T+L’s Hotel Review of Soho House São Paulo

I had never given much thought to visiting São Paulo, writing it off as a commercial city best suited for business trips. But a recent visit to the opening of Soho House Sao Paulo provided a bridge between the bustling city and its vibrant community. My stay quickly proved São Paulo was much more than I had imagined.

A global sanctuary for work and play, the Soho House brand made its South American debut on a quiet corner of São Paulo’s central Bela Vista neighborhood in July 2024. Housed in Matarazzo Cityan urban complex comprised of restored historical buildings that served as a hospital for most of the 20th century, this latest addition to the U.K.-based members-only club’s portfolio features the same residential comforts that made the brand famous.

Every nook and cranny of Soho House São Paulo invites socializing. There’s a sitting room to work during the day, a main bar that welcomes global DJs for themed party nights, and a game room to play pool and hang out. Spaces to roam are flanked by a central courtyard restaurant that buzzes with diners who feast over The House’s signature lobster pasta, moquecas (Brazilian fish stew), and cassava gnocchi. At the bar, cool kids sip on a casa verde, a sweet-and-spicy take on the caipirinha that includes coconut rum, cachaça, passionfruit, and Japanese sake.

Steered by Soho House’s design director, Danielle Vourlas, the building’s design embraces the bones of its original structure, including exposed walls and reclaimed wood rescued from the hospital that once existed in the space. A mix of rich Brazilian natural materials like imbuia (Brazilian walnut), cumaru (Brazilian teak), and jequitibá (tropical hardwood, similar to mahogany) woods is employed throughout the spaces alongside locally sourced marble and stone.

“As a pillar of furniture design and architecture, we were offered endless inspiration from Brazilian designers to instill a creative identity throughout each space in the club. The design of the House is meant to reflect the city’s rich materiality with the use of local wood, painted ceramic tiles, organic plasters, overlapping patterns, and moments of raw beauty in the existing architecture,” says Alicia Gutierrez, the Soho House membership director in Latin America.

Vaulted windows and scalloped balconies cascade plenty of light on the hotel’s art collection that showcases works by over 60 artists born, based, or trained in Brazil. Over 10,000 native plants weave their way around the building’s exterior and interior—a nod to Brazil’s tropical ethos. Grand archways flooded with light make it easy to retreat into your own cozy nook—until the party begins.

Read on for my full review of Soho House’s debut in São Paulo.

The Rooms

The hotel offers 32 guest rooms that vary in size from 204 to 1,012 square feet. The largest rooms include bathtubs, living areas, and private terraces. Geometric patterned floors, spacious wooden wardrobes, and jewel-shaded velvet couches imbue the rooms with warmth. Patterned curtains, hand-painted tiles in the bathrooms, and citrus-scented toiletries have all been sourced from local artisans. My favorite fixture in my room was the freestanding bathtub tucked off to the side of my bed. I eagerly climbed into it each evening after a long day of exploring.

“Our bedrooms have been designed to feel like a home away from home, with amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. We never want members to feel like they are staying at a hotel. Rooms will have an accent chair or bench, so there’s somewhere to take your shoes off after a long day. Lighting is controlled by a single bedside switch, meaning you don’t have to get up when it’s time to sleep,” Gutierrez says.

Food and Drink

As with all Soho House outposts, food serves as a bridge between nourishment and socializing. A central courtyard dripping with tropical plants features rattan chairs that diners recline on into the late evening.

Highlights on the menu include Brazilian dishes like cheese bread (tapioca-based cheese bread) and Stew stew. Indecisive eaters like me will find a number of options to satisfy their taste buds, with shareable plates that include guava chicken wings, eggplant dip with crudités, and a refreshing heart of palm ceviche.

On the rooftop, small plates, salads, and sandwiches at the Pool Bar are more than enough reason to nosh after a few laps. On the cocktail side, I quickly became a fan of the casa verde tonic—a play on a classic caipirinha comprised of Bacardí coconut rum, Leblon cachaça, passion fruit, green chili, and sake that serves as an ode to São Paulo’s large Japanese community.

On the weekend, a Soho House staple, the Sunday Feast, features favorites such as paella, feijoada stew, grilled lobster, traditional Brazilian barbecue, ceviche, and more.

Activities and Experiences

The real perk of checking in here is that the city comes to you. On any given day, a community-centered event lends a palpable energy to the hotel. Fashionistas, artists, and business people clink glasses at the bar and claim a corner of a couch to catch up.

Drag bingo, game nights, and talks that feature creatives and business leaders are all available to guests. Yoga classes are offered multiple times a week, and a run club meets every Sunday to take a scenic route along Avenida Paulista, passing by landmarks such as the São Paulo Museum of Art, Instituto Moreira Salles, and Trianon Park.

The Spa

Soho House São Paulo doesn’t have a spa, but guests can enjoy a modern gym with multiple fitness areas, a sauna, and a steam room on the hotel’s top floor.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Soho House São Paulo’s entrance features an elevator that leads directly to the reception. The house has wheelchair-accessible elevators, and there are several accessible guest rooms. The building’s life safety systems are designed to accommodate guests with vision and hearing impairments, and tactile and high-visibility wayfinding signage is provided throughout the spaces.

The House adheres to Soho House’s global sustainability initiatives.

Location

Some of the city’s most renowned museums sit just steps away from Soho House São Paulo, including Pinacoteca de São Paulothe oldest art museum in the city, and Japan House. Some of São Paulo’s best restaurants are also not too far. Favorites include the always packed At Claudechef Morena Leite’s acclaimed Holy grassand Keito for traditional Japanese fare.

Book Now

The Soho Friends membership program provides access to Soho House’s guest rooms, restaurants, spas, and event spaces for non-Soho House members at a reduced annual fee. Meanwhile, Soho House members can book a stay through the Soho House app.

Nightly rates at Soho House Sao Paulo start from 3,000 BRL ($562).

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.