New species of the caesalpinioid legume genus Hymenaea (Detarieae s. str. clade) have not been discovered in the last 40 yr. This study describes and illustrates the striking new species Hymenaea fariana from the few known collections made in the Atlantic Forest biome of the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. The new species has close morphological affinities to H. altissima, from which it is readily distinguished by the mainly shrubby to small tree habit and lanceolate to oblanceolate petals with a well-differentiated petal claw. An updated identification key to the Atlantic Forest species of Hymenaea is also provided.