Comfort Suítes Oscar Freire

While the lobby of the Comfort Suites Oscar Friere is a bright and open space, the furnishings are a study in miscellany. There’s a mishmash of objects without theme or style. For example, there are traditional crystal chandeliers and marble floors, and some old-fashioned stuffed armchairs mixed in with modern rectangular chairs and abstract art. While everything is functional, it all feels a bit disjointed. On the upper floors, the rooms have a more unified and modern  style with accents in blues and purples. The quietly humming hotel serves a mix of business travelers, guests in town for events, and families. 

The Comfort Suites Oscar Friere is located in the Pinheiros neighborhood of Sao Paulo, an up-and-coming area dotted with trendy boutiques and restaurants. The streets directly around the hotel feel more bland and residential, but plenty of shopping and nightlife options can be reached on foot nearby. It’s just a few blocks away from a metro station and a 10-minute walk from a popular weekend flea market. Pinheiros borders on the popular Vila Madelena District about a mile to the west, a lively area that transforms at night, when the streets fill with wandering musicians and young people drinking and dancing on the sidewalks. The hotel is also within walking distance to Beco de Batman, a colorful street art mecca that’s popular with tourists. The museums and shopping malls of Paulista Avenue, the city’s main thoroughfare, are a little further afield, but reachable by the metro or a 30-minute walk. The hotel is named after Oscar Friere Avenue, a street known for upscale shopping and designer boutiques. However, to reach the shopping area you’ll have to walk several blocks to the south of the hotel.

Probably the most distinctive feature of the Comfort Suites Oscar Friere is noted in its name: the units of this hotel are all suites. There are a few different categories on offer, but all of the options are larger than a standard hotel room and include a separate seating area, which typically consists of a sofa.  While the suite-style rooms might attempt to make guests feel like they're staying in an apartment, the generic furnishings quickly remind them that they're in a standard chain hotel. The overall feel of the rooms is contemporary, though the furniture shows some dents and dings. Updates to the furnishings are not consistent from room to room, for example some suites have updated wood floors, while others have older carpet. All rooms have a mini-fridge and minibar, and a few rooms include a small kitchenette. The luxury suites, located on higher floors, come with more services and better amenities, like a higher-quality hairdryer, a bigger flat-screen TV, and upgraded coffee and tea facilities. Business class rooms, the hotel’s highest category, include an upgraded mattress (described as a Dream Bed), fresher decor, a balcony, a Nescafe machine, and extra toiletries. The bathrooms in all units feature marble sink tops, and some have rainfall shower heads. 

Features are well-rounded. There’s a small restaurant on the main floor, the Marigot restaurant. The breakfast, included in all room rates, is served buffet-style and includes a mix of hot and cold options. Lunch and dinner are served a la carte and offer a menu of Brazilian and Mediterranean dishes. Room service is available 24 hours. The restaurant has a bland cafeteria-like style. Behind the restaurant, doors open out to a large patio area located in the back of the hotel, featuring a nice garden with a waterfall.

There’s a tiny lobby bar serving espresso drinks and cocktails. The hotel also provides free coffee and tea in the front of the lobby, which is a welcome treat upon arrival. The top floor of the hotel has a pool, fitness room, and small sauna. The fitness room is spacious and bright, but some of the equipment is a bit older. The long lap pool on the roof has a only a few chairs around it and the seating area is tiny. There are great views of the surrounding city from the pool deck. The hotel has three meeting rooms available for smaller events or business use. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Valet parking is available for a fee.