"It’s not hard to imagine a lobby full of fashionistas at the Hotel Fasano, a sexy, midcentury retreat among the high-end designer shops of the Jardim Paulista district. A bartender in a white tuxedo preps the cocktails, like a living example of the highly orchestrated 1940s look and feel of the hotel. It’s so . . . bossa nova. In fact, there’s live bossa nova and jazz in the piano bar Baretto. The somewhat imposing Restaurante Fasano has long been considered one of the best Italian restaurants in Brazil, serving modern riffs on classic dishes (and landing on Latin America’s 100 Best restaurants list). If those spaces feel sleek and masculine with their dark woods and dim lights, the Nonna Ruggero trattoria is more like a casual meal at grandma’s dining table or on her outdoor patio. The 60 guest rooms are similarly bright and welcoming with pops of yellow and quilted leather. Upstairs, the top-notch spa with its fitness center, yoga, and heated pool is a sanctuary unto itself. This is another Leading Hotel of the World." - Laura Dannen Redman