São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
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Picture this, a crisp Christmas season on São Miguel Island in the Azores, and you find yourself nestled in the heart of the downtown waterfront area. The air is filled with the delightful scent of ocean breeze mixed with the warmth of festive cheer. To me, this is the perfect time to experience the island’s unique blend of natural beauty and holiday magic. The downtown waterfront area is a tapestry of cobblestone streets, historic architecture, and a lively atmosphere. You will stroll along the charming streets, adorned with twinkling lights and colorful decorations indulging in local cafes, boutique shops, and enjoy the festive vibes. The waterfront comes alive with the joyful sounds of locals and fellow tourists enjoying the holiday spirit. The local cafes and eateries beckon you with the promise of delightful culinary adventures. A little further from the downtown area, make sure your culinary journey takes you to the renowned Queijadas De Vila Franca Do Campo Do Morgado bakery. The aroma of freshly baked pastries and the sweet indulgence of the famous queijadas, traditional Portuguese cheese tarts, instantly transport you to a world of gastronomic delight.
This island provides a series of natural wonders and unforgettable experiences. You can enjoy a thrilling dune buggy adventure through the picturesque Sete Cidades. The vibrant green landscapes and the azure blue of the twin lakes leave you breathless. Another must visit is the enchanting Furnas Lake and Volcano area. The bubbling hot springs and fumaroles create a surreal atmosphere. The landscape feels like a patchwork quilt of natural wonders, and you can’t help but be captivated by the raw beauty surrounding you. A highlight of the island allows you to unwind in the soothing waters of Parque Terra Nostra. The botanical gardens provide a tranquil escape, allowing you to connect with nature and recharge your senses. The thermal pool, fed by natural hot springs, offers a rejuvenating experience. No visit to São Miguel is complete without a stop at the Chá Gorreana Tea Plantation. Surrounded by rolling hills and the Atlantic Ocean, this tea plantation is a testament to the island’s rich agricultural history. You savor the flavors of locally grown tea while taking in the breathtaking views. When you are hungry, you should get to the area around Caldeira das Furnas, where the traditional cozido—a stew cooked by the earth’s natural geothermal heat—is being prepared. The aroma of the slow-cooked feast fills the air when it is served.
Highly recommend a visit here. This idyllic island paradise is a symphony of flavors, adventures, and cultural richness. The warmth of the people, the beauty of the landscapes, and delicious meals are memories that will linger in your heart for a lifetime. Bottom line is São Miguel invites you to feast on fresh seafood, traditional Azorean delicacies, and delectable pastries. Below are some places I really enjoyed during my visit.
Queijadas De Vila Franca Do Campo Do Morgado – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
My oh my what a delicious treat these Queijadas pastry products are. I could eat boxes of these things. Very cool background story to go with these too. A must visit.
Restaurante Ramires Ponta Delgada – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
This place is an old school gem from 1964. They were packed every single day during my visit and for a good reason. The chicken is awesome, and fries hit the right spot. Started with pumpkin soup that was good and an awesome drink Kima Passion Fruit Maracuja. I ended the meal with a local pineapple.
Restaurante Bom Pesqueiro – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
When you are on an island, you expect to eat great seafood. This is exactly what this place excels at. Fresh catch of the day seafood daily. You walk in, get a tour of the fresh fish and bounty of the sea sitting on ice in front of the open kitchen, and tell them what you want and how to cook it. It doesn’t get any fresher than this. Great service and meal here.
Ramen Bambu Açores – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
Hit this place for a quick lunch and it hit the spot perfectly. Really friendly service and food was delicious. Had the Porco Ramen.
Porto da Espada – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
Sometimes language can be a barrier. Sometimes it can create humor. Just look at the menu below and I would have to assume that a Codfish Handjob is the latter and was fresh hand cut cod. Also on the menu was a mixed grill that was good and codfish pataniscas which was fantastic. Ended the meal with a nice rice pudding dessert. Dining outdoors with a cool breeze on the waterfront is hard to beat.
Restaurante O Churrasco Ponta Delgada – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
Grilled meat is a wonderful treat. Anywhere around the world, if you can find someone doing grilled meat, you are probably going to have a good meal. Well they are doing it great here. Everything was top notch and everything was perfect. Had the mixed grill, fries, wings, and pea soup.
Cervejaria Portas da Cidade – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
This place was a surprise. It was late at night and many places were closed, but the front of this place was packed with people dining outside and a menu in the street. They made it feel like we were regulars and their VIP customers. The service was a lesson in how it’s done and the food was amazing as well. From the fried mackerel, escarole soup, and cod entree I really enjoyed my time here.
Restaurante Tony’s – Furnas – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
The thing to get here is of course their cozido das Furnas (meat and vegetable stew cooked underground using the hot springs) and it is AWESOME! The great way to end it was their pineapple pie. You have to be here and try it. The meat was so moist and fork tender. I enjoyed every bite.
RÚSTICO at Herdade do Ananás – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
You can go on a tour of their pineapple plantation. They even have a warm pool inside one of the pineapple greenhouses that you can relax and enjoy. After your tour and soaking in the water, I really enjoyed a wonderful meal at the restaurant of fish rice stew, chicken tenders, clams, and flambe pineapple with cognac. Everything was great and an amazing experience.
3 Sentidos Pizzaria – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
Dining on the main waterfront street you can enjoy some pizza and wings. Service was friendly and prices reasonable.
Restaurante SushiKi Ponta Delgada – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
Sometimes you just want to get something to eat quickly and be able to hop in and hop out, but don’t want fast food. Well a Chinese Buffet is usually a good choice. This is the same for here as a nice selection at a very good price. The food was fresh, tasty, and service was really nice.
Restaurante Lagoa Azul – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
After enjoying a thrilling dune buggy adventure through the picturesque Sete Cidades you are sure to get hungry. This spot has a beautiful buffet setup. I forgot to take many pictures, but the spread was wonderful and there were lots of great things to eat here.
Mucca Gelados – São Miguel Island – Azores, Portugal
Enjoy a wonderful snack on the waterfront here. So yummy and a treat. Lots of flavors to choose from.
Again, in 2023, Small Bites with Donato Marino and Derek Timm of Bluejeanfood.com was blown away by winning the Best of the Best in the Philadelphia Region Arts & Entertainment category out of 80,000 votes tallied in total through Metro Philly’s Best of Philadelphia for 2023. Truly appreciate everyone who voted for us.
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