Although the Azores are a proud part of Portugal, their cuisine and style of eating remains worlds apart from the mainland and is an experience in itself for travelers looking for local dishes made from fresh ingredients and time-tested recipes.
Local dishes range from appetizers of thick-sliced pineapple dusted in cinnamon or homemade black sausage (blood sausage) to main courses of entre costo (fall-off-the-bone tender pork ribs) and delicately fried, fresh-caught mackerel. Here are a few tips for eating like a local in the Azores.
Venture out
Some of the best dishes on the island can be found in dive bars and hole-in-the-wall haunts. Try Restaurante Lagoa Azul in Sete Cidades for a buffet of Azorean dishes or hang out with the locals at the bar inside Sardinha (a.k.a. Mané Cigano) where they only serve fish caught that day.
Dig for your dinner
The most authentic meal for Azoreans truly comes from the land. Cozido das furnas is a stew of sorts — containing layers of chicken, blood sausage, pork, beef and vegetables — slowly cooked in a large pot buried and heated by the volcanic caldeiras in the ground. Try the cozido at Caldeiras & Vulcões Restaurant for a truly traditional experience.
Try the wine
Although even some Azoreans may tell you to steer clear of the reds from the Azores, the wines are exceptionally good on San Miguel and some of the best varieties of red wine come from the island of Pico. Try Terras de Lava 2011 or the Curral Atlântis Reserve 2007 for a great taste of the islands.
Eat like a local
You may be tempted to peel the meat from the bones of the delicately fried mackerel at any of the local joints along the Azores, but that’s the first giveaway you’re not from those parts. Locals eat fried mackerel like French fries, taking the small fish by the tail and eating it whole … bones and all.
Read This Next
Eat Like a Local
Food & Drink
Oct 2, 2014#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedTrends / Food & Drink
Nov 4, 2024What to Expect from New York Bartender Week
New York Bartender Week is a celebration of the Empire State’s cocktail culture, with bars and spirits producers across New York State taking part in the inaugural event, Nov. 18–24. The varied and versatile week strives to highlight not just standout bars in New York City, but also elsewhere. The event will feature bars going beyond craft cocktail venues to include sports bars, dive bars, hotel bars and any other watering hole.
Sponsored Content
Discover Greece’s Tower Towns: A Journey Through History
Greece's tower towns offer a captivating blend of history, architecture and stunning landscapes that make them perfect for curious travelers. These towns, particularly found in the Mani region of the Peloponnese, are defined by stone towers built during the medieval period. Constructed for both defense and as symbols of family pride, the towers stand as a testament to the region's turbulent history and its residents’ resilience.
Destinations / North America
Nov 4, 2024Sustainable Getaway to Québec
Travelers with sustainability top of mind, consider a getaway to Québec and experience the Canadian province’s environmentally-friendly offerings.
Destinations / North America
Nov 4, 2024Glamping Brand Announces First Pacific Northwest Location
Next May will mark the opening of Under Canvas’ first-ever Pacific Northwest. Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge will sit on 120 acres along the Columbia River Gorge in Washington’s White Salmon River Valley, an area known for its waterfalls, wineries and towering peaks. The new glamping site will be surrounded by pine- and oak-forested hillsides, Oregon’s Mount Hood, and the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Mountain Range.
Sponsored Content
Seoul: Your Favorite Worldwide City
Seoul is the place for your next bleisure destination.
Hotel
Nov 1, 2024This Resort is Offering an Election Recovery Package
If the 2024 presidential election doesn’t go quite how you want — or if the whole stress of the matter is just doing you in — there’s one place you need to go: O2 Beach Club & Spa in Barbados. This luxury, boutique, all-inclusive resort offers an Election Recovery package, bookable through Nov. 4 and valid for stays through Dec. 20.
ShareThis