Hotel Villa Bahia ****This really charming, small hotel is set next to the Igreja de São Francisco, Salvador's most impressive church. Brimming with character, it's converted from two homes (one 17th, one 18th century) that have been thoughtfully and very tastefully restored by the French owners.
Walking into the calm and cool lobby from the heat and bustle of Pelourinho outside, you'd think you'd stepped into a colonial Portuguese merchant's house circa 1700, a feeling accentuated by the staff's somewhat kitsch period uniforms. Beside the lobby there's a quiet restaurant that extends to the back of the house, and an outside courtyard and patio with a plunge pool and a few loungers. The lift, painted with an unusual Amazonian jungle frieze, takes you up to the 17 bedrooms, rooftop terrace and small spa where you can have a calming traditional or music-based holistic massage. A great place to soak up days-gone-by atmosphere, and a great base to explore colourful Pelourinho. The 17 rooms are tastefully decorated with colourful fabrics, painted shutters, wooden floors, antiques and hand-crafted Brazilian pieces (writing desks, maps, lamps and so on) but come equipped with thoroughly modern touches such as double glazing, air con, minibar, WiFi and TV. Breakfast is a large spread served 7-10 a.m., and is brought to your table (either in the restaurant or outside in the courtyard patio) rather than buffet style. The coffee is delicious – locally sourced and roasted in-house. As well as fresh fruit and juice, there's an array of freshly-baked breads and Bahian specialties such as plantain fritters and small doughnuts made from rice and coconut.
The restaurant is open daily to the public and for lunch and dinner. Starters may include oysters or smoked shrimp, mains could be locally caught fish of the day, risotto, lobster medallions or filet mignon with a cashew butter, while typical desserts are a clafoutis (a custard-like tart) or passion fruit drizzled with chocolate. Outside in the Pelourinho, there are lots of cafes and restaurants – try Uauá for a full meal and Cafelier for coffee and something snackier. Do try the Acarajés - small spicy fried bean treats - sold on every street corner by Bahian women in traditional flowing white dresses.
Prices:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
