Where To Stay In São Paulo, Brazil

From rustic farmland to a biophilic urban oasis, there's a hotel for every style

May 31, 2023

This spring was an unruly tornado of travel, and yet I’m still beaming from a few of the most luxurious and unique hotels I checked into throughout my trip to São Paulo, Brazil.

It’s quite easy to get jaded in this industry, so often – as I’ve previously spoken about – I try not to do too much advanced research, especially when it comes to accommodations. In the age of social media influencers always discovering a quiet nook at the pool (then it ends up being overcrowded during a visit) or using their filters to make a place appear more idyllic than it might be, I find this helps to manage my expectations.

One of my favorite feelings is pulling up to a hotel and witnessing everything about it – from the grand entrance to the lobby decor to first views and of course the room. And on my trip to São Paulo, well the hotels were certainly outstanding so I wanted to dedicate a newsletter to them.

I guess I should preface that prior to visiting Brazil, I didn’t realize just how big the state of São Paulo is (at 95,834 mi² it’s almost three times the size of Austria). I should also mention that anyone looking to book a trip to São Paulo might want to tack on a few extra days to explore the entirety of the state – day trips just won’t cut it here.

Even though this was a quick trip, I managed to sneak in a night at three different hotels throughout São Paulo; each of which was as breathtaking as the last. And completely distinct in its own right!

Fasano Boa Vista

The fashionable Fasano brand is acclaimed throughout Brazil and even opened their first U.S. hotel along Fifth Avenue in NYC last year. This was their third location ever opened, in 2011, tucked into Fazenda Boa Vista – the modern millionaire complex that my Brazilian friend told me is where all “the rich people from the big metropolis” have their second homes and frequent on weekends. The 39-room hotel is about 15 minutes from the main gate so upon entrance, you’ll witness some of these works of art. Of course, Fasano Boa Vista matches the savvy, streamlined structures throughout the Fazenda (farm) with the amenities to match – two pools overlooking untouched countryside, a multi-story spa and fitness center with a series of thermal pools, twin eighteen-hole golf courses, an equestrian center and world-class restaurant. The rooms are encased in natural wood, acting as both protection from the harsh equatorial sun as well as privacy, so it feels as if you’re in your own cocoon.

Distance from São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU): 2 hours, 15 minutes

Details I loved: Each room features a spacious wooden deck overlooking the lake that is ideal for a slow wake up among nature and for watching the sky transform to a golden watercolor in the evening; a remote locale with all the luxury amenities necessary (a destination in itself); the adults’ only infinity pool.

Fazenda Capoava

Prepare for a 20-minute bumpy ride down a dirt road to these rustic farm quarters. The 36-cottage property is arranged in a sort of adult summer camp vibe with clusters of four to five cottages next to one another, taking advantage of various landscapes, from farmland to lakefront. There are plenty of communal spaces, including outdoor grilling areas for churrascaria, the style of Brazilian barbeque that’s integral in this culture. Hammocks swing in front of every room for you to make small talk with your neighbor if desired. There’s tennis courts, two pools and a lakefront where many guests picnic. Though my guides assured me it would be the most rustic of our stays, I adored the intimacy and tranquility of this property. It was rustic-chic in my opinion, and worth the bumpy drive.

Distance from GRU: 2 hours

Details I loved: Fruit trees throughout the property that you can pick from; wood burning fireplaces in the cottages; a breakfast buffet that emphasizes Brazilian specialties like Pão de Queijo (cheese bread) Bolo de Fuba (cornmeal cake); the stone walkways connecting the main property to the dispersed rooms.

Rosewood São Paulo

In a city that’s renowned for their modernist architecture and plant-draped exteriors, this 180-key highrise didn’t disappoint. Even though I’d just returned from the countryside, the fern-laden entrance reminiscent of driving into a jungle was perhaps the most impactful and grand entrance of the hotels on this trip. Then the cool, dark interiors provided the perfect continuation of this jungle metaphor – an immaculate contrast to the unbearing glare of a brand new urban hotel and nod to the country’s natural environment, including 60 percent of the Amazon Basin. This continues past check-in (where you might think the natural ties stop) as guests pass a mini forest in the hallway leading to the elevators that also opens out to the biophilic pool terrace where tables are submerged in the shallows and cabanas are fringed with various foliage. It’s one of the best displays I’ve ever seen of a hotel effortlessly bringing the outside in (and in an urban locale nonetheless).

Distance from GRU: 1 hour

Details I loved: The ultra modern rooms with local designer accents; oversized bathrooms that feature every amenity you’ll ever need (from the standard slipper and robe to lube and condoms); the swanky rooftop bar emphasizing local botanicals; the elevators featuring regional species in framed art; the ornate glassware and mini bar in the room.