This Belle Époque stalwart opened as South America’s first European-style resort in 1923, modeled on the beachfront hotels of the French Riviera. Since then, any visiting royalty or celebrity worth his Atlantic sea salt has stayed in one of its 239 whitewashed rooms (and their head shots line the hallways). Even if you’re not checking in, the bar near the semi-Olympic-size pool, with its bossa nova soundtrack and fresh fruit caipirinhas, gets our vote for where to drink away the afternoon. If you’re here on Sunday (and hungry) head to Pérgula, which overlooks the pool.