Rosewood São Paulo

Rosewood São Paulo occupies the heart of Cidade Matarazzo, a 30,000-square-metre mixed-use development of early 20th-century buildings close to Avenida Paulista. The hotel is set in the former Matarazzo Maternity hospital, where more than 500,000 Brazilians were born, and in a new tower wrapped in vertical gardens. The project was led by the entrepreneur Alexandre Allard, with the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel and the designer Philippe Starck, who acted as artistic director.

Brazilian culture runs through the design. Most of the materials were sourced locally, and the hotel commissioned around 450 site-specific works from local artists, so corridors, rooms and public spaces double as a gallery. There are 160 rooms and suites in total, ranging from standard rooms to suites and Signature Suites, and the Matarazzo Suite draws on the history of the old maternity building. A further 100 private residences in the complex are sold separately. The restoration of the old buildings is presented as a sustainable project that celebrates the natural environment, which is most visible in the planted tower that now rises above the historic blocks.

Food and drink are a big part of the experience, with five restaurants and bars to choose from: Le Jardin, Blaise, Taraz, Rabo di Galo and the Bela Vista Bar, plus in-room dining. The Asaya Spa by Guerlain includes a Crystal Room among its treatment spaces, alongside a beauty salon and a fitness centre.

The hotel suits travellers looking for a design-led luxury stay with a strong sense of place, as well as couples on special trips and business travellers who want to be near Avenida Paulista. Set within a mixed-use complex, it feels more like a small district than a secluded retreat. Part of the accommodation is in the historic building and part in the new tower, so ask about room location when booking if you have a preference.

The location is one of its main advantages. Avenida Paulista, with MASP, the Instituto Moreira Salles and the Sunday car-free street, is nearby, and the Jardins shops and restaurants such as D.O.M. are within easy reach by taxi. Reservations and enquiries can be made through the Rosewood website, by phone or by email at [email protected].