Rio de Janeiro: Design Hotel Portinari (Hotel)

Address: Rua francisco sa 17 , Rio de janeiro , Brazil
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Lonely Planet review

This stylish 13-story hotel demonstrates real design smarts in its handsome rooms and suites. It lies toward the calmer southern end of Copacabana, within two blocks of the beach.

Although it's small as far as lobbies go, it still lets you see the designers at play - black-and-white striped carpeting and stuffed leather chairs sit beside the entrance to the sleek but inviting lobby bar. Up in the rooms, you'll find more minimalism in action. Tile floors, artful lighting and big windows complete the scene, with each floor decorated in a different style. The sleek modern bathrooms are nicely done, and some of the showers are quite large, with rainwater showerheads. A few gripes: standard rooms are on the small side; and noise can be an issue in some of the rooms (it's possible to hear traffic even on the upper floors; and you can sometimes hear noise in the hallways through closed doors). The top floor has a restaurant set with tropical plants and views through the floor-to-ceiling windows.