The best restaurants ÎLES AU VENT BARLAVENTO

Located on the pedestrian street opposite the church, the famous Americo's boasts the distinction of having been the very first restaurant to open its doors in Santa Maria. It has undergone several renovations to become this beautiful, modern, designer restaurant. It's a 100% Cape Verdean, family-run establishment with 3 dining rooms, specializing in lobster (November to May), grilled meats and fish, not forgetting meats (beef matured in a Josper oven). It also boasts the country's largest wine cellar.

As the name aptly suggests, it's all about seafood! Right across from the harbor, you can savor typical cuisine. Shrimp, lobster, fried or grilled catch of the day and steaming caldeirada are cooked to perfection, but there are also snacks, tapas and grilled meats to satisfy every craving. Live music concerts are held almost every day. You can check out the monthly program on their website, but nothing beats the surprise of a Cape Verdean artist.

Quality, freshness of products and conviviality are the watchwords of this restaurant run by Lourdes, a French-speaking Portuguese woman. At the stove while her husband Carlos goes fishing for the fish that will be served in your plate, she has created a family spirit mixed with a summer atmosphere. Her famous sweet crepe or the Macarena with caramelized apple is a real treat. However, fish is the speciality of the place and Carlos can organise big game fishing trips for you. The grilled tuna is memorable, but the tataki has recently dethroned it.

Étienne and his wife run an excellent restaurant appreciated by Cape Verdeans and foreigners alike. With the help of his team, Étienne has perfected dishes inspired by Cape Verde and the Mediterranean, with a touch of Africa in reference to Burkina Faso, the chef's country of origin. The result is a delicious cuisine based on local products such as octopus, always tender, and carefully selected shellfish. We also love the flower-filled terrace under the pergola, the rustic setting and the location just a stone's throw from the sandy beach.

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!

Just above the waves that break on the beach, it is the best spot in Sal at cocktail time. Especially since the beer and other drinks are about the same price as elsewhere. As far as meals are concerned, we take the opportunity to discover the specialities of buzios grelhados, calamari or lobsters, depending on the arrival. It is thus also a very good restaurant of European level with impeccable and attentive service. A varied menu guarantees an original and quality meal, rocked by the surf. You're sure to fall in love with the food and the atmosphere.

Right in the historic center, housed in one of the island's oldest colonial houses, Metalo, with its La Scène M space, offers an authentic culinary and musical experience in the heart of Mindelo. You can discover the very essence of Cape Verdean culture in the grogues bar. The cuisine features 100% local produce for tasty, unique dishes. With live music performances every day, you can enjoy an immersive experience in the heart of São Vicente, combining tasting and discovery.

For the freshest fish, head to George's. George is the head chef, who prides himself on being an authentic self-taught chef who specializes in seafood products, creating grandmotherly recipes that are nonetheless delicious. The place is unsophisticated, but the warm welcome makes up for the simplicity of the setting. On the stove side: the succulent Portuguese caldeirada (fish casserole), shrimps, carpaccio and octopus... lobster lovers, you've also come to the right place!

Elvis Gomes and Zoé run a crêperie-bar on the beach, a kind of cabanon that enjoys a perfect oceanfront location. The place is ideal for kitesurfers and hikers looking for a break after the joys of sport. Generous and attentive, Elvis concocts tasty snacks such as chocolate banana pancakes, as well as more substantial dishes (grilled fish, octopus, moray eel...), all at very reasonable prices. You'll appreciate this moment of peace overlooking the sea, with your toes fanning out in the sand.

Probably one of the best cafés in Santa Maria. Subtropical ambience, with recycled pallets for seating, brightly colored cushions, plants galore and a roof made of dried palms. The team also provides books in several languages, ideal for spending a cool moment. The establishment is completely sheltered inside, but tables are also set out on the street. Tuna dishes, vegan dishes, mixed salads, smoothies, ice creams with exotic flavors, all made with organic products, and only organic products.

Cocooning atmosphere for this small restaurant, victim of its success, which changed owners in 2022. Of course, it does not compete with the trendy establishments, but its cheerful team, always attentive, cheerfully orchestrates the service. This restaurant, sheltered from the crowd and 5 minutes from the center of town, offers fresh and seasonal products, starting with the delicious "poke bowls", very much in the air of the time. Singer and guitarist are there for the romantic touch. In short, a place without fuss, as we like them.

This well-regarded restaurant, with its cleverly designed décor, is a cross between a tavern and a family home, serving Creole, Portuguese and European cuisine. The menu is varied and there's something for everyone, including vegetarians. A special mention goes to the excellent filet mignon with mustard sauce, which takes on the air of French cuisine. To top it all off, we'll guide you through the wine list, a selection that includes some of Fogo's finest wines. There's no atmosphere without music, so the house ensures that a live artist is on hand every evening.

The Atlantis restaurant, orchestrated by Vera, offers a breathtaking view of the sea. At lunchtime, salads, pasta, carpaccio and light dishes are served on a magnificent terrace on the beach, where you can enjoy the fresh air. In the evening, the restaurant takes on a more refined decor, and it's in this setting that you'll enjoy tasting specialties of meat, fish, shellfish and lobster in season. Prices are very reasonable, given the quality of the dishes, ambience and service. A great experience guaranteed!

This is one of the lowest-priced restaurants in town. A very typical (and disappearing) restaurant, frequented by many Cape Verdeans, as well as an increasing number of foreign visitors, where Carlos offers a warm welcome and very local cuisine. On Fridays, it serves Santa Maria's most famous cachupa (by order only). The terrace, the best place to sit, is often packed. Here, as elsewhere, you can't escape the slowness of the service, but you can relax and enjoy the moment...

Loutcha is an institution in Mindelo, everyone knows it. It serves traditional Cape Verdean cuisine and the barley cachupa is delicious and among the best in Mindelo. The menu offers a very wide choice of dishes at competitive prices. We recommend the cabri stew or the red mullet soup, which are very good. For dessert, try the coconut pudding, the house specialty. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays evenings, a music band animates the evening and you are invited to shake it up, the atmosphere is festive.

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.

Tiny restaurant, but very popular and therefore quickly full. The walls are covered with messages left by passing customers, a fresco on which you can leave your mark. At the helm is an Italian owner who is passionate about his job. Fish caught the same day - there is no freezer, so it's guaranteed ultra-fresh. Excellent tuna carpaccio, generous lobster, tartars, grilled goat cheese... everything is tempting and delicious. Make a reservation or come and see the menu, especially as some dishes are made to order.

It is a small and well known snack bar in Espargos, located just in front of the bank. Very central, this restaurant serves sandwiches, snacks and small dishes at lunchtime (cachupa, grilled chicken, hamburger and chips) but you can also have a full breakfast, just to start the day, or even have a refreshment between two walks. Nice atmosphere especially in the evenings when musicians come to play songs and traditional music, to the delight of the customers. Small souvenir stand.

A shady terrace with tables surrounded by banana trees and tropical species such as papaya trees is a delightful prospect for lunch. The local cuisine is of the highest quality, complemented by a warm welcome and friendly service. On the menu: grilled lobster (depending on availability), but more modestly, dishes based on tuna, capri or chicken, all cooked over a wood fire and washed down with grogue. The space is large enough to accommodate large families. In short, the perfect representation of "no stress"...

Close to the Belém Tower, this restaurant on the top floor of a waterfront building is one of Mindelo's liveliest, with its straw hut-style decor. Go there to enjoy the exotic setting of palm trees and bamboo surrounding the dance floor. As for the menu, it offers pure Cape Verdean cuisine of the highest quality (organic produce, seafood, cod, etc.). The dishes are tasty and hearty, and Maria's team is highly experienced. You can also enjoy a drink in the evening, listening to the music while admiring the sunset.