When it comes to luxury hotels in Rio de Janeiro, you have some seriously impressive options. I visited four properties during my week there, each with its own distinct personality and clientele. Here’s what I found:
Copacabana Palace, a Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Built in 1923, the Belmond Copacabana Palace is Rio’s grand dame. It’s got that classic European palace hotel character—and all the history and cachet to match. This is where you stay for old-school luxury with impeccable service.
Deluxe Ocean View Rooms are the ones to get—they’re the most spacious at 45sqm, and the only ones with full ocean views.
The suites are also seriously impressive. All seven are housed on the top floor, which has an exclusive rooftop pool and a dedicated concierge for suite guests only.
The main pool area is chic and buzzy. It’s a great place for lunch and popular with locals; on Saturdays, they serve a brunch buffet there with caipirinhas included. There’s also a Michelin-starred pan-Asian restaurant.
The back part of the hotel was originally built as a casino. It’s now used for events and houses a historic theater that hosts shows primarily for locals.
The tower wing is under renovation until late 2026, so Cipriani Restaurant and the spa are currently closed—they’re using a couple of guest rooms for treatment rooms at the moment. I’m sure it’ll be spectacular when it reopens next year.
Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro
Younger, “sexier,” and more see-and-be-seen than its Copacabana counterpart. The Fasano’s wall of fame features more pop stars and professional athletes than foreign dignitaries and Old Hollywood stars. But the level of service and discretion shows they really get it.
It’s owned by an Italian family that’s been in Brazil for over a century, so the Philippe Starck-designed interiors feel more like Milan at times (the closet in the top suite looked straight out of I am Love). The restaurant is Italian as well.
However, there are Brazilian touches, particularly in the lobby and the vibey rooftop. Speaking of which, the rooftop pool is probably the hotel’s most famous feature, but justifiably so, with spectacular views of Ipanema Beach and Two Brothers Mountain, and a cocktail bar serving killer caju fruit caipivodkas.
F&B (food and beverage) is super important here—in fact, the owners call their hotels “a restaurant with a hotel on top,” since they come from the restaurant industry.
The hallways are low-lit and the decor is more contemporary, so I’d say this one appeals more to younger-skewing travelers who appreciate that aesthetic—though they do get families. All 89 rooms have balconies, but skip the courtyard view rooms. Superior Ocean View Rooms face a side street; Deluxe Ocean Front Rooms are the ones you want.
Emiliano Rio
Located near the bottom of Copacabana, Emiliano Rio is similar to the Fasano in many ways: contemporary style, 90 rooms, mid-century Brazilian furniture in the lobby, and a rooftop pool overlooking the beach. But the vibe couldn’t be more different—it feels much quieter and more intimate.
I had an excellent lunch made from seasonal ingredients at the living-wall atrium restaurant, and I’d love to experience one of the monthly full moon dinners the hotel hosts at their poolside rooftop restaurant, when diners can watch the moon rising over the ocean (sounds pretty romantic).
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see any rooms because the hotel was completely full, but the thing to note is that about half the rooms are interior facing. The most in-demand category is the Premium Deluxe Oceanfront Room—but there are only 9 of them.
Santa Teresa Hotel RJ – MGallery
I didn’t have a visit set up here so I just popped in on my own to check out the public spaces. It was pretty empty when I was there, so hard to get a sense of the atmosphere. It’s a boutique-style property pretty high up in Santa Teresa, so it might feel a little too remote for some, while blessedly quiet for others.
The entry is through a walled garden with a small pool, some tables and chairs and a small bar. The lobby is contemporary but in a colonial space—apparently, it was originally built as a coffee plantation—it reminded me of some places in Mexico, actually.
The restaurant, Térèze, and the spa are both supposed to be great—I’d definitely like to come back and check this one out properly (I requested a visit but they never got back to me).
For a boutique-style property, the price point isn’t much lower than the other luxury options, so this one all comes down to personal preference.
So Where Should You Stay?
Rio’s luxury hotel scene is impressive, and each offers a different way to experience this incredible city. The price point is similar at all of these hotels, so it really comes down to the kind of experience you want. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong with any of these properties.
Most people probably wouldn’t do this because they wouldn’t want to pack and unpack, but I think a split stay would be perfect. Spend a few nights in Santa Teresa, exploring the nearby neighborhoods from there, then move to Copacabana or Ipanema for the beaches and those areas. That way, you’d have two quite different experiences and could avoid some of the back-and-forth of getting around.
Need help deciding which Rio luxury hotel is right for your trip? I’d love to help you sort through the options. Book a Destination Discovery Call and let’s figure out the perfect Rio experience for you.
When it comes to luxury hotels in Rio de Janeiro, you have some seriously impressive options. I visited four properties during my week there, each with its own distinct personality and clientele. Here’s what I found:
Copacabana Palace, a Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Built in 1923, the Belmond Copacabana Palace is Rio’s grand dame. It’s got that classic European palace hotel character—and all the history and cachet to match. This is where you stay for old-school luxury with impeccable service.
Deluxe Ocean View Rooms are the ones to get—they’re the most spacious at 45sqm, and the only ones with full ocean views.
The suites are also seriously impressive. All seven are housed on the top floor, which has an exclusive rooftop pool and a dedicated concierge for suite guests only.
The main pool area is chic and buzzy. It’s a great place for lunch and popular with locals; on Saturdays, they serve a brunch buffet there with caipirinhas included. There’s also a Michelin-starred pan-Asian restaurant.
The back part of the hotel was originally built as a casino. It’s now used for events and houses a historic theater that hosts shows primarily for locals.
The tower wing is under renovation until late 2026, so Cipriani Restaurant and the spa are currently closed—they’re using a couple of guest rooms for treatment rooms at the moment. I’m sure it’ll be spectacular when it reopens next year.
Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro
Younger, “sexier,” and more see-and-be-seen than its Copacabana counterpart. The Fasano’s wall of fame features more pop stars and professional athletes than foreign dignitaries and Old Hollywood stars. But the level of service and discretion shows they really get it.
It’s owned by an Italian family that’s been in Brazil for over a century, so the Philippe Starck-designed interiors feel more like Milan at times (the closet in the top suite looked straight out of I am Love). The restaurant is Italian as well.
However, there are Brazilian touches, particularly in the lobby and the vibey rooftop. Speaking of which, the rooftop pool is probably the hotel’s most famous feature, but justifiably so, with spectacular views of Ipanema Beach and Two Brothers Mountain, and a cocktail bar serving killer caju fruit caipivodkas.
F&B (food and beverage) is super important here—in fact, the owners call their hotels “a restaurant with a hotel on top,” since they come from the restaurant industry.
The hallways are low-lit and the decor is more contemporary, so I’d say this one appeals more to younger-skewing travelers who appreciate that aesthetic—though they do get families. All 89 rooms have balconies, but skip the courtyard view rooms. Superior Ocean View Rooms face a side street; Deluxe Ocean Front Rooms are the ones you want.
Emiliano Rio
Located near the bottom of Copacabana, Emiliano Rio is similar to the Fasano in many ways: contemporary style, 90 rooms, mid-century Brazilian furniture in the lobby, and a rooftop pool overlooking the beach. But the vibe couldn’t be more different—it feels much quieter and more intimate.
I had an excellent lunch made from seasonal ingredients at the living-wall atrium restaurant, and I’d love to experience one of the monthly full moon dinners the hotel hosts at their poolside rooftop restaurant, when diners can watch the moon rising over the ocean (sounds pretty romantic).
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see any rooms because the hotel was completely full, but the thing to note is that about half the rooms are interior facing. The most in-demand category is the Premium Deluxe Oceanfront Room—but there are only 9 of them.
Santa Teresa Hotel RJ – MGallery
I didn’t have a visit set up here so I just popped in on my own to check out the public spaces. It was pretty empty when I was there, so hard to get a sense of the atmosphere. It’s a boutique-style property pretty high up in Santa Teresa, so it might feel a little too remote for some, while blessedly quiet for others.
The entry is through a walled garden with a small pool, some tables and chairs and a small bar. The lobby is contemporary but in a colonial space—apparently, it was originally built as a coffee plantation—it reminded me of some places in Mexico, actually.
The restaurant, Térèze, and the spa are both supposed to be great—I’d definitely like to come back and check this one out properly (I requested a visit but they never got back to me).
For a boutique-style property, the price point isn’t much lower than the other luxury options, so this one all comes down to personal preference.
So Where Should You Stay?
Rio’s luxury hotel scene is impressive, and each offers a different way to experience this incredible city. The price point is similar at all of these hotels, so it really comes down to the kind of experience you want. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong with any of these properties.
Most people probably wouldn’t do this because they wouldn’t want to pack and unpack, but I think a split stay would be perfect. Spend a few nights in Santa Teresa, exploring the nearby neighborhoods from there, then move to Copacabana or Ipanema for the beaches and those areas. That way, you’d have two quite different experiences and could avoid some of the back-and-forth of getting around.
Need help deciding which Rio luxury hotel is right for your trip? I’d love to help you sort through the options. Book a Destination Discovery Call and let’s figure out the perfect Rio experience for you.
