Lonely Planet Review

With the best of Rio just outside the door, the Praia now earns a place among Ipanema's top hotels. This popular 16-story place offers trim, comfortable rooms and excellent service, all within a stone's throw of beautiful Ipanema Beach.

The rooms here are in excellent shape, and each standard comes with a balcony (as elsewhere the deluxe rooms face the ocean). The design is sleek and modern, with tile floors, recessed lighting and a piece of solid artwork on the walls. The beds are sizeable, and a glass coffee table and chairs can be trucked out to the balcony for premium sunset viewing (cocktail not included). You'll also find flatscreen TVs, stylish bathrooms, and a silhouette of Ipanema beach and Dois Irmãos drawn on the closet doors (a memorable touch); which, incidentally, is the view from the rooftop pool - so stretch out on one of the moulded white lounge chairs and enjoy. There's also a bar with a view, and a small fitness centre.