Villa Bahia is a small hotel spread across two beautifully-restored 17th and 18th-century townhouses, in the centre of Salvador’s historic Pelourinho.
It still feels very much like a private residence, with polished wooden floors, narrow staircases, and 17 rooms of varying sizes spread across three floors.
Its interiors nod to Portugal’s maritime expansion, filled with maps, artworks and antique furniture from Salvador’s Golden Age. Each room references a different one of its outposts across Africa and Asia, from Madagascar to Calcutta.
What we love about Villa Bahia
- The setting on Terreiro de Jesus, tucked alongside the magnificent baroque church of Igreja de São Francisco.
- Light, spacious rooms, with high ceilings, four-poster beds, and wide wooden floors
- Interiors that reference Portuguese exploration and the cultural exchanges between Africa, Asia and Brazil that shaped Bahia’s identity.
- A serious on-site restaurant led by Chef Guto Lago, rooted in Bahian cooking and regional ingredients.
- Breakfast in the courtyard is a standout – Salvador classics such as tapioca couscous and cassava beijus served among papyrus and palms.
- A rooftop terrace with loungers and clear views over church towers and tiled rooftops.
What to do at Villa Bahia
The musical and spiritual capital of Brazil, Salvador is a melting pot of African, Caribbean and European cultures.
From Villa Bahia, step straight into the Pelourinho – the UNESCO-listed historic quarter, lined with churches, squares and pastel-painted façades. Set out with a guide to explore on foot, unpacking the city’s colonial history, and learn about Candomblé, the Afro-Brazilian religion shaped by West African beliefs and rituals.
Seek out Bahian specialities such as moqueca, a coconut-based fish stew, stop for live bands playing on street corners, and watch locals practising capoeira, the acrobatic martial art born here. Back at the hotel, reset with a dip in the pool or treatment in the spa.
Villa Bahia is located in the historic quarter of Salvador, a 30-minute drive from Salvador’s international airport.
Salvador’s airport has direct flights to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
When to Travel
Salvador is a year-round destination. December-March is high season, with exuberant music festivals and events in the streets. Temperatures are hot during this time, with little rain.
Between April-June there are far fewer visitors, but also higher humidity levels and more rainfall.
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Conde Nast Traveler Specialists every year since 2017
