Hotel Castelar

I really liked the vintage feel, and the price is great for what you get. The rooms are clean, the Wi-Fi worked perfectly wherever I needed it, and the staff were friendly. My room ended in 1 and had a huge balcony, just right for a beer and the city sounds below. I’d suggest asking for a room ending in 1 or 3 if you want one of those big balconies. There are plenty of restaurants and bars close by, and the historic sights in Centro and Republica are an easy walk. The area has the usual downtown São Paulo feel. I didn’t find it dangerous. People are around unless you’re out in the very early hours, and if anyone tries to get your attention, just ignore them and carry on to the sights or somewhere to eat or drink. The breakfast was the standard Brazilian spread, the kind travelers have probably seen many times. Some people say the beds are hard, but I like them that way. I can’t think of any real downsides. The complaints about the hotel and area seem overblown to me. It’s a clean, well located budget hotel, and I highly recommend it.