The 5 best lounges at GRU

Guarulhos is one of the deeper airports we cover. There are 21 lounges in the directory, 20 of them open and scored, and nine of those rate 4.5 or better. That makes the ranking unusually tight, and it means the fifth-place room here would lead the table at plenty of other airports.

What "overall" measures#

The overall score is an average of every metric we rate, so a lounge only climbs this list by being good at food, showers, quiet and service at the same time. A room that is brilliant at one thing and weak at the rest gets pulled back toward the middle. When two lounges land on the same average, the one with more metrics rated ranks higher. Scores run from 1 to 5 and are editorial; the rubric is set out in our methodology.

The top five#

1. Espaço Banco Safra Lounge at GRU rates 4.8 overall. It sits on the Terminal 3 mezzanine above the atrium, has a full bar and 4 shower suites, and opened in 2015 as the Star Alliance Lounge.
2. Plaza Premium Lounge (T3) also rates 4.8. It is in Terminal 3, with a full bar and 4 shower suites.
3. Casa BB rates 4.7. Terminal 3 again, with a full bar and 2 shower suites, and it is the only lounge here with a perfect 5 for exclusivity.

Fourth is W Premium Lounge – 5th Avenue at 4.7. Fifth is W Premium Lounge – The Pier, also 4.7 and open around the clock.

Why the terminal matters more than the ranking#

Every one of the five is in Terminal 3, the international terminal. If you are flying domestic out of Terminal 1 or 2, none of these is reachable and you need to look further down the list. For international departures the picture is the reverse: two lounges tied at 4.8, three more at 4.7, and a tenth of a point separating first from fifth. For me, the gap is small enough that showers, opening hours and which door your card opens should decide it, not the score. The Pier's 24-hour opening is the one hard differentiator if you have a very early or very late flight.

Getting into the leader#

The Espaço Banco Safra Lounge still admits Star Alliance business and first class passengers, and Star Alliance Gold members with one guest. Priority Pass members are admitted, but only during limited hours, so check before walking over. The São Paulo/Guarulhos International page lists all 21 lounges by terminal, and you can compare Guarulhos with the best airport lounges everywhere.

Putting this into practice#

The names I'd check against the actual boarding pass include Espaço Banco Safra Lounge, Plaza Premium Lounge (T3). I would start with the terminal and the time available after security. That turns a directory into a realistic shortlist. A lounge can be excellent and still be a poor choice for this departure if reaching it uses most of the waiting time. The location notes above should do as much work as the overall score.

The access check comes next. I'd identify the exact card, membership, status or ticket being used and read the conditions for that route into the lounge. A lounge appearing on a card's map is a starting point for that check. It is not a reason to assume every fare, guest or departure will qualify in the same way.

Related reading#

• Priority Pass at GRU: where to go
• LoungeKey lounges at GRU: which to choose in 2026