Gourmet products local specialties and wines Cape Verde

Be sure to visit the Mestres Duty Free kiosk located in the courtyard leading to the boarding gates. Marrying the colors of Sal's fishing boats with beautiful images of traditional Cape Verde, Mestres is filled with the best local products. Of course the Grogues Mestres das Ribeiras produced in Santo Antão and the Gin d'Ilha produced in Cape Verde, but also pontches and liqueurs, the famous wines of Fogo, coffee, t-shirts, vinyls and CDs, books and handicrafts of Cape Verde. You will also find fresh drinks and local snacks to eat on the spot.

Mestres das Ribeiras is a collection of Santo Antão grogues chosen for their unique aromas. A long natural fermentation and distillation in copper stills heated with bagasse give it its unique vegetal bouquet. In beautiful bottles, you will find white Grogue, Velha (aged) and Gin d'Ilha, the^first gin made in Cape Verde (made from grogue, juniper and Santo Antão herbs). You will also find a selection of Cape Verdean souvenirs: teas, soaps, jams, honey, Fogo wine, t-shirts, music, books.

Arguably the best bakery in Mindelo, in operation since 2012. Owned by a Portuguese family, it's also a perfect cafeteria for breakfast or a gourmet break during the day. On the menu: natural fruit juices and a selection of snacks and freshly demolded cakes. Hungry? We'll bring you the hearty dish of the day. The setting is modern, pleasant and the prices honest. Sweet tooths won't want to miss the pastéis de nata, a Portuguese tradition.

The best Italian ice cream on the island, they say! Located on the new pedestrian street of Santa Maria, the small terrace (almost always full) is the ideal place to have an espresso with a pastry or a waffle. But above all, you come for the vast choice of creamy, homemade gelato. And when you think of Italy, you think of tiramisu, panna cotta and pizza, which are no exception to the rule... Giramondo has branches in Espargos near the Melia Dunas hotel and in Leme Bedge in Santa Maria.

La Douce Vie", we are fond of it! run by an Italian couple, this bakery-pastry shop is the oldest on the island. You will find what you need for breakfast: bread, pastries, cakes and Italian coffee, to be enjoyed inside or on the small terrace. There is also a savoury section with parma ham snacks... Daniel is a former guide, he always has many anecdotes to tell you. He is also involved in local life and many projects such as the opening of a community bookshop.

In Guañuna, you will find many punchs, grogues and sweets in the country.

The authentic, nerve-racking atmosphere of African municipal markets always makes you want to wander around, discover and taste unknown tropical fruits... That's what you can do at the Sal Rei market, which although primarily intended for the general public, is not lacking in charm and interest. It takes place every morning, but is particularly lively on certain days, such as Mondays and Saturdays. Alongside the food stalls, merchants from Senegal offer brightly-colored fabrics.

To buy French wines and spirits, if there is a shortage.

For those renting apartments: the Cazu supermarket is located on the avenue de l'Hôpital et du poste de Police de Santa Maria, just a few meters from the beach, making it easily accessible on foot or by car. The emphasis is on diversity, quality and freshness. The choice is wide, from charcuterie to hygiene and dietary products (including lactose-free and gluten-free), not forgetting the frozen foods section. It's undoubtedly the island's benchmark store when it comes to stocking up.

At Sandro's, a French backpacker who arrived in 1998 and worked in Ribeira de Paúl distilleries before composing his own punches, you'll find numerous cocktails and fruity liqueurs (medlar, lemon, banana, orange, coconut...), as well as a few handicraft souvenirs made by children in his village (dolls, frames made from recycled elements or natural products). It's at the start of the ribeira as you descend from the Cova crater in Paúl. It can be reached by aluguer, by dropping you off at the end of the road.

A trapiche is a traditional mill or distillery used to extract the juices from sugar cane, operated by oxen using wooden levers. A visit to this traditional, family-run distillery will enable you to understand how grogue and rum are made, and take the opportunity to stock up at the source. It's also an opportunity to enjoy a maracudja caipirinha under the shade of the trees. To find the site, follow the sign along the road for "Trapiche Ildo Benrós".

Large wooden counters with a display case filled with delicious cakes and sweets of all kinds that make us look forward to them. Coffee lovers, this is the perfect place to enjoy a real espresso, cappuccino, macchiato and tutti quanti, and have breakfast on the terrace, with a squeezed orange juice and pastries. Grandma's cakes, rolls, marbled cakes, jam tarts, cream-filled cornetti, the choice is vast. You can also perch on a stool and bite into a small sandwich, on the go.

Atypical and multifunctional place, this gallery proposes all kinds of activities: a cinematographic program, a collaboration with a bookshop, a library and various animations. The word alternative has never been so well chosen. Gourmets will also find a whole range of local products to buy: wines from Fogo and Portugal, dehydrated papaya, goat cheese and even vodka distilled in Santiago. Not to mention natural and original skincare products, in short, gift ideas galore.