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"