Discover Why Westin São Paulo Is a Top Marriott Bonvoy Choice [In-Depth Review]

From hip architecture to friendly service and an everything-is-new-here smell, the Westin São Paulo provided a great 2-night stay in July 2025.

We hadn’t heard about this hotel’s opening and were surprised to find it while looking for a short-notice hotel in the city — something that we could book with 2 free night awards in my wife’s account, and we were happy to use those awards here while staying at a property that opened just a few weeks before we arrived.

As with other hotels we’ve stayed at in Brazil, service was top-notch, and we thought the hotel building was really cool. In short, this was a valuable, enjoyable stay at a hotel we didn’t know existed until we made a reservation.

Booking the Westin São Paulo

Westin is one of Marriott’s many hotel brands, and the Westin São Paulo participates in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. That means guests can earn and redeem points on stays here, as well as enjoy perks from any elite status they hold with Marriott.

The hotel charged $313 per night for the cheapest room during our 2-night stay, which we booked just a few days before arrival. That was for a Deluxe Guest Room with 2 double beds, while a 1-king room cost $324 per night.

Alternatively, both of these rooms were available for 27,000 points per night — a total of 54,000 points for a 2-night reservation.

Saving $627 or $649 by using 54,000 points is a great way to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points. These provide values of 1.16 and 1.2 cents per point, respectively. That’s well above our average valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents apiece.

For our reservation, we used a pair of Marriott Bonvoy free night certificates worth up to 35,000 points each, which my wife had in her Marriott Bonvoy account. Even when you use points and free night awards, the Westin São Paulo requires guests to pay $2.70 per night in local taxes.

Hot Tip:

Many Marriott Bonvoy credit cards provide a free night award to cardholders. This perk alone can justify keeping some of these cards in your wallet. We received these 35,000-point awards by holding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card.

Location of the Westin São Paulo

The hotel is in the Itaim Bibi neighborhood of São Paulo, close to the well-known park Parque Ibirapuera. The Westin São Paulo isn’t near the city’s major tourist attractions but is near many important businesses and shopping malls found in the new JK Square construction project, which the hotel is amid. It’s also near some of the city’s other major hotels from Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott.

Metro stops aren’t immediately next to the hotel, but those in adjacent neighborhoods include the Cidade Jardim (a 30-minute walk) and Fradique Coutinho stations (a 40-minute walk). Taking a car from the Westin São Paulo, it’s possible to reach Avenida Paulista in 15 minutes for numerous shops, museums, and cultural sites. However, city buses, taxis, and Uber cars are abundant near the hotel.

São Paulo has 3 airports. The Conghonhas airport (CGH) inside the city is 15 to 20 minutes from the hotel by car. Note that the hotel doesn’t offer a shuttle.

The Viracopos airport (VCP) is an hour away by car, while the major airport in Guarulhos (GRU) is 60 to 90 minutes away, depending on traffic. It’s also possible to reach the hotel in 90 minutes from GRU using public transportation, which is clean, cheap, and reliable.

Checking In

Our Uber driver dropped us at the courtyard between buildings at JK Square, and we noticed the Westin signs immediately — both on the ground and at the top of the building. The hotel’s entrance wasn’t under the sign, though, and we needed to turn down an alley on the right side to enter the lobby.

The lobby was light and airy, thanks to its incredible number of windows and its 2-story design. Several seating areas with coffee tables created a very welcoming living room vibe. As we stepped through the door, a friendly employee welcomed us to the hotel and indicated the direction of the reception desk.

The lobby opened to the next floor, creating a very open feeling. The space was filled with hanging art to prevent it from feeling like a dead space.

The 2 guest agents at the desk smiled and greeted us in both English and Portuguese as they called us forward, asking which language we preferred. The process was both friendly and efficient, and we chatted and joked like old friends — a service style we especially love at Brazilian hotels. Even though we arrived at 2:30 p.m. and check-in time for the hotel is listed on the website as 3 p.m., our room was ready.

While discussing the hotel’s amenities, the desk agent pointed out some of the hotel’s wellness offerings on a screen on the corner of the desk.

He also pointed out some of the not-so-obvious amenities around the lobby, like this hallway with bathrooms and a water station.

There were 3 taps with purified drinking water here, including paper cups and a trash bin. Alternatively, guests could fill up their refillable bottles here.

He also indicated where the concierge desk was in case we needed information or restaurant recommendations during our stay.

Behind the concierge desk, we noticed these pedestals with bags of coffee on top — a bit strange, but it was good to know they had lots of coffee on hand.

After the brief tour of the lobby, the reception employee escorted us to our room to ensure everything worked satisfactorily.

Elite Benefits

We booked this stay using free night awards in my wife’s account. She has Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, and the hotel offered a few perks in honor of her status.

First, the hotel provided a room upgrade. Gold Elite members are eligible for space-available upgrades at check-in, though not to suites. This moved us to a Premium room, which had the same features and size as the Deluxe room that we booked but was on a higher floor.

We also received an offer of a 2 p.m. late checkout and a welcome gift of points. If we had paid cash for the room, my wife would’ve earned 25% bonus points on top because of her status. We also received this nice welcome note from the front desk team.

Lastly, we received an offer of a welcome drink but forgot to claim it because we got so deep into the chat with the desk agent and then walked to the room together. I’m not sure what the drink would’ve included, but it was available.

Hot Tip:

Earning Gold Elite status with Marriott typically requires staying 25 nights per year. However, you can get this status without any effort simply by holding the right credit card and enrolling in this perk. The Marriott Bonvoy Business card provides Gold Elite status automatically to cardholders.

Premium Room

We received an upgrade to a Premium room on a higher floor, putting us in room 814.

The bedroom was small, at 270 square feet (25 square meters), but there was enough space to pass around the bed comfortably. The backlit headboard was also a nice touch.

My wife and I have different tastes in pillows, and these were controversial during our stay. I like firmer pillows, and I loved these. My wife, however, found them abnormally tall and not comfortable for her. The bed’s mattress, however, was incredibly comfortable. Between that and the blackout curtains, we slept like babies.

The room had an amenity we’d never seen before: a spray to put on the pillows to help improve sleep.

On the left side of the bed, we found a small nightstand, a lamp, multiple outlets, and a flip-out reading light. We also found a bottle of water here.

The other side of the bed had a different nightstand (square this time), a different lamp, and a phone. Another difference was that the outlets and switches were on the wall, not built into the headboard. The only element that was the same was the foldout light.

While the room was compact, there was sufficient space here to get on and off the padded bench by the window. The nightstand wasn’t pressed up against it.

The wall across from the bed had a TV mounted on it and a marble-topped bench that was great for holding a suitcase or sitting down to put on our shoes.

The far corner had an overhead lamp and a round marble-topped table with a padded chair.

This area also had switches for the lights, the daytime and nighttime curtains, and several outlets. It also had a pair of type N outlets and 1 each of USB-A and USB-C. These were the same outlet combinations as those next to the bed. Unfortunately, 2 out of the 3 USB-C outlets in the room didn’t work.

Looking back across the room revealed details we hadn’t noticed at first, like the fact the bed had both a blanket and a duvet.

We also saw the digital thermostat on the wall at the bedroom’s entry.

And we saw both a trash and a recycling bin near the closet and minibar.

Unfortunately, the views from the room weren’t much. The center window opened enough to let in a breeze.

Closet

After entering the room, there was a wardrobe with 2 wicker doors.

Inside, there were 10 hangers, a laundry bag, an iron, and an ironing board.

At the bottom of the closet, there was a wooden stand with a small safe and 2 drawers. Religious books were inside.

Minibar

The small minibar was next to the closet. The top had drinking glasses, mugs, and a single-serve coffee maker with supplies for both coffee and tea. Some snacks, such as chips, candy bars, and even gum, were for sale.

The cabinet below had a minifridge with drinks for sale. Options included sodas, beers, water, and energy drinks.

Bathroom

The bathroom was on the left after we entered from the hallway. It was well-lit and had a gray and off-white palette. Straight ahead was the sink with lots of space on the marble counter. A larger mirror hung above the sink, and there was an adjustable close-up mirror in the corner.

One side of the counter had a package of tissues. The other had a wooden tray holding bars of soap, washcloths, hand lotion, and a shower cap. A pair of drinking glasses was nearby.

Shelves under the sink held extra towels and a hair dryer in a black bag.

Immediately next to the door, looking to the right, was the toilet. There was a small trash bin here and a bidet wand.

The shower was on the left, accessed by a glass door. It had both handheld and rainfall showerheads, and there was a bathrobe hanging nearby for convenience.

Inside the shower, we found pump bottles on the wall from Fresh Tea — a brand we weren’t familiar with, but these smelled excellent.

Amenities

Fitness Center

Many of the hotel’s main amenities were on the third floor, including the fitness center, pool, and upper deck. Signs made them easy to find.

The Westin Workout center was larger than we’d expected, providing ample space for several amenities.

The main part of the fitness center had a row of treadmills on one side and a row of multifunctional weight machines on the other.

There were also several stationary bikes and ellipticals along the windows on the other wall.

Against the wall were racks of free weights, with several adjustable benches nearby.

This area next to the free weights had towels, including some inside the minifridge to keep them cool — a nice touch. There was also complimentary bottled water here.

The fitness center also had an activity room with several mats for anyone who wanted to do yoga, stretch, etc.

This room also had lots of medicine balls and exercise balls, as well as more towels and water.

The fitness center also had bathrooms.

Pool

The pool was also on the third floor. It wasn’t large or heated, but it was big enough to swim a few laps or splash around with friends.

The pool also had a ledge along 2 sides, making it shallow enough to sit in the water without going in over your head. Its full depth was 4.6 feet (1.4 meters).

The pool had an accessibility lift for those who needed it.

The main pool deck had wooden slats and several adjustable lounge chairs, including shade umbrellas.

Up a flight of stairs, the upper deck had more lounge chairs, umbrellas, and cushioned chairs.

The other end of the deck had cushioned chairs and sofas surrounding tables, providing a nice spot to hang out in nice weather.

The deck overlooked the pool and nearby buildings.

Elevators

The hotel had a bank of 3 elevators that always came quickly.

The elevators’ interiors were plain steel, and signs near the button panel indicated which floor held which amenities.

Internet

The hotel had complimentary Wi-Fi for guests. It was reliable, and speeds were sufficient for everything we wanted to do during our stay.

Parking

Valet parking was available at a rate of R$60 per day, roughly $11.

The drop-off area was in this loop behind the sign, found near the front entrance. Self-parking wasn’t available.

Terrace

This terrace was on the first floor — 1 floor above reception on the ground floor. It had a 2-story open-air setup with lots of chairs and sofas to relax and chat with others.

Outdoor Space

The courtyard between the hotel and other parts of the JK Square provided a common space for people to hang out, eat lunch, or just get some fresh air.

Stadium-style seating was available and had a nice marble look leading up to this colorful mural on the wall.

This courtyard had multiple jabuticaba trees, and the area must look (and smell) incredible when they’re in season, which is late spring to summer.

The square had signage to indicate the location of the entrance to the offices, residences, and hotel.

Pets

The hotel accepted a maximum of 1 pet per room, up to a maximum weight of 22 pounds (10 kilograms). A nonrefundable fee of $25 applies.

Food and Beverages

Quint.e

Quint.e, the hotel’s sole restaurant, is on the second floor. Since the hotel doesn’t offer room service, it was the only dining option.

We got the impression that the restaurant hadn’t fixed its operating times yet, as employees gave us a few different answers when we asked about hours. However, breakfast was available from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. on weekdays and from 7 to 11 a.m. on weekends. The restaurant also served lunch and dinner, and those were the meals whose hours we couldn’t nail down — potentially because the hotel was new. Maybe the hours will expand after a soft opening period.

The restaurant had ample seating, with tables offering 2, 4, 6, or 8 settings with a variety of chairs and benches.

Breakfast had an all-you-can-eat buffet and an à la carte menu, and we liked how much space there was around the buffet. We didn’t find ourselves running into other guests.

The starting point, where we got our plates, was also where guests could request eggs (such as omelets) cooked to their preference.

The buffet continued with a selection of fruits and individual servings of yogurt.

The variety was excellent, including figs — not a common fruit on breakfast buffets — and both packaged and freshly made yogurts.

Further along, the buffet offered cold cuts with several types of cheeses and meats.

There was also a toaster here before a small selection of hot dishes, such as couscous, sausages, scrambled eggs, and even pumpkin.

An island in the middle of the buffet had numerous pastries, rolls, biscuits, and freshly made pão de quiejo — the famous Brazilian cheese bread. Everything was fresh; there weren’t any prepackaged muffins here. Items were labeled, though most of them were only labeled in Portuguese, which was surprising considering most of the other hotel guests we encountered only spoke English.

This island also held 3 types of juices: orange, guava, and a green detox juice. These tasted like they were squeezed 5 minutes before — incredibly fresh and definitely not from a carton.

This stand also had fresh peanut butter and doce de leite (sweetened milk cream) as spreads for the various rolls and breads.

Along with the products that were fresh and smelled wonderful, the breakfast excelled by offering Brazilian fruits in its jams, such as banana-cacao mix, jabuticaba, and cupuaçu.

You could ask for coffee and tea from the employees rotating around the dining room. Almond milk was available as a dairy substitute.

Though the buffet was self-service, staff came to our table to ask our room number, offer tea and coffee, and ensure we had everything we needed. They also offered menus in case we wanted to order à la carte.

The breakfast menu offered items like eggs Benedict, avocado toast, couscous in the style of Brazil’s northeast, and more. Items without lactose and gluten-free and vegan foods were available.

I didn’t order from the menu, but my wife got the avocado toast and said it was the best she’d ever eaten — thanks to how much she loves mushrooms.

Not all of the employees spoke English, but those who did quickly appeared to help customers who needed help with translation, questions, or understanding what a local dish was.

Breakfast cost around $28 per person with the exchange rate.

Lobby Bar

One corner of the lobby had a bar with a full range of drinks and several high-top chairs.

Other seating included tables with chairs and more comfortable seats and a sofa farther away.

The bar had a menu of available drinks, offering wine, sparkling wine, and cocktails, and we joked with the bartender that caipirinhas weren’t listed. She promised that Brazil’s national cocktail was available.

The bar also had a small cooler of sodas and miniature desserts, and fresh coconuts were available.

Service

The staff here excelled. They were friendly and efficient, always saying hi to guests in the hallway and offering assistance. Employees near the entrance also greeted guests on the way in and on the way out, and they offered help finding a taxi or giving directions.

The same applies to the staff at breakfast. Our waitress, Vanessa, deserves special attention for exemplifying the positive attitude of the staff here. Since the hotel was still new, we got the impression that employees were still learning where certain items were kept and what guests could order, and we saw her making the effort to help both customers and coworkers whenever she could.

We also appreciated that the employees who spoke English rushed to help customers who asked questions in English to an employee who didn’t speak English.

Final Thoughts

Checkout was really easy — and once again friendly. We quickly settled the account for our breakfast charges and the city taxes using the credit card we’d put on file during check-in, and there were no problems with the bill.

As we exited the door, our stay ended with the same smiles it started with, and we would definitely stay here again.