La Suite by Dussol Rio de Janeiro

A chip off the La Maison block, La Suite shares an owner, and a concept — a tiny and impossibly stylish luxury guest house, far enough off the main tourist drag to escape the crowds, but close enough to feel like you’re in on the action. In La Suite’s case, this means Joatinga, one of Rio’s most exclusive residential districts, at the end of a gated street, with some of the best ocean views in the city and access to a well-kept secret: Joatinga Beach.

Seven rooms is about as intimate as it gets, and as rooms, they’re remarkable — well-designed, individual, luxe but not ostentatious, and best of all, all seven take advantage of the phenomenal view, from full-length windows or private balconies. One pool would be enough for a hotel this size, but La Suite has two, not to mention Joatinga Beach, a surfer’s paradise, a couple of minutes’ drive down a cliffside road.

There’s no restaurant per se, and nothing but houses within walking distance, but the hotel’s kitchen is run by a highly accomplished chef — eat on the terrace taking in the view of the beach and the Atlantic, or in the swanky modernist dining room. Getting out means a taxi ride, as Ipanema is a good fifteen minutes away; La Suite’s bar, though, is tempting, open more or less all the time, and it’s a short stumble home.

Travel advisory: Passport and visa requirements differ from country to country. Please check with your local authority before booking.

How to get there: La Suite is approximately a 30 minute drive from Rio de Janeiro/Galeão - Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport.