O Gamboa neighborhood it is characterized by the coastal community, inhabited by fishermen for centuries, located at the southwest entrance of Baía de Todos os Santos, close to the center of Salvador.
Gamboa – home to the communities of Solar do Unhão and Gamboa de Cima e de Baixo – is bordered by the Contour Avenue and is embraced by the Baía de Todos os Santos. No, this is not an exaggeration.
Residents of these locations have a permanent view of the calm sea. For the post office and for Google, these places are part of the Dois de Julho neighborhood, but for the residents and regulars, this piece of land is a city in itself.
The tour must start at Solar do Unhão, which is part of the Museum of Modern Art.
In addition to the MAM beach (practically inside the MAM Sculpture Park), the area around the site hosts the Jam at MAM project in summer, which promotes jazz shows at sunset.
There, it is also possible to see graffiti from MUSAS, Salvador's Street Art Museum, coloring walls, walls and facades of the community.
Within the Solar do Unhão community there is the beloved restaurant of Dona Suzana, with its classic stingray moqueca (and affection to give and sell).
In Gamboa, there is Bar de Mônica, which, in addition to delicious food, has a pier with an infinite view of Todos os Santos Bay. There are two ways to get to Gamboa: by boat or on foot along Rua dos Ingleses.
This entire area is an invitation to practice nautical sports such as stand-up paddle (SUP), especially from the “pebble beach”, as Praia do Solar is known.
Gamboa was part of the first habitable space in Salvador due to its proximity to the old port in the Comércio region.
In 1962, the construction of Avenida Lafayete Coutinho, or Contorno, defined the limits of the neighborhood between Gamboa de Baixo and Gamboa de Cima. Both are located in the also traditional Dois de Julho neighborhood.
The remnants of Fort São Paulo make up the scenery of Gamboa de Baixo. It emerged as part of the city's defense plan and was inaugurated in 1722. The fortress, now in ruins, is the place chosen by the community to hold some community meetings and activities. Learn more about Gamboa: one of the best tours in Salvador.
Avenida Contorno in Salvador BA03:20
Community of Solar do Unhão in Salvador25:49
Museum of Modern Art of Bahia - MAM02:55
MAM beach in Salvador BA01:55
Culture
Next to Avenida Carlos Gomes, next to Largo dos Aflitos, is one of the most important cultural spaces in Salvador: Teatro Gamboa. Although small in size – it has only 80 seats – it hosts important shows and exhibitions in the city.
On its border is located the Salvador Public Tour, where we find the traditional Teatro Vila Velha and the sumptuous Palácio da Aclamação do Governo.
The Public Promenade overlooks the Gamboa neighborhood and the All Saints Bay.
Gamboa de Baixo or Solar do Unhão beach, as it came to be called by the local community, is a mandatory stop for anyone visiting Salvador. The beach – which offers a calm sea bath – is great for taking souvenir photos of the tour.
Right next door, practically inside the MAM Sculpture Park, is Prainha do MAM. This strip of sand, which lies between the Museum of Modern Art of Bahia and the Bahia Marina, has a small cove with calm and crystalline waters.
Sensation of the moment, the place is frequented by locals, tourists and mainly young hipsters, which has turned it into one of the hottest spots in recent times. Savior stuff! Where else would you find a beach inside a museum.
Culinary
Gamboa has gastronomic gems from Bahia for all tastes and moods. At the top of the neighborhood, Restaurante Chez Bernard, located on Rua Gamboa de Cima, is the first French restaurant in the city. Inaugurated by the French Monsieur Bernard Goethals in 1963, it is a reference in international cuisine.
Regional food, however, is the most famous in the region. Two places stand out: Bar de Mônica and Restaurante Dona Suzana. Both specialize in seafood, especially moquecas. Dona Suzana was even a character in the Netflix series Street Food, talking about her passion for food that attracts tourists and Bahians.
The A Novidade bar is also worth a visit. Opened in the summer of 2019, it became known for its colorful buoys, fried fish, the slab with chairs facing the sea and for being owned by two members of MUSAS, Salvador's Street Art Museum.
Ivete Sangalo, Anitta and Netflix surrendered to the charms of the neighborhood
The region is popular with celebrities for recording audiovisual productions. Recently, Gamboa beach was the setting for the recording of the single Bola Rebola, by singer Anitta, and also scenes from the soap opera Segundo Sol, on TV Globo. Netflix also recorded an episode of the Street Food series there, showing the delights of the local cuisine.
Neighbor of the community, the singer Ivete Sangalo she doesn't give up occasionally trying the gastronomic delights of Gamboa and also practicing SUP with her husband Daniel Cady. The two even started dating after meeting in the Gamboa sea.
Gamboa de Baixo and the community of Solar do Unhão have a profusion of cultural and commercial activities. Look for the residents' association and learn more.
Praia do Mam, Solar do Unhão and Gamboa: how they are, how to get there
MAM beach
It is a small strip of sand squeezed between the stone containment of Bahia Marina and the Museum of Modern Art of Bahia, also having him in the background. Access to the beach is through the museum.
On the beach, it is possible to rent a chair and umbrella and there is an option to sell beer and coalho cheese, popsicles.
You can also get to MAM beach by boat, you have to go to Solar do Unhão beach and take a boat, which is also called Areinha.
Solar do Unhão beach
It is the famous stone beach and it is already extremely unusual because of that.
The strip of sand, or rather rocks, is a little bigger than the one at MAM. The stones are round and you can walk in sandals.
If you go to the sea barefoot, it will be impossible to maintain elegance when entering and leaving, haha. Amazing beach to catch the sunset. From it you can see all the excitement that happens in the Solar do Unhão area.
To access it, just enter the community a little, following down Av. Contour, before the Association, there is a staircase on the right side.
On the beach, you can take a boat to Praia do MAM, to Gamboa, Corredor da Vitória, Baía, Barra, etc.
Gamboa Beach
It is practically the entire strip of water in the Baía de Todos os Santos that bathes the place.
There will not always be sand. There is a part that has a little sand and a lot of stones, between the old Fort São Paulo da Gamboa and Bar da Mônica.
