Bar Zulu
Bar Zulu is a casual bar run by a British expat near Terreiro de Jesus, popular with foreign visitors looking for a low-key place to drink in Pelourinho. The space runs a small ground-floor room with limited indoor seating and a courtyard out back, with English-speaking staff making it one of the more accessible Pelourinho venues for non-Portuguese-speaking visitors. The menu runs simple grilled food (burgers, grilled chicken, fish), basic Bahian appetizers, and a modest cocktail program. Drinks pricing is moderate: beer R$10-14, caipirinhas R$18-25, no cover. The crowd is heavy on foreign tourists, backpackers, and expat regulars who've adopted Bar Zulu as their Pelourinho default.
Where to stay near Bar Zulu
Hotels close to Pelourinho, Salvador.
What to Expect
A casual bar with English-speaking staff, indoor and courtyard seating, simple grilled food, and a foreign-tourist-focused crowd. The most accessible Pelourinho venue for non-Portuguese speakers.
Casual, expat-friendly, low-pressure. The least intimidating Pelourinho venue for first-time foreign visitors.
Low-volume reggae, classic rock, Brazilian pop
Casual. Backpacker and tourist dress dominates.
Non-Portuguese-speaking visitors, expat regulars, low-key evenings, first Pelourinho stops.
Cards and cash accepted
Price Range
Beer R$10-14, caipirinhas R$18-25, food R$25-55
Beer ~$2-2.80/€1.80-2.60, caipirinhas ~$3.60-5/€3.30-4.50
Hours
Tue-Sun 17:00 to 01:00
Insider Tip
The courtyard is the prime evening seating; the indoor room runs cooler in the heat. English-speaking staff make this a useful first Pelourinho stop for newer arrivals. Cash payments process faster than cards.
Full Review
Bar Zulu sits in a small space on Rua das Laranjeiras near Terreiro de Jesus, occupying a single ground-floor room with a short bar counter, six or eight tables, and a courtyard out back with additional seating under cover. The decor runs minimal with a few framed photos of British rural scenes, a Union Jack flag behind the bar, and chalkboard menus along the walls.
The English-speaking staff are the venue's distinguishing feature. The British expat owner has been operating the bar for over a decade, and the regular staff speak functional English. This makes Bar Zulu one of the more accessible Pelourinho venues for newer foreign visitors who haven't picked up Portuguese yet; ordering, asking questions, and getting directions to other venues works smoothly in English.
Compared to the larger colonial-bar institutions on Terreiro de Jesus (O Cravinho, Cantina da Lua), Bar Zulu is smaller, less culturally specific, and pulls a more foreign-tourist crowd. The atmosphere is closer to a small British pub transplanted to Salvador than to a traditional Pelourinho boteco. This trade-off works for visitors who want lower social and language friction.
The menu runs simple grilled food: burgers (R$30-45), grilled chicken plates (R$35-50), grilled fish (R$45-55), and a small section of Bahian appetizers (acarajé, abará, bolinho de bacalhau). Execution is decent but not exceptional. The cocktail program is basic: standard caipirinhas, mojitos, and a few house signatures. Beer selection is modest with Brazilian standards on draft.
The Neighborhood
Bar Zulu sits on Rua das Laranjeiras near Terreiro de Jesus. O Cravinho is two minutes uphill at Terreiro de Jesus 3; Largo do Pelourinho is three minutes downhill.
Getting There
Uber from Barra R$20-35 and 15 minutes. Walking from Terreiro de Jesus is one to two minutes downhill via Rua das Laranjeiras. From Rio Vermelho R$15-25 and 20 minutes.
Address
Rua das Laranjeiras, 15, Pelourinho
Other Venues in Pelourinho
O Cravinho
Iconic Pelourinho bar specializing in cachaça infusions, operating since 1989. The signature drink (cravinho) combines cachaça with cloves, honey, and lemon. Four connected spaces give it room to breathe even on busy nights.
Sankofa African Bar
African-themed bar set in a colonial sobrado, decorated with maps and masks from across the continent. Reggae, salsa, and Afro-house nights with hammocks upstairs and a veranda overlooking the lane below.
Casa do Olodum
Home of the famous Bloco Afro Olodum, the percussion ensemble that defined Salvador's samba-reggae sound. Tuesday and Sunday rehearsals are open to the public with thunderous drumming and dancing crowds spilling into the street.
Largo da Tieta
Reinaugurated public square and event space with capacity for 1,500, hosting regular samba nights, axé concerts, and Carnival programming. Two access points connect Pelourinho proper with the Baixa dos Sapateiros.
Clube do Samba
Long-running samba club in the historic center with over two decades of programming. Live bands play traditional samba and pagode with a small dance floor and Bahian finger food.
Arté Bahia
Open-air bar with cheap drinks, affordable cover, and a Friday reggae night that draws a young mixed crowd of locals and backpackers. The terrace overlooks the colonial rooftops of the historic center.