The first thing to know in any honest Copacabana Palace review is that you feel the history the moment you walk through the doors. This is Rio de Janeiro’s grand dame, a Belmond property holding one of the most recognizable addresses in South America, directly on Copacabana Beach. I stayed here on a recent trip through Brazil, and it remains the hotel I would put first for a traveler who wants to actually experience Rio rather than retreat from it. Two Iguazu Falls properties I stayed at on the same trip, Hotel das Cataratas and Awasi Iguazu, are getting their own reviews shortly.
A Major Expansion You Will Barely Notice
The property is in the middle of a major expansion, and the surprise is how little it touches the stay. The work covers a second Pool Wing that will open many more rooms, a five-floor wellness expansion, and a set of new beach-view rooms with balconies. Very few view rooms with balconies exist today, so this is a meaningful addition.
The only visible sign of construction is a large drop cloth near the pool and main restaurant. I never heard a single sound of work, and I was in a pool-facing room. The team estimates the new rooms open by November. That wing previously held 93 rooms, and they are converting it to 63 larger rooms with more suites.
The History You Feel at the Door
The hotel was built in 1923 as South America’s first luxury beachfront hotel, and it has drawn high society ever since. It was home to a casino until Brazil banned gambling in 1946. That former casino is now the theater and ballroom, which still hosts some of Carnival’s most prestigious events.
The building was designed by French architect Joseph Gire, who also designed properties in Nice, bringing a piece of the French Riviera to this stretch of beach. The property has appeared in dozens of films, hosted decades of high-profile guests, and serves as the home base for the free concert held on the beachfront each May, which draws more than two million people directly in front of the hotel. This year a high-profile guest in residence took the top suite and held most of the hotel for staff and security.
Who Copacabana Palace Is For
The hotel is historic, restored with a classic and genuinely luxury touch, and it holds its grand dame character without feeling like a museum. It has personality, and it draws a social crowd. Expect a lively atmosphere. The pool restaurant is regularly full of social groups and locals enjoying the scene.
If you want a quiet stay with real privacy, there are room categories that fit better, but this may not be your property. Then again, most travelers come to Rio for energy, not seclusion, and on that front the hotel delivers exactly what the city is known for.
The Rooms
Rooms in the main building run smaller and carry a historic feel, with high ceilings that suit the architecture. The pipes are original, so they bubble and gurgle through the night. Know that going in. Most rooms have Juliet balconies rather than full terraces, while the signature suites have proper outdoor terraces. This is why the new wing matters: the added balconies will fill a real gap.
I was in a Superior Partial Ocean View room and liked it. The view took in the pool and a good stretch of the beach. It was well appointed and comfortable, and since the point of Rio is to be out exploring, it was the right room for me as a solo traveler. One note: I could see directly into a residential building from the room, which I do not love, though it did not affect the stay much.
Family Room Set-Ups
There are few, if any, rooms here with two doubles or two queens. The strongest family configurations are a suite connected to a standard room, or two connecting rooms. The suites in the new wing should offer better options, including pull-out sofas, once they open.
The Signature Suites
The Signature Suites were renovated in 2025, so they are fully refreshed, spacious, and face the beach directly. They also include access to the Black Pool Terrace, a private rooftop pool reserved for guests on the signature suite floor, and they come with dedicated staff and a more butler-based level of service than the standard rooms and suites.
Service
Service was solid. Not over the top at any single moment, but zero complaints across the stay. Housekeeping was precise. I forgot a couple of basic toiletries and they arrived very quickly. Front desk, bell, and restaurant staff were all accommodating and professional.
Food and Beverage
I was able to eat at MEE, and it is worth planning around. Everything was excellent, and I recommend reserving here whether or not you stay at the hotel. It is the only pan-Asian restaurant in Rio to hold a Michelin star. Breakfast was strong as well, with a wide range of gluten-free options.
The Pool, Spa, and What to Do in Rio
The pool is the social center of the property and stays lively through the day. People were swimming laps and gathering as early as breakfast, and the space itself is bright, artistic, and full of energy. There is a strong spa, and the new wellness facilities will add Pilates, yoga, a cold plunge, and more.
A few things worth doing in Rio, and how to do them at the top level:
- Christ the Redeemer: take the fast track, or arrange a private sunrise tour. A private sunrise experience runs around fifteen thousand dollars and up, which makes the most sense with a larger group.
- Sugarloaf Mountain: fast track is available for the ascent but not the descent. Still worth it. A helipad option exists as well.
- Brazilian steakhouses: when in Rome. It is a genuinely fun experience.
- Rent a boat for a day on the water.
- Tour the Carnival workshops to see how the floats and costumes are built.
- Go during Carnival and arrange VIP access for the week: front-row seating, dedicated restrooms, and food and beverage service.
Booking Copacabana Palace
Coordinates Collective is a Belmond Bellini Club advisor. Booking Copacabana Palace through us layers preferred benefits on your room rate at parity with booking direct: daily breakfast for two, a one hundred dollar resort credit on rooms and junior suites or a two hundred twenty dollar credit on suites, a welcome amenity, and a room upgrade at check-in subject to availability. For Signature Suite guests, that upgrade can mean the difference between a Juliet balcony and a full beachfront terrace with Black Pool Terrace access.
If you are booking before the new wing opens in November, request a pool-facing or higher category in the main building and skip the lowest room tier, where the residential-building outlook and smaller footprint are most noticeable. If Copacabana Palace is on your shortlist, reach out before booking direct. The rate is the same, the layered benefits are not.
Codi Gunn is the founder of Coordinates Collective, a fee-free luxury travel advisory practice and Belmond Bellini Club advisor.
