Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro is the Ipanema hotel couples picture when they think of a glamorous Rio honeymoon. It faces the beach at the Arpoador end of Avenida Vieira Souto, it was Philippe Starck's first project in Brazil and its rooftop infinity pool looks straight down the sand to the twin peaks of Dois Irmãos. The 89 rooms mix mid-century furniture with wood floors and neutral tones in a nod to the Bossa Nova years, when Ipanema was the most fashionable beach in the world.
Below the rooftop, Gero Rio serves Italian food on a terrace, Fasano Caffè handles breakfast and a spa offers massages and facials. The concierge sets you up on the beach with chairs and umbrellas in front of the hotel. Rates are high, starting around $1,180 a night for two and rise for sea-view balconies and suites.
It suits couples who want a city honeymoon with style, a walkable base among Rio's best restaurants and a pool that doubles as the best sunset seat in Ipanema. It suits less well anyone wanting a resort or a quiet retreat.
Highlights at a glance
- Rooftop infinity pool facing Dois Irmãos and Arpoador
- Philippe Starck's first project in Brazil
- Directly on Ipanema beach
- Gero Rio Italian restaurant with a terrace
- Guests-only pool bar on the 8th floor
Why Couples Love the Fasano Rio
Location comes first. Ipanema and Leblon are the safest and most walkable parts of the Zona Sul, packed with restaurants, juice bars and boutiques. The hotel sits a few steps from Arpoador rock, where Cariocas gather to applaud the sunset and the beach in front is one of the city's most enjoyable stretches.
The rooftop pool is the second reason. The infinity edge seems to run into the sea, the Dois Irmãos peaks frame the far end of the beach and on clear evenings you can see Corcovado to one side. The pool bar on the 8th floor is for hotel guests only, so it stays calm even when the beach below is busy.
Then there is the design. Starck mixed 1950s and 1960s furniture with dark wood and his trademark playful details, including ear-shaped mirrors framing the pool. The effect is retro glamour that feels pure Rio rather than generic luxury.
Rooms and Suites to Book
The hotel has 89 rooms in five categories, ranging from city-facing rooms to suites with sea-view balconies. The decisive question for a honeymoon is the view.
- Entry categories are comfortable and stylish, but not all of them face the beach.
- Sea-view rooms give you Ipanema through the window, the minimum worth booking for a special trip.
- Deluxe suites with a balcony, shown by the hotel as Suíte Deluxe Varanda, let you sit outside with the ocean in front, which is what most couples come for.
If budget allows, book a balcony suite and ask for a high floor. Rio's light at dawn and sunset across the beach is worth the upgrade. Whatever you book, confirm the exact view in writing, as categories vary in what they face. Watch for the hotel's packages, which sometimes include breakfast, a massage or a free fourth night.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Gero Rio, the hotel's Italian restaurant, comes from the Fasano family's long tradition of Italian dining in São Paulo. The room was designed by architect Miguel Pinto Guimarães and has an outdoor terrace. It is a classic place for a celebratory dinner, so book ahead.
Breakfast is served at Fasano Caffè, with a buffet and à la carte dishes on a menu by executive chef Luigi Moressa, including pastries such as bostok. Breakfast is not always included in the room rate, so check before you book.
Up on the roof, the Bar da Piscina serves light meals, fresh juices and cocktails to guests only. The spa on the first floor offers body and facial treatments and is open to outside guests as well, so reserve a couples massage early. There is also a gym on the ground floor for a session before the beach.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Start on your doorstep: chairs and umbrellas on Ipanema beach through the concierge, then a sunset walk to Arpoador rock. On another day, ride the Sugarloaf cable car up in the late afternoon and stay for the lights coming on across Guanabara Bay. Take the early cog train to Christ the Redeemer before the crowds.
For quieter time, the Botanical Garden with its royal palm avenue is a short taxi ride away and the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, just behind Ipanema, is good for a bike ride. Santa Teresa's hillside streets have galleries and bars with views and a guided samba night in Lapa shows a different side of Rio.
The Fasano concierge can book guides, drivers and tables. Leblon, the next neighborhood west, has many of the city's best restaurants within a short walk or taxi ride.
Getting There and Getting Around Safely
Fly into Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport (GIG), which has nonstop flights from several US cities, then allow 40 to 60 minutes by car to Ipanema. Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), for domestic flights, is closer to the Zona Sul. Ask the hotel to arrange a car or use a reputable app ride.
Rio rewards some street sense. Take only what you need to the beach and keep phones out of sight on the sand and the promenade. At night, use taxis or app rides rather than walking long distances, even in Ipanema. Avoid displaying jewelry and leave passports in the room safe. The State Department rates Brazil Level 2 (exercise increased caution), so read its current guidance before you go.
Summer is hot and humid; mosquitoes are present and dengue occurs in Rio. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
Is It Worth It?
For a city honeymoon in Rio, it is one of the best choices. Typical rates for two start around $1,180 a night and sea-view balcony rooms and suites cost considerably more. Breakfast and beach service may be extra depending on your rate.
The value lies in the address, the pool and the style. You get the most walkable part of Rio, a rooftop with a famous view and service from one of Brazil's leading hotel groups. Few city hotels anywhere combine all three as well.
Couples who want grand old-world elegance should consider Belmond Copacabana Palace, though check which parts are open, since it has been renovating its pool wing and spa. Couples who prefer hillside charm to the beach should look at Santa Teresa. And couples on a tighter budget can stay at the cheaper hotels around Ipanema and come to Gero Rio for one special dinner.
Insider tips
- Book a sea-view room or balcony suite; rooms without a sea view miss the reason you came.
- Head to the rooftop an hour before sunset to claim a lounger.
- Check the hotel's packages for breakfast, a spa massage or a fourth night free.
- Reserve Gero Rio for your first evening; it fills on weekends.
