Who's Going
Rachel Weisz, Darren Aronofsky, Naomi Campbell
Reason to Stay
Design Hotel, Hilltop Location, Trendy Bar, Pool Scene
Hotel Type
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Along a sequence of streets leading up to the historic hillside town of Santa Teresa, a series of gritty neighborhoods are crossed before coming to this hillside sanctuary that in recent years has become one of the hottest barrios in Rio. Inspired by the colonial estates that harvested coffee and cocoa, this former plantation with its white stucco facade and terracotta roof has been reconceived with a dazzling interior of reclaimed wood floors and two story atrium staircase alongside period stone walls illuminated in candlelit lanterns.
While walking to the beach won't be an option, a grassy resort area overlooks the city of Rio with rectangular black-bottom pool surrounded in teak cabanas and staff oozing South American sex appeal in between rounds of caipirinhas and mojitos. In between laps, an in-house spa soothes with hammam, sauna and series of baths. In-house gourmet eatery Tereze, led by a former-Gordon Ramsey and Alain Ducasse chef, is located in an adjacent space in a hand painted Matisse-inspired dining room with solid-wood club chairs and indoor-outdoor architecture that's one of Rio's great hotel eateries.
The Room
The hotel sought the assistance of several recognizable Brazilian designers, like Sergio Rodrigues, Studio Vitty and Rock Lane, to create individual guests spaces that include the entry-level Superior Room with its four poster bed, crisp white-shutters and open-flow bathroom with counter-mounted sink. More spacious Junior Suites, about double the size of Superiors for only 20% more money, feature more picture windows and outdoor terraces with hammock and mountain views. Larger Mountain suites come with pitched ceiling due to their upper-floor location with floating bathtubs and city views only to be outdone by the Panoramic Loft Suite under a long and dramatic A-frame ceiling with terrace running the length of the room offering of the hotels best neighborhood and city views.
Preferred Room
Panoramic Suite
Special Features
Hip Clientele, Trendy Bar, Designer Decor, Celebrity Crowd
Amenities
Pool, Lounge, Bar, Spa, Hillside Location, Driver
