Bump your way through the colourful cobbled streets, past capoeira dancers, hecklers and hippies, deep into Salvador's Pelourinho district, once the Portuguese capital of Brazil. You’re bang in the middle of a UNESCO World Heritage town, and you’d be mesmerised if you weren't so hot and tired from the journey. Which is why the Casa do Amarelindo is such a glorious respite. Step through its tall archways into a tranquil reception area and let the cool terracotta floor, whitewashed walls and tropical courtyard soothe your mind.
Take the lift to your room and enter a totally quiet and sunny space. The vast kingsize bed promises hours of sleep; the air con blows out welcoming cool air. Soundproofed French doors mean you won’t be disturbed by the street noise below, but step onto your balcony and you’ve got the perfect vantage spot for vibrant Bahian life. What’s more, there’s a roof terrace with a panoramic view of Todos os Santos Bay, and a swimming pool to beat the heat. You’re at the heart of the action, yet one step removed.
Highs
- The roof-top swimming pool and bar are an absolute joy, as Salvador can get very humid. At the time of our last visit, Casa do Amarelindo was still the only hotel in the area to offer this
- Right in the heart of the historic Pelourinho district of Salvador, yet the rooms are beautifully quiet
- Excellent dinners in the ambient restaurant, plus tasty tapas and cocktails on the roof terrace
- Friendly service from French owners Gilles and Didier, and the whole of their team
- Simple but stylish décor, and the entire hotel is well maintained
Lows
- Can be tricky to find and most of the area is blocked off to taxis - the hotel have a company who can operate right to their door, just ask!
- Pelourinho swarms with touts and tourists in peak season; walking to and from Casa do Amarelindo without being harangued is no mean feat
- Not recommended for children under 14 - a high for some!
Best time to go
If you really want to experience Salvador (particularly the Pelourinho district) at its loudest and most wild, go during Carnaval (February or March, depending on the year) which Brazilians say is more participatory than Rio's. It always begins on a Thursday night and ends the next Wednesday - in between 2 million party-goers hit the streets for an orgy of dancing and drinking. Throughout the year Tuesday nights in Pelourinho are like mini-festivals with live street music and dancing. The rainiest months in Salvador tend to be April-July.
Our top tips
Location is key here - you are just off the main square along a pretty and buzzy cobbled street with lots of little shops, cafes and galleries. You can explore the Pelourinho area right from your doorstep. The area is famous for its wandering samba bands, pretty coloured houses, magnificent churches and quirky galleries and shops - you can easily lose half a day trotting around. At night, there are various different live music venues to explore - ask the hotel reception for tips as they alternate each night.
- Boutique Hotel
- 10 rooms
- Restaurant and bar (open daily)
- Over 14s welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
Rooms
Set over 3 floors, the 10 rooms are sunny, light and instantly appealing. There's a lift to help with your suitcase and inside the decor is simple and uniform. Expect vast beds (kingsize or super-king), air-conditioning and double-glazed French windows to keep out night-time noise.
Standard and Superior rooms are street-facing while Deluxe rooms face the bay. Several enjoy magnificent views over the Baía de Todos os Santos (All Saint's Bay) - ask for a room on a higher floor. Some rooms have a private balcony, ideal for sun worshipping and people watching.
The ensuite bathrooms have carefully rolled up towels are tied with yellow ribbon for a luxurious touch. Standard and Superior rooms have rain showers; Deluxe rooms have hydro-massage showers.
Home comforts include cable TVs, ceiling fans, wrought-iron bedsteads and antique dark-wood furniture. Bed linen is high-quality cotton; bathrobes are just the ticket for padding up to the roof-terrace pool.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
The food at Casa do Amarelindo has a great reputation. Kick off your first evening with tapas and sunset cocktails at the roof terrace bar: there's a whole range of fruit specialities, and Gilles' Caipirinhas - especially those made with cashew fruit - come highly recommended.
The atmospheric ground-floor restaurant, Pelo Bistro, serves hearty dinners amongst terracotta walls and immaculately laid tables. The food is an inventive blend of modern Bahian specialities and there's a substantial wine list. We enjoyed shrimp with moqueca mini quiches, sautéed shrimps with lemongrass and pineapple rice, and fillet mignon with açai sauce and sweet potato fries.
Come morning, seemed like a never-ending array of breakfast delights were brought to us - just-squeezed orange or guava juice, fresh fruit (mango, pineapple, guava), fresh bread, coffee, yoghurts, cakes and eggs cooked to our taste.
If you'd prefer something different, the hotel is in an ideal location, bang in the centre of Pelourinho. Within 2 minutes of the hotel there are several bistros, restaurants and local café/diner joints. It's easy to explore and feels very safe. And at some point be sure to try the acarajes - small spicy fried bean treats - sold on every street corner by Bahian women in traditional flowing white dresses.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
- Room service
Activities
- Salvador is renowned for its Afro-Latin music. Its world famous Carnaval - a wild street party lasting up to a week - is held in February or March, but you can enjoy live music and dancing throughout the year
- Step outside the doors of the hotel, and straight onto Pelourinho's atmospheric cobblestone streets. Sample the Bahian street food, admire the different coloured houses and visit magnificent baroque churches (the lavish Igreja de Sao Francisco is a must).
- Pelourinho is the hub of Salvador's nightlife and Tuesday is its biggest party night. Just wander from bar to bar and follow the drummers playing along the streets. Stages are also set up on the Largo do Pelourinho and the Terreiro de Jesus
- Take a horse and cart to one of the city's beaches, such as Barra or Itapua (15-30 minutes' drive), or go further afield to the beautiful Guarajuba
- Chill out on the hotel's roof terrace listening to the sounds of Pelourinho below and admiring the panoramic view, then, when the heat gets too much, dive in the swimming pool to cool off
- Catch a show: the Bale Folclorico da Bahia at the Miguel Santana Theatre put on a daily hour-long performance based upon expressions of Bahian folklore and dances of the Candomble religious group
- Tours can be arranged in-house to experience a ceremony of Candomble (the local religion that blends Catholicism with beliefs brought from Benin and Nigeria by slaves) or the ritualistic African-based dance and martial art of Capoeira
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
- Swimming
- Traditional cultures
Kids
Best for guests aged 14+ due to the precarious layout of the rooftop bar and pool. Younger children may be considered on request. Two Standard Rooms can interconnect.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Hotel Casa do Amarelindo is in Salvador's historic Pelourinho district, eastern Brazil.
By Air:
Salvador Luis Eduardo (25km) is the closest airport. It has some international flights, but it's more likely that you'll arrive into Rio or São Paulo then catch an internal flight to Salvador.
From the Airport
Although there are plenty of taxis at the airport, the hotel can arrange transfers that tend to be cheaper and have the bonus of being able to drop you right at the hotel's door (usually a pedestrian zone). Request when booking.
By Car:
If you want to hire a car to get around, please see our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Brazil and getting around
Airports:
- Salvador Luis Eduardo 25.0 km SSA
Other:
- Beach 4.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km