The Top 6 Hotels to Experience in São Paulo, Brazil

Arriving in São Paulo, the sheer scale of Brazil's largest city is best appreciated from a window seat. With a metro population of 22 million paulistanos, São Paulo expands in all directions: towering residential buildings rise like a Lego city, while its suburbs extend outward and the urban core becomes increasingly dense. To navigate this vibrant, complex city, having a central place to stay is invaluable. Here, we highlight six exceptional hotels in São Paulo that provide peace, ample space, prime locations, and insights into the local culture.

Hotel Unique

This striking modern hotel, shaped like a ship, was designed by renowned Paulistano architect Ruy Ohtake and completed in 2002. Among his extensive portfolio of over 400 projects throughout Brazil, this one stands out with its ship hull design featuring porthole windows on each floor and a soaring lobby with impressively high ceilings. The hotel offers 84 guest rooms and 10 suites that boast these memorable porthole windows, with walls that slide to cover them instead of traditional curtains. High-tech features include remote-controlled room dividers and inflatable headrests. Thanks to its unique characteristics, Hotel Unique ranks as one of the city’s finest hotels, providing exceptional service and creative design for both business and leisure travelers. It also features a fantastic rooftop restaurant (offering a blend of European and Brazilian cuisine), a pool, and the Skye bar, which offers breathtaking views of Ibirapuera Park and São Paulo's skyline—so stunning that locals used to queue for a glimpse when the rooftop first opened.

Rosewood São Paulo

Featuring the architecture of Jean Nouvel and design by Philippe Starck, along with art from the prominent Brazilian artist Vik Muniz, Rosewood São Paulo showcases 24 types of marble and represents the work of 4,000 artisans. Since its grand opening in January 2022, this five-star hotel has captivated both visitors and locals. Nestled in the Bela Vista neighborhood, the Rosewood transcends a typical hotel experience as it is a mixed-use complex. The site of a former maternity hospital has been transformed into 160 guest rooms, three restaurants (one available 24/7), two pools (including a rooftop infinity pool and a ground-level pool featuring Gaudi-inspired mosaic tiles), and a jazz/cocktail bar. An ultra-modern vertical garden tower will host the hotel's largest suites and 100 residences. Additionally, the historic 1922 Chapel of Santa Luzia is available for weddings, along with plans for a cultural center.

With so many reasons to remain on the property, Rosewood meticulously focused on design details. Over 450 site-specific artworks are showcased, featuring a blend of sculptures, paintings, tiles, drawings, and textiles, all created in collaboration with 57 Brazilian artists. Spend some time here, and a concierge will enlighten you about Regina Silveira’s wildlife-themed carpets in the lobby. Take the elevator to explore the unique art displayed in each corridor (and even in the elevator), including a “graffiti-inspired painting” by São Paulo street artist Caligrapix. Indigenous cooking tools adorn the shelves in the tapas restaurant, while acoustic guitars and stunning photography enhance the wooden walls in the guest rooms, creating a feast for the eyes.

Tivoli Mofarrej São Paulo

Entering the Tivoli is reminiscent of stepping into a lush conservatory, complete with glass ceilings and walls, abundant light and warmth, and a sparkling clean lobby floor. It’s a welcome escape from the vibrant buzz just a block away on Avenida Paulista, the city’s main thoroughfare. Behind the lobby, the stylish yet relaxed Must bar offers enticing caipirinhas; upstairs, about 200 guest rooms in soothing neutral tones feature plush king-size beds that are difficult to leave. This family-run hotel, now part of the Leading Hotels of the World, is defined by its blend of comfort and elegance. Its prime location, just two blocks from MASP (São Paulo Museum of Art), showcases works by Brazilian artists alongside masterpieces from Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, and Picasso. Don’t miss a meal at Seen restaurant and bar—its name, coupled with 360-degree city views and a window seat for every guest, makes it a must-visit hotspot in São Paulo.

Hotel Fasano São Paulo

Picture a lobby filled with fashion enthusiasts at Hotel Fasano, a stylish midcentury escape nestled among the upscale designer boutiques of the Jardim Paulista district. A bartender in a white tuxedo mixes cocktails, embodying the meticulously crafted 1940s aesthetic of the hotel. It’s incredibly . . . bossa nova. Live bossa nova and jazz can be enjoyed in the Baretto piano bar. The impressive Restaurante Fasano is renowned as one of Brazil's finest Italian restaurants, offering contemporary twists on classic dishes and earning a spot on the Latin America’s 100 Best Restaurants list. While these spaces exude a sleek and masculine vibe with dark woods and subdued lighting, the Nonna Ruggero trattoria provides a more relaxed atmosphere reminiscent of a cozy meal at grandma’s house or her outdoor patio. The 60 guest rooms are bright and inviting, accented with cheerful yellow and quilted leather. On the upper level, the exceptional spa, complete with a fitness center, yoga classes, and a heated pool, serves as a personal sanctuary. This hotel is also part of the Leading Hotels of the World.

Palácio Tangará, an Oetker Collection hotel

Rising from Burle Marx Park like a mirage, the Palácio Tangará is an all-white palace that overlooks stretches of protected Amazon rainforest. Is it real? As part of the luxury German Oetker Collection, Palácio Tangará offers a serene escape from São Paulo’s busy atmosphere, creating a more tranquil setting. The five-star service is impeccable, featuring traditional British afternoon tea and dinner at Tangará Jean-Georges (yes, the Jean-Georges), along with superb indoor and outdoor pools and a spa. The 141 stylish guest rooms, adorned in cool blues, grays, and creams, include 51 suites with park views, offering various configurations—junior suites, superior suites, and deluxe junior suites with terraces—ideal for traveling families.

InterContinental São Paulo

The InterContinental São Paulo may lack excessive frills, but it excels in accessibility: staff members are fluent in French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese. Pets, specifically dogs and cats up to 33 pounds, are welcomed along with their owners. The hotel clearly outlines its wheelchair accessibility, covering everything from the parking lot to restrooms and the spacious 195 guest rooms, many of which feature balconies. Business travelers—or rather, today’s digital nomads—will appreciate the executive rooms with living room “offices” and the option to reserve meeting spaces upon arrival. The all-day dining restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., catering to any schedule after a long flight, and once you venture out, Avenida Paulista and the São Paulo Museum of Art are just a few blocks away.