Blog da Virginia Costa

  Carne de Sol do Picuí  is certainly one of the best restaurants in Maceió. The Chef is Wanderson Medeiros has been doing an excelent job, always inovation and true to his origins.    The restaurant is cozy and serves elaborate regional food.     They take part in the Boa Lembrança, which is when you order a certain dish and can keep the plate itself, always handpainted.  Another nice thing is they pick you up at the hotel, all you have to do is call them. They have a nice event area upstairs and there are a few selected regional products for sale.   Another very good option is Massagueirinha, in Ponta Verde. Avenida Deputado José Lages, 1105   It is a lot simpler, with tables on the sidewalk but one of the best foods I have ever had.  It is not a tourist place and has no charming decor. Just go for the food. Don't leave  Maceió without tasting their marvellous Casquinha de Siri (above). There are lots ...

  This beach is 33 km South of Maceió. There is this beautiful coconut farm surrounding it.  You'll see people selling several kinds of crabs by the sideroad on the way there. Praia do Gunga, Alagoas Praia do Gunga, Maceió   Very pleasant place. You can rent a quadricycle or a buggy to go to the coastal cliffs (   falésias). A guide goes with you. Praia do Gunga, Maceió  Interesting and colourful formations.

Praia da Sereia I found it nice because the reefs were so close. Strangely not crowded. Lack of facilities. It is worth the stop, though. Praia da Sereia   The mermaid. Ipioca Beach - 24 km away from Maceió . On the way to this beach, stop at Casa do Nordeste. You will find interesting regional products.   Again, flavored cachaça. The ones above contain coconut and cashew.   Fresh baked cashew nuts are the main product.  Do not ask for a discount!   After that head to Hibiscus , a piece of heaven on earth, really. It is inside a gated community called Angra de Ipioca. Just say you are going to Hibiscus at the entrance.    To use all the facilities at Hibiscus you pay R$ 15,00.   Need I say more?   Enlarge the menu!   We had grilled octopus. During the winter, the beaches are not so clean in Maceió  but in front of this place, it was ok.

Maragogi is located on the Coral Coast – Costa dos Corais – 130 kilometers of continuous living tropical reefs on the coast of Northeast Brazil.    Its major attraction is the "Galés", a group of tropical pools formed at low tide about 6 kilometers from the city's beach.  Maragogi, Alagoas   They are served by large registered catamarans leaving from various points in the municipal area.   I actually saw those blue fishes. Maragogi, Alagoas  We got there with the company above which had been recommended in the hotel. We were in Maceió and didn't want to drive that far. It takes about two hours by bus. They charged R$ 90,00 per person. it included the bus ride, the trip to the coral reefs ( Galés)  and breakfast. We had to wake up very early. Everything depends on the tides.  Maragogi, Alagoas While we were there, the tide was not low enough but it was the only possible day.  We had pictures taken in the water by...

 If you ever go to Maceió and want to taste all the regional food, try   Bodega do Sertao . I really mean all of it.  At the entrance there is a cute little shop where they sell typical products, mainly "cachaça" and homemade sweets.   Loved this ceramic guy!   The restaurant is quite large and there is a part of it which that has air condicioning, inside the huge coffepot.  Note the chandelier.   Such a cute mirror! Rag dolls.   Now, about the food. Although I am Brazilian, I must confess that I had never tried half of it. This part of Brazil is economically poor and people have developed their special cuisine. Mostly, they eat goats and serve manioc in many different ways.

This "barraca", kind of beach shack, is one of many along the shore of Pajuçara Beach. In my opinion, the best. It is right on the beach, it is lively, people pass by with children, with their dogs, exercising at night. Two things make it special: good live music ( there was a very good jazz band playing when we were there) and the food.   LOPANA Caldinho de sururu  I asked for "caldinho the sururu". Sururu is a small shellfish that lives in the surrounding mangrove areas of Maceió. It was very tasty. Lopana, Maceió  The shrimps were especially delicious. The dough had cheese in it.  A small smoking area on the sidewalk. Maceió This is where you are, Pajuçara.  Also here, when the tide is low (check at the hotel), you can swim in the pools 2,5 km from the beach. Jangadas in Maceió   The famous "jangadas" will take you there. Mercado de Artesanato em Maceió   There is also a Mercado de Artesanato. As in many othe...