the neighborhood of leme is situated in the zona sul(south zone) of rio de janeiro adjacent to copacabana beach- the neighborhood takes its name from the small section of land jutting out into the atlantic ocean, which when viewed from above resembles a boat's rudder - 'leme' in portuguese means 'rudder'.

many hotels have been built over the years in the area, most notably the windsor atlântica hotel, which reopened in 2011.

the neighborhood is known for some incredible views, especially from morro do leme, a huge natural granite form that dominates the protruding segment of land from which the areas takes its name.