Cape Verde, Africa (continent)April 8, 2025, by Carmen Esselink

Eating out in São Filipe on the Cape Verdean island of Fogo? Seven tasty tips!

Restaurant
Cape Verde, Africa (continent), April 8, 2025, by Carmen Esselink

Eating out in São Filipe on the Cape Verdean island of Fogo? Seven tasty tips!

São Filipe, the colourful capital of the Cape Verdean island of Fogo, is not only a base for a visit to the Pico do Fogo volcano, but also a place where you can eat surprisingly well. From traditional cachupa to Italian pizzas and tapas: we share seven tasty restaurants, so all you have to do is sit down.

Pizzeria Gelateria Adriano

Pizzeria Gelateria Adriano

Pizza in Cape Verde, is it edible? Yes! Here it is. While in many pizza restaurants on the islands you have to swallow a mouthful of half-cooked dough, that is fortunately not the case here. Pizzeria Gelateria Adriano is run by an Italian owner (you guessed it: Adriano) who knows how to do it right. Thin, crispy bases, homemade tomato sauce and fresh toppings—if you're craving pizza during your trip to Fogo, this is the place to go.
And we haven't even talked about the ice yet... So here's a tip!

Tropical Club-Restaurant

Tropical Club-Restaurant

Navigation on to Tropical Club-Restaurant for Cape Verdean classics: generous portions cachupa, lago city(langoustines) and grilled wahoo. Don't expect haute cuisine – it is also a club in the evening – but the food is delicious and plentiful.

Zebra Corner

Zebra Corner

While the rest of the restaurants in the city feel a bit more traditional or simple, this one immediately stands out with its lounge style. Zebra Corner are you coming for an evening tapas & chill. The menu features a mix of Cape Verdean and international dishes – think grilled shrimp, a large cheese platter (we Dutchies love that, of course) and homemade spreads. The cocktails here are also more than worth it!

7 days 7 days

7 days 7 days

Although 7 Sois 7 Luas may look a bit like a sketchy looks, you step inside a unique atmosphere full of art on the walls and live music on some nights. It is one of those places where locals and travelers come together, so that – in addition to your food – you also work in a good portion of culture. Very fitting for a restaurant that is part of a international culture project. 

It is also one of the few places where the menu changes regularly. Expect lots of local ingredients with a creative twist: fish dishes with a modern touch and vegetables that come straight from the gardens of Fogo.

Bar restaurant Mãe

Bar restaurant Mãe

An honest meal for an honest price? Check. According to locals in São Filipe, this is where you can eat the best cachupa (the national dish of Cape Verde) in town. And if you've had your share of cachupa by now (which we understand if you've been traveling around Cape Verde for a while), there are bar restaurant Mãe Fortunately, there are also some alternatives. Think: grilled chicken or fish. Don't expect an extensive menu, but solid, home-made dishes that do exactly what they are supposed to do: fill your belly and make your taste buds happy.

Bar/restaurant Strella

Bar/restaurant Strella

Simple, super fresh fish – caught on the same day – is what you eat at Restaurante Strella. The grilled tuna is recommended, as is the traditional cachupa if you fancy something substantial. A bit harder to get to, but definitely worth it. Especially if you position your chair well: sea view, sunset in progress, nice plate on the table and a cold beer to go with it. Nothing more to do.

Restaurant Coral

Restaurant Coral

Although there are many places to eat in Fogo, you will rarely find a place with an extensive menu. Restaurant Coral yes. Here the choice is just a little bit huge - and not just fish with rice. It is a small restaurant, but you can have a nice evening dining there without paying the main price.

Please note: during the week Coral is only open for lunch, but at weekends you can also go there in the evening for a good plate of comfort food.

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