A Weekend at Hotel Fasano, Rio de Janeiro
Nestled along Ipanema Beach, Fasano Rio is atop the list of luxe stays in the iconic Brazilian seaside town. Created by an Italian family in Sao Paulo, the Fasano Group evolved into one of South America's most relevant hotel groups. With properties in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Trascoso and New York City, Fasano filled a gap in luxury hotels that has long been missing in Brazil. I remember my first trip to Brazil in 2004 when mid-class European hotel groups were called the utmost of luxury on Copacabana Beach and in Sao Paulo. As luck would have it, almost 20 years later I had to check out a Fasano property and even managed to visit not just one but two of the group’s properties. Before actually arriving to the city of Rio de Janeiro, I visited beautiful Angra dos Reis where I could get a first glimpse of what was awaiting me at the flagship property of Fasano later the week. So when I entered the doors of the property in Rio de Janeiro, I was no stranger to the Fasano brand anymore. The question you may also ask yourself: where to stay in Rio: at the Fasano or the Copacabana Palace? While I can‘t help but take this decision, our review gives a good overview of what to expect from the most expensive hotel on Ipanema Beach.
Just after 4 pm, we entered the lobby of the Fasano and were warmly welcomed by the front desk staff. Check-in was smooth and efficient - we were on our way to the room within 5 minutes or so. The friendly bellman accompanied us to our Deluxe Full Oceanfront room on the second floor. Designed by no one else than Philip Starck himself, the whole house had a very distinctive and sexy vibe. The dark walnut wood paired perfectly with the velvet floors and the grey granite walls. Everything reminded me of staying in the Rio of the Sixties though had a modern and fresh touch. Sold as the top-tier room category before the suites, our full seaview-facing room came with a comfortable king bed and had an unparalleled sea view over Ipanema Beach towards the Atlantic Ocean. Welcome amenities consisting of two local chips, two apples and homemade cheese bread that is considered to be a local thing as we tasted them earlier at Sao Paulo airport, were already placed inside the room pre-arrival. Needless to say, the room was very spacious for Rio standards and even came with a cool leather armchair in front of the television right next to the spacious balcony with two armchairs. I felt the room was very comfortable though they could place some colors or at least a canape.
The bathroom was held in white marble and had a separate toilet with a bidet, a single vanity as well as a walk-in shower. Having experienced the toiletries in Angra dos Reis before, I love the Costa Brazil bath amenities and the tropical Jungle smell. Towels were provided though not as much as at Fasano Angra dos Reis, however, housekeeping was more than present and exchanged them twice daily - including during the very attentive turndown service where we received daily specials as well. On the first evening, we got an array of juices while on the second night, we got a cheese platter with local cheese. If there is one thing inside the rooms at a Fasano hotel that I would have to highlight especially, it would be the extensive minibar and the Harman Kardon Bluetooth Speakers. I have to say it’s the first time I have seen such a great minibar in South America and appreciated the Nespresso coffee machine, even though I was surprised that capsules are charged extra. One amazing thing that happened during the stay needs special mention: we left some dirty socks lying on the floor when we left for the pool. On the next morning, someone knocked on the door and brought the socks freshly laundered to our room. We did not ask for laundry nor did we have to pay for this service. It’s been the first wow moment for me at Fasano followed by another one a bit later.
Obviously, the main highlight of Fasano Rio is the stunning infinity pool set on the eighth floor overlooking Ipanema Beach and the Christus statue. We made sure to plan an entire day at this unique feature of the property and were not disappointed. Generally, we had Rio at our fingertips, overlooking the ocean, the stunning landscape and the statue. Service was extraordinary and performed another wow moment when they brought a small towel rolled as a pillow when we ordered a bottle of wine just by the pool while we were still lying inside the pool. I truly appreciate those little details when the staff goes above and beyond just to create these little unforgettable moments. The bar menu at the rooftop pool was well sorted, the cheeseburgers were some of the best I have had at a hotel and also the wine selection had everything from South America to France and Italy (due to Fasano’s strong bond with Italy). Just before the sun set, we moved from the sunbeds to the bar scene to enjoy another drink looking at the sun hiding behind the green mountains of Rio de Janeiro.
Special credit goes out to the amazing concierge team at the Fasano Rio. They were super proactive pre-stay and also very helpful during the stay. We had flight bookings with JetSmart and were unable to check in online as it would not allow me to proceed on iOS or Apple Software. Juliana the concierge managed to get our tickets printed out. Furthermore, she arranged to change our restaurant reservations last minute as we were meeting friends in Rio and had to increase the guest number. They have a WhatsApp number for the concierge and got back to me immediately confirming the new reservation. Before arriving in Rio, I enquired about a helicopter flight, though was unable to book it due to the bad weather we had on all three days in Rio. They informed me that in case of cloudy weather, one is not able to get a glimpse of the Christus statue which makes the helicopter flight not worth it. Guess that’s for another reason to come back to Rio.
When you are staying in one of the busiest and most lively cities in the world, this comes with noises all day and night. However, having such a comfortable bed and cosy room helped a lot to get a good night’s rest. Right after a heavenly sleep, we were up to discover breakfast which is served at Fasano Caffee on the first floor. A superb breakfast buffet is offered in addition to some tasty a la carte dishes. I went for eggs benedict and they were delicious. From mouth-watering sweet dishes, excellent cold cuts and cheeses to freshly baked bread and of course exotic fruits - we did not miss a thing for the first feast of the day. Service at breakfast was also very attentive and could not have been more warm. Our server even tried to offer us a second dish but we were full not needing anything else.
So in the end you may ask if it is worth staying at Fasano Rio. The answer is absolutely yes. The lively rooftop is the place to be in Rio de Janeiro and the service is among the best in any hotel in South America. I guess that on my next stay, I would also be fine with a courtyard-facing room. We spent most of the time at the pool, on the beach and outside the hotel so there is not much time to use the sea view from your room. Overall it is to say that it is without doubt Rio’s best hotel for a discerning and design-affiliated crowd seeking a unique luxury hotel to calm down and regenerate after a day on Rio’s busy streets and beaches. I absolutely loved the location of the hotel on Ipanema Beach, the perfect service and the cool but elegant design. It is to say that we felt very safe and never had any dangerous encounters in Rio at all. This was also because we stayed in Impanema and Leblon mostly and only used Uber Premium for getting around from the Fasano.
