L'Hotel PortoBay Sao Paulo Review: What To REALLY Expect If You Stay

Pros

Excellent location in Bixiga, walking distance to the Museum of Art
Classic, elegant rooms have marble bathrooms and minibars
Trebbiano Ristorante serves up Mediterranean food and special Japanese breakfasts
Lovely spa with Japanese baths, sauna, and solid treatment menu
Heated indoor pool with retractable roof and wall of plants
Il Piano Bar offers evening snacks and cocktails
Modern fitness center with treadmills and weight-training equipment
Five meeting rooms with audiovisual equipment
Free Wi-Fi throughout
24-hour room service, and on-site parking (for a fee)

Cons

Some complaints of worn carpets in entry-level rooms
Only suites have coffeemakers
Breakfast is not included in the standard rate
Pool is tiny

Bottom Line

L'Hotel PortoBay Sao Paulo is an upscale property ideally located in the heart of Bixigia, Sao Paulo's "Little Italy." The 84 rooms here are elegant, comfortable, and well-equipped with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and lovely marble bathrooms. Some units have balconies, but only suites have coffee- and tea-making facilities. Trebbiano Restaurant is known for its excellent breakfast buffet, which includes a special Japanese spread, but it also serves solid Mediterranean cuisine for lunch and dinner. The small spa is lovely, offering Japanese tubs, a wonderful array of body treatments, and a sauna, while the tiny indoor pool -- complete with a retractable roof -- is a pleasant spot for some quiet time or a dip. There are also five meeting rooms, a bar, and on-site covered parking (for a fee). Event planners looking for more room may want to consider the similarly priced Renaissance Sao Paulo Hotel, which has a huge gym and tons of meeting space.

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Hotel & Amenities Photos

Amenities

Pool

Restaurants and Bars

The Hotel

Junior Suite

Executive King with Balcony

Executive King

Amenities

Cribs
Fitness Center
Internet
Jacuzzi
Pool
Spa

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Oyster Awards

What are the Design and Scene Like at L'Hotel PortoBay Sao Paulo?

Upscale, classic hotel with marble lobby, popular with business travelers

L'Hotel PortoBay Sao Paulo is an upscale tower hotel with a classic, and some might say dated, lobby clad in rust-red and cream-hued marble. Big tufted armchairs, heavy wooden furniture, and mirrors with ornate golden frames dot the area next to reception, while fresh flowers give it a pleasant feel. Elevators lead up to rooms, though there's a wide staircase with an old medieval-style tapestry at its landing that adds a little drama to the space. Two mezzanine levels with open balconies look down to the lobby below, lending the entrance a rather grand feel. The Trebbiano Restaurant here is contrastingly chic, with green accents and wood floors that give it a modern-vintage feel. While the property attracts plenty of tourists due to its central location just off Avenida Paulista, it's also popular with business travelers.

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Where is L'Hotel PortoBay Sao Paulo Located?

In the heart of Bixiga, close to the city center and walking distance to attractions

L'Hotel PortoBay Sao Paulo is located right off Avenida Paulista, the city's main thoroughfare, in Bela Vista (AKA Bixiga). Bela Vista is known for great Italian food and theaters, and while the nightlife is not as lively as it was in the 80s, this is still a fun spot after dark. The area is also home to great shopping, and there are several malls within a few blocks of the hotel.

The PortoBay is also conveniently located for exploring Sao Paulo's tourist attractions both on foot and using public transport, with the Trianon-MASP metro stop just a three-minute walk away. Both the Museum of Art Sao Paulo (MASP) and the historic mansion of Casa das Rosas take under 15 minutes to reach by foot, while it's a half-hour walk to Ibirapuera Park. It's a five-minute drive to Centro, the heart of Sao Paulo, and 10 minutes to Catedral da Se, Liberdade (the city's Japantown), the Sao Paulo Bienal, and the Modern Art Museum. Getting to Pinacoteca do Estado, the Mercado Municipal, and the Monument to Latin America takes just a little longer. The Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, takes just over half an hour to reach by car (but can take up to three times that if relying on public transportation). It takes just under an hour and a half to reach the Viracopos-Campinas International Airport, traffic permitting.

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What are Rooms Like at L'Hotel PortoBay Sao Paulo?

Classic rooms and suites have minibars and marble bathrooms, plus some come with balconies

This hotel offers a total of 84 spacious rooms and suites. Decor is classic and pleasant (if a tad bland) in entry-level units, with beige carpeting that can feel a little bit worn in some areas, and a mix of dark-wood and light-wood furniture with rattan accents paired with beige drapes. Suites, however, have been renovated and have stylish additions such as off-white and charcoal rugs with zig-zag patterns, vintage-style leather accents, and elegant wall moldings.

Executive rooms come with either one king bed or two twins, and Executive units that have balconies are also available. Entry-level units measure around 30 square meters (323 square feet, not including the balconies), while suites measure 35 to 90 square meters (377 to 969 square feet). All units have a similar set of amenities, including free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, safes, and minibars -- but only suites are outfitted with Nespresso machines. Bathrooms are more modern and striking, done up in cream-hued marble, with large walk-in showers (or Japanese-style soaking tubs), big countertops, magnifying mirrors, and bidets. Malin and Goetz toiletries, bathrobes, hotel-brand flip-flops, and hairdryers are provided.

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What Features are Available at L'Hotel PortoBay Sao Paulo?

Mediterranean restaurant with Japanese breakfasts, lovely spa, small indoor pool, modern gym, and meeting space

L'Hotel PortoBay offers an excellent range of facilities for business travelers and tourists alike, including well-regarded dining options. Trebbiano Ristorante offers Mediterranean-inspired meals with indoor and outdoor seating and a sommelier to help guests with pairings. An excellent breakfast is served here, with a special Japanese service featuring traditional Japanese items. Il Piano Bar serves snacks and cocktails, but doesn't open until around happy hour. Room service is also available, around the clock.

For relaxation and recreation, there's a lovely spa with a couple of Japanese-style wooden tubs and all sorts of massages and other treatments available. There's also a small indoor pool with a glass ceiling that can be opened when the weather is nice and a living wall covered with ferns and other plants to give a jungle feeling to the space. The fitness center here is small but features modern TechnoGym equipment, with free weights, a few treadmills, and a weight-training machine.

For business travelers, there are five meeting rooms, all with audiovisual equipment, and the hotel can accommodate events for up to 265, with catering services available. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Translation and secretarial service, and all sorts of concierge services, including airport transfers, are available, and the hotel offers covered parking for a fee.

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