Not since the girl from Ipanema went walking have more heads turned towards the fashionable Ipanema beachfront in Rio de Janeiro. The 3-year-old Fasano (www.fasano.com.br) – a from-scratch concept of celebrated hotel design maven and architect Philippe Starck – of course provides the requisite decadent digs, exuding a sleek design scheme centered on four basic elements (wood, glass, marble, and steel) and a motif inspired by Rio’s '50s and '60s celebrated bossa nova heyday. But the Fasano’s real charisma stems from its storied public spaces – lounge/bar Baretto-Londra (an edgy yet elegant homage to London, owner Rogério Fasano’s favorite city); see-and-be-seen Mediterranean-inspired seafood restaurant Fasano Al Mare (helmed by the former chef of a three-star Michelin Florentine eatery); and a rooftop swimming pool, steam room, and January 2010-debuted spa. Together, they serve as a superlative microcosm of the Brazilian party capital’s legendary and seductive revelry. Party hotel den Baretto-Londra’s leather-clad aesthetic and exposed red-brick walls provide a glam-packed haven for chic Cariocas (Rio residents) and jet-setters, where classic rock tunes, weekend DJs, and the occasional live show supply the beats. It’s the exclusive, guests-only rooftop scene that is Fasano’s coup de grace, though, where free-flowing bar service and a sexy infinity pool overlooking Rio’s iconic beachfront landscape define the city’s most coveted perch for sunsets and stargazing – of both ilks (P. Diddy, Madonna, and Beyoncé count among past patrons).

For more trip-planning info, see our Rio de Janiero Travel Guide, then find deals with our Travel Search price comparison tool. 

— Elissa Richard