La Suite
Joatinga, Rio de Janeiro
Glamorous clifftop guesthouse - ultra-stylish bedrooms and panoramic views of Rio's spectacular coastline
Just 20 minutes' drive from Ipanema gets you to affluent Joatinga.
It's here that French owner François-Xavier, who opened
La Maison,
Rio's first boutique B&B, found the perfect spot for La Suite.
It's easy to see why: perched high above a secret surf haven, La
Suite enjoys a stunning clifftop setting. From its large open-sided
sitting room you get 180-degree views back to Rio’s coastline
most never get to see. Its glam location must be fit for the gods
as Pele is your neighbour.
Interiors are reminiscent of a lavishly decorated French manor
house, with a very modern twist provided by hip 1970s furniture.
The 7 bedrooms use vibrant colours to startling effect: each comes
with Warhol prints and matching marble bathrooms: yellow bedroom
leads into yellow marble bathroom; choose the pink bedroom and
you'll find its bathroom clad in rare pink marble. There are
private decks for massages, an infinity pool with staggering views,
and some fine dining by arrangement. An exclusive district, a
breathtaking setting and impossibly romantic.
Reviewed by Aidan Forestier-Walker
Last updated 14 December 2011
Highs
- Most stunning views of any hotel we've seen in Rio (and enjoyed by all rooms)
- Wonderfully imaginative interior design with deliciously decorated bedrooms, all with private balconies or terraces
- Spectacular cliff-hanging infinity pool
- It's only a short drive down to Joatinga, the surfers' secret hangout and one of Rio's most picturesque beaches
- Exclusive district with a gated street - so you get a great feeling of privacy
- With just 7 rooms it feels intimate and personal - a welcome change from Rio's usual chain hotels
Lows
- There's not much action within walking distance, but taxis are easily ordered and these will take you anywhere: Leblon and Ipanema with their beaches, clubs and restaurants are only 20 minutes away
- Don't expect hotel-style service - this is a laid-back place and it's sometimes difficult to track staff down
- Occassional private parties and gatherings hosted at La Suite have caused some clients to feel slightly excluded
- The resident dogs can be over-friendly, particularly when there's food around
- As with many Brazilian hotels, the staff speak limited English
The hotel boasts a panoramic, 180-degree view over Rio's beaches, with the city's colossal rock formations surging up dramatically from behind them...
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