Seated at the west end of the world’s most famous beach, ocean-facing suites at Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana gaze upon a stunning 2.2-mile-long crescent of white sand. It’s a transfixing view that will coax you to take a long pause on your private balcony, day or night.
Having only rolled out the welcome mat in 2019, rooms at Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana are immaculate, fresh, and amenity-laden. Electronic gramophone speakers, inlaid headboard reading lamps, and wardrobes that light up when the doors are drawn open are small but luxurious touches. Noticeably, the aesthetic eschews traditional Brazilian design motifs—floral prints, loud patterns, bold colors, and the like. The spacious suites feel more akin to a fashionably appointed apartment. Think, handsome herringbone floors and inch-thick coffee table books. Trousseau toiletries and that superb beach view are the only reminders you’re in Brazil. It’s a possible let down for international travelers who want their hotels to reflect a strong sense of place, but the decision was made intentionally. Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana marks the brand’s debut in South America and domestic travelers flock to the property for a taste of Fairmont’s global brand credo.
Unconventionally, travelers arrive via a porte cochere staffed by a handful of gracious concierges rather than a ground-floor lobby. Guests take an elevator to the sixth floor for check-in and access to Marine Restô, CAO&CO Café, Fairmont Spa, two pools, and an exceptionally well-equipped fitness center.
When you’re ready to venture out, cross Avenida Atlântica to take a seat beneath a parasol at Fairmont’s exclusive beach club. Fully serviced by bar staff, it’s a lovely spot to lounge with toes in the sand. If you want to experience the fray of Copacabana, hanging amid locals and shopping a steady stream of beach vendors, grab a towel and head off down the beach. Be sure to borrow a bike for a pedal-powered joyride down the promenade to get a true feel for just how long Copacabana Beach is. (One-hour loans are complimentary.) Watch as spirited games of footvolley unfold and from behind sunglasses, do some superb people-watching.
Alternatively, the trendy shores of nearby Ipanema Beach beckon—just an easy walk or lightning-quick taxi from Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana. Overlooked by the sublime the Dois Irmãos peaks, we encourage you to dedicate at least one dreamy sunset to Ipanema. (Get a chair at Barraca Urugay at Posto 8 and order a low-sugar caipirinha and a pork sandwich ala Anthony Bourdain.)
We recommend Fairmont Rio de Janeiro for guests who want to the amenities and familiarity of an international hotelier, and for travelers who want to be able to hang on Copacabana and Ipanema Beach depending on their mood.
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