The Bar/Lounge at Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro

"Efficiency with élan seems to be the hotel's modus operandi, from the small lounge and rooftop pool (which, unlike the airy, mod ground-floor restaurant, is accessible only to guests) to the relatively tight but thoughtfully designed rooms, whose beds face a private balcony with views across the street to Ipanema Beach and which, courtesy of designer Philippe Starck, have been outfitted in masculine leathers and lustrous tropical hardwoods"

"The on-site Italian restaurant, Fasano Al Mare, has won major awards, and the intimate lounge bar Baretto-Londra, which blends English punk-rock attitude with Italian glamour, has a long waiting list"

"Located in Ipanema, so surrounded by interesting bars and restaurants"

"Downstairs, the hotel bar Londra attracts a mix of soap actors and society types, and entry and drinks are priced to maintain an air of exclusivity"

"The rooftop coffee shop and infinity pool, and the hotel’s trendy bar are ideal celebrity-spotting hangouts"

"The Barreto Londra is a dark, glamorous lounge that features DJs and live music — order the enchanting Black Sea cocktail made with vodka, lemon juice, cardamom pods and squid ink"

"With stylish rooms, a great location and a much-touted seafood restaurant and bar, this is the top destination for the style set and celebrity crowd: Lady Gaga, Kate Moss, Will Smith and Madonna have all been guests"

"There is also a DJ-driven nightclub, Baretto-Londra, on-site"

")The 89 all-white rooms have balconies (42 with ocean views), but you’ll want to spend time at the rooftop bar by the infinity pool to gaze at Ipanema, Leblon, the Two Brothers Mountain and Corcovado, watch the sunset, and sip rum muddled with fresh strawberries (a local fave)"

"Botero-like chairs (known affectionately by staffers as Big Mammas) sit idly in the empty hallway lounges while guests search for rooms via illuminated floor-level room numbers"