What do Nelson Mandela, Jorge Amado, and Luciano Pavarotti have in common? They all stayed at the Hotel Ca’d’Oro, one of the most iconic names in São Paulo’s hotel industry. Located on Rua Augusta, it was São Paulo’s first luxury hotel and hosted prominent figures of the 20th century, both from Brazil and abroad.
In addition to the celebrities we’ve mentioned, the Ca’d’Oro hosted the royal families of Spain and Sweden, the writers Pablo Neruda, Vinicius de Moraes , and Mário Quintana, as well as Nobel Prize-winning scientist Linus Pauling.
The presidential suite also served as an office for then-President of the Republic João Figueiredo during a 15-day medical stay in São Paulo. In other words, the Hotel Ca’d’Oro served as the temporary seat of the federal government!
From restaurant to darling of the elite: discover the history of the Hotel Ca’d’Oro
Ca’d’Oro (from the Italian “House of Gold”) opened in 1953 as a restaurant on Barão de Itapetininga Street, in the República neighborhood. Three years later, it became a hotel with 50 rooms, though it still lacked the luxury that would later make it famous.
Behind the venture was immigrant Fabrizio Guzzoni, who moved the hotel to Rua Augusta in the 1970s. From there, its rise was rapid: the property expanded to 300 rooms and two swimming pools, one of which offered a panoramic view.
Another major distinguishing feature of the Ca’d’Oro Hotel was its fine-dining restaurant specializing in northern Italian cuisine, staffed by Italian professionals. The sophistication was such that, until the 1980s, men were not allowed to enter the restaurant without a suit and tie.
A pioneer in the hotel industry, it remains open to this day
By the end of the 20th century, the downtown area had fallen into decline, and the grand hotel lost a significant portion of its guests. Without the patronage of the elite, the Ca’d’Oro closed its doors in 2009, and its building was demolished after 53 years of history and refinement. But don’t be sad, because São Paulo’s first luxury hotel has a happy ending!
Encouraged by the redevelopment of the city center, Fabrizio Guzzoni’s descendants reopened the hotel in 2016. The property now occupies a new building at the same address, featuring approximately 150 suites and a four-star rating.
A witness to São Paulo’s urban transformations, the Ca’d’Oro Hotel remains a landmark of luxury hospitality in the city. In addition, the property features a restaurant open to the public and the prestigiousSky Bar at the roo , welcoming São Paulo residents who wish to experience this living legend of the capital up close.
