Hotel Arpoador

Hotel Arpoador’s location has always been a strength: right at the end of Ipanema, just around the corner from Copacabana, at the base of the peninsula of the same name, which is home to some of Rio de Janeiro’s finest ocean views. And after a thorough redesign by local firm Bernardes Arquitetura, the hotel is an attraction unto itself, a fine example of a modernist concrete-and-glass structure warmed with organic materials like wood and rope.

The exterior, now subtly clad in timbers, feels more inviting than ever; the interiors are still minimalist, but they’re anything but arid, in a subtle nautical color scheme. Rooms on the beach side of the hotel frame jaw-dropping views, and even the city-side rooms are handsome enough, and all come with thoughtful luxuries like espresso machines and high-end robes and bath products.

Arp, the beach bar and restaurant, feels like something from a far-flung resort, despite its urban location, and is open every day from dawn to dusk. Beyond that, fear not — Rio de Janeiro isn’t exactly known for rolling up the sidewalks early, and the Arpoador’s location means you’re never far from the action.