Estanplaza Paulista

Due largely to its location in a safe neighborhood near major office buildings, the Estanplaza Paulista is a popular choice for business travelers from Brazil and across South America. From the outside, the 15-story building that houses the hotel resembles one of the many uninspired but comfortable condominium towers that fill the area, and this ambience continues inside. The small lobby has caramel-colored walls, cream marble floors, and a staircase that leads up to the loft-style second floor. There's a small seating area with rattan chairs, a concierge desk, and a bar with a piano off to one side, although it's rare to see guests lounging in common areas. The decor is not particularly fancy for a hotel of this caliber, but common areas are spotless and relaxed.

The Estanplaza Paulista is located in the Jardins neighborhood, a busy, upscale, and pedestrian-friendly part of Sao Paulo. It's a few blocks from Paulista Avenue, one of the city's most important thoroughfares. The area has plenty of shopping and dining options, along with lots of office buildings. The Anhangabaú metro station is a five-minute walk away, where you can catch Line 3 of the metro. The Museu do Theatro Municipal is a seven-minute walk from the hotel, and the Museum of Art of Sao Paulo is about a half-hour walk or 15-minute drive away. The Congonhas-São Paulo Airport is a 15-minute drive away, the Guarulhos International Airport 30 minutes. 

In keeping with the hotel's business ambience, the 120 rooms at the Estanplaza Paulista are simple and practical, done up in hues of browns and beige (and a splash of turquoise), with a mix of carpeting by the beds and wooden floors elsewhere. Rooms also have sofas and large desks with comfortable office chairs, plus air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. Flat-screen TVs have cable and are encased in swivel mounted entertainment pieces that can be rotated to face the beds or sofas. Bathrooms have marble countertops and shower stalls, and come equipped with wall-mounted hairdryers. All rooms have safes, but the key has to be obtained from the front desk.

There's a tiny indoor plunge pool that's good for cooling down in Sao Paulo's tropical climate. The fitness center is mid-sized, with varied cardio and weight equipment, some of which look a bit old. There's also a spa with a spacious sauna. A free buffet breakfast is served every morning in the restaurant -- the best seats are in the atrium-style, plant-filled dining room -- and, although the restaurant is open throughout the day, it's rarely busy. Room service is available around the clock. Free parking is available in the hotel's two underground parking garages and there are two large conference halls available for meetings and other events. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property and past guests report that it's fairly fast, though others have complained of its reliability.