In the know
- Our favourite rooms
- We love the two-bedroom Gulab Mahal casa, which comes with a private tiered garden, a cushion-filled mezzanine, three bathrooms (two of them in the open air) and views of Transcoco's Quadrado from every angle. It also houses Indian-style stained-glass and carved-wood features, which date back to the 1970s ‘hippie invasion’ of Trancoso. We also adore the Casa do Avores honeymoon suite, which is built from recycled wood and is situated high in the trees.
- Packing tips
- Bring your iPod – all casas come with docking stations, and you can download as many bossa nova tunes as you like thanks to the free WiFi.
- Also
- This hotel is all about the details: hand-carved shower heads made from eucalyptus wood; sinks hewn out of giant tree roots; reclaimed wood and fittings, roof tiles recycled from traditional local homes; a swimming pool made from stones that some say have healing properties.
Current offers
- Smith card offer
- A bottle of champagne in your room on arrival. Members staying five nights or more will receive a special Smith cocktail each, and a free candlelit meal for two in the beach restaurant

More photos
Uxua Casa Hotel
Bahia, Brazil[view map]
- Style
- Rustic Modernism, casual luxury
- Setting
- Beachside, yet at the heart of village life
The only boutique hotel in the historic main square of Trancoso, Bahia, Uxua Casa Hotel has become the stay of choice in this beautiful seaside village. The Brazilian elite, not to mention style-savvy visitors from the US and Europe, flock to its nine private casas all year round, drawn by its stunning beachside location, dedication to sustainable tourism and the sort of interiors that wouldn't look out of place in Wallpaper* or Elle Decoration. Its owners have got the balance between luxury and laid-back style just right.
Need to know
- Rooms
- The hotel is comprised of nine individual casas.
- Rates
- BRL790–BRL2,150, including a buffet breakfast. There is an additional service charge of 10 per cent.
- Check-out
- Midday, though this can be flexible depending on occupancy; earliest check-in, 9am (again, depending on occupancy).
- Facilities
- Spa, gym, library, DVD library, laundry service, in-room spa/beauty treatments. In rooms: flatscreen TV, CD/DVD player, iPod dock, king-size beds, free WiFi, dining table, air-conditioning, minibar, Natura toiletries.
- Poolside
- Shaped like a lake and surrounded by a huge wooden deck, the hotel pool, constructed from thousands of green aventurine quartz stones, is big enough to do laps. It is gloriously surrounded by tall trees, coconut palms and flowering plants.
- Also
- Personal chefs are available on request, and will prepare a meal of whatever you desire to be served to you in your private casa. Ask when you check in.
Food & drink
- Hotel restaurant
- The hotel restaurants may not have been given names, but they're certainly not an afterthought. Chef Veronica Portilho serves up fresh, locally sourced Brazilian cuisine – moqueca of lobster and king prawns, escondidinho of dried shredded meat, onion, chives, creamed cassava and coconut milk – in the hotel lounge or beside the pool. The atmosphere is informal and laid-back.
- Dress code
- The more casual the better. Flip-flops and shorts are perfectly acceptable – indeed, closed-toe shoes are positively frowned upon.
- Top table
- Getting a good table is never a problem. However, in the evening, we recommend going for a table overlooking the beach, at which you can enjoy views of sand and sea, not to mention the two adjacent hammocks, while you eat.
- Last orders
- Dinner is served till around 10pm, and caipirinhas are served in the bar until the last guests shuffle off to bed.
- Room service
- Guests can order from a full menu between 7am and 10pm.
- Hotel bar
- Overlooking the pool area, the bar (again, it has no name) has been constructed from local wood using traditional techniques. An old fishing boat serves as the drinks counter, and a thatched roof covers those who come here to sip the signature pineapple-and-ginger caipirinhas till the wee small hours.
Also worth knowing
- Children
- This hotel is better suited to couples - leave the children at home!
Smith Members offer
A bottle of champagne in your room on arrival. Members staying five nights or more will receive a special Smith cocktail each, and a free candlelit meal for two in the beach restaurant
If you're a member of Mr & Mrs Smith, you can get special privileges at every Smith hotel you book through us. Just show your Smith card at check-in to claim the offer featured on every hotel page (like the one above).
Click here to become a Mr & Mrs Smith member
Smith travel team
If you'd prefer to talk to someone, or don't want to book online, call our travel team on 1 866 610 3867. We guarantee you’ll get the best available rates, and we don’t charge a booking fee.
Uxua Casa Hotel
Quadrado
Trancoso
Bahia
Brazil


