Rosewood São Paulo

Evoking a sense of place can be tricky in a city as wide-ranging and multicultural as São Paulo, whose massive diaspora populations have made it a globetrotting melting pot. But in its first South American property, Rosewood has managed to capture the essence of this multi-hyphenate metropolis in a dazzling, art-filled, architectural gem: an all-over-the-place extravaganza.

Firstly, there’s the setting. Located in the Bela Vista neighborhood, the property is part of the Cidade Matarazzo: a complex of elegant, 20th-century buildings preserved and given new life as stores, restaurants, and private residences. In a nod to the vast Atlantic Forest surrounding the city and São Paulo’s status as Brazil’s financial hub, an ultra-modern garden tower by Jean Nouvel soars overhead.

French designer Philippe Stark brings his eclectic eye to the hotel’s interiors, which also showcases 450 works of art from Brazilian artists. Wander from the log-cabin dining room of the Blaise Restaurant into a bewitching cocktail bar where snake murals slide across the domed ceiling. Each of the 160 rooms and suites are similarly a celebration of Brazil’s vibrant arts scene and creative community, featuring locally crafted furniture in sophisticated rooms decked out in gleaming wood and marble.

Step into a Gaudi-esque, adults-only paradise at the rooftop lounge, a Modernista marvel with a ceramic-tile infinity pool and jungle-like greenery. Even though you’re surrounded by exceptional artwork, more can be found right outside the door, from murals and street art to museums. You’re also just blocks from the city’s main thoroughfare, Avenida Paulista, which boasts fabulous shopping and dining.