Discover Local Florianópolis: What to Do Around Mercure Florianópolis

At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Florianópolis, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?

Florianópolis in 5 picks

Lagoa da Conceição

The lagoon at the geographic heart of the island is where locals actually spend their weekends — stand-up paddleboards in the morning, shrimp dishes and caipirinhas by night. Avenida das Rendeiras is lined with restaurants specializing in shrimp prepared every way imaginable. Go for sunset if you can time it.

Ribeirão da Ilha

An old Azorean fishing village on the island's south side, and the source of most of the oysters you'll eat in Floripa. Restaurants here run their own oyster farms, so what lands on your plate was likely still in the water that morning. The colonial architecture and slower pace make it worth the drive on its own.

Mercado Público

Running since 1851 on Rua Conselheiro Mafra, this is where locals get lunch, not tourists. Expect oysters shucked to order, fresh fish, pastéis de camarão (shrimp pastries) and some of the cheapest fruit on the island. Go hungry and graze from stall to stall.

Praia Mole

One of the island's 42 beaches and its best-known surf break — expect a younger, sportier crowd and beach bars that stay lively into the evening. If you don't surf, it's still a good beach for people-watching and a caipirinha with your feet in the sand.

Santo Antônio de Lisboa

Another Azorean-founded village, quieter than Ribeirão da Ilha, with pastel-colored houses facing the bay and a handful of restaurants built right over the water. Come for the oysters, stay for the sunset over the mainland.

Where to eat
Florianópolis produces the vast majority of Brazil's cultivated oysters, and the island knows it — you'll find them on menus everywhere, but Ribeirão da Ilha and Santo Antônio de Lisboa are where the farms actually are. Ostradamus has built a national reputation around them. Beyond oysters, look for pastéis de camarão at Mercado Público and shrimp dishes along Avenida das Rendeiras — the Azorean influence runs through most of the island's signature cooking.
Beaches for every mood
With 42 beaches spread around the island, Floripa doesn't do one-size-fits-all. Praia Mole and Joaquina draw surfers and a younger crowd; the northern beaches tend to be calmer and more family-friendly. Because the island is spread out, a rental car or ride-share makes it much easier to beach-hop in a single day rather than committing to just one stretch of sand.
Right outside your hotel
Mercure Florianópolis sits in Itacorubi, a five-minute walk from the Rio Itacorubi and within easy reach of Iguatemi shopping mall and Parque da Luz. It's a practical, central base for exploring both the lagoon side of the island and the historic center, with the Garapuvu Café on-site if you want good coffee before heading out.
/

FAQ

Ilha da Magia is the local nickname, earned by the island's 42 beaches and the mix of lagoons, dunes and forest packed into one place.

Ribeirão da Ilha and Santo Antônio de Lisboa, both Azorean fishing villages on the island where several restaurants run their own oyster farms.

It helps — the island is large and its beaches and villages are spread out, so a rental car or taxis make beach-hopping much easier than relying on buses alone.

Where to sleep

See Mercure hotels in Florianópolis, all within reach of these picks.

View hotels
Where to sleep

See Mercure hotels in Florianópolis, all within reach of these picks

View hotels