The beach that inspired the most famous bossa nova of all time, "Garota de Ipanema." Here the plan is simple: sunshine, soccer, coconut water, and watching the sunset from the Arpoador rock, when the whole beach breaks into applause as the sun slips behind the Dois Irmãos peaks. Chicer and more laid-back than Copacabana, with the best end-of-day in all of Rio.