Best Restaurants in Flores Island, Azores

What is Azorean typical food?

The Azorean gastronomy is rich and only known to those who travel to the islands and try the amazing food we have to offer. It is not as famous as other big destinations, but I am sure you will be surprised by the flavours and uniqueness of Azorean food. With its influence mainly coming from mainland Portugal and, on certain islands, from Flemish settlers and Brazilians, its predominance is on products like fish, pork, beef, potatoes, cabbage, beans, bread, stews and soups. Under I will list a few of my recommendations, but be aware that these are just a few examples of what you will find.

Starting with fish and seafood, in the Azores you will find a rich variety of options in different restaurants across all the islands, including Flores Island. Some of the favourite dishes for locals and travellers include Lapas Grelhadas (grilled limpets), which can be made on the stove, in the oven or on the barbecue with garlic, spices and olive oil, and sometimes with parsley (image above). Another very famous dish in the Azores is Polvo Guisado (octopus stew), which is usually slow-cooked with onions, garlic, wine and spices, a unique dish you must try when visiting the archipelago. Finally, as fish dishes, you will find a lot of options such as Chicharros Fritos (fried horse mackerel), Veja, Cavala, Congro, all of which can be cooked in the oven or fried, or even Tuna, which is caught locally and is of great quality.

In the Azores, you can also find different dishes containing beef and pork, such as Bife à Regional, which is a traditional Azorean dish with a beef steak served with garlic, fried potatoes and a fried egg on top. Also, in many local restaurants, you might find Feijoada, which is a stew made with beans, pork meat, chorizo and rice as a complement, rich in flavour and with influences from mainland Portugal and Brazil. Next, you can find Alcatra, which consists of beef slow-cooked for several hours in the oven in a clay pot, something you cannot miss, especially if visiting Terceira Island. Lastly, you must try Linguiça com Inhames, which is homemade fried pork sausage with inhame (yam), Morcela com Ananás, made of homemade fried blood sausage with local pineapple, and finally Espetadas Mistas, made of grilled meat skewers with different meats such as pork and chicken, usually accompanied by French fries and rice.

It is said that the cows in the Azores are the happiest cows in the world. In the Azores, you will find multiple options of dairy products, such as the famous Queijo de São Jorge, São Miguel and Faial, which are famous local and national cheeses, different local butter brands, and local milk brands, all of which will be part of your visit and life in the Azorean islands and are consumed throughout Portugal.

As for desserts, the Azores is rich in variety and taste, with the famous Queijadas da Graciosa, Queijadas da Vila Franca and Donas Amélias, which are all traditional sweets made locally. São Miguel Pineapple is also very famous for its unique sweet taste and production method. Check here for more information about the pineapple production method in the Azores. Lastly, you must try the local beverages Kima and Laranjada, made with passion fruit and orange, respectively, and produced in São Miguel.

Best restaurants in Flores island

Flores has a smaller selection of restaurants compared with larger islands such as São Miguel or Terceira. However, the restaurant scene is developing as the number of visitors continues to grow, while the supply of restaurants remains relatively limited. Because of this, I strongly recommend booking your dinner in advance, especially during the summer months. Below, I'll share some of my restaurant recommendations in Flores Island. They are listed in no particular order, and you may also discover other great options during your visit.

Best cafés in Flores island

You will notice that Portuguese people drink a lot of coffee, with Delta and Sical being two of the most popular Portuguese coffee brands. It doesn't matter what time of day it is; Portuguese people will happily have an espresso coffee.

In the Azores, cafés are not just places where you drink your coffee. They are also places where you can have a snack or enjoy a sweet or savoury pastry alongside your coffee. The coffee is simple, with no toppings or unnecessary extras, but it is good, strong and tasty. Most restaurants in the Azores also serve coffee, and Flores Island is no exception. Between cafés and restaurants, what usually differs is the view and the price, because the quality of the coffee will generally be good wherever you go. On Flores Island and across the other islands of the Azores, cafés are also places where locals have a drink after work or at the weekend and watch football games, which is the most popular sport in Portugal. Below, I list three of my favourite cafés in Flores Island, so you can enjoy your coffee with an amazing view:

Where to have breakfast in Flores island

Having breakfast in Flores is, I have to be honest, not one of the easiest tasks, but it is not impossible. The reason is that we don't have many dedicated bakeries or cafés serving full breakfasts. Instead, you'll mostly find cafés serving pastries, ham and cheese sandwiches, or toasted sandwiches. If you manage to rent an apartment with a kitchen where you can prepare your own breakfast, or stay in a hotel that includes breakfast, that may be the easiest option. Otherwise, you might need to look for the closest café to your accommodation for your morning meal.

Despite the limited number of places to have breakfast on Flores Island, there are a few good options depending on where you are staying. If you're staying in or near Fajã Grande on the west side of the island, you can visit José Antonio Minimarket, which serves sandwiches and coffee, with or without milk, for breakfast. If you're staying closer to Lajes das Flores in the south, you can go to Café-Restaurante Porto Velho, serving sandwiches, some sweet and savoury pastries, and good coffee. Finally, in Santa Cruz on the east side of the island, you have a better option for breakfast at Café-Bar Ponto de Encontro, which might be the closest you'll find to a traditional bakery on Flores.

Vegetarian and vegan options in Flores island

If you travel to Flores as a vegetarian or vegan, my strong recommendation is to rent an apartment with a kitchen so you can cook your own meals and don't have to struggle to find restaurants serving vegetarian or, even harder, vegan dishes. However, there are a few options you can choose from, including pescatarian dishes, which are available at most restaurants around the island serving fish.

On Flores Island, one of the best options for a vegetarian or vegan meal is Restaurant Casa do Rei, which I mentioned earlier. You also have a restaurant in Fazenda das Lajes serving pizzas that can be prepared in a vegetarian style, called Restaurant Cana Roca Pizza. Again, Flores Island does have some options for vegetarians and vegans, but my recommendation is to rent your own apartment or house with a kitchen so you have more control over your meals.