From Punta Del Este To Rio- A Look Inside South America’s Trendiest Hotels

30.04.2024 - 21:51 / forbes.com

One of my very favorite parts of traveling the world involves discovering exceptional locations, properties, and brands that are unique, distinctive, rich in history - and unfamiliar to those from my part of the world. During my recent travels to South America, I became acquainted with one such brand – Fasano.

Little-known in the United States, Fasano is, nevertheless, a familiar name among the well-heeled in Brazil and its neighboring countries. Based in Sao Paulo, Fasano Group operates 10 boutique properties, including 8 in its home country. However, the roots of the company – and the Fasano Family – are in the restaurant business. In 1902, Vittorio Fasano arrived to Brazil from Milan, and opened the family’s first restaurant in Sao Paulo. The Fasano Restaurant brand thrived and expanded through multiple generations - for more than a century, in fact - until Rogerio Fasano opened the flagship Fasano Sao Paulo Hotel in 2003.

Fasano’s initial foray outside Brazil came in 2010 with the opening of Fasano Punta del Este – and this is where I recently got my first taste of the brand. Set in a secluded location in the Uruguayan countryside, roughly midway between the bustling nightlife of Punta del Este and the uber-cool shabby chic beach town Jose Ignacio, the Fasano provides a much different experience. Yes, golf, horseback riding, and an excellent gym and Kid’s Club provide plenty to do, and the beautiful beaches of the Uruguayan coast are just a short drive away, but what makes this resort special are not its available activities, but its serenity, tranquility, and natural beauty.

The Fasano is laid out over an enormous 1,210 acre property, with the hotel set up in a way to maximize views of its beautiful ranch-style landscape. Its architecture is striking, bold, and edgy, with its various buildings featuring stone, woods, concrete, and glass in sharp geometric lines. The architectural style is contemporary, but the materials seem to blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings.

Designed by award-winning Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, the majority of the hotel’s rooms are located in 32 individual private bungalows spread across the property, each featuring a living room and floor-to-ceiling windows that make guests feel they are immersed in the countryside. Each bungalow is tastefully and uniquely decorated in a rustic style with vintage furniture from the region.

A newer main building, called the Locanda Building, houses the hotel’s 10 remaining rooms, along with a library, bar, solarium, and swimming pool. While smaller than the bungalow suites, these rooms are nevertheless spacious, exquisitely decorated, and offer more elevated views of the property and the rolling hills of the region.

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