Chez Georges Design Hotel is a Brutalist Beauty
Serendipity brought us to our stay at Chez Georges in Rio de Janeiro–a Brutalist Brazilian Beauty situated in a private hilltop location in the chic Santa Teresa neighborhood.
Sitting fireside in Chile, we picked up a coffee table book – the yearly release of The Design Hotels Book. Anticipating our trip to Rio in three weeks, we thumbed through the Brazil section, and here we found a marvelous villa – Chez Georges. Upon entering the grandiose front gate, you’ll be living the luxury carioca lifestyle. Treat yourself to a limoa caipirinha and relax.
Location and Safety
Chez Georges is a secure oasis located on a peak in the lofty Santa Teresa neighborhood, with a sweet view of Sugar Loaf Mountain and Guanabara Bay. The villa has seven suites, but we were lucky to enjoy the entire villa privately due to our visit around Christmas – Feliz Natal!
In addition, you’ll take a swift modern elevator up to the villa that you can only gain entry to through a large pair of wooden doors. For ultimate privacy, you’ll be given a key for the front door and a separate one for your bedroom door.
In summary, Chez Georges is situated on a safe and private hilltop location in the Santa Teresa neighborhood of Rio.
Food and Drink
The personal guest assistant allows for a truly bespoke experience – customizing everything from breakfast to tours around town.
During your stay, you can request a custom breakfast, complete with any local Brazilian food you’d like – think açai, fresh mango from the backyard, massive avocados, tomatoes from the garden, and fresh-squeezed orange juice.
The on-site personal guest is there in person or via whatsapp to cater to your Rio wishes – whether it be a recommendation for which landmarks to visit or how to navigate a favela party. Navigating the city from the neighborhood of Santa Teresa is not difficult, and Uber’s are abundant as of 2019.
For Creatives
Everyone is creative in their own right, and Chez Georges caters to your inner artist. The villa has a little something for every creative – a fully sound-proofed on-site production studio for the musician, a gigantic easel for the artist, a panoramic rooftop for the photographer, and a stacked library for the bibliophile. The property is in harmony with the right brain, so don’t forget to use it during your stay.
Architecture and Interior
Exceptional design populates every nook of the interior. Described as transcontinental modernism, Chez Georges is a showcase of European, Asian, and Brazilian born decor.
Built in the 1970s by Wladimir Alves de Souza, Chez Georges was recently renovated by the sun-kissed duo Pierre Bident Moldeva and Olivier Verwilghen – the latter of which is a kitesurfer, which we of course think is quite cool. Did we mention they have another property that basically caters to the kitesurfing community in Northern Brazil? Yeah, La Ferme de Georges is on our bucket list too.
The property is surrounded by a protected jungle reserve. Consequently, fantastic jungle flora and massive fruit trees envelope the property – including a papaya tree that attracts the cute little marmosets of Rio. We were lucky enough to have them visit for breakfast one morning.
The interior design of Chez Georges is something to ogle over as well. Furnished with pieces from Brazil to Europe, the minimalist tropical decor enkindles an atmosphere of refined comfort and liberal hospitality.
Relax
The grounds are a thoughtfully landscaped jungle that create serene vibes for the visitors and seemingly the animals that call Rio home. You’ll fall asleep to the sounds of nearby samba on a weekend, and the song of bugs, birds, and frogs on a weekday.
The backyard pool is perfect for lapping or lounging, and is paired with a heated hot tub for chillier times.
Rooms
The master suite is equipped with a blue marbled shower and floor-to-ceiling windows, all suites have a private balcony or sitting area. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a welcome gift like we did of Granado – a local Brazilian skincare company that makes products from local ingredients like the Brazil Nut.
The water pressure is like none other, as if the jungle itself was raining down on your sweaty body. If you’re not sweating in Rio, then maybe you’re not in Rio? The shower was something we looked forward to everyday on our way back from exploring the city.