Emiliano Hotel

A polished 56-room, 22-floor tower hotel located on the continent's most fashionable street, Rua Oscar Freire

• Various glass-enclosed vertical gardens instill a defined sense of place
• The extravagant Sunday Brunch is a must for the gastronomically-inclined
• The spa's outdoor Japanese ofuro baths are a perfect urban escape
• Sunsets through the glass walls of the 2,325-square-foot Sky Pool Penthouse are extraordinary

São Paulo's first boutique hotel, opened in 2001, remains the city's best, navigating a subtle line between classic luxury and urban cool with reserved aplomb. It's housed in a tall, narrow tower hotel located on the continent's most fashionable street, Rua Oscar Freire, that is full of top-end boutiques, galleries, cafes and restaurants. But particularly winning are the hotel's personalized touches, delicate detail and scattered Asian influence throughout.

The understated lobby is small per the architecture, with limited lounge seating by the Campana Brothers under the nose of a hanging cocoon-like art installment by Siron Franco. An expansive glass-enclosed suspended orchid garden covers one wall in its entirety, announcing straightaway: Brazil. A narrow corridor houses the lobby bar before leading to the small Champagne and caviar bar, part of the very private Italian restaurant space, where another rainforest wall dominates.

The 904-square-foot suites, of which there are 18, are the way to go here, outfitted in masculine tones and rich wooden accents offset by funky contemporary furniture designs like golden cotton rope chairs by the Campana Brothers. Eames chairs and Italian leather sofas are here as well, helping to maintain the balance between timeless and trendy. Modcons like Japanese toilets with temperature-controlled seats share space in the Carrera marble bathrooms with claw-foot bathtubs; elsewhere, 40” LCD screen TVs keep the tech in check while a bottle of red and daily seasonal fruits are standard amenities. There's no pool, but a full-service spa rights your wrongs on the mezzanine.

Rumor has it the owners run a very tight ship so perfection is the norm from a service standpoint, executed by stylish staff decked out in café-colored Ocimar Versolato-designed attire – as smart as the street itself, São Paulo's most discerning.

Fashionable business travelers and more conservative hipsters who appreciate well-balanced luxury and a shopping and café-heavy location.