🏨
Meireles
Best for a first visit
📍 Beira Mar, Meireles
Meireles
Fortaleza’s seafront district: a rebuilt 3 km promenade, the craft market every evening and Varjota’s restaurants around the corner.
- 📍LocationSeafront, between Iracema and Mucuripe
- 🚶Promenade3 km, rebuilt in 2022
- 🛍️FeirinhaDaily 4 pm to 10 pm (2022)
- 🚲CyclingBicicletar along the Beira Mar
About Meireles
What is Meireles like?
Meireles is the neighbourhood on Avenida Beira Mar, Fortaleza’s best-known seafront. The promenade here was completely rebuilt in 2022: 3 km of new walkway with a cycle lane, running track, sports courts, a skatepark and an amphitheatre.
It is also a sought-after place to live: in the twelve months to June 2024, Meireles was the most searched-for neighbourhood in Fortaleza to buy or rent a home. Behind the seafront it blends into Aldeota and Varjota, with shops, offices and restaurants.
✅ Good for
- A first visit: lots is within walking distance
- Walking, cycling and exercise by the sea
- Souvenir shopping at the Feirinha
- Evenings out without a car
⚠️ Less good for
- Peace and quiet: the promenade is busy at night
- A truly local, non-touristy feel
- A long swimming day: Praia do Futuro is better
Tip: Head to the promenade around sunset, then walk on to the Feirinha, which opens in the late afternoon.
Experiences
Things to do in Meireles
🌊
Walk the Beira Mar
The 3 km promenade was rebuilt in 2022, with more than 600 new trees, seven toilet blocks with showers and kiosks for tourist services.
🛍️
The Feirinha da Beira-Mar
Since 2022 in a new covered market with 707 stalls, open daily from 4 pm to 10 pm. Expect cashews, clothes, bags, leather shoes, embroidery and lace, cachaça and golden-grass jewellery. Haggling is fine.
🐟
Mercado dos Peixes
At the eastern end of the promenade, towards Mucuripe: a fish market for over 50 years, with 45 stalls for fish and seafood and 4 that will fry what you buy.
🎬
Museu da Imagem e do Som
A free museum of image and sound at Avenida Barão de Studart 410. Last published hours (2024): Wednesday and Thursday 10 am to 6 pm, Friday to Sunday 1 pm to 8 pm.
🛹
Sport by the sea
The new promenade has a skatepark, a multi-sport court, sand courts for beach sports, an outdoor gym and play areas for children.
🚲
Cycle with Bicicletar
The city’s bike-share has stations along the Beira Mar. Ride the promenade to Praia de Iracema or Mucuripe.
🏖️
Meireles beach
A wide city beach in front of the hotels. Our beach guide covers where to sit and what to watch for when swimming.
👟
Shopping
Avenida Monsenhor Tabosa has shoe, clothing and accessory shops. Center Um is one of the city’s oldest shopping centres.
Featured in Meireles
Hotels, restaurants and tours in Meireles can feature here.
🍽️
🧭
Food and drink
See them in the guide →Eating and drinking in Meireles
Venues from our restaurant guide in Meireles and on the Beira Mar. Varjota, with many more restaurants, is right behind.
🍽️
Illa MareRestaurant · Beira Mar
🍽️Seafront restaurant on the Beira Mar with a glass dining room and decks looking out over the ocean. Seafood and charcoal parrilla.
GepposRestaurant · Meireles
🐟Italian cooking with a Ceará touch. Known for Pargo da Praia: grilled fish with fried cassava, baião de dois and farofa.
Mercado dos PeixesMarket · Beira Mar
🍸Pick your fish and seafood at the stalls and have it cooked on the spot. Frying stalls open 10:00 to 22:00.
Austin PubBar & nightlife · Meireles
🍸Bar and nightclub with live music and cocktails, one of the busiest nightspots on the Meireles side.
Hoots GastropubBar & nightlife · Meireles
🍸Big venue with a garden and live music, mostly rock, for up to 600 people. Known for churrasco and craft draught beer.
Moleska GastrobarBar & nightlife · Meireles
🍸Bar and restaurant with happy hour, a private dining room and a focus on cocktails.
Vila CamaleãoBar & nightlife · Meireles
Cocktail bar with outdoor seating, open late on busy nights.
Where to stay
Hotels in Fortaleza →Staying in Meireles
Most Meireles hotels are on the Beira Mar or a few streets back from it.
🌊
On the promenade
Right by the sea, with water views and a short walk to the beach and the Feirinha.
🏙️
A few streets inland
A little further from the sea, closer to the shops of Aldeota and the restaurants of Varjota.
🏠
Apartment
Handy for longer stays: Meireles is a popular residential area with plenty of flats.
Location
Getting around Fortaleza →Getting around from Meireles
🚲
Bicicletar
The city has 270 stations and about 2,000 standard and 100 electric bikes (2026). With a Bilhete Único card it is free: 60 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, 90 minutes on Sundays and holidays. Without the card there are paid plans.
🚌
Bus
Major bus routes run along Avenida da Abolição, Desembargador Moreira, Barão de Studart, Virgílio Távora and Dom Luís.
🚗
Uber and 99
For longer trips, such as to Praia do Futuro or the airport, a ride-hailing app is the easiest option.
🛡️ Staying safe
👜
In the crowds
Keep your phone and bag close at the Feirinha and on busy evenings along the promenade.
🚩
Swimming
Swim near a staffed lifeguard post and check the flags.
🌙
At night
Stay on the busy parts of the promenade and take an Uber or 99 for longer distances.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Meireles
Is Meireles a good area to stay in?
For a first visit, yes: you are on the rebuilt promenade, the Feirinha opens every evening and Praia de Iracema and Varjota are next door. For peace and quiet, look at Cocó or Dionísio Torres.
What are the Feirinha’s opening hours?
When the new market opened in 2022, it was daily from 4 pm to 10 pm, with 707 stalls.
Can you swim in Meireles?
Yes, but it is mainly a city beach for walking and sunbathing. Swim near a lifeguard post and check the flags. For a long beach day, many people go to Praia do Futuro.
How do you get around without a car?
Walk or cycle (Bicicletar) along the promenade, take the bus on the main avenues, and use Uber or 99 for longer trips.
What can you do in Meireles when it rains?
The Museu da Imagem e do Som is free, and the covered Feirinha and Center Um shopping centre are good options for a rainy afternoon.
Sources: Diário do Nordeste (2022): Nova Beira-Mar será entregue · Diário do Nordeste (2022): Permissionários da nova Feirinha recebem boxes · Melhores Destinos: Feira de Artesanato da Beira Mar · QuintoAndar: Mercado dos Peixes de Fortaleza · Portal IN (2024): Museu da Imagem e do Som · O POVO (2026): Bicicletar alcança 9 milhões de viagens · QuintoAndar: Como é morar em Meireles · O POVO (2024): Meireles é o bairro mais procurado
Nearby
All neighbourhoods →Neighbouring areas
SeafrontPraia de Iracema
Dragão do Mar cultural centre, the Ponte dos Ingleses pier and sunsets over the sea.
See the neighbourhood →
Behind MeirelesVarjota
Known as the city’s food district: restaurants and bars a few blocks from the sea.
See the neighbourhood →
Behind MeirelesAldeota
Busy area right behind Meireles, with three shopping centres and lots of restaurants.
See the neighbourhood →⚓Seafront
Mucuripe
The harbour at the end of the promenade, with fishing boats and the Mercado dos Peixes.
See the neighbourhood →Blog
Stories and tips
More about beaches, food and going out in Fortaleza.
Become a partner
A business in Meireles?
Let visitors to the neighbourhood know you are there, in 8 languages.
- Available in 8 languages, for an international audience
- Independent and editorially trustworthy
- Personal contact, no anonymous self-service portal
Become a partner
We are happy to discuss in person how to make your business visible.
See the options →