Pousada Casas Brancas

Stylish and relaxing boutique hotel in the fashionable coastal town of Búzios, near Rio de Janeiro

A 2 and a half hour drive northeast from Rio gets you to Búzios - a peninsula offering some fine coves and a choice of 26 different beaches. Frequented by rich Carioca weekenders and other better-off South Americans seeking an alternative to Rio, Búzios was once a small fishing village put on the map in the 60s by Brigitte Bardot. Today it's more lively, but it still retains some original charm with its cobbled main street and bobbing fishing boats.

We found Casas Brancas, a 5-minute walk from the centre of town, to be the most stylish, welcoming and relaxing place to stay. Set on a hillside overlooking the bay, it’s one of the oldest hotels in Búzios. Owner Amalia de La Maria has given her residence a chic Mediterranean feel. With its billowy white drapes, jumbled mix of 32 individually decorated rooms (many with terraces and hammocks), endless nooks and crannies, and a spa, Casas Brancas is a beautiful place to languish. The alfresco restaurant, Café Atlantico, is pure romance for those wanting candlelit dinners set before the twinkling lights of the bay and night sky.

Highs

• A 5-minute walk from the main street with its excellent seafood restaurants, lively bars and chic boutiques
• Some of the best views of Búzios Bay
• It has a laid-back and inviting ambiance
• Imaginative East-meets-West décor
• Búzios boasts every type of beach you should want and is one of the best beach destinations close to Rio

Lows

• Not located on a beach, but almost none of the hotels in Búzios are; most are within a 5-10 minute drive - we recommend hiring a beach buggy
• Bathrooms are simple and some of the fittings could do with updating
• Watch out for hungry mosquitos
• Búzios is a developed resort and party town - if you're seeking tranquility and empty beaches avoid high season, or head south of Rio to Parati