⋅ TIPS ⋅

1. Our Insider Guide

🌈 Having visited more than 60 countries, I’ve learned to recognize the real gems—the places with soul, character, and a story to tell. Salvador is full of them, and my wife and I have created a carefully curated list of museums, cafés, restaurants, cultural spots, and experiences that reflect the city’s vibrant spirit beyond the tourist trail. We’re always happy to share this list with our guests—whether you’re looking for the best moqueca in town, a quiet courtyard café, or an underground music night with locals. ✨

2. Personal Tips

🚶‍♀️ Getting Around: The neighborhood is walkable, and much of the historic center can be explored on foot. That said, taxis or ride apps (like 99 or Uber) are usually the easiest way to get around beyond Dois de Julho. We recommend using ride apps over hailing taxis on the street, especially at night.

🛡️ Safety & Street Smarts: Like any big city, Salvador has its contrasts. We feel deeply at home here, but still recommend staying aware of your surroundings, especially at night or in unfamiliar areas. Avoid flashing valuables and stick to well-lit, busier routes.

🐢 Timing is Everything: Salvador runs on its own clock. Expect things to take a little longer, to start a little later, and to flow with more rhythm than precision. It’s part of the charm—lean into it.

💬 Ask Us Anything: If there's something you're longing to explore—be it food, art, music, sports, or just deeper insight into Bahian life—just ask. We’re travelers at heart, and nothing makes us happier than helping others see a place through the lens of true experience.

3. Walking Tours

🚶‍➡️ Largo Dois de Julho → Rua da Forca → Praça da Piedade → Av. Sete de Setembro → Praça Castro Alves → Rua Chile

Largo Dois de Julho

Authentic and vibrant square with butcher shops, fish market, fresh fruits and vegetables, bakery, pharmacy, brechó, street barber, and loads of homemade food and local pubs

• Caxixi — our pick for a restaurant at Largo Dois de Julho
• Lider — another traditional restaurant
• São Vicente — no-frills pay-by-weight spot

Praça da Piedade

• Health Valley — a hidden vegan buffet
• Gabinete Português de Leitura — library in Arab-style architecture

Av. Sete de Setembro

• Relógio de São Pedro — the city's first public clock, manufactured in France
• Mosteiro de São Bento — monastery
• Igreja da Barroquinha — cultural center

Praça Castro Alves

• Glauber Rocha — cinema, cafeteria, library, terrace with a view

Rua Chile

• Palacete Tira Chapéu — historic building turned cultural & gastronomic hub
• MUNCAB — Cultural Afro Brazilian Museum

🚶‍➡️ Solar do Unhão → Bahia Marina → Praia da Preguiça → Praça do Mercado → Elevador Lacerda → Pelourinho → Santo Antonio & Carmo

Solar do Unhão

• MAM — museum of modern art, cafeteria, art movie house; live open-air jazz on some Saturdays
• Praia do MAM — small beach only accessible by boat (R$ 20)
• Ré Restaurante Dona Suzana — gained fame on Netflix’s Street Food: Latin America
• Bar da Mônica — boat-access only, featured in a music video by Anitta
• Cazinha Bistrô — tiny gourmet restaurant, one of our favorites

Bahia Marina

• Soho — high-end sushi, bay views, cosmopolitan vibe
• Lafayette — refined Mediterranean cuisine, open-air terrace under a sprawling tree
• The Latvian — stylish, upscale, live music especially on weekends

Praça do Mercado

• Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia — Brazil’s first church, colonial architecture
• Hawaian Canoe — book via @clubemarvaa
• Mercado Modelo — iconic market for crafts, culture, and contemporary art
• Museu da Música — celebrates Bahia’s musical heritage
• Casa das Histórias de Salvador (CHS) — showcases the city’s culture and history

Pelourinho

• A Cubana — Bahia’s first ice cream shop
• Museu da Misericórdia — 17th-century mansion with bay views
• Casa do Carnaval da Bahia — Carnival exhibits and photo opportunities
• O Cravinho — clove-infused cachaça bar
• Ordem Terceira de São Francisco — church and monastery with Baroque treasures
• Dinho Artes Percussão — handcrafted Bahian drums and percussion
• Fundação Casa de Jorge Amado — celebrates Bahia’s writer
• Igreja do Rosário dos Pretos — Baroque gem, Afro-Brazilian Mass on Tuesdays
• Casa do Benin — showcases Benin and West African heritage
• Bar do Neuzão — vibrant samba nights, Thursdays

Santo Antônio

Salvador’s charming historic neighborhoods with an artsy vibe perfect for wandering

• Forneria do Santo — pizza made with long fermentation, 00 flour
• Café & Câmera — vintage décor where art of photography meets the aroma of Chapada Diamantina coffee @cafeecamera
• Cafélier — antique décor, a historic café in Salvador
• Café e Cana — famous for its infused cachaças & sugarcane juice with a kick of ginger
• Brechó do Cabral — cozy antiquarian shop
• Bar do Lula — relax outside, watch Salvador locals stroll by
• A.B.O.C.A. — a creative hub, Wednesday night of Salvador underground vibes
• Poró — Brazilian flavors in designful, colorful gem
• Zanzibar — vibrant culinary blending African and Bahian flavors
• D’Venetta — creative space with lively terraces and a vibe full of art

🚶‍➡️ Ladeira dos Aflitos → Passeio Publico → Campo Grande → Corredor da Vitória → Ladeira da Barra → Praia do Porto → Farol da Barra 🚲 Rio Vermelho

Aflitos

• Batatinha — weekly intimate samba
• Passeio Público — historic park with giant trees and bay views
• Teatro Vila Velha — historic theater inside the park (soon a rooftop café)

Campo Grande

• CCBB — one of only five in the country, brings art, theater, and cinema to life in the stunning Palácio da Aclamação
• Bar Quintal Raso da Catarina — hidden down the stairs into the backyard of a semi-abandoned mansion, 200+ cachaças and award-winning rustic bites
• Teatro Castro Alves — the largest theater in Brazil’s Northeast, it's Salvador’s grand performing arts palace

Vitória

• MAB (Museu de Arte da Bahia) — showcases Bahian and Brazilian art in a historic, elegant building
• Museu Geológico da Bahia — not only showcases fossils and minerals but also hosts the ‘Cinema do Museu’ with art films and musical performances
• Cantinho da Jô — homemade seafood in a hidden gem in a small seaside community
• Preta Bistrô — stylish setting tucked inside MAC (Museu de Arte Contemporânea), creative Bahian-inspired dishes

Barra

• Restaurante Egeu — pairs Mediterranean flavors with stunning bay views
• Yacht Club da Bahia — sailboats bobbing in the bay, a chic bar by the water, invitation only (can be organized)
• Casa Castanho — stylish café and concept store in Barra
• Porto da Barra — Salvador’s most iconic beach, calm waters, epic sunsets, lively mix of locals and visitors
• Pereira — elegant beachfront restaurant, contemporary Brazilian cuisine with a Mediterranean twist

Rio Vermelho

• Acarajé da Dinha — Rio Vermelho legend, serving the city’s most famous acarajé since the 1950s
• Boteco do França — one of Salvador’s most awarded and traditional botecos, famous for its golden bolinho de bacalhau
• CÖA — run by a Swiss duo, mix of edgy design, gravel under your feet, no roof above
• Casa Chalabi — Middle East flavors, mezze, kebabs, and spiced cocktails in bohemian setting
• Casa de Tereza — where chef Tereza Paim celebrates Bahian cuisine in a beautifully restored colonial house

4. Home-Cooked Meals

🍋 Some of the most meaningful experiences aren’t on any map. Every now and then, something beautiful unfolds at home too. One recent guest was invited into our kitchen to meet a cook who used to work with my mother—someone I hadn’t seen in over 30 years. She now comes to our house once a month, or upon request. Experiences like that can't be booked online—but we’re always open to organizing home-cooked meals or culinary sessions for guests who are curious, open, and eager to connect. 🍲

5. Tailored Experiences

🌎For guests looking to experience both the city and the island, we’re happy to offer fully tailored stay packages—seamlessly connecting your time at a casinha do encanto in Salvador with a casinha da floresta on the island.

We can coordinate door-to-door transfers, including:

• Airport pickup/drop-off
• Car and boat transfers between city and island
• Optional stops or scenic routes along the way

Beyond logistics, we love helping guests deepen their experience with curated add-ons like:

• Private sailing excursions
• Bilingual historical guides to explore Salvador’s rich cultural heritage
• Local culinary workshops or home-cooked meals
• Creative residencies or nature immersions

Just let us know what kind of rhythm, comfort, or adventure you’re looking for – and we'll help you craft a journey that flows naturally between our houses and the world around them. 🛶