Daniel E on Twitter: @d_esteban_88

What a little gem of a place in Salvdor de Bahia. Right in the main square in the Pelourinho quarter, this was by far my favourite place to eat and drink in my whole 4 months in South America.

This is a proper locals place. Every time I went in there, my mates and I were the only non-locals in there and that is something I love. Avoiding the tourists traps gives you more of a sense that you are experiencing the real culture of any place you visit. During my 5 day sejour in Salvador I must have been to O Cravinho at least half a dozen times, twice to eat and the rest to relax over an ice cold Skol.

As soon as you walk in you can tell this place is something special. Wooden interior, massive barrels of Cachaca and dim lighting. The people are buzzing in conversation with smiles on their faces. It’s a place you really want to be in to soak up the atmosphere. The place is divided in 2 parts, drinking area and dining area. I should stop getting all sentimental and talk about the food.

Being along the coast seafood is king in Salvador. We tried quite a few things but the ones that stood out were the Camarao Pintolinho (prawns) and the Bolinho de Bacalau (fried cod croquettes). The Bolinhos served with this wicked spicy salsa and the huge plate of prawns gone in minutes with messy consequences. All the food we sampled just had that home away from home taste about it and was quite simply exquisite.

This is the perfect place for some nice food and a couple of beers with good friends. Finally, it may sound like we pushed the boat out coming here but it is the complete opposite. Bearing in mind, we were backpacking and on a strict budget, a meal for 3 of us with beers came up to roughly 18 reias each (£6) which is a steal for the quality that you get.Unforgettable food, unforgettable place.

O Cravinho – Largo Terreiro de Jesus, 3 – Pelourinho, Salvador – BA, 40026-010, Brazil