The best restaurants Santo Antão

La Caleta's team welcomes you with a smile and attentive service, facing the ocean, for lunch, snacks or dinner, while enjoying the lively street life. Seafood, fish, tapas and vegetarian dishes are all on offer. For the curious, there's a choice of cheese or Cape Verdean bafas to accompany a Fogo wine. But the score would be incomplete without mentioning juices such as banana-coconut and the various types of homemade toast offered by Caleta. A must-try!

Located at the bottom of a house a bit out of the way in Ribeira Grande, this restaurant is an unexpected place. It has a beautifully decorated dining room and wooden tables set outside around a tropical garden dominated by palm and banana trees. The succulent dishes are created with ingredients that come directly from the garden. Divin'art welcomes musicians who come to play on weekends and ensure a memorable atmosphere. There is a small shop at the entrance to stock up on souvenirs.

O Curral is a small barn-like café on the side of the road from Ribeira de Paúl to Passagem, about 1 km after Passagem, on the right, in the village of Chã de João Vaz. You can of course taste the grogues while eating a cachupa, traditional dishes and other bean stews, enough to satiate yourself after a trek. For the ecologists, the organic vegetables come from the farm and the cheeses are 100% local. The place is authentic and well worth a stop in the middle of the mountains.

Who doesn't appreciate being welcomed like at home? At Casa Maracuja, that's what happens with Hetty, who welcomes you to her typical restaurant with a huge smile as if you'd been friends forever. The cuisine here is 100% local and family-style: cachupa, octopus, grilled tuna, homemade ice cream and flambéed bananas for dessert are just some of the delights on offer. Choose the terrace for the space, the fresh air and the view. The house also prepares excellent cocktails... with maracuja, of course.

Next door to Sandro's is a restaurant where visitors are greeted by the broadest of smiles, that of Adi and Juju. From the covered terrace, there's a superb panorama over the valley, which you can enjoy while eating a good meal, whether it's barbecued fish or other regional dishes. Apart from the rice and fish, it's worth noting that all the produce comes from the local area, with chickens frolicking in the neighboring field and vegetables grown on site. Everything is fresh, organic, full of flavor and homemade.

This cosy restaurant is housed in a colonial-style house, with a book-covered wall and a few small tables outside where it's very pleasant to dine in the open air... In the kitchen, they prepare small dishes and succulent Cape Verdean tasting platters... A house to recommend for gourmets and fans of Cape Verdean music, who will enjoy the bargain every Sunday and Wednesday evening. On other evenings, there are occasional surprises: a capoeira show, improvisation by visiting musicians, and more.

The way there is a bit tricky to find, but you can get help... In favor of solidarity tourism, this is a place where you can experience local culture and Cape Verdean cuisine, perfect for relaxing and taking a gourmet break. Surrounded by plantations, fruit and vegetables, the establishment boasts a beautiful bucolic terrace. Sit back, enjoy the view and savor the delicious home-cooked dishes. Don't miss the yam purée, their specialty, accompanied by mango juice, and you'll be won over. Recognized by the Slow Food organization.

In Ribeira Grande, it is a small canteen of regulars located a few steps away from the main street and the gas station, where you will appreciate the family and good atmosphere. The dishes offered are all from the Cape Verdean tradition dear to the locals: garoupa, atum estofado, croquettes, feijoada, lulas guisadas, to name but a few, all at very democratic prices. To sit down and enjoy your plate, you have a choice: service in the room, in the café or even the mini patio, in the open air.

The blue building is very easy to find, overlooking the sea and offering a magnificent view. From there, you can see, from the front row, the fishermen getting ready to go to sea or to come back, loaded with their catch of the day. There is no theatrical decor here, but the kindness makes up for this. Fresh fish dishes are on the menu, in short a simple and efficient cuisine. A good address also to have a drink at sunset.

This restaurant belongs to the hotel of the same name. From its large, pleasant terrace on the upper floor, you have a direct view of the island of São Vicente and its expanse of mountains. Given the scarcity of places to eat in town, you'll appreciate the opportunity to eat good, healthy food in this space run by a seasoned, efficient team who know what they're talking about. The menu features simple but tasty options, such as grilled chicken, fish or salads, always accompanied by colorful root vegetables, in keeping with local tastes.

This restaurant offers a selection of local and international dishes à la carte for lunch, followed by a menu in the evening. The French chef uses local and locally-sourced produce, and is able to cater to everyone's tastes. The evenings are accompanied by live music to add a touch of fun to the experience. The icing on the cake is the panoramic view over the valley, one of the most beautiful on the island... A great time ahead.

Just above the ferry terminal, this is the perfect place to wait for boarding, wait and relax. In the lounge spirit, you'll find sitting areas, high chairs, individual tables and even a play area for the little ones, all in a contemporary, sea-spray-proof version. Background music accompanies your meal, which consists of a dish of the day of your choice, usually three different types of protein, served with crispy fries and vegetables. Apart from that, pizza, hamburgers (the famous X-Tudo) and snacks of all kinds.

Restaurant open every day; offers a varied lunch menu with local specialties and international cuisine, and in the evening, a unique menu (starter, main course, dessert at 13.80 euros) on reservation. The team, led by a renowned French chef, knows how to adapt to your tastes, while using fresh, local produce - a real "circuit court"! Last but not least, the 360° view from the terrace and the musical ambience will give a special flavor to your heartfelt dishes. Hats off to Restaurant Aldea Panoramica.