What to expect: This 23-story hotel offers guests the enjoyment of dramatic landscapes, a stunning beach, and gourmet cuisine of Rio de Janeiro. The bustling avenue and boardwalk in front of the hotel offer numerous shopping and dining options. The lobby has large, semi-oval couches for relaxing and a trendy lounge. The hotel has hosted celebrity guests, business executives, and an international mix of vacationers.

Amenity highlights: A rooftop café features commanding views of Ipanema and Leblon beaches. The ground-level restaurant serves international cuisine, while the lobby bar offers a fashionable spot to sip a drink. The adjacent health club includes an outdoor pool, dry sauna, steam room, and exercise equipment. A business center offers work stations, a meeting room, and multi-lingual secretarial services. Guests staying in master suites have access to an exclusive VIP lounge.

Insider tip: Families with children receive complimentary ice cream treats delivered to their room after check-in. Each Saturday, a traditional Brazilian brunch featuring the country’s national bean and meat dish, “feijoada,” is served in the Petroneus room. Garota de Ipanema, down the block, is the bar where Vinicius de Moraes and Antônio Carlos Jobim first saw the woman who inspired their song “The Girl from Ipanema.”