The best restaurants Cape Verde

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.

Close to the municipal market, the Gaudi restaurant serves Cape Verdean and Portuguese dishes, as well as African and European specialities in a family atmosphere. Fish and seafood, meat dishes and local cheese are all on the menu. The Gaudi is also a brasserie and prepares sandwiches, salads and pastries throughout the day. There are no bad surprises here, and you get away with a rather honest bill. And as everywhere in Mindelo, live concerts are scheduled at the end of the week.

Sun terrace, just above the beach of Quebra. Ideal for a drink or eating on the thumb. Good pizzas.

For a change from Cape Verdean cuisine, why not opt for the Italian cuisine that is in the spotlight here: in addition to pasta and pizza, one of the specialities is bruschetta, which you can compose yourself and choose the length. Or you can confidently choose the other dish that is a huge success, namely the tuna and citrus fruit puff pastry. For dessert, we finish with the curious chocolate salami. The terrace is pleasant, with comfortable armchairs, and a guitarist is brought in at night to make sure you have a good time.

This is one of the oldest restaurants in Santa Maria, perfectly located on the beach. The blue and white decoration is predominant and invites you to taste the specialties of the sea: octopus, shrimp risotto, tuna tartar and other iodized delights. The grilled tuna steak with sesame is a must! The location is really ideal, the view spectacular from the panoramic terrace on the first floor. If you come for lunch, you can watch the ballet of fishermen and fish vendors on the dock.

Located in the heart of the city, the Pension Paulo has a few simple rooms. But one also comes there for its typical restaurant, very frequented by the locals on the weekend, sensitive to the friendly and warm welcome. For a change from the classic cachupa, you might want to try the island's traditional dish, xerém com capa, made with crushed corn, the búzios stew or the crayfish, which are popular specialties. Not forgetting the pumpkin pie, a tribute to America where some Bravenses spent their lives.

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.

Snack bar in a pleasant courtyard.

Located on the left by arriving in Santa Maria, opposite Banco Atlantico, behind Pirata. Very good fish restaurant. Here you can eat fish that are not found elsewhere in Santa Maria. Moreover, German boss Uwe also offers fishing trips at sea during the day. Apprentices will be able to eat the fish themselves for free at the restaurant. Warm welcome.

Italian ice from 150 CVE to 350 CVE.

L'Italienne Barbara welcomes you to its establishment located next to the vegetable market. Its famous pizzas are tasty and hearty, among the best on the island. We advise you to try the Boa Vista, with the local cheese, without forgetting the memorable chocolate salami for dessert. You can also try pasta, focaccia, fish croquettes and sometimes a Friulian frico. The large terrace is very pleasant to eat or simply to drink an aperitif and the place lends itself perfectly to large tables.

Along the beach, this is the only place to dine in the week.

Pleasant terrace.

Good service and dinner are often accompanied by music. Not expensive, and rich.

If you're looking for bling-bling, don't go there: Campanas is the opposite. It is a highly popular address, not (yet) touristy, with a terrace and a small room quickly invaded by a local population in need of meetings and agape. But above all by those who want to dance, have fun, sing, or even take up an instrument to participate... all in an overexcited atmosphere. With a little luck, you will have the opportunity to see the famous Nho Nany who performs there on weekends. On the kitchen side, African flavors on the menu.

These are the two city service stations. But it is also the meeting place for all Cape Verdeans and drivers in the morning to take their breakfast and coffee, which is more than correct.

If you're looking for a romantic place to spend time together, this restaurant is just the place. Located right on the sand of Chaves beach, you can enjoy the sea, the stars and a crackling fire while you dine. If you choose to come here for lunch, you'll have plenty of time to follow up with a dip or a session of sunbathing, or even a nap on a deckchair. The menu features seafood in all its forms, and the house often organizes barbecue evenings with live music... what a vacation!

A bakery-pastry shop (and delicatessen) run by Portuguese people where you can have breakfast or a coffee with a pastel de nata. The bread is very good, fresh and available in several varieties. The perfect place for a meal on the run or a quick snack, with all kinds of toast on the menu (chicken, cheese, vegetarian), the famous bifana dish, the king of Portuguese snacks, hamburgers and sandwiches freshly made to order. On the strength of its success, the chain has several addresses in town, which are very popular with young people.

Have you had the chance to eat at Américos in Santa Maria and want to extend the experience? Or simply have one last snack before you take off? You'll find a snack service and hot dishes before check-in. A new lounge restaurant has recently opened in the international zone, just past the police station. An open space to relax before leaving the island of Sal, with a Cooking Show, a pizzeria and a wide variety of sandwiches.

A bakery, but not only, because at any time of the day, we serve you a home-made cachupa worthy of the name, perfect for the small hollows, or the dish of the day. The bread rolls are available in all their forms, with seeds or flavored with onion, carrot, chorizo or cinnamon, leaving room for creativity. Thick banana cakes, creamy custards, candied fruit cakes and Portuguese pastéis de nata share the window, on the greedy side.

Food at interesting prices about 500 CVE. 

Ricci family-style Italian charm and quality, not to mention Cape Verdean authenticity: that's how you define Big Game. The blue walls, covered in marine frescoes, set the tone, and here, fish is the key to rebirth! Note the succulent carpaccios and the friendly, cheerful staff. The locals make no mistake about it: this is where they come to enjoy their meal when they decide to treat themselves or their family to a night out. Many agree that this is probably the best address on the island.

You can feel the passion for good food as soon as you enter this restaurant. And you come out satisfied: by the quality of the dishes, on the one hand, and the cordial and warm service, on the other hand. So much so that one would almost adopt it as a canteen, the time of a stay. Meat lovers will be delighted by the succulence of the grilled meats, served on the spit, churrasco style. But we don't forget the richness of the sea that surrounds us and what it has to offer: octopus in Lagareiro and bacalhau with a Portuguese touch, all washed down with good wines.

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.

Bar Restaurante Bia is located in Santa Maria on a very central street. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. You'll appreciate its open terrace, where you can enjoy a cuisine that specializes in grilled meats (fish, octopus and meat) served while still steaming, as well as other dishes to suit all tastes. Asian-inspired dishes such as tuna carpaccio, tataki and tuna pica pau are unanimously appreciated. Freshness, flavor, friendliness, speed and affordability... at Bia, all the boxes are ticked.

Perched atop the eponymous guesthouse, this restaurant offers magnificent sea views, especially as the sun sets. The large terrace is perfect for two, groups or families, with cocktails and generous dishes. Fish lovers will love the tuna steak on hot stone, one of the highlights of the menu. The menu also features meats, salads, burgers and pastas, not to mention vegetarian options. A warm welcome and a good time ahead.

"Impossible to think well or sleep well if you've eaten badly" is the credo of this restaurant, which doesn't want to belie the adage. The menu is punctuated by Italian cuisine, as the name suggests: some thirty different wood-fired pizzas (including the spicy Demoniaca), focaccia, carpaccio, gnocchi, risotto, bruschetta... the names alone speak of the land of the boot. A quick visit just to enjoy the view? Don't worry, cocktails are also a big part of the menu.

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.

You'll recognize this little restaurant by its yellow façade, and it's Constantina, the owner, who's at the helm. There's nothing superficial here, just the essentials: just four large wooden tables to share if you're alone, local cuisine prepared with tenderness and skill by the female staff, and the sudden feeling of being in a local's home. Take the opportunity to try a typical dish, such as cabrito, sometimes prepared as guisado com massa de milho, or modje de cabrito com xerém... quite a program.

Located right in front of the ocean and the fishermen's boats, this new restaurant focuses on organic vegetables from Rabil's own Uuhaa farm. You can compose your own bowl with a dozen or so ingredients, including falafel or hummus among the salads, and choose a chutney or sesame sauce, for example. A few fish suggestions are lost on the menu amidst the vegan strogonoff or the many lentil or beet burgers. In short, a bowl of freshness, few calories and plenty of vitamins.

To try it is to adopt it. That seems to be the opinion of many loyal customers of this restaurant run by the affable Luis. Specialities? Colorful dishes based on grilled lobster and shrimp, served in contemporary tableware. And for vegetarians, crispy rice with vegetables presented in the form of skewers... you'd be wrong. Wooden tables set on the cobblestones, invasive plants, but not too many, the perfect setting for a delicious moment in a place heavily steeped in history.

Having become a local institution since 2014, the restaurant of the friendly Didi is a friendly place, with a decoration far from sophisticated but warm, that everyone knows in Tarrafal. This is where parties are organized, birthdays and sometimes marriage proposals are made with pomp and circumstance over a grilled lobster. Located near the docks, its menu is focused on products straight from the sea, garoupas and other fish and shellfish. Didi also advertises a freshly prepared house catchupa once a week.

As the name suggests, the menu at Grelha is, above all, geared towards grilled meats. Indeed, every day, the specialty that's never missing from the menu is chicken grilled over an open fire, the mouth-watering aroma of which wafts out into the street. But other tasty dishes, such as pork kebabs, fish caldeirada and pizzas in a variety of compositions, round out a menu designed to appeal to all tastes, young and old alike. In short, family cooking at a reasonable price.

All you have to do is descend a short flight of steps and you're standing on the sand. That's how well-placed this beach hut is, anchored as it is on the pretty Kebra Canela. Both the marine decor and the menu are inspired by the location, the latter featuring dishes such as grilled octopus, shrimp and cod, 100% cliché but a joy to indulge in. In short, simple yet tasteful formulas in this cool spot, best enjoyed on a Sunday lunchtime, for example, and followed by a swim.

Open every day of the week for lunch and dinner, Por do Sol's restaurant will delight your taste buds. On the panoramic terrace overlooking the waves, you can taste the chef's refined preparations: how about a Portuguese-style bacalhau, grilled octopus with mango or a good feijoada de mariscos before going for a walk? And if you feel like taking a nap, the cocooning hanging armchairs invite you to do so.

Slightly set back from the center, this table is the meeting point for Cape Verdeans with a passion for meat, which is always a good sign. The tasty but unpretentious dishes reflect Joana's imagination and savoir-faire. The octopus marinated in orange juice is a must, while the tuna with mushrooms and grilled vegetables is another good option. As the name suggests (churrasqueira means barbecue), the chicken is cooked on the grill, crackling before your very eyes and releasing its tantalizing aroma.

Foodistas will be delighted when they dine at this small gourmet restaurant, recently relocated to a pretty garden terrace. The elegant setting makes it the ideal place for a romantic dinner for two, or to celebrate a special event. On the plate, a fusion cuisine prepared by a top Italian chef, based on local produce, with a particular emphasis on fish. We're sure you'll fall for the red tuna confit or the revisited lobster. The wine list is nothing short of spectacular. A delicacy for the palate.

Who doesn't know this organization present in all the islands of the archipelago? More than just a restaurant, it is also a centre for musical and gastronomic exchanges that Marco, its dynamic director, aims to transform into the island's "cultural lung". On the kitchen side, at the helm is the famous Su, who in addition to concocting traditional dishes, sometimes represents the country in competitions, and who can organize a culinary workshop for you. Get your aprons!

A small, modest but very hospitable restaurant offering tasty cuisine. This could be your chance to discover the island's gastronomic specialty: modje, a kid stew simmered with potatoes, manioc, yams, pumpkin, onions, cereals and rice. Fish and seafood, meanwhile, form the basis of the islanders' diet, and no doubt you'll find them on offer at this restaurant. Grogue de São Nicolau is a popular digestive, so be sure to try it!

Taking a well-deserved lunch break and relaxing in a lush green setting is just what you've been longing for. Conveniently located at the end of your hike in the Serra Malagueta park, or at the end of the road if you're traveling by car, you'll meet Marcolina, who's busy cooking up pizzas, fried doughnuts, fish or chicken dishes accompanied by vegetables and rice. Choose from the menu of the day, which includes a drink, dessert and coffee. Good to know: even the bread is homemade.

It's no coincidence that Italians, specialists in ice cream, are frequent visitors to this artisanal gelateria. It has to be said, too, that the owners are experts in the field. The range of flavors on offer is extensive (morango sorbet, coffee, tropical fruit and tutti quanti), available individually in cones or in the form of blended cups with a variety of homemade toppings. But you can also find other sweets (cocada, pastel de nata) to enjoy at any time of day with a cup of coffee.

The only restaurant in the area, or almost the only one, is a small, heterogeneous shack (container, construction site toilets): don't come here for the decor! However it gives you the opportunity, if you feel like it, to chat with the locals. It is far from sophisticated cuisine, but close to the dishes that could be found in the local housewife: grilled fish and chips. If possible, and if the fish has arrived, choose limpets or octopus, which will be cooked to perfection. Eaten with a cold beer, you are fully integrated.

Gracinha and Zeco will be happy to welcome you in their reasonably priced restaurant and will be happy to take the time to talk with you. The house also offers rooms, simple and comfortable, but nothing prevents you from stopping by just to eat. The menu is of course punctuated by the local fishing, with tuna and grilled octopus regularly appearing on the menu, without forgetting the speciality of which the locals never tire, namely the fried moray eel. Ribeira is a very small village, so don't be surprised if you don't see anyone around...

Located on an esplanade, in front of the most beautiful beach of the island, this "dancing restaurant" proposes a very varied traditional cuisine with Nha Antonia greenhouse, buzios stew, meat with Fogo wine, fried bananas, charcoal grilled fish, shrimps from Cidade Velha and others. All this accompanied by live music. The owners are musicians and Milú, a singer who has released albums, will invite you to feast after dinner in a joyful atmosphere.

At the bottom of a steep street is this simple, family-run restaurant. One will enjoy sitting on the outdoor terrace for a local lunch, usually based on the catch of the day. Grilled tuna or freshly cooked cachupa, to suit the taste of the islanders who frequent the place, which is a good sign. The place can also be used as a stopover during a trip to drink a beer and quench your thirst.

With its wooden tables and musical instruments hanging on the walls, the Gata Fish is a Portuguese-style fishing port tavern, where you will find a family atmosphere full of authenticity. Simplicity reigns supreme, you would almost think you were a guest, where the lady of the house would have enjoyed preparing the usual typical meal (spaghetti with tuna, fish cachupa) and brings the pot to the table for a ladle service. It is only the prices, above the average, that bring you back to reality.

A rather unusual, long restaurant in the center of town. You eat on a patio, where little lights twinkle everywhere, with pasta, smoked fish carpaccio and garlic shrimp on the menu, but the real specialty here is Brazilian beef cooked to perfection. Don't forget to make a reservation, as there are only 24 covers and two services at specific times. To round off the evening in good spirits, don't miss the famous sambuca tchaka tchaka ... quesako?surprise!

If you're short of inspiration on a Sunday, when almost everything is closed, head to Calhau for the Chez Loutcha buffet. This is a familiar meeting place for lovers of local cuisine, in a festive atmosphere, with live music and the sea as a backdrop. Cape Verdeans and tourists alike are always keen to take part in the experience, eat well and, above all, dance to African rhythms. To reach the place, it's very easy: a shuttle is available free of charge, like a Sunday excursion.

Run by Marcia, Cusinha D'Terra is a typical gargote, as we like them, with musicians who come and play non-stop on Friday nights. The menu is very basic: salted fritters, soups, fish, chicken, flambéed bananas... perfect for a no-frills lunch. If you don't want to eat there, it's also an accessible space to have a caipirinha or a drink at the counter, surrounded by friendly regulars. Or why not have a breakfast of cachupa and traditional goat cheese, just like at home.