Acarajé is a deep-fried black-eyed pea fritter filled with vatapá, shrimp and spicy sauce, sold by Baianas at street stalls across the city. Largo de Santana is one of the most well-regarded spots to try it.
Discover Local Salvador: What to Do Around Mercure Salvador Rio Vermelho
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 Salvador, 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?
Salvador in 5 picks
Acarajé at Largo de Santana
Bahia's signature street food: black-eyed pea fritters deep-fried in dendê (palm oil) and split open for vatapá, dried shrimp and hot pepper sauce. The stalls around Largo de Santana, run by Baianas in traditional white dress, are some of the most respected in the city.
Pelourinho
Salvador's historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site of steep cobbled streets and pastel-coloured colonial buildings. Live drumming often spills out of doorways in the late afternoon — follow the sound.
Elevador Lacerda
An Art Deco public elevator connecting Salvador's upper and lower city, in operation in some form since the 1870s. The ride itself takes seconds, but the view over Baía de Todos os Santos at the top is the real reason to go.
Mercado Modelo
A 19th-century market building turned crafts market, selling everything from lace to Bahian percussion instruments. It sits right at the base of the Elevador Lacerda, making the two easy to pair.
Rio Vermelho nightlife
One of Salvador's most bohemian neighbourhoods, full of bars, live samba and forró spilling onto the street after dark. It's known as one of the best places in the city to feel the local nightlife rather than a tourist version of it.
FAQ
Yes — it's Salvador's UNESCO-listed historic centre, known for colourful colonial architecture, live music spilling from doorways and its central role in Afro-Brazilian culture.
The Elevador Lacerda, a public Art Deco elevator that has linked the two levels of the city since the 1870s, with Mercado Modelo sitting right at its base.
Where to sleep
See Mercure hotels in Salvador, all within reach of these picks.