In Rio, it's all about the juice bars, which are quick, cheerful, and abundant. Bibi is but one of many chainlets throughout the city. The fruits on the menu may be foreign to visitors, but low prices make it easy to experiment.

Impossibly delicious, impossibly popular, and simply impossible to get into. Brazilians go crazy for Japanese food, and it's amazing here. 

Cute gelato shop with classic Italian flavors (fior di latte, straciatella) and Brazilian fruits (guava, coconut, lime). Knickknacks like old milk bottles and pastry mixers line the shelves.

One of the countless neighborhood botequims where locals gather for easy meals. The menu consists of homey basics (filets of beef, fish, and pork) and the setting is as unpretentious as it gets.

A casual but smart restaurant that serves fresh and healthy prepared foods, salad bar style, with indoor and outdoor seating. It's a favorite of the chic and beautiful set.

A new reasonably priced eco-friendly resort with great views of Ipanema Beach. The modern hotel has a green agenda, and was involved in the restoration of Rio's landmark park, Garota de Ipanema.

Rio's grand classic hotel has recently undergone an extensive renovation. Everything is shiny and new, if a little fusty, which befits the clientele, which has more money than taste. The weekend brunch, however, is worth a stop. Ditto the people-watching by the pool.

A funky, six-room pop-up guest house will only be open for 2014. The décor is Berlin-edgy (a motorcycle hangs on the lobby wall) in an old colonial mansion (the peeling paint on the cornices was left untouched). Antique nautical binoculars help you take in the sweeping city views below.

An absolutley delightful seven-bedroom home steps from Santa Teresa's main street. The staff is homey and attentive; the decor is cozy and sophisticated. Prepare to be wowed with views of Sugar Loaf Mountian and the bay. It's going to be hard to leave the swimming pool in the garden.

Located in a former home in a residential neighborhood some 20 minutes by car from Leblon, the seven-room hilltop retreat is romantic, secluded, and beautifully appointed with Baccarat chandeliers and pieces by artists like Andy Warhol and Camille Claudel. The décor is sumptuous, with rooms arranged by colors, including the matching bathroom marble. (The black room is the one to ask for.) Meals are customized for every guest using local ingredients at the hand of chef Ricardo Hiltz. A welcome break from the busy city, privacy is paramount, making this great for honeymoons and hideaways.

Easily the nicest and most elegant hotel in town, located across the street from Ipanema Beach. The lobby has framed love letters from celebs like Gisele and Sting gushing about their stays. Rooms are spacious and quiet, with mid-century modern decor. Fasano al Mare, the elegant, bright, and airy Italian seafood restaurant on the ground floor, is also where the hotel serves breakfast. Baretto-Londra, the English-styled nightclub and bar, is open to the public and can get rowdy. The rooftop pool and bar are quite a scene, but it doesn't get too out of hand because it's for guests only.

The street is filled with vintage and antique shops brimming with furniture and objects (mirrors, lamps, housewares). Some of the better ones include Scenario Antique, Lavradio, and Atelie Belmonte.

A collection of minimalist silver jewelry in a rustic, atelier setting on the ground floor of one of Ipanema's better malls. 

A lovely skincare brand — candles, soaps, creams, cosmetics — made with indigenous ingredients and packaged in beautiful, ornate designs. The shop, and explosion of scent and color, is a great place for souvenirs.

Surfer chic meets high fashion at the beachy little emporium filled with the Brazilian designer's brightly patterned dresses and separates. The shop is located on the ground floor of an apartment building.