Highlight of Copacabana beach, long time considered as the first hospitality gem in South America, the elite hotel has been refurbished from top to toe in the last few years (at the same time, Orient-Express hospitality group was switching name to Belmond). Its « hall of fame » counts a collection of celebrities and leaders around the world for the past century. In their Art Deco flair, the 239 rooms (sorry, they mentioned appartments !) of the Copacabana Palace are pure luxury pampered by 650 dedicated employees. The sixth floor of the main building has only seven suites facing the beach of course, large marble bath room and tubs and an exclusive access to the rooftop black pool’s intimacy 
…a rooftop where lays a tennis court too, yes Serena ! Right down the Chopin building (a glimpse at its Bauhaus façade) and the Tower wing, the main pool is named after olympic champion Maria Lenk (1915-2007), teacher at this pool for years and who also gave her name to aquatic center of Rio’s Olympics in Barra da Tijuca. 
The Pergula is the perfect spot around the pool for a laid-back afternoon and a fresh salad before a drop down the spa. Here, you realize that treatments are more than small treats. Try the Sapucaí (the real name of Sambodromo), a thirty minutes foot massage …in heaven (R$ 155, best value for money). Time for diner now ? At the edge of the pool, Cipriani restaurant expresses Northern Italian cuisine inspired by venitian Laguna’s classics (yet another Belmond hotel) that may also be served at the nearby library, a peculiar place full of antiques. 
The Michelin star restaurant Mee is held by BBC’s renowned presenter, Ken Hom. Time to time, the sino-american chef stops by (from French Lot region or from Bangkok where he works and lives) to check a Sichuan miso eggplant or one of his famous Asian recipes. By chance, he was dining at next table to mine. He recommended the “Don’t kill my vibe” cocktail. Well done Ken !
From R$2000 (city view room) to R$12000 (penthouse suite).
Av. Atlântica, 1702 (Copacabana) Tel. +55 21 2548-7070 www.belmond.com