Best Wellness Hotels in Brazil

The luxurious Hotel Rosewood São Paulo is housed in a historical landmark building and a verdant vertical garden building, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Architect Jean Nouvel. The hotel is located centrally in Cidade Matarazzo and sits amongst stunning preserved early 20th century buildings and pristine gardens. There is a selection of inviting guestrooms and spacious suites on offer, including the lavish, residential-style Deluxe Suite. Guests are invited to choose from any, or all, of the hotel’s six dining options and bars including the 24-hour Le Jardin and South American-inspired Taraz Restaurant as well as the Rabo di Galo jazz bar with live music. The hotel boasts two outdoor pools and allows guests to completely unwind in the hotel’s signature wellbeing concept, Asaya. There is also a fully equipped fitness centre. There is a collection of eight sophisticated event spaces to host functions and professional events.

A glass-walled infinity pool overlooking Sugar Loaf Mountain and the ocean is the epitome of contemporary elegance at Hotel Fasano Rio De Janeiro. The French designer Philippe Starck had a hand in creating this 91 bedroom property with a spa, resulting in a modernist industrial chic finish sporting hints of retro. Dine on imaginative seafood dishes at Fasano Al Mare and spend the later part of the evening listening to live bands and DJs, while sipping on exotic cocktails at Barreto Londra. This Ipanema facing hotel is favoured by the likes of Madonna, Beyonce, the Beckhams, Lady Gaga and One Direction.

This hip design hotel rises upward on the city horizon and while the interiors may be minimalist, they reflect the area’s tropicality. Guests can take a dip in hot tubs secreted in a pretty Japanese garden, admire the suspended orchid garden, recline in barside spaghetti-like rope chairs and nibble on caviar in the sophisticated restaurant. The Japanese theme extends to the calming bedrooms; notably, the toilets which are equipped with high tech jets, dryers and heated seats, as well as contemporary Japanese style wall screens. Expect excellent service throughout the Emiliano and in its spa.

Another example of modernist architecture, Hotel Emiliano is the work of native designer Arthur Casas. The decor pays homage to Rio’s mid-century heyday, with neutral tones and a minimal approach. A restaurant, Emilie, serves forward-thinking Brazilian-French fusion cuisine and features a huge tropical living wall. On the rooftop, a long, narrow infinity pool overlooks Copacabana Beach. Treatments at the Santapele Spa are all about rebalancing the body and are based on the three pillars of relaxation, revitalisation and detoxification. Crisp white linens and tan leather armchairs are found in the bedrooms, along with Santapele toiletries (Emiliano’s own brand).

A shining example of Rio’s glamour, this neo-classical Grande Dame has been in business since the roaring twenties. It faces out onto the beach, where guests can receive a waiter drinks service. On the third floor, there’s a rooftop tennis court and a large glitzy pool area. The food and drink offer comprises the terrace Pérgula restaurant, Italian eatery Cipriani and Mee, a Michelin starred establishment under the direction of Ken Hom. Guests who’ve stayed at this landmark hotel include Prince Charles, Mick Jagger, Madonna, Cameron Diaz, Tom Cruise, Paul McCartney, and Lenny Kravitz. Black and white prints of past patrons adorn the walls, while chandeliers, wood panelling and marble add to the palatial feel.

This five-star establishment is most unusual for São Paulo, in that it’s surrounded by greenery, namely the Burle Marx Park. This provides a real sense of retreat from the city’s unrelenting bustle, augmented by its Flora Spa. Palacio Tangara opened in 2017, gathering accolades from Conde Nast, Forbes Travel Guide and the Michelin Guide over the past few years. Multi-awarded Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten opened his first South American restaurant here, serving a blend of French and Asian gastronomy with pops of Brazilian flavour. An alfresco terrace overlooks the outdoor pool and park, while the Burle Bar provides an indoor zone for elegant drinking.

So named because of its striking exterior, this hotel is unlike any other in the city, or quite possibly, the world. Like Fasano, Unique is found in Jardins; a glass-walled, cactus-lined, long, thin rooftop pool giving an outlook over the district. This part of the hotel is the place to be at the weekends, with a legendary party vibe. Inside you’ll find architecture as surprising as the outside — a curved library, massive porthole windows and bold art installations. Don’t miss the brightly hued indoor pool; it has a slide, and, like the outdoor pool, underwater music. Unique has 94 bedrooms and suites, plus two restaurants and welcomes four-legged friends.

W São Paulo is the first W Hotel in Brazil and takes residence in a skyscraper atop Rua Funchal in São Paulo’s buzzing southern business district and boasts breathtaking views of the Pinheiros River and the city skyline. W São Paulo features striking, cutting-edge architecture, modern design and comprises 179 stylishly designed hotel rooms (including 16 suites) starting on the 25th floor. The brand’s signature AWAY Spa, FIT gym, WET Deck complete with an outdoor pool, along with two restaurants, three bars are all available for guests to use. And for those planning an event there are five spaces including the expansive Great Room, covering 400m². A favourite feature is the ornate walkway that bridges Rua Funchal to Rua Helena, meaning guests can easily access all that the bustling city has to offer. W São Paulo is the perfect choice for a vibrant city break.

An urban resort designed to suit all types of travellers, the Grand Hyatt in Rio is located in Barra da Tijuca. Backing right onto the beach, hotel staff are on hand to provide towels, parasols and refreshments. Or guests can venture below ground, to a serene spa and a fitness suite. On the other side of the Grand Hyatt lies a large lake, with hills beyond – rooms facing either this vista or the sea can be booked. Like JANEIRO, this venue offers a Japanese tasting menu, along with Italian and Brazilian restaurants. More family-friendly than some of the other big names in the city, Grand Hyatt has a programme of weekend activities for little ones.

n 2018 Osklen designer Oskar Metsavaht created JANEIRO, a boutique hotel with 51 apartments. Found in Leblon, a residential ocean-fronted district, the eco-minded property is all about simplicity (Metsavaht himself created the concept ‘ASAP’ – as sustainable as possible – an ideology implemented at the venue). Materials such as blond freijó wood, travertine marble, pirarucu fish skin leather and organic cotton linens meld with circular porthole style plate glass windows, wicker hanging chairs, black and white photos and floating staircases. The Little Pool Bar proffers views across to Two Brothers mountain, while a ground floor bar and restaurant look out onto the street. JANEIRO has two further restaurants, one of which serves Japanese tasting menus.

Renowned for housing the largest Presidential Suite in Latin America, the skyscraper Tivoli is the place to be for superb views. The restaurant, SEEN, is 23 floors up, with 360-degree panoramas and award-winning chef William Ribeiro at the helm. There’s also a sushi bar with a sake menu and a relaxed bistro. Rooms are decorated in browns and creams, with contemporary simplicity and urban-chic touches. Tivoli Mofarrej’s Antara Spa offers Thai and Asian inspired treatments, including acupuncture, shiatsu and thalassotherapy. Don’t miss the craft drinks at MUST bar; the bartender Jessica Sanchez has been named best in Brazil and South America.

The Hotel Fasano São Paulo Itaim represents the global expansion of the Fasano Group, with recent openings in New York City and Bahia, Brazil. Designed by architect Marcio Kogan, the 60-room and 47-suite hotel combines classic Italian elements with contemporary touches. The lobby and bar feature furniture from the Italian company Minotti and pieces by national designers, as well as lamps and furniture from France, Italy, and Brazil. The property includes a second location of the renowned Gero restaurant, led by chef Lomanto Oliveira. Other amenities include a private lounge, spa treatment rooms, saunas, a gym, a business centre, babysitting services, and a rooftop bar and pool with panoramic views.