Hotel Santa Teresa

Luxury neo-colonial hotel in Santa Teresa, evoking tropical and ethnic Brazil in its art and interior design

Now that the dust has just about settled, we're confident this fabulous hotel - after 3 years of painstaking restoration - will fast become the leading light in Santa Teresa, the bohemian mountainside barrio of Rio de Janeiro.

The French owners' passion, their celebration of Brazil’s native art in the neo-colonial décor, and their philanthropic intent is impressive in itself. But combined with unrivalled cuisine, unique spa treatments and 44 glorious bedrooms, it's knockout. This place is a seriously stylish cut above the other hotels in the neighbourhood - and the only Relais & Châteaux member in Rio to date. The techniques and wealth of experience brought to bear may be French, but - with the exception of the foie gras couriered from the chef's native Provence, and the remarkably comfortable beds imported from North America - every other resource and material applied to make this hotel so unique has been sourced from within Latin America. The end result is quintessentially Brazilian; refreshing in a part of town that others would like to turn into Montmartre.

Highs

• The Terèzerestaurant - we loved its delicious global cuisine, pastoral yet elegant interiors and sweeping views
• Le Spa - this neighbourhood's first, and the flagship of Brazilian luxury aromatherapy brand Natura
• The 25m pool with awesome views up to the Teresopolis and Petropolis Mountains and down over Guanabara Bay and Rio
• Just a minute's walk from Largo do Guimaraes, the centre of arty Santa Teresa
• The commitment to distribute 30% of the profits to social projects geared towards children and adolescents in Rio's favelas

Lows

• The management had a tough time initially finding suitably professional staff. However, a new and experienced team are now in place
• It's a 10-15 minute taxi ride from Rio's beaches
• It's expensive for the area
• Given the rather dilapidated neighbourhood, you might feel self-conscious emerging onto the streets from such an exclusive, upmarket hotel