Rio's most sought-after hotspots are far from blessed when it comes to their lodgings. Ipanema and Copacabana are strewn with faceless, feature-free and expensive hotels, forcing fans of the unusual to look a little bit further afield. To that end, Time Out Rio has scoured the city to pick out 15 of the best, from unsung gems to feisty newcomers staking their claim on the affections of the adventurous. Divided into three price ranges, each one delivers the kind of cool that can make a holiday or kick a weekend break into a whole new realm.

Less than R$250 | R$250-$600 | More than R$600

Less than R$250

From famous favela inn The Maze to the most bohemian of Santa Teresa offerings like CasAlegre Art Villa, opting for cool doesn't have to mean breaking the bank, plus the city's hostels are beginning to embrace the boutique and provide an entirely new strata of accommodation.

• Read the first part of our 15 coolest places to stay in Rio
  

R$300 - R$600

Independently run boutique guesthouses like Casa Mosquito are springing up across Rio as pieces of its crumbling colonial architecture finally get the love they deserve. A more personal service, but with all the mod-cons of a five star hotel, the hip traveller with a little more to spend suddenly has options from Ipanema to Santa Teresa.

• Read the second part of our 15 coolest places to stay in Rio

More than R$600

The last word in cool will come at a premium, albeit one that delivers the ultimate panoramic Rio view with all of its most famous landmarks included at no extra price. Alternatively, split the costs and sign up for six hours of 'cool' of a very, very different kind at VIPs.

• Read the third part of our 15 coolest places to stay in Rio