Separated from the bustle of General Osório square by the Morro do Pavão hill and sandwiched between a large private house and an orthodox church, Casa Mosquito might have an impressively ramshackled-favela view in the distance, but the calm of this corner of Ipanema is palpable once you ascend the staircase and emerge on the varanda of this French-run haven. Boutique is the order of the day, with only four bedrooms (more are planned for early 2013) upstairs, and enough space, nooks and patios to allow guests to feel like they have the house to themselves. And that's not including the private balconies off each of the four rooms, two of which look out over Ipanema to the rolling Atlantic Ocean.

Adding to the relaxed atmosphere, breakfast can be taken or not according to your morning whimsy (a reasonable R$35 per person supplement is payable if you do want it), opening up the numerous café options nearby for the more adventurous. Lunch and dinner can be booked in advance and the chef will scoot off to the local market and prepare a unique menu with whatever is in season, and is eaten wherever the guests wish, although the large communal dining table is on hand if the weather makes their balcony or the patio less palatable. Wi-Fi is free, massages, transfers and guides are all on hand, room service is available from 10am-10pm and there is a boutique (of course) shop in the reception selling jewellery from local designers from Prazeres and Pavão favelas, t-shirts and magazines. All you would expect from a five star hotel, in other words, but with a personalised, unmistakably French flourish.

• Featured in Time Out Rio's 15 Coolest Places to Stay