Eat your way through the Azores - a guide

The bounty of the sea and the gifts of the land, enhanced by freshness, make for a rich and varied local cuisine – not to mention the endless variety of fruit and decadent sweets. 

Ask any Azorean their favorite food and they are likely to reply, "Chicharros!" These are fried horse mackerel, best eaten whole, and yes even the heads! Ask for these with molho de vilão (villain sauce) along with a bottle of Quinta da Jardinete, a beautiful Azorean red wine, made locally in São Miguel less than 10 minutes from us and where we lead small group tours and tastings.

After your afternoon hike with us in Sete Cidades head to Restaurant o Silva, where you can always find fresh cracas, or giant barnacles. Boiled in their shells, enjoying these reminds us of eating oysters in Boston. But here you have more fun digging them out of their chalk homes with your hook :-) The true and exquisite taste of the sea!

The bounty of the sea and the gifts of the land, enhanced by freshness, make for a rich and varied local cuisine – not to mention the endless variety of fruit and decadent sweets. 

For your entrée you should always order the whole grilled fish (just ask what’s fresh). One of our favorite places to enjoy grilled fish is Tuká Tulá, a casual beach-side restaurant where you can enjoy your meal on Santa Bárbara beach. Our favorites are boca negra (blue mouth rockfish), dourada (seabream), and veja (parrotfish).

Of course if you prefer meat you can opt for the local bifana, a marinated pork cutlet. Or enjoy a steak, traditionally served with a fried egg on top.

Don’t pass up dessert. Enjoy some house made queijada de feijão, or bean custard pastries. These are an ideal complement to your post-meal espresso -- so relax, enjoy, and savor the Azorean lifestyle!

WHERE TO GO? We’ve scoured the island for the best and arranged our recommendations by area, so wherever you find yourself in São Miguel you’ll know where to go for good eats! Complete with map links and restaurant contact info.