W Premium Lounge 5th Avenue for American Express Cardholders in São Paulo [Review]

São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) is the busiest in Brazil and offers the most international flights to and from the country.

Having spent much time in Brazil over the years, I know the airport well and have spent considerable time in its lounges. On my last visit in June 2025, I was surprised to find a new American Express Lounge had quietly opened after the Centurion Lounge was shuttered at the start of 2025.

While in the lounge, I wondered whether it was a scaled-down version of a Centurion Lounge, as it seemed inferior to most I’ve visited. Only after my visit, while writing this review, I learned it’s now a W Premium Lounge.

What Are W Premium Lounges?

W Premium Group is a Brazilian brand of airport lounges with 21 locations in Brazil and Argentina. Thanks to a new partnership with American Express, this group of lounges can be accessed by travelers holding select premium American Express credit cards.

Amex’s Global Lounge Collection website now displays all W Premium Lounges in South America when searching for an airport with one, such as Guarulhos. This newest location, 5th Avenue, is the third lounge that select American Express cardholders have access to when departing from Terminal 3 at São Paulo Guarulhos.

Hot Tip:

Having an American Express isn’t the only key to getting into an airport lounge. Here’s our full guide explaining how to access airport lounges, so you won’t have to buy an overpriced, poor-quality airport restaurant meal ever again.

W Premium Lounge 5th Avenue Location

During my visit, the lounge was so new that they either hadn’t gotten around to (or had forgotten to) add signage to point Amex cardholders in the right direction. I only accidentally encountered it when exploring Terminal 3.

However, finding the new W Premium Lounge 5th Avenue is easy even without any signs.

Turn left after clearing security and passport control, but don’t head up the stairs where the larger terminal lounges are. However, if you’re flying LATAM and have access to the LATAM VIP Lounge, I’d recommend going there rather than this new Amex lounge. You’ll see why in a moment.

The lounge might not have managed a new sign, but it did remove the old Centurion Lounge’s name from the sign pointing to where it used to be on the upper level.

Hot Tip:

Although the GRU Centurion Lounge is no longer in operation, Centurion Lounges are still located throughout the U.S. and in select international airports.

Keep walking about another 30 feet until you see the Havaianas shop.

The lounge is the next outlet on the left.

Gaining Entry to W Premium Lounge 5th Avenue

Access is restrictive for American Express’ partner lounges, including the new W Premium Lounge 5th Avenue.

Cardholders of The Platinum Card^® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express can enter the lounge and bring 1 guest with them. With the Centurion^® Card from American Express, cardholders and 2 complimentary guests or immediate family members can enter the lounge. Children up to 12 years old get complimentary access with qualifying cardholders.

Additionally, and unlike the other 2 W Premium Lounges in the terminal, the 5th Avenue location does not accept lounge access memberships like Dragonpass or Priority Pass.

According to Amex’s website, the lounge is open 24/7.

First Impressions

After doing a quick lap of the lounge in approximately 20 seconds, my initial thought was, “Wow, this lounge is small.”

It’s positively tiny compared to the Centurion Lounge that it technically replaced. Let’s examine it in more detail.

Seating

My rough estimate is that there was enough seating for around 50 guests. There was barely a spare seat for the first hour or so that I was in the lounge.

After the morning rush cleared and there were fewer people, I explored the lounge more.

That’s when I noticed this sign asking guests not to put their feet on the seats.

Thinking about it, Brazil is one of the countries where I notice people with their feet on seats, worse still, on tables where people eat their food. I think these signs are a good idea and should be introduced in all airport lounges.

The operators made the most of the small space by squeezing in as many seats as possible.

Several seats had power sockets close by. However, as they were not universal outlets, bring an adapter.

Given how compact everything was, there wasn’t much empty space for guests to store their luggage, which spilled into walkways and got in the way.

To the right of the entrance was a narrow corridor with more waiting room-style seating. During my visit, a family with 2 young children had set up camp here, so nobody else was using the space.

My favorite spot to sit was in this small area with 4 chairs. As the only chairs in the lounge with armrest, I found them to be the comfiest.

Directly behind where I took the photo above was a small dining area with a few tables, which were always occupied by people eating.

Behind the glass door was a private dining room for cardholders of the exclusive, invite-only Centurion card (pictured by the doorway). The space boasts à la carte dining and a more elite drinks menu.

Food and Beverages

Food and drinks are available throughout the day. The buffet area is located through the archway at the very back of the lounge. During my visit from around 8 to 10 a.m., breakfast was being served.

Sadly, the buffet was a drab spread of beige.

I moved swiftly past the fried beige balls and breakfast hotdogs. Yep, hotdogs for breakfast is a thing in Brazil.

It wouldn’t be a Brazilian buffet without the famous pão de queijo. Its literal translation of “cheese bread” doesn’t do these justice. When they’re good, they should be called “cheesy bread balls from heaven.”

Even the sweet treats were beige. I was tempted by the pain au chocolat (on the left), but decided to save room for dessert on the flight instead.

Despite lacking in color, I was happy to find vegetable omelettes.

My happiness did a sudden 180 when I took my first bite and realised they were as rubbery as they looked.

The fruit selection made a nice color change from all the beige.

I’ve still never found out why they wrap apples in plastic in Brazil.

The cold cuts section wasn’t very appetizing, especially the sweaty cheese with its hardened edges.

To finish off the spread was an assortment of desserts.

In addition to allergen labels next to each food item, a large sign advised those with dietary requirements to speak to staff for more options.

What the lounge lacked in the food department, it made up for with its Illy coffee station behind the bar. Illy coffee is, in my humble opinion, one of the best coffee brands in the world.

Finding good coffee in Brazil shouldn’t be a surprise. However, I recently learned that most of the incredible coffee that Brazil is known for is exported. The coffee many Brazilians are used to drinking is what they call “coado.” It’s the equivalent of the drip coffee you often find in the U.S., just not as bad.

Guests can help themselves to 2 chock-full fridges of all the classic soda brands you’d expect to find in any lounge. The cans were the mini versions in one of the fridges.

The second fridge had full-sized cans. If you’ve never tried it, Guaraná Antarctica is Brazil’s version of Coke and is a must when visiting the country.

There were also 3 water taps that offered the choice of cold, sparkling, or room temperature water.

The taps featured W Premium Lounge’s branding.

Beers, wines, and spirits were available to order from the same bar area as the coffee. It’s pretty standard procedure for Amex lounges not to have self-serve alcohol.

Amenities

The amenities were limited to 2 unisex bathroom cubicles and a shower unit — all of which were accessible. The shower was complimentary only for Centurion cardholders.

Bath amenities were by Brazilian company Realgems.

Staff and Service

My main staff interactions were with the woman who checked me in at reception and a second lady who served me my 2 delightful espressos. Both were friendly, polite, and professional: precisely what you’d expect from employees working in an American Express lounge.

Elsewhere, other team members were milling around, wiping up and clearing away after guests, and ensuring the buffet was stocked and fresh.

Final Thoughts

This is a tough one. I’m a huge fan of American Express lounges, and I’ve visited many to be able to say that confidently. However, the W Premium Lounge 5th Avenue was probably about one-fifth of the size of the Centurion Lounge it replaced. Its ceilings were low, and there was no natural light. When I factor in the disappointing breakfast selection, I can’t rate this lounge as anything more than mediocre.

Frankly speaking, the only reason I stayed in the lounge was to write this review. Now I don’t have to go back; I’ll use the far superior LATAM VIP Lounge next time.

At first, I wondered whether this might be a temporary lounge while Amex secured a new location for a full Centurion Lounge. Given the new partnership with W Premium Group, I realize that’s highly unlikely.

While it’s a shame that the replacement for the Centurion Lounge at São Paulo’s main international airport is subpar, there are plenty of other options for you to choose from when passing through the airport.