Last week, you heard how Sao Paulo is making its influence felt on Carioca palates. Today, check out how one of SP’s hottest hotels is providing a much-needed addition to the Rio’s hotel scene.

Rio hotels have always been a little unrefined. Even the best of them can disappoint on a regular basis. Enter Fasano, the city’s first hotel to properly marry smart design and luxury-level service and accommodations. It is a sophisticated, 91-room pleasure palace adorned with bronzed beauties and characterized by masculine Italian design. It offers commanding views over the length of Ipanema beach and Two Brothers Peak beyond.

Rooms are decked out floor-to-wall in gorgeous Ironwood and offer plenty of lovely teardrop mirrors to check yourself before heading to the sands outside its doors. The massive exposed brick bar, Londra Club, is tastefully lined wall-to-wall with Rogério Fasano’s personal vinyl collection.

But it’s the rooftop pool that’s sure to be Rio’s latest see-and-be-seen hotspot. The hotel promises it is for guests only, but we have a feeling they’re using the term loosely, as the city’s rich and famous are surely flocking here. Beats flying to Miami. (from $528, Av. Viera Souto, 80).

— Kevin Raub