Top 5 luxury beach hotels in Rio de Janeiro

One of the most famous cities in the world, Rio de Janeiro has for years captivated the hearts of all who visited it. The Marvellous City lives up to its name in every sense of the word.

With its beautiful beaches, mountains and bays, a daily life that revolves around the beach and lively bars and restaurants with a warm and welcoming vibe, it is a place that sweeps you up into its inexorable sense of fun combined with a laidback attitude to life. There is a glamourous side to Rio as well and this is often seen in the places to stay.

Humboldt Travel specialise in luxury travel to Brazil. Read on for our favourite hotels in Rio de Janeiro.

The Belmond Copacabana Palace

The Copacabana Palace is one of the most iconic hotels in the world. Its gleaming white façade sits proudly facing Copacabana beach, and it has for decades been the top spot for celebrities, royalty and all who want a taste of the golden age of Rio. The hotel exudes old-world elegance with suited doormen, wooden and brass revolving doors and polished marble lobby. The enormous floral centrepiece, always fresh and eye catching, greets guests as they enter the property.

The rooms are bright and classy with fresh white bedlinen, thick carpets and large windows, many of which offer ocean views. The pool is spacious and another main feature of the hotel. During the day it is the perfect place to take a refreshing dip or relax on a lounger to catch some sun. In the evening it becomes a romantic spot for cocktails and drinks in the adjoining bar.

The hotel is home to some of the city’s best restaurants including two with Michelin stars, Ken Hom’s Mee and the Cipriani, for fine Italian dining. The latter also offers a chef’s table experience which is the ultimate indulgence with your own personal menu crafted in the kitchen by the chef and accompanied by a wine flight served by your own sommelier.

No-one staying at this property could be disappointed and there is no better choice for an elegant, luxury stay in Rio de Janeiro.

The Emiliano

A few doors down from the Copacabana Palace is another of Rio’s top luxury stays, the Emiliano. Distinctive for its unusual wooden white façade, it was the first boutique luxury property on Copacabana beach.

The Emiliano exudes cool luxury with polished wooden floors and a décor that hints at the Bossa age of Rio de Janeiro. The rooms are spacious and bright with wide windows offering views onto the city or the ocean.

The Emile Restaurant serves contemporary cuisine in a beautiful setting including a striking living wall which brings the outside in. The menu makes excellent use of Brazilian ingredients with organic produce and seasonality at the forefront of the dishes.

The spa at the Emiliano is a real oasis of calm away from the city. Offering an indulgent menu of treatments that focuses on the three pillars of relaxing, detoxifying and invigorating, it is a beautiful wellness addition to any guest’s stay.

The Emiliano is a welcome boutique addition to the Rio luxury hotel scene.

The Fasano

The Fasano is located in Ipanema and is truly an excellent choice for a luxury stay in Rio. This brand is known in Brazil for its cool elegance and this property is no different. The building is the first in Brazil to be designed by Philippe Starck and combines his distinctive style with the Bossa Nova era of the 50s and 60s.  

The rooms are large and airy with elegant wooden floors, crisp linens and stylish amenities, all calling on the elegance of Bossa Nova for inspiration. The Gero restaurant is one of the hottest spots in town and combines mouth-watering Italian cuisine with cool architectural design, a hallmark of all Fasano hotels.

The rooftop bar is the place to be seen for drinks and incredible views over Ipanema and beyond. Guests can enjoy the pool or just soak up the vibe at this effortlessly chic hotel.

The Janeiro

The Janeiro sits facing the beach in Leblon, Rio’s coolest neighbourhood. The property fits perfectly withs surroundings offering understated style and an effortlessly chic vibe.  This is another boutique luxury offering and an excellent choice away from the more obvious neighbourhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema.

The rooms here are simple and stylish with wide windows that make use of the natural light and offer views out across Leblon, Ipanema and Arpoador as well as the Christ the Redeemer statue.

The public spaces are no less alluring with a restaurant dedicated to traditional dishes with a modern twist and a stunning rooftop bar complete with infinity pool.

The focus at The Janeiro is on personalised service with concierge and butler at each guest’s disposal. Extra touches include access to a nearby gym and personalised training on the beach, for those that really want to embrace the Carioca lifestyle.  

The Fairmont

One of the newest luxury properties, the American Fairmont brand brings its trademark luxury style to the Marvellous City. The property is large and sits perfectly located on the end of Copacabana, giving easy access to this beach and Ipanema around the corner.

The rooms are tastefully decorated with polished wooden floors and elegant, muted tones. Balconies offer views over the ocean, the city or the pool and the beds ensure guests relax into a soft cocoon for blissful sleep.  

At the Marine restaurant guests can enjoy fresh seafood, salads and grills in a simple brasserie concept that captures the elegance of the property.

The Tropik beach club is the spot to enjoy the world famous Copacabana beach. To soak up the sun without leaving the hotel, there is no better spot than the Fairmont’s infinity pool. It is the perfect place to relax and enjoy views over Copacabana and the mountains in the bay.