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Food tours in Salvador: what to eat and which tour to book
Salvador is the capital of Bahia and the centre of Afro-Brazilian cooking. Dendê (red palm oil), coconut milk, dried shrimp, peanuts and malagueta chilli run through the food: acarajé, black-eyed-pea fritters fried in dendê and split open with vatapá and shrimp, is sold on street corners by baianas in white dress; moqueca baiana is a fish or shrimp stew simmered in coconut milk and dendê; and caruru, a stew of okra and shrimp, has religious roots in Candomblé. Beaches add queijo coalho grilled on sticks, and the city's sweets lean on coconut and sugar.
Use this page to decide what to eat and where to go. The dishes and areas below explain what the Pelourinho, Rio Vermelho and the markets are good for. The tours listed are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the current price and details on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Salvador
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acarajé | A fritter of mashed black-eyed peas and onion, deep-fried in dendê oil and split open with vatapá, caruru, salad, dried shrimp and chilli sauce. Ask for it 'frio' (no chilli) or 'quente' (with). | Baiana stalls across the city; Rio Vermelho (Largo de Santana and Largo da Mariquita) is famous for them. | roughly R$15–30 (about €2.40–5) |
| Abará | The same black-eyed-pea dough as acarajé but steamed in a banana leaf instead of fried, then filled the same way. | The same baiana stalls that sell acarajé. | roughly R$15–25 (about €2.40–4) |
| Bahian fish stew moqueca baiana | Fish, shrimp or crab stewed with coconut milk, dendê, tomato, onion, peppers and coriander, served in a clay pot with rice, pirão (fish-broth porridge) and farofa. | Restaurants in the Pelourinho, Rio Vermelho and on the seafront; usually serves two. | roughly R$120–220 for two (about €19–35) |
| Vatapá | A creamy paste of bread or cassava, ground dried shrimp, peanuts, cashews, coconut milk and dendê; eaten in acarajé or as a side. | Baiana stalls and Bahian restaurants. | usually part of acarajé or a plate; as a side roughly R$15–30 (about €2.40–5) |
| Caruru | Okra stew with dried shrimp, onion, peanuts and dendê. Traditionally served in large quantities on 27 September for the saints Cosme and Damião. | Bahian restaurants and baiana stalls. | roughly R$15–35 as a portion (about €2.40–5.50) |
| Shrimp with cassava cream bobó de camarão | Shrimp in a thick sauce of puréed cassava, coconut milk and dendê. | Bahian restaurants. | roughly R$90–180 for two (about €14–28) |
| Grilled cheese on a stick queijo coalho | Squeaky white cheese grilled over a small charcoal burner, sometimes with oregano or molasses, sold by vendors walking the beach. | Beaches such as Porto da Barra and along the seafront. | roughly R$8–15 (about €1.30–2.40) |
| Coconut sweets cocada | Sweets of grated coconut cooked with sugar, white (cocada branca) or caramelised (cocada queimada). | Street vendors, baiana stalls and shops in the Pelourinho. | roughly R$5–10 (about €0.80–1.60) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Pelourinho and the historic centre
UNESCO-listed colonial centre with Bahian restaurants, baianas selling acarajé and sweet stalls. Busy with visitors; quality varies, so pick places carefully.
Rio Vermelho
Bohemian seaside district where locals go for acarajé, bars and seafood. Largo de Santana and Largo da Mariquita are known for acarajé stalls.
Mercado Modelo
Historic former customs building by the Lacerda Elevator, now mostly a craft and souvenir market, with Bahian restaurants on the upper floor.
Feira de São Joaquim
Large, working open-air market by the bay with produce, spices, dried shrimp, dendê oil and Candomblé supplies; a raw, authentic look at Bahian ingredients.
Barra
Beach district around the Farol da Barra lighthouse and Porto da Barra beach with beach vendors, bars and casual restaurants.
Food tours in Salvador compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4h Cooking Class in Salvador: 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks | 3.5 hours | from €58 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Santa Ana Sightseeing Tour: Coffee, Food, and History | 3 hours | from €13 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Salvador: Taste Bahia's Soul in a Local Family Home | 3 - 4 hours | from €142 per person | private | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| San Salvador: City Tour & El Boquerón Park & Pupusa Tasting | 7 hours | from €88 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Salvador: Bahia Bites Food Tour with 12+ Tastings | 4 hours | from €69 per person | max 8 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Culinary in Salvador, fun hands on experience with caips | 3.5 hours | from €53 per person | max 8 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
4h Cooking Class in Salvador: 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks
On GetYourGuide · run by Cook in Fiesta
- Length
- 3.5 hours
- Price
- from €58 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 59 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Santa Ana Sightseeing Tour: Coffee, Food, and History
On GetYourGuide · run by Curly Tours Sv
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €13 per person
- Rating
- 4.2 ★ from 24 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Coffee Sightseeing Tour Admission to a colonial house and souvenir shop Tour inside the Cathedral of Santa Ana Tour inside the city's art school Visit to the Santa Ana mayor's office Tour inside the old colonial casin…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Catedral de Nuestra Señora Santa Ana
Salvador: Taste Bahia's Soul in a Local Family Home
On GetYourGuide · run by Your Tour Brazil
- Length
- 3 - 4 hours
- Price
- from €142 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 14 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- Private round-trip transportation (door-to-door) with driver and guide Guided visit to Mercado São Joaquim All ingredients and the cooking session in a local family home Full Bahian meal: crab starter, shrimp moqueca…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- **Meeting Point Information** Guests are required to travel independently to the family residence located at **Condomínio Bosque de Itapuã, Itapuã, Salvador**. We recommend using Uber or a taxi service for convenience. Upon arrival, please proceed to the condominium entrance gate, where your bilingual guide will be waiting to welcome you and accompany you to the family home. Detailed meeting instructions, contact information, and additional directions will be provided via WhatsApp after your booking is confirmed.
San Salvador: City Tour & El Boquerón Park & Pupusa Tasting
On GetYourGuide · run by EC TOURS EL SALVADOR
- Length
- 7 hours
- Price
- from €88 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 14 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- All fees and taxes Air-conditioned vehicle Private transportation Lunch Dinner Souvenirs Gratuities
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
Salvador: Bahia Bites Food Tour with 12+ Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by A Chef's Tour
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €69 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 8 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Included
- 4-hour guided food tour in Salvador 12+ food tastings across the markets and local eateries An expert local Salvador guide Small groups limited to 8 guests (larger private groups available) Includes bottled water Alco…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Meet outside the entrance of Galeria Mercado Modelo. If looking at the front of the Mercado Modelo market, it is the right hand corner entrance to the building. It is easily accessible by taxi or on foot from most of the city's central hotels. If you do need to get a taxi, we recommend downloading Uber which is the quickest and easiest way to book transport in the city.
Culinary in Salvador, fun hands on experience with caips
On GetYourGuide · run by Food & Fun
- Length
- 3.5 hours
- Price
- from €53 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 8 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Included
- Guided cooking class Unlimited caipirinhas Brazilian tea and soda (guarana) Fruit cocktail (caipirinha with no alcohol, if you prefer) Sparkling water Brazilian coffee from the region Dietary accommodations (vegetaria…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- R. Eng. Adozindo Magalhães - Praia do Flamengo, Salvador - BA, 41601-280, Brasil
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in Salvador is led by the baianas de acarajé, whose stalls are a recognised part of the city's cultural heritage. Beach vendors sell queijo coalho, boiled peanuts, cocadas and fruit. Stalls are cash-friendly, though many now take Pix (Brazil's instant payment system) as well.
Sit-down meals
Moqueca and other Bahian stews are heavy and usually sized for two, so share. Lunch is the main meal and restaurants often serve 'pratos executivos' (set lunches) at lower prices. Por-quilo restaurants, where you pay for your plate by weight, are a cheap and easy way to try many dishes.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes in Salvador typically teach moqueca, vatapá or acarajé, sometimes after a visit to the São Joaquim market. They are smaller in number than in Rio, so check current availability.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | R$80–130 (about €13–21): por-quilo lunch, acarajé and street snacks |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | R$180–300 (about €28–48): a shared moqueca dinner plus casual lunch |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | R$500+ (about €80+): upscale seafood restaurant with drinks |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Moderate. Many Bahian dishes contain shrimp or dried shrimp, including vatapá and caruru. Ask for acarajé 'sem camarão' (without shrimp) or look for moqueca de banana-da-terra (plantain moqueca) or a vegetable moqueca. Por-quilo restaurants make vegetarian eating easier.
Halal: Very limited. Halal-certified restaurants are rare. Seafood and vegetarian dishes are practical alternatives; pork appears in feijoada, some sides and farofa made with bacon, so ask.
Gluten-free: Fairly easy. Cassava, rice and corn are staples, and moqueca, pirão and farofa (cassava flour) are usually gluten-free. Vatapá often contains bread, so ask. 'Sem glúten' labelling is common on packaged goods by law.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Beach vendors quoting one price and then charging more per piece or adding items you didn't order. Agree on the price per item before they start cooking or opening anything.
- Restaurant bills in the Pelourinho with an unexpected 'couvert' for bread, olives or live music. Ask whether there is a couvert or music charge before sitting down, and send back what you don't want.
- Pickpocketing and phone snatching in crowded areas such as the Pelourinho and during events. Carry little, keep your phone out of sight on the street and use ride apps after dark.
- People offering to 'guide' you through the Pelourinho or tie a ribbon on your wrist, then demanding money. Politely decline unofficial guides and ribbon offers.
Top tours & activities in Salvador
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Salvador?
Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge (taxa de serviço) to the bill; it is technically optional but normally paid. No extra tip is needed. At street stalls and beach vendors tipping isn't expected. For guides on a food tour, a tip of around 10% or R$20–50 is appreciated if you enjoyed it.
Is acarajé spicy?
It can be. The chilli sauce is optional: ask for 'frio' (cold, without chilli) or 'quente' (hot, with chilli). The fritter itself isn't spicy, but dendê oil is rich and heavy, so one acarajé is a substantial snack. If you have a delicate stomach, try abará, the steamed version, first.
Which food tour is best for a first visit?
A walking tour of the Pelourinho with tastings is the easiest introduction to Bahian food and its history. If you are more interested in ingredients, a morning visit to the Feira de São Joaquim with a guide shows the dendê, dried shrimp and spices behind the dishes. In the evening, Rio Vermelho is where locals go for acarajé.
Is it safe to eat street food?
Generally yes at busy, well-known stalls. Acarajé is fried to order at high temperature. Be more careful with seafood sitting in the heat on the beach, and drink bottled water. Dendê oil is rich, and some visitors find it heavy at first, so start with a small portion.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Using por-quilo restaurants and street food, about R$80–130 (€13–21) a day is enough. A shared moqueca dinner plus a casual lunch costs about R$180–300 (€28–48). Upscale seafood restaurants in Rio Vermelho or by the bay can exceed R$500 per person with drinks.
How do I pay at markets and stalls?
Cash in small notes is safest, but many vendors now accept Pix, Brazil's instant payment system, which visitors can't always use with foreign bank accounts. Cards work in most restaurants. Carry small notes for baianas, beach vendors and the São Joaquim market, and keep cash out of sight.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.