Accommodation so exclusive, you might not know it’s there: why the Fasano in New York is nothing like the original in São Paulo
- The flagship Fasano hotel in São Paulo is bright, shimmery and unforgettable. The New York Fasano is so exclusive and discreet, you wouldn’t know it was there
- With zoning rules strict it bills itself a members-only club – not that there are any yet. But the rooms don’t look suited to the long-term residency it offers
The Fasano flagship in São Paulo is an unforgettable hotel. Its entryway, just off the luxury retail corridor of Rua Oscar Freire, is sheathed in up-lit wood panelling that shimmers like gold. Inside, masculine leather chairs and a geometric lattice ceiling create a uniquely Brazilian expression of mid-century design. Bossa Nova plays in the bar, where dressed-up mixologists shake caipirinhas with stylish swagger.
It’s no wonder that decades into its existence, Fasano’s glamorous reputation remains untouchable in Brazil.
Now all of that is coming to New York, where the brand has opened its first North American outpost. But chances are, you won’t be able to see any of it for yourself.
Instead, the entryway bears a discreet numeric address on a traditional residential awning (815 Fifth Avenue), blending in with the luxury co-ops on either side.