines.) Be on your guard for some hard selling though
Jump in a taxi and ask for Prainha, a lovely secluded beach, just south of the city

FEATURES

Phone

Radio

Video/DVD

Internet in Room

Heating

Air Conditioning

Safe Box

Coffee/Tea Making

Extra Beds Available

Restaurant

Room Service

Special Diets Catered

Vegetarian Options

Bar

Outdoor Pool

Sauna

Jacuzzi

Spa/Beauty Treatments

Fitness Equipment

Internet Connection

Fax Available

Disabled Access

Meeting Rooms

Wedding License

Babysitting

No Smoking Room

Airport Transfer

Parking Available

ACTIVITIES

	Museum / Galleries

	Music

	Nightlife

	Shopping/Markets

	Total Luxury

	Swimming

Getting there

Name	Fasano Rio	Location	Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro - City
Type	Luxury Hotel: 82 rooms, 10 suites	Country	Brazil
Price Guide	Dbl: US$450-5000 RO	Open	All year


DISTANCES	Airport: 15km	Nearest Shops: 0.1km	Nearest restaurant: 0.1km	Beach: 0.1km