Hotel Caesar Park

The hotel is located on the Avenida Vieira Souto on the seafront in Ipanema, one of the city's smartest and most popular neighbourhoods. It stands directly facing the beach, with the nearby Copacabana Beach around a 20 minute walk away.
Antônio Carlos Jobim international airport is about 16 mi away, which means a taxi ride of about 30 minutes provided traffic is not too heavy. You'd best leave plenty of extra time if travelling during rush hour, though, as traffic jams are very common in Rio.

The Caesar Park was built in 1978 and renovated in 2008.

Coming back from Ipanema Beach, after having crossed the road, you can spot the Caesar Park sign immediately, as it's the same one you'll find on all of the chain's hotels in Brazil and Latin American. Renowned for its sophisticated, elegant setting, the Caesar Park Rio de Janeiro plays with low-lit surroundings, preferring electric over natural lighting; artificial rays illuminate the translucent black suits, the semi-oval suede settees, and the stylised busts arranged in uniform groups on the wall to the rear of the lounge. The same basic, regular geometrical style is reflected in the luminous faces of the clocks at reception, indicating the time in Paris, Tokyo, New-York, Mexico, and Rio de Janeiro and providing something of an international ambience.
The hotel has 23 floors, with the ground floor and top floor taken up by the communal areas, including the Agraz restaurant-bar and the sophisticated, almost serpentine-like snack bar alongside reception. Guests also like to admire the superb views on offer from the comfort of their table in the Galoni restaurant on the top floor. This opens out into a sort of all-glass yet open-topped conservatory where you'll find the swimming pool. The architecture here reflects that of the rest of the hotel, with very comfortable loungers and puffy armchairs as well as a selection of plants dotted around the place to soften the ambience. Sports enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the hotel boasts a well-equipped gym, but if pampering is more your thing, fear not, as you can also treat yourself to a massage, a sauna, or even just a break in the relaxation area.

The Caesar Park has a total of 220 guest rooms spread across 19 floors. The first and top floors are taken up by the restaurant and the communal areas whilst the second and third house the conference rooms. The rooms here include 17 Junior Suites, 8 Executive Suites, a Presidential Suite and an Imperial Suite, with all the others being Deluxe, or in Portguese 'apartamentos luxo', which are really just the standard rooms. There are also various sub-categories defined according to the views they offer, such as the 'city view' rooms (located to the rear of the hotel with not so much as a glimpse of the ocean), 'side sea view', 'sea view' (still from the side but higher up and therefore more appealing), and 'full sea view'.
All of the standard guest rooms have a floor area of 34m², though they do vary in price according to the views they offer. Judging from the decor in the lobby area, you'd never expect the traditional, almost European style of the guest rooms (with the exception of those that have more recently been renovated), which feature carpeted floors and pastel-coloured walls. The colours, patterns, and artwork used represent Brazil between the 15th and 16th centuries, just like the dark wooden chests and desks, an old-fashioned wardrobe, and traditional-style light fittings. The bathrooms, meanwhile, are large but outdated and come with a complimentary bottle of water and a plethora of accessories and products by Granado, a historic Brazilian brand.

The Caesar Park has two high quality restaurants in the form of the Agraz and the Galoni. The first of these, located on the ground floor, will appeal to those who prefer a more contemporary and also younger and rapid style. The Galoni, on the other hand, up on the top floor, is furnished in a more relaxed style using bright pastel colours and offers spectacular views across Ipanema Beach. The Agraz only operates as a restaurant in the evenings; during the day it is more like a snack-bar where you can grab a quick drink or a sandwich. Both restaurants serve local and international cuisine including meat dishes, fish dishes, pastas, and traditional Brazilian specialities. Saturday, for example, is feijoada day, a chance for guests to sample this wonderful oh-so-Brazilian dish served in large steaming pans alongside a very copious buffet of hors d'?uvres, vegetables, and most importantly, homemade cakes (although all the dishes served in the restaurant are, in fact, homemade). With such a variety to choose from, it really is hard to decide what to go for and you're sure to fill your plate to the brim. The wine list, meanwhile, consists of Brazilian, South American and European varieties, including Pinot Gris, Barolo, Dolcetto, and Chianti. Bon appétit!

The Caesar Park lies in pole position opposite Ipanema Beach. Having said that, the entire Brazilian coastline is legally public property, so the hotel does not have its own private section of beach. You're still only a short walk away, though, so get in your swimsuit and get out in those waves!