The most cosmopolitan and wealthy neighbourhood. Ipanema is home to a mixture of restaurants, discos, nightclubs and luxurious apartments. Chic boutiques, art galleries, theatres and cinemas are in abundance and the area teems with Rio's most beautiful people. The most famous beauty is the one immortalised in a song - 'The Girl from Ipanema'. Schoolgirl Heloisa Pinheiro captivated composer Tom Jobim and lyricist and poet Vinicius de Moraes as she walked past the Velosa Bar each day when returning from school. Inspired by her beauty, the Bohemian men penned the song that was to leave its mark in pop history bringing recognition to the Brazilian music scene in the 1960s. The very bar where they sat, now known as A Garuta de Ipanema (The Girl from Ipanema), lies on the street renamed after Moraes.

Rio de Janeiro's Ipanema neighbourhood is a popular venue for tourists, and those that live are proud of it. Rio de Janeiro is an awesome experience, no matter where you decide to spend your time, and the welcoming Rio de Janeiro hotels will ensure your return.