La Suite by Dussol

Rooms

There are 7 boldly decorated bedrooms, each with different brightly coloured themes, matching art and marble bathrooms. There's bright lemon yellow, lime green, strawberry pink or more restrained grey. All rooms have balconies with tables and chairs, where you can pass the day away enjoying the view and sipping freshly made caipirinhas. The bedrooms may be bright, but definitely not gaudy thanks to the deft and talented touch of François-Xavier - we giggled at the china hands holding bedside lamps. Beautiful polished hardwood floors are a feature throughout the house, and the huge double beds come with Egyptian cotton linen. All rooms have air conditioning, WiFi and iPod docks but no TVs (although who needs them with views like these?).

The Yellow Suite is our favourite simply due to the bright colours, which mix beautifully with the Rio sunshine coming in though the glass terrace doors in the morning. The yellow marble bathroom is a sight to behold, and the views from the generous 2-person shower make it difficult to leave in the mornings.

The Green Suite is a striking mix of lime green walls and a dark brown ceiling, with touches of gold detailing. The ensuite is a mottled brown and white marble, with a lighter-coloured sink and shower.

The entire White Suite is vibrant white, with a striking pink and yellow Warhol print of Monroe on one wall and a clear crystal chandelier lighting up every detail at night. The studded leather headboard is another interesting touch, with a variety of mirrored doors providing even more natural light.

The Black Suite is the most striking, with a black ceiling and one corner almost entirely made of glass providing 180-degree views of the ocean, mountains and city. The ultra-modern four-poster bed has a stainless steel frame draped with curtains of white tassels, and the room is lit by a black crystal chandelier. Spectacular views from the private balcony, 2 ensuites of rich black marble (one with a bathtub) and a white calf-skin rug add the finishing touches.

The Purple Suite is the most spacious, with an enormous lovers’ shower, a bathtub, and a pink Matadors' cape and a great Monroe print decorating the walls. The Blue Suite is blue all over, with antique cushioned chairs and a blue and white marble bathroom. The Pink Suite is extremely pretty, with an area divided off which could be used to accommodate a child.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is served on the upstairs terrace, with each course meticulously prepared. We enjoyed an amazing selection of local fruits to start, including mangos, pineapple, sweet bananas and star fruit, together with fresh yoghurt, honey and granola. This was followed by French pastries freshly cooked on the premises, with conserves and excellent coffee and hot chocolate. We then enjoyed a selection of cheeses and hams, served together with guava jelly (a local speciality). The fruit juices are freshly squeezed and delicious, and eggs can be cooked to order.

Lunch and dinner are available on request, with the option of joining in the cooking and learning some of the arts of the Brazilian kitchen. The staff are very attentive and François-Xavier often has a distinguished guest chef visiting from France to add an additional level of sophistication to the very tasty local dishes. You can dine on the main terrace, at a long marble table in the inviting red-coloured dining room, or on your private balcony with the lights of Rio twinkling off the waters below - a hard one to beat in terms of pure romance. Cocktails are also served each evening, with guests from La Maison sometimes visiting.

You'll need to take a cab if you want to eat out, but Rio has some great restaurants to try and staff can advise on the latest hotspots in Leblon and Ipanema.

Activities

• Hang out by the pool, lap up the views and arrange to have a massage - it's the sort of place where you could easily spend the day without venturing out
  
  
• Surf at Rio's secret Joatinga beach, a few minutes' drive down the hill
  
  
• Shop till you drop in São Conrado's Fashion Mall
  
  
• Dine out, party and mingle with the beautiful people in some of the great bars and restaurants in Leblon or Ipanema, just a 20-minute drive away
  
  
• Take the plunge from the top of Pedra da Gávea (Gávea's Stone) and hang glide down to São Conrado beach below - you can take a tandem flight with an instructor
  
  
• Go hiking in the Forest of Tijuca, one of the largest expanses of urban forest in the world
  
  
• Head into central Rio to take in the views from Christ the Redeemer and the top of Sugarloaf Mountain

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Hiking
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing

Kids

La Suite by Dussol is a romantic retreat that's most suited to couples, with wooden floors, steep staircases, terraces and lots of delicate objets d’art. The relatively close proximity of guests also requires careful management of any little ones. François-Xavier is an attentive host, however, and would certainly do his best to accommodate a couple with a child. Cots and extra beds are available, and babysitters can be booked.

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

La Suite by Dussol is located in Joatinga, Rio de Janeiro's 'Beverly Hills'. It's 5 minutes from São Conrado, which is known for its fabulous shopping, and 20 minutes by car from the beaches of Leblon and Ipanema.

By Air:
Rio's Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (34km away) is served by international airlines. Many domestic flights to Rio land at Santos Dumont Domestic Airport (23km away). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving both these airports.

From the Airport
La Suite by Dussol offers transfers from both the above airports (see Rates). Alternatively you can take a radio taxi; buy a pre-paid voucher at the Transcoopass desk in the arrivals hall.

By Car:
If you want to hire a car to explore the surrounding region, see our car rental recommendations.

By Bus:
Brazil's major cities are linked by excellent bus services. Always travel first class because the difference in fares is nominal, but it means you get reclining seats, bathroom facilities on board and air conditioning. Services stop at the Novo Rio Rodoviaria terminal downtown; from here you can take a taxi to La Suite by Dussol.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Brazil and getting around