1. HOTEL ARPOADOR

A low-key carioca cool can be found throughout Arpoador, right on the Ipanema beachfront. The long reception feels more like the entrance to a spa, its wicker-chaired seating area brightened by soft cushions, while upstairs, curvy, wood-panelled corridors are punctuated with portholes looking out to the beach, with muted, sandy tones bringing the outside in. The rooftop bar provides one of the best spots in the city for a rare midsummer sunset over the ocean. Many of the 49 long, slender rooms maximise the sea view, and beachfront balconies are large enough for a hammock that will accommodate two.

Double rooms from £130; telegraph.co.uk/ tt-hotelarpoador

2. MAMA SHELTER RIO DE JANEIRO

Mama Shelter is a laid-back option that fits naturally with the charms of Santa Teresa’s bohemian vibes. With its wildly colourful murals around reception, it doesn’t feel like an ordinary hotel. Huge windows mean that higher rooms look out over the hillside and down to Guanabara Bay. Leafy strolls and lively treats are on hand, including classic neighbourhood bars Mineiro and Gomes.

Or stay in for awardwinning mixologist Alex Mesquita’s cachaca-fuelled Brazilian Sours.

Doubles from £60; telegraph.co.uk/ttmamashelterrio

3. LES JARDINS DE RIO

The closest you are ever likely to come to a retro jungle retreat in the middle of a steaming metropolis, the sensuous, sculptured architecture of Les Jardins de Rio is close to Corcovado’s Christ the Redeemer statue, engulfed in the sights, sounds and smells of the Atlantic rainforest. Built in the Seventies by Oscar Niemeyer disciple Roberto Bastos Cruz, the guesthouse exudes tropical charm, its curvy white walls making straight lines a rarity and leaving the jacaranda wood staircases to emit their rich glow. There are plenty of unique touches across all eight en suite rooms, from the impressive granite walls to the colourful murals. Breakfast by the pool and feel the forest wake up around you.

Doubles from £140; telegraph.co.uk/ttlesjardinsrio

4. MAMA RUISA

Put simply, Mama Ruisa is a gorgeous slice of late 19th-century Brazilian architecture, wrapped by an inviting veranda and filled with a treasure trove of art. Outside, there is an attractive swimming pool filling the garden. The main lounge is a lesson in style, too, with pieces by classic Brazilian designers such as Sergio Rodrigues and Brunno Jahara. This being a century-old mansion, there is little uniformity to the rooms. Each is individually styled, dedicated to a different starlet from Carmen Miranda to Josephine Baker; be sure to try and book one on the first floor where the rooms are lighter and the views better.

Doubles from £105; telegraph.co.uk/ttmamaruisa

5. LA SUITE BY DUSSOL

The secluded Joatinga hills are the setting for this mansion hotel, a stylish pioneer that set the standard for boutique hotels in the city (and a backdrop for hundreds of fashion shoots). Interiors are a mixture of contemporary features such as the imposing Baccarat chandelier, and a wealth of ever-changing antiques which create an exotic, homely atmosphere. Every room is unique but all have balconies with staggeringly beautiful views. An infinity pool completes the picture.

Doubles from £180; telegraph.co.uk/ttlasuitedussol