Beach bar at Oasis Belorizonte with generous drinks, card payment and a relaxed seafront setting. Great for daytime cocktails and shade, but evening fish dinners are inconsistent. Go for the atmosphere first, and treat food as a bonus rather than a guarantee.<
When a simple plan still manages to wobble
There are days in Santa Maria when you want very little: shade, something cold in your hand, and the ocean right in front of you. Bar da Praia delivers that effortlessly. The trouble starts when you add food expectations to the plan. That’s when results become less predictable.
WHAT BAR DA PRAIA REALLY IS
Bar da Praia is, quite literally, a beach bar integrated into the Oasis Atlântico Belorizonte hotel. During the day it works as a classic chiringuito: steady drinks, relaxed vibe, people drifting between loungers. In the late afternoon and evening, it switches roles and becomes an à la carte restaurant focused mainly on fish.
This double identity explains a lot. As a bar, it works. As a restaurant, it depends heavily on the day.
Where everyone agrees
In chiringuito mode, reviews are very consistent. Drinks arrive quickly, pours are generous, and the atmosphere is lively from early on. So lively, in fact, that some guests joke about pacing themselves to avoid being tipsy before midday.
You can pay by card, there’s wifi, music, shade, and that feeling that “life moves slowly here” — even if the round count suggests otherwise.
When the sea is two metres away, nobody asks for complexity.
The dividing line
This is where opinions split. Some guests report tasty grilled fish on specific evenings; others end up with overcooked, dry, flavourless fish. Variability in quality and freshness comes up repeatedly.
The setting and tableware do their part, but the plate doesn’t always follow. Several diners choose to skip the evening restaurant altogether and eat elsewhere in the hotel or outside.
In short: eating here is a gamble, not a guarantee.
Generally friendly, not always polished
Service is usually described as professional and warm, especially for drinks and for hotel guests. In the restaurant setting, however, some comments point to lack of training and a certain detachment at times.
It’s not a major flaw on its own, but it becomes more noticeable when the food underdelivers.
Beach life, loud music, and the occasional surprise
The vibe is unmistakably beachy: music (sometimes too loud), loungers, the occasional free-roaming dog, and that friendly chaos that comes with open seaside spaces. One review mentions dogs urinating near other guests’ towels — an isolated case, but worth noting.
Beach loungers come at an extra cost for non-guests, around €7 per person, and the area is generally calm.
WHO IS IT A GOOD IDEA FOR?
Bar da Praia works well if:
– You want a cold drink by the sea.
– You’re on an all-inclusive plan and want some variety.
– You’re after a relaxed, low-effort beach atmosphere.
It’s not the best choice if your main goal is good fish or a reliably solid dining experience.
PRACTICAL TIPS
– Come for drinks; if you eat, adjust expectations.
– If there’s a special grill night, ask what fish is available and how it’s prepared.
– Be mindful of music volume if you’re seeking quiet.
– If you’re not a hotel guest, check evening access rules and possible fees.
A good bar that doesn’t always succeed as a restaurant
Bar da Praia knows exactly what it is during the day: a pleasant beach bar where time stretches out. At night, when it tries to be more than that, it doesn’t always deliver. Use it for what it does best, and it works. Ask for more, and disappointment is possible.
Sometimes, knowing when to stay a bar is the smartest choice.
