Hotel Santa Teresa Rio MGallery

Here’s an entirely modern take on the familiar city of Rio de Janeiro. The gentrifying, bohemian Santa Teresa district is an exception among Rio’s most desirable neighborhoods, in that it’s high up on the hillside rather than down along the beach. This is a district full of colonial mansions and artists’ workshops, with charming little boutiques rather than luxury-brand showrooms.

The top hotel in Santa Teresa is, well, the Santa Teresa — specifically, Hotel Santa Teresa Rio MGallery by Sofitel. It’s only natural that the hotel should be equally full of personality, a 44-room boutique hotel in a hybrid modern-colonial style. The place is packed with indigenous arts and crafts, and the interior design is nothing if not subtle: though it’s full of iconic design pieces from the likes of Brazilian modernist Sergio Rodgrigues, what’s most noticeable is the focus on materials, namely splendid Brazilian hardwoods, natural fabrics and fibers, and even the odd bit of local stone.

Small though it may be, the Santa Teresa isn’t short on luxuries: there’s an outdoor pool and a full-service spa with an exclusive line of spa products by Natura. The restaurant and lounge are more than perfunctory, which helps make up for the fact that the hotel isn’t terribly close to the traditional centers of Rio — you are, however, very close to the center of Santa Teresa, and you might not even miss trusty old Copacabana or Ipanema.

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

How to get there: Hotel Santa Teresa Rio MGallery by Sofitel is located 3.5 km (10 min) from Santos Dumont Airport and 20 km (35 min) from Galeao Airport. Transfers can be organized for BRL70 from Santos Dumont and BRL160 from Galeao, each way.