Ipanema Inn

It may fly somewhat under the radar in Rio de Janeiro, full as it is of towering luxury hotels, but the family-owned Ipanema Inn has much to offer guests who prefer a hotel with a lower profile and a smaller scale. As the name might imply, it’s set just one street back from Ipanema Beach, that paradise on earth — and with such an attraction in the neighborhood, many guests don’t need twenty-four-hour entertainment from their hotel.

So the Ipanema Inn is relatively low-key — but that doesn’t mean sleepy. Its design, by the local architect Bel Lobo, is a conscious tribute to Brazilian modernism, complete with chairs by the master Sergio Rodrigues and other mid-century design pieces. Standard rooms start out smallish, though perfectly comfortable, and by the time you’re in the Duplex Suite you’re edging into luxury-hotel territory.

“Brazilian modernism” is also an apt description of the Ipanema Inn’s restaurant, Quitéria, which makes inventive use of classic flavors in a lovely space whose walls are liberally hung with contemporary art. Meanwhile, not only are you steps from the beach, but you’re surrounded by urban life, from cafés, restaurants, and bars to all manner of cultural attractions.