12 Best Hotels in Salvador and the Bahia Coast, Brazil

Name: Nirvana Beach Hotel
Address: Ponta de Mutá, Barra Grande, Bahia, 45520-000, Brazil
Telephone: 073-3258 6357
Price range: $$

Lodging options in Salvador range from modern high-rises with an international clientele and world-class service to cozy, often family-run pousadas (inns). While Costa do Sauipe has a concentration of big resorts, the best ones are scattered along the coast. Pousadas are usually the only option in remote beaches or in fishing villages. Apartment hotels, where guest quarters have kitchens and living rooms as well as bedrooms, are available in some places. Low-end pousadas may not have air-conditioning or hot water; be sure to ask before you book.

Nirvana Beach Hotel

$$ | Ponta de Mutá, Barra Grande, 45520-000, Brazil Fodor's Choice

While superbly located on the tip of hip Mutá Point, a five-minute stroll down the beach from Barra Grande’s bustling pier, Nirvana Beach Hotel's expansive 6-hectare (15-acre) grounds give guests the sense of being marooned in the tropical rain forest. Each of the five rooms has a private balcony and hammocks jutting out into the jungle, soft candy colors, high ceilings, and comfy beds. The gregarious hosts, Brazilian–English mother-daughter team Bonnie and Jessie, are on hand to organize speedboat trips and share the best places to catch the legendary sunsets, It’s a bit like staying in someone’s house, with guests breakfasting together on at a large communal table set in the piacava pavilion, where you can also enjoy a home-cooked lunch and relax over daily complimentary tea; you may even catch a jam session on the yoga deck when Jesse, a singer, is in the house.

Pousada A Mangueira

$$ | Praia de Moreré, Salvador, 45420–000, Brazil Fodor's Choice

Providing a surprising level of sophistication in the midst of such remote natural beauty, this pousada’s chic chalets come with private verandas and double hammocks, set among a tropical garden blooming in mango trees and hibiscus just 50 meters from Moreré Beach. For foodies, the pousada’s bar and restaurant is a real draw, providing a vibrant hub for travelers in the evenings. Don’t miss the bream served with a coconut and ginger sauce and cashew fruit caipirinhas. During the day, room service is available. Spanish–South African owners Juan Carlos and Gary are always full of smiles and will help you plan out your beach days to perfection.

Pousada Capim Santo

$$ | Rua do Beco 55, Trancoso, 45818-000, Brazil Fodor's Choice

This delightful, family-run pousada set right on the Quadrado is one of the oldest in town, dating back to the '80s when owner Sonia arrived from São Paulo with the first wave of hippies and began cooking up delicious food in her kitchen. These days, its 20 barefoot-beach-chic rooms, spread through 10,000 square meters (2.5 acres) of tropical garden, remain one of the best value options in Trancoso, combining vibrant hospitality with a great restaurant, lovely breakfast, and tranquil pool.

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Anima Hotel

$$ | Praia do Encanto s/n, Morro de São Paulo, 45428–000, Brazil

Set on the island's secluded fifth beach, Praia do Encanto, this intimate hotel has nine stand-alone bungalows scattered through 6 hectares (15 acres) of tropical forest—a favorite among couples and those on the hunt for some serious downtime. As well as an extensive collection of more than 250 DVDs to encourage early nights, bungalows come with comfortable beds, private terraces, and outdoor showers. Other highlights include a swimming pool and an excellent in-house restaurant, although the hotel does provide a complimentary transfer service (20 minutes) into town for when guests are ready for some action.

Casa da Vitoria

$$ | Aloísio De Carvalho 95, Salvador, 40081–300, Brazil

This excellent value option on a tranquil side street of residential Campo Grande offers an intimate B&B experience, with owner Augusta going out of her way to ensure guests feel right at home. Eight immaculate rooms combine sleek wooden floorboards with high ceilings and comfy beds, while the master suite comes with private balconies and can fit an extra bed. The open-plan public areas include a library, fresh flowers, and a long communal table, where a daily changing breakfast is served, with specialities such as banana tapioca pancakes and passion-fruit mousse.

Catussaba Resort Hotel

$$ | Alameda da Praia, Salvador, 41600–460, Brazil

A longtime favorite among business travelers and families due to its close proximity to the airport and extensive facilities—including direct access onto the beautiful Itapuã Beach—this resort hotel could do with an overhaul. Lackluster decor aside, the hotel's tropical gardens remain well kept, the rooms are spacious and come with their own private terraces, and there is a large pool area for children. Make sure you opt for Catussaba Resort rather than its sister hotel, Catussaba Business, which is set a few blocks back from the beach.

Dreamlands Bungalows

$$ | Barra Grande, 45520–000, Brazil

Couples and families flock to the deliciously laid-back Dreamlands, where 10 simple, stylish Scandinavian-esque bungalows sit overlooking a great surf break on Taipu de Fora Beach, and the hotel's beach bar is one of the best. Rooms are cleverly positioned in a cascade so that no one misses out on the view of the turquoise surf. Rooms are clean, modern, and come with a plasma TV and minibar; adjoining bungalows are well suited to families. Norwegian owner Jan shakes up sophisticated cocktails at the beach bar, while his Brazilian wife Lyana organizes quad-biking trips and massages for guests. Make sure to ask Jan for his secret map to visit the giant Avatar-style bromelias in the forest.

Mata N'ativa Pousada

$$ | Estrada do Arraial s/n, Trancoso, 45818–000, Brazil

Location is prime here, right on the banks of Trancoso's river, three minutes' walk from the beach and the downtown square. As the name implies—Mata N'ativa means "native forest"—the pousada is virtually hidden under the canopy of Atlantic Forest. In the rooms, large beds with bedposts holding mosquito nets add to the rugged ambience.

Peninsula Beach Club

$$ | Praia do Cassange s/n, Barra Grande, 45520-000, Brazil

Set on a secluded stretch of sand a 20-minute drive outside Barra Grande, this hotel caters as much to families with small kids as to a younger crowd who take advantage of the day passes and regular roster of DJs and events. Highlights include the sushi-serving beach restaurant and swimming pool overlooking the sea and surrounded by large loungers. Rooms are simple, spacious, and set in a row so each offers sea views and a private balcony; bungalows set back from the beach come with their own private garden. It's worth spending the day here even if you are not a guest of the hotel; there is a minimum consumption charge of R$50 per person.

Portal de Lençóis

$$ | Av. Sr. dos Passos 1, Lençóis, 46960–000, Brazil

Overlooking Lençóis—west-facing accommodations have magnificent views of the forest-covered river valley—this distinctive hotel has a Portuguese-tile roof and stone facade. The stone-and-wood rooms and suites are the most luxurious choice in the region, and guests have access to a swimming pool, basic gym, and sauna. Many of the rooms accommodate up to three or four people, with private bungalows for families.

Pousada Rosa dos Ventos

$$ | Alameda da Lua s/n, Cabo Frio, 48280–071, Brazil

Centrally located between Praia do Forte's main beach and the center of town, this intimate, family-friendly pousada offers six comfortable rooms, personalized service, and a small pool. Rooms are individually decorated with reclaimed wood furniture sourced from Minas Gerais; each has a comfy bed and small fridge. The plentiful, homemade breakfast is a highlight, and the staff serve a daily complimentary tea of fresh fruit and cakes.

Sheraton da Bahia

$$ | Av. Sete de Setembro 1537, Salvador, 40080–001, Brazil

One of the most sophisticated choices for business travelers and families alike, this modern hotel in well-heeled Campo Grande offers sleek, spacious rooms, a large swimming pool, and internationally recognized bilingual service. It's a short taxi ride from the principal sights and Salvador's business hub. The hotel's design recaptures the glamour of the 1950s, with leather armchairs in the style of Sergio Rodrigues and a grand piano in the cocktail bar. The extensive list of amenities includes a spa, travel agency for organizing transfers and trips through Bahia, money-exchange service, numerous events rooms, and an international buffet for lunch and dinner.

Salvador and the Bahia Coast

Salvador and the Bahia Coast

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