May 15, 2007

Latin America | Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

The Hotel From Ipanema

By Mark Jolly

Will the Fasano's new sibling stoke Rio's fire?

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South America’s most anticipated hotel finally has an opening date. Four years on since the Fasano Hotel & Restaurant in São Paulo first cemented itself as Brazil’s ultimate pied à terre, its Carioca counterpart is slated to welcome the fabulous on July 30. Designed by Philippe Starck, the vision for the Ipanema hotel is rooted in understated 50s and 60s elegance — hearkening back to Rio’s golden years. The lobby lounge, Londra, will showcase live music, while the private roof terrace will feature a pool and bar overlooking the beach. And with his family’s distinction for establishing Brazil’s most celebrated Italian eateries for over a century, Rogerio Fasano aims to make this among Rio’s premier destination restaurants. The new Fasano should also go some ways in reaffirming Ipanema’s hipster hotel credentials. Which means unseating its white-sand neighbors — the vanilla-flavored Leblon (home of Marina All Suites and a residential core the right side of beige); and “colorful” Copacabana (home of the Copabana Palace plus legions of transsexual hookers).