Unveiling the Charms of W São Paulo in Brazil: A Detailed Hotel Review

Brazil’s first W hotel, W São Paulo, officially opened its doors in December 2024. To celebrate my birthday in style, I booked a room at this brand-new hotel that has quickly transformed São Paulo’s skyline.

Checking in just 2 weeks after the hotel opened, I was expecting soft-opening hiccups, but my family and I were pleasantly surprised with almost every aspect of the hotel.

While certainly not a brand geared toward families, our stay was wonderful, and the location put us at a great starting point for plenty of the city’s activities.

Let’s take a closer look at this stunning new hotel.

W São Paulo Location

The 179-room W São Paulo is in the Vila Olimpia neighborhood of São Paulo, a business district and home to São Paulo’s famous twin towers. The hotel occupies floors 23 to 40 of the building, with guest rooms starting on the 25th floor and the W Residences in the bottom half.

This is a particularly attractive location, as it is safe and walkable to popular attractions, including a nice family park (Parque do Povo), JK Iguatemi Mall, and food places like Eataly.

We flew into São Paulo-Congonhas Airport (CGH), which is about 5 miles from the hotel. The main international airport, Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), is about 22 miles. So, if you have the option, Congonhas is more convenient.

Booking the W São Paulo

Pricing for the W São Paulo was interesting during my visit in the first week of January 2025.

Cash prices started around $550, which is not absurd for a high-end hotel in São Paulo, but in comparison, paying with points was far cheaper.

Marriott Bonvoy Points

Award rates were 38,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, which represented a 1.4 cents-per-point redemption, more than double our current valuation.

This was a no-brainer redemption since I had a healthy stash of points from my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

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A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

95,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $665

Annual Fee

$650

APR

19.99%-28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

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Card Highlights

• Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy^® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy^® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.
• Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
• Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99%-28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Reward night options for my dates were:

• Cozy guest room, 1 king bed: 38,000 points
• Deluxe Queen guest room, 2 queen beds: 38,000 points (what I booked)
• Deluxe King guest room, 1 king bed: 38,000 points

Checking In

My family and I arrived around 1 p.m. and were quickly greeted by 4 (!) bellmen who welcomed us and directed us to the 24th floor to start the check-in process.

Since the first 22 floors were part of the W Residences, the lobby was a desk by the bar. The 23rd floor was occupied by a restaurant.

The check-in process was friendly and efficient. My wife and I were offered Champagne, and our kids were served juice. A nice start, to say the least!

The staff up to this point was great, and it really felt like they were excited to be a part of a brand-new hotel.

Elite Benefits

I get automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, which comes with a decent list of benefits that vary by hotel brand.

At the W São Paulo, the perks were great and included:

• 4 p.m. checkout
• Free breakfast, points, or an amenity (I chose breakfast)
• Upgrade (not available)

I’m not sure if the suites were full or just not ready, but I didn’t see them available on the website, so I didn’t expect much of an upgrade. The breakfast and late checkout were great perks, though.

Deluxe Queen Room

I booked a Deluxe Queen room with 2 queen beds, and that is what we received. Although I would have loved an upgrade based on status, the room was so nice that I quickly forgot about that possibility … even with 4 people in the room.

We were assigned room 3012, almost at the end of the hall on the 30th floor.

The room is listed at 420 square feet (39 square meters) and felt even bigger than that, thanks to the wall-to-wall windows revealing the sprawling skyline.

The room was modern, with a nice mix of wood, gold, and cream colors.

Especially notable was the golden cage of a closet, which was a beautiful place to store bags and grab a robe and pair of Trousseau slippers.

The gold mirrors behind the bed were startling at first but actually did a great job of brightening up the room and quickly blended into the environment.

The beds were extremely comfortable and featured motion-activated LED lighting. The only downside was that these lights were extremely bright at night, so anytime someone got up to use the bathroom, the whole room lit up.

Speaking of automation, the lights and curtains were all controlled by switches next to the bed and by the door, which was a nice touch in a bright city.

Power outlets and USB-A and USB-C ports were also present at the bedside, perfect for charging devices at the end of the day.

The bedside table featured a Harman Kardon Luna Bluetooth speaker, which was quite powerful for the size of the room.

In the corner of the room, there was a chair and ottoman alongside a table and reading lamp.

And in front of the bed, underneath the 50-inch television, was the minibar and desk.

A welcome amenity from the hotel and a slice of birthday cake from my wife waited for me on the desk. Both were delicious!

Next to the desk was a Nespresso maker, a variety of wine and cocktail glasses, and a drink mixer.

There was also a solid lineup of snacks and junk food for purchase …

… as well as a minibar stocked with water, juices, sodas, beer, wine, and spirits, also available for purchase.

Bathroom

The bathroom was compact but well-designed and beautiful.

The gold and wood touches continued, but now with a touch of white marble for the sink, which gave the bathroom a nice, subtle pop of contrast.

The small sink was surrounded on all sides by amenities, including soaps, lotions, vanity kits, and more.

The rose gold makeup mirror was a nice touch but took up too much real estate on the limited countertop.

To the left of the sink was a hidden door that opened into the toilet area.

The rose gold accessories continued to stand out and prove that they were not nearly an afterthought.

To the right of the sink was a very large shower, with a window offering the same sweeping view as the living room.

Amenities were large and refillable but were of great quality.

And the shower pressure was impressive, especially for being so high up.

Amenities

The W São Paulo has a long list of amenities for guests staying at this city hotel. Not all were available during our visit, but the ones that were were all top-notch.

WET Deck

The WET Deck at the W São Paulo is on the 40th floor and offers sweeping views of the city.

This rooftop pool area is a great spot to relax before or after you explore the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere.

With plenty of lounge chairs, both covered and not, and a giant screen (not yet working at the time of our visit), this is sure to be a popular spot to enjoy a sunny day.

During one of our dips, staff brought around nonalcoholic “immunity booster” shots for us.

Additional food and drinks were available from the restaurant L40.

The WET Deck is open daily from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

AWAY Spa

AWAY Spa is W Hotel’s take on the relaxing spa experience, often branded as an urban sanctuary.

The W São Paulo AWAY Spa was not open during my visit. It was scheduled to open in March 2025.

Fitness Center

The fitness center at the W São Paulo was, as expected, top-tier. However, also as expected, it was not 100% ready.

On the 39th floor, high-end equipment and great views awaited guests.

There were plenty of Technogym bikes and treadmills to accommodate guests at this (relatively small) hotel.

There was also a Technogym kinesis system, which I still don’t have the knowledge or courage to use even after years of seeing them at hotel gyms.

And, of course, there was a nice selection of free weights.

However, there were a few things missing during my visit, including the weight plates for the squat rack and yoga mats, but nothing that prevented me from getting in a decent workout.

There was also a nice but small fridge with water and fruit.

Bottom Line:

The W São Paulo has a solid gym with (almost) everything you need and nothing you don’t.

Helipad

If you have ever visited São Paulo, you know how popular helicopters are. In fact, the city has the most registered helicopters in the world, with over 2,000 takeoffs and landings each day.

So, it’s no surprise that hotels often offer helipads as an amenity, and the W São Paulo is no exception.

Although there is no helipad on the property (that would disrupt the rooftop poolgoers), guests can use the helipad at the São Paulo Corporate Towers right across the street if they arrive by air.

Valet Parking

If you are arriving by car, valet parking is available in the secured and covered garage under the hotel. Valet parking rates are $20 per day.

Wi-Fi

Wireless internet at the W São Paulo is fast and free for guests. Throughout my stay, Wi-Fi consistently passed 100 Mbps.

I had some issues logging on at first, but after a quick call with tech support, I had seamless streaming for the rest of my stay.

Food and Beverages

São Paulo has an incredible food scene, and the W São Paulo is aiming to be a big part of that.

With 3 places to eat, including a high-end rooftop restaurant, most guests won’t go hungry when staying at the W. I say “most” because my kids were not impressed with the dinner menus. But I am fully aware that they are not the target clientele!

BAIO Cozinha Sulista

BAIO is on the 23rd floor and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant combines traditional local flavors from the south of Brazil with modern touches.

Breakfast was our favorite meal here, as there was an impressive buffet and à la carte menu available. Plus, it was complimentary, thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status.

If breakfast is not included with your stay, you can expect to pay $27 (R$160) per person. This is reasonable in U.S. dollars, but it is one of the more expensive breakfasts I have seen in Brazil. Fortunately, it was delicious.

The buffet had a long line of fruits and yogurts …

… as well as cold cuts and cheeses.

The hot section had a nice selection of eggs, potatoes, bacon, and sausages each morning.

There was also a hearty bread station …

… as well as a beautiful honeycomb and berry presentation.

After the first round at the buffet, my family and I tended to order something else from the menu.

I went with the açaí bowl each morning and was not disappointed.

My wife was a fan of the eggs Benedict.

And my kids loved the pancakes.

Overall, breakfast was a very popular meal for us at the W São Paulo.

For lunch and dinner, the menu was more elevated, with options like wagyu steak tartare, scallops, caviar, and more.

There was also a stunning bar that was worth a visit by itself.

We were always out exploring during lunch and had dinner upstairs, so we didn’t get to try the full menu at BAIO.

BAIO Cozinha Sulista is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

L40 Cozinha de Latitude

L40 is on the (you guessed it) 40th floor of the W São Paulo.

The concept behind this restaurant is that the menu combines flavors and cooking techniques from countries that 40 degrees latitude passes through — and then adds a Brazilian touch.

Inspiration comes from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, China, Japan, and the U.S.

As you might imagine, the menu can be intimidating, especially when you have 2 young kids doing their best not to be hangry while dreaming of chicken fingers and fries.

We started our meal with an amuse-bouche that the chef had sent out. It had corn and pomegranate seeds, which was good.

We then moved on to the Peking duck coxinha, which was so good that it didn’t last long enough for a photo.

A coxinha is a fried chicken dumpling of sorts … a Brazilian street food that usually costs around R$5 ($1). This was R$50 ($10), to give you a feel for the pricing. Not many Brazilians would pay R$50 for a single coxinha.

Moving on, I ordered us the fried chicken, hoping we could fool my youngest into thinking they were fancy chicken nuggets. He was not fooled.

These were extremely spicy and had so much kimchi that I couldn’t taste the chicken.

Finally, we moved on to the seafood rice, which multiple staff members had told us to try. And it was good. Big shrimp, flavorful mussels, and delicious rice were a great combination.

At this point, we were working on borrowed time, so we skipped dessert and headed down to the room before the kids got cranky.

With the restaurant’s DJ playing house music and its long cocktail list, I would definitely visit again with my wife. But if you have kids, you can skip this.

L40 Cozinha de Latitude is open Monday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Yōso Bar e Café

Yōso Bar e Café is on the 24th and serves as a lobby bar since it’s right next to the reception desk. At check-in, we were served our welcome drinks from this bar.

Yōso is a Japanese-inspired bar with a unique menu full of coffees, teas, whiskies, and cocktails.

In the evening, there was a small food menu, and it turned out to be a great spot to grab a snack and drink before going out. Our hands-down favorite was the pork katsu sando, which we ordered twice during our 3-night stay.

The fried curried beef also went quickly, as did the vegetable dumplings.

Mom and dad got to enjoy some nice drinks, too.

We ordered a Geisha Sour, which is Woodford Reserve bourbon infused with matcha, lemon, and shiso syrup.

Yōso Bar e Café is open daily from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Service

I can’t say enough about the service we received at the W São Paulo. W Hotels are known for their Whatever/Whenever service, but the quality can vary by the city. The W São Paulo is some of the best I have experienced.

From the moment we arrived, we were met with nothing but enthusiastic smiles and what felt like genuine hospitality. Despite not being known as a family-friendly hotel, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome any chance they had. In fact, the bar even printed out games for my kids, which was a really nice gesture.

I’m not sure what system they are using, but it’s good because I feel like every staff member wished me a happy birthday at least once!

Final Thoughts

The W São Paulo is a stunning, brand-new boutique hotel in a great neighborhood in the biggest city in South America, and it’s worth a visit.

Everything from the rooms to the pool, including the staff and the food, is top-notch. Booking this hotel with Marriott Bonvoy points at a pretty reasonable rate makes it a no-brainer for anyone looking for a quality stay in São Paulo, Brazil.

That’s without mentioning that the hotel itself feels like a piece of art inside and out.

I will certainly be back, and I can easily recommend that my friends and family do the same.