The 57-room Hotel Emiliano is a luxurious hotel in the upscale Jardins area. Despite being a boutique, the hotel has numerous features -- a spa, a 24-hour fitness center, a restaurant and two bars, a staffed business center, and even a rooftop helipad for guests arriving in style (though no pool). The mod rooms are sexy and sleek: Picture wood-paneled walls, clean lines, Charles Eames furniture, and high-tech marble bathrooms (the toilet has buttons.) However, some may find the minimalist style in the lobby and restaurant a tad stark. Nonetheless, this is a fabulous hotel with with excellent freebies (including a 15-minute massage), and the location is a short drive from downtown Sao Paulo.

The 60-room Hotel Fasano is a luxury boutique in the upscale Jardins neighborhood. It offers impressive features, including a solid fitness center and an intimate, Zen-like spa. In addition, there are several popular restaurants and bars: The Italian fine dining restaurant is highly acclaimed, Baretto bar offers excellent live music, the lobby bar has art deco style, and the casual restaurant serves three meals a day. Rooms have cool, retro-modern decor -- including funky leather furniture and striped rugs -- as well as flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and iPod docks. Business travelers may also want to consider the nearby (and very similar) Hotel Emiliano, though it lacks Hotel Fasano's chic indoor pool.

The 95-room Hotel Unique is a trendy pick near Sao Paulo's equivalent of Central Park. The rooftop bar, restaurant, and pool all overlook the park and have beautiful skyline views. The all-white rooms have a bit of a South Beach vibe and feature sexy open bathrooms with separate showers and soaking tubs (though some guests might think they lack privacy). In-room amenities include big flat-screen TVs, different pillow treats every day, and 24-hour room service. Hotel highlights include a large, open lobby with patterned rugs, funky furniture, and a nice lobby bar. An indoor pool, fitness center, steam room, and sauna are all available on-site. While this boat-shaped hotel is not located in the most central neighborhood, it is near attractions such as the Modern Art Museum, Ibirapuera Park, and restaurants.

Popular with business travelers, the high-end Hyatt Grand Sao Paulo is a luxurious option not far from the domestic airport and within a 10-minute walk of shopping and dining. The 466 rooms and suites here are comfortable, modern, and up to business luxury standards without being grandiose; those on higher floors have excellent city views. There's also a huge fitness center, spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and seven restaurants and bars featuring cuisine from around the world, as well as Brazilian favorites -- business travelers appreciate not having to leave the hotel in the midst of meetings. All these perks come with a fairly hefty price tag, though, as well as the extra fees levied for Wi-Fi and parking.

The 220-room Tivoli Sao Paulo Mofarrej is a luxurious option near the downtown area and Avenida Paulista. Rooms are decorated in neutral colors and feature flat-screen TVs, stocked minibars, and 24-hour room service, but bathrooms are on the small side. Suites and collection rooms might be worth the upgrade as they feature butler service. Hotel highlights include a spacious, light-filled lobby with a glass roof, a small outdoor pool (with odd orange tiling) surrounded by cabanas, and an upscale spa by Banyan Tree. There are several dining and drinking options on-site, including the top-level restaurant with beautiful city views. Family features include welcome gifts for kids and a policy where children under six eat free in the restaurants.

This upscale hotel is an excellent option in Sao Paulo for business travelers. It's part of the massive CENU business complex, and provides underground access to a shopping mall and the convention center. Business-friendly amenities include everything from 13,000 square feet of meeting space and a staffed business center to cell phone rentals and 24-hour room service. And though it does not have a kids' club (very few hotels in Sao Paulo do), the Hilton is a surprisingly kid-friendly business hotel, with children's menus in the three restaurants and children's video rentals. Plus, though it's a bit dated, kids will likely enjoy the indoor pool, which is part of the large 24-hour fitness center. Rooms are spacious, and also well-equipped for business travelers, featuring large work desks, flat-screen TVs, and marble bathrooms. Rooms have a chain-like look with a color scheme of whites and beiges, but they still feel sleek and contemporary.

The enormous and upscale Renaissance Sao Paulo has a lot going on: it’s a popular wedding venue, fast access to Paulista Avenue, an event center with more than 20,000-square-feet of space, three restaurants, a (surprisingly small) pool, a spa, a huge fitness center, and even a 200-seat theater. That’s not to say that they rooms aren’t notable -- they’re also a highlight, with spacious marble bathrooms and city views. This business-traveler focused mega-hotel is much like the city of Sao Paulo itself: bustling, chic, and worldly. The major downsides are a small pool and some street noise from the road. For a smaller and cheaper alternative near Paulista Avenue, check rates at the Landmark Residence Hotel. 

The Hotel Transamerica Sao Paulo is an upscale resort hotel featuring a freeform outdoor pool, a children's pool, restaurants, and athletic facilities. Rooms are spacious and come with flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. The hotel's location isn't very convenient, and it takes at least 25 minutes to reach the city center. That said, it's well-positioned for conference attendees at the nearby Expo Center, and is a good choice for leisure travelers who want a wide array of recreation facilities. Overall, this spot is mostly popular with business travelers who appreciate the free Wi-Fi, VIP floor for quiet, and the on-site helipad.

The 76-room L'Hotel Porto Bay attracts mainly business travelers due to its location near financial firms and offices. The decor is classic -- some might say on the verge of dated -- but many guests praise its small size and comfortable rooms. Beyond the large marble lobby, the rooms are elegant, if a bit bland, with floral curtains and neutral tones. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and marble bathrooms. The hotel does have a spa with a nice sauna, though stark treatment rooms aren't particularly inviting. Hotel highlights include an attractive restaurant with a nice terrace, a small gym, and an indoor pool with an open roof.