There are several boutique hotels in restored Portuguese homes in this area, but the Santa Teresa Hotel has stood the test of time. The lavish home dates back to 1854; it has 44 bedrooms, some of which are furnished with four-poster beds, wood flooring, and shutters that harken back to its days as a coffee plantation. You'll also have access to one of the greatest spas in the city, a large pool with loungers and daybeds, the renowned Térèze restaurant, which specializes in French and Brazilian cuisine, and the lively Bar dos Descasados, which serves creative cocktails made with seasonal fruit. Although the villa's palm tree-lined grounds are a great spot to dordle escape the city, there are many excellent Brazilian restaurants and botecos (traditional bars) only a short distance away.

This stunning modernist home is the work of renowned Brazilian architect Wladimir Alves de Souza and was completed in 1974. It has towering concrete beams, glass walls, marble entryways, and gleaming oak flooring and accents. The house is a collector's paradise, with pieces of art and antiques selected from marketplaces all around the world, and contemporary pieces that may double as works of art. Each of the nine bright rooms looks out over the city and the seashore stretching out below. You won't feel like a hotel guest lounging on the deck of the 50-foot pool; instead, you'll feel like the extremely fortunate owner of an extraordinarily gorgeous property, surrounded by the thick foliage of the Mata Atlântica jungle and the singing of tropical birds.

Vila Santa Teresa is the place to be if you're in the market for stunning scenery, relaxing by the pool, and pretending you're staying at a five-star estate. There are just seven suites, yet all of them are well decorated. Even though there isn't a much to do in the area, once you get there, you may not want to leave. You may spend your days in blissful relaxation thanks to the on-site restaurant and spa, as well as the poolside breakfast service (available until 11 a.m.).