The Mercado do Peixe de Tambaú: what you can buy and eat there
Article 111 of 100 · October 07, 2026 · 1 min read · Destino João Pessoa
Run by the city government, the market has 11 stalls and sells mutton snapper, mackerel, shrimp and other fresh seafood.
The Mercado do Peixe de Tambaú is located on Avenida Almirante Tamandaré, facing the beach, and is run by the João Pessoa city government's Urban Development Department (Sedurb). According to the city government, the venue has 700 square meters of built area, 11 standardized stalls, an ice factory, storage and preparation areas, accessible restrooms, parking, and a plaza overlooking the beach. News reports describe it as a century-old market, tied to the tradition of local fishermen.
In a February 2026 report, the Veja de Tudo news portal listed mutton snapper, mackerel, dolphinfish, grouper, almaco jack and yellow croaker as the most sought after. Shrimp was sold for up to R$ 70 per kilo, depending on size, and crab meat between R$ 100 and R$ 130 per kilo. These figures are from February 2026 and may vary.
A vendor interviewed for the report said he works only with fresh seafood, from catches made 7 to 8 days at sea. Demand rises during Lent and Holy Week, when fish consumption traditionally increases. In an April 2025 survey, Procon-JP found, in the week before Holy Week, a 276.77% variation in the price of mackerel among the fish shops in public markets and supermarkets surveyed, from R$ 12.74 to R$ 48 per kilo.
The focus of the venue is buying seafood to take home, not dining in. Those who want to eat right away should look for kiosks and restaurants on the Tambaú waterfront. To avoid surprises, it's worth comparing prices between stalls, asking for whole fish or fish cut into steaks, and confirming opening hours directly with the market's administration.