Join our mailing list for Real Estate News, Events, Insights & Resources.

Major commercial centers, known as Central Business Districts (CBDs), such as Lower Manhattan in New York, Lujiazui in Shanghai, and the West End in London, are crucial for the survival of a country's economic ecosystem. In Latin America, it's no different: the two largest cities are home to important business centers—in Brazil, the city of São Paulo is the largest, with the Faria Lima region, and in Mexico, Polanco stands out in Mexico City.
Both regions exhibit distinct characteristics and shared traits. Polanco, renowned for its concentration of businesses, stands out not just for its corporate presence but also for its distinguished restaurants and Hispano-American neocolonial architecture. Conversely, Faria Lima, developed around its eponymous avenue, serves as Brazil's corporate nerve center, home to major offices and even the country's first shopping mall, Shopping Iguatemi, established in 1966.
In these primary corporate zones, the Financial, Insurance, Real Estate an Legal (FIRE ) companies sector holds the most significant sway. In Mexico, this group of companies occupy 30.17% of total space, while in Brazil, it commands an even more substantial 47.1%, as per Market Analytics data.
Distinguishing the two, Faria Lima stands out with an impressively low 6.2% vacancy rate, in stark contrast to Polanco's 17.3%. SiiLA´s data maps 1,474,076 square meters of class A+, A, and B offices in the Mexican region, while Faria Lima in São Paulo encompasses 761,909 square meters.
Polanco's occupant champion is BBVA México, claiming 100% of Mariano Escobedo 303. On Faria Lima, the leading occupant is Banco Itaú, with holdings at Faria Lima 3500 and Faria Lima Financial Center.
Iconic buildings define both regions — B32 – Birmann 32, colloquially known as the "whale building," houses Facebook and Shopee in Brazil, while Plaza Carso in Polanco features the Soumaya museum and businesses like Telecel and TOTVS in Mexico.
Faria Lima sees an average of 145,000 people daily, affectionately known as "faria limers," and hosts five of Brazil's top ten companies, collectively valued at over R$880 billion. In Polanco, over 64,000 people work, with more than 28,000 residents nearby. Home to Mexico's largest bank, key telecommunications companies, including Telecel, and luxury brand Hugo Boss, Polanco has a vibrant, high-end residential scene. In contrast, Faria Lima's essence is bohemian, offering a lively nightlife with bars and clubs attracting crowds after work and on weekends.
Watch the video of SiiLA executives visiting Polanco (in Spanish)











Join our mailing list for Real Estate News, Events, Insights & Resources.
