Rio's rat-race may be rather less, shall we say, ratty than some, but that isn't to say that sometimes more than just a sandy beach full of men shouting about their grilled cheese and esfiha is required to gtet things back on the right track. Anti-stress is the Viver Zen motto, and that is what you begin to sense just from walking through the door thanks to the feeling of reed carpets on bare feet and the sound of gently running water.

Arranged across two floors of a pretty yellow house in Ipanema, the team dedicates itself to the pursuit of relaxation techniques from massage and reflexology to hot stones and mud wraps. With an almost 50-50 male-female split in their customers, and as popular among tourists as it is locals, there is obviously something in the space's simplicity that has broader appeal than most, as well as monthly specials that are worth keeping an eye out for. The twelve-strong team also means the spa can stay open seven days a week (even during public holidays), and with discounts available for cash payments and specific hours, a restorative one-hour massage can go for as little as R$98.