The story of the hospitality brand Fasano began in 1902, when the Italian immigrant Vittorio Fasano opened a brasserie in São Paulo, Brazil. Following several iterations of the esteemed family cuisine concept over the course of a century—passing down the legacy over generations—it opened its first hotel, the Hotel Fasano São Paulo, in 2003. In the 20 years since, the group has grown to include 10 hotels and 28 restaurants, with more to come, in Brazil, Uruguay, and the U.S., with the Fasano Fifth Avenue, in New York City.
Outfitted with incomparable views, amenities like spas, private beaches, and golf courses, and impeccable gastronomic concepts stemming from patriarch Vittorio’s first São Paulo brasserie, each of the hotel properties fosters an environment for a one-of-a-kind escape. In keeping with the personal touch synonymous with a familial brand, each hotel property features singular design concepts—some built from the ground up, while others reimagine existing structures—that honor their respective locations and foster true escape and relaxation, from accomplished architects and designers.
Deluxe Oceanfront Suite at Hotel Fasano Angra Dos Reis, courtesy of Fasano.
In 2017, Fasano Angra dos Reis opened within the FRAD.E resort complex in Rio de Janeiro, joining as one of the paradisaical location’s Bernardes + Jacobsen Arquitetura–designed structures, conceived to highlight the existing nature. Travelers to the seaside destination (a property of more than four thousand acres) will find themselves situated in one of 60 ocean-facing and garden suites, where Brazilian designers and regional artisans have outfitted the property in ocean blue hues and warm natural materials like wood and wicker.
During a visit to the Fasano Angra dos Reis, one’s itinerary could be as carefree as spending entire days poolside or at the spa, which features seven treatment rooms, an indoor lap pool, and classes with trained instructors. Or, for those who are more adventurous, the property boasts opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, golfing, and boat trips to one of 365 islands just off the coast. Meanwhile, its two restaurants offer light beachside bites—from salads to sandwiches at Praia and, in a concept by the family restaurateur Rogério Fasano, a sophisticated evening menu centering beautifully presented seafood at the eponymous Fasano.
The pool at Hotel Fasano Salvador, courtesy of Fasano.
Those looking for accommodations in Salvador, the capital of Brazil’s Bahia region, will find that the hotel Fasano Salvador exceeds expectations. It is the first Fasano property to inhabit a historic building, and the Art Deco structure is the former home of the newspaper A Tarde— updated for the Fasano Group by the Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld. Situated in the city’s Castro Alves Square, with views of the bay from a rooftop pool, the 11-story accommodations (opened in 2018) were reconceived to uphold the integrity of the 1930s structure with its beautiful Carrara marble floors, towering ceilings, and arched doorways, while each of its 70 rooms and suites has been outfitted with dark jacaranda wood, parquet flooring, natural textures, and a chic, timeless simplicity.
Whether staying in a superior guestroom or a luxury suite, those who find themselves at the property can enjoy additional features like a fitness center, the aforementioned rooftop pool, and a wellness spa, which includes a treatment menu curated by the holistic therapist Fabrícia Nogueira. Also not to be missed during a stay at Fasano Salvador is the hotel’s iteration of the Fasano Restaurant, which features a bilingual menu specializing in Italian cuisine—think veal osso buco with whitewine and herbs, cotoletta alla Milanese, and spaghetti alla carbonara—and local Bahian dishes, as well as a climatized wine cellar, which can bebooked for private events.
Praia Restaurant at Fasano Trancoso, photo by Daniel Pinheiro.
Finally comes the Fasano Trancoso in southern Bahia, which just opened its grounds to guests in 2021. While one can find elements of escape from the mundanity of the everyday woven cleverly into the plans of each Fasano property, the accommodations at Fasano Trancoso are truly transcendent. Nestled next to a remote fishing village on the shores of Itapororoca Beach, it replaces the typical hotel structure with a series of bungalows tucked away into the tropical flora. Guests stay in one-or two-bedroom bungalows—also designed by Weinfeld in a concept centering nature, community, and environmental protection—where organic materials and airy, earthen tones allow the lush greenery and gently crashing ocean waves to become the point of focus.
Aside from visiting the beach, swimming in the pool, or lounging in one of the private hammocks found hanging from each bungalow terrace, the Fasano Trancoso holds ample opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment. Feast on a casual daytime meal with your toes in the sand at the restaurant Praia; borrow one of the property’s bicycles for a jaunt to the village; take part in kayaking and paddleboarding; or unwind with a massage or a trip to the sauna. The property’s more elevated dining establishment, the restaurant Fasano Trancoso (also open to the public by reservation) offers an elegantly covered, open-air space where Chef Zé Branco helms the kitchen. And solidifying Fasano Trancoso’s existenceas a year-round escape, the grounds are also home to a series of Villasand Estâncias, where architects like Thiago Bernardes, Davi Bastos, and Guy Matos have created permanent, exclusive private residences.
The Spa at Fasano Trancoso, photo by Daniel Pinheiro.
