Pinheiros is a district in the subprefecture of the same name

Subprefecture of Pinheiros

The Subprefecture of Pinheiros is one of 31 subprefectures of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. It comprises four districts: Pinheiros, Alto de Pinheiros, Itaim Bibi, and Jardim Paulista....

 in the city of São Paulo

São Paulo

São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...

, Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. Prior to development, the land which this borough occupies was dominated by the dense forest which contained a Brazilian subtropical species of pine, Araucaria angustifolia

Araucaria angustifolia

Araucaria angustifolia, the Paraná pine or Brazilian pine , is a species in the conifer genus Araucaria. Covering an original area of 233000 km², it is native to southern Brazil Araucaria angustifolia, the Paraná pine or Brazilian pine , is a species in the conifer genus Araucaria. Covering an...

, which is also the symbol of the Paraná

Paraná (state)

Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...

 state.

Pinheiros is known as a "new downtown" because of recent investment and revitalization of the borough, although it is one of the oldest urban areas in São Paulo. The borough is markedly the wealthiest district of São Paulo, and it includes many elegant neighbourhoods inhabited by the Brazilian elite, such as Jardins

Jardins

Jardins is the name given to an upper class region of São Paulo city, which includes the neighbourhoods of:* Jardim Paulista* Jardim América* Jardim Europa* Jardim PaulistanoAll are comprised within Pinheiros subprefecture....

. Many international companies have established their Brazilian headquarters in Pinheiros. It has also many important museums, cultural centers, luxury stores (such as Daslu

Daslu

Daslu is a posh multi-brand boutique-department store in São Paulo, Brazil. The boutique is known as the "fashion designers mecca" of Brazil as it houses more than 60 labels plus 30 store-in-stores and is the place where Brazilian socialites, ranging from multi-millionaire soccer players to...

), night clubs, and bars. Pinheiros is home to four former mayors of São Paulo: Paulo Maluf

Paulo Maluf

Paulo Salim Maluf is a Brazilian politician with a career spanning over four decades and many functions, including those of State Governor of São Paulo, Mayor of the City of São Paulo, Congressman and Presidential candidate. As of 2011, Maluf is on a second consecutive term as Federal Deputy...

, Celso Pitta

Celso Pitta

Celso Roberto Pitta do Nascimento was a Brazilian economist and politician. He is a Bachelor in Economics by Fluminense Federal University, master in Economics by University of Leeds and specialist in Advanced Administration by Harvard University.-Mayor:...

, Marta Suplicy

Marta Suplicy

Marta Teresa Smith de Vasconcelos Suplicy is a Brazilian politician and psychologist. She was Mayor of São Paulo from 2001 to 2004 as a member of the Brazilian Workers' Party...

 and José Serra

José Serra

José Serra is a Brazilian politician, former secretary of state, congressman, senator, minister of Planning and Minister of Health, mayor of São Paulo and Governor of São Paulo state.-Background:...

. The HDI

Human Development Index

The Human Development Index is a composite statistic used to rank countries by level of "human development" and separate "very high human development", "high human development", "medium human development", and "low human development" countries...

of the borough was 0,960, the second highest of the city of São Paulo.