Faial Island Food: Top 5 Eats & Drinks (2025 Guide)

Faial Island, one of the jewels in the Azores archipelago, is that it’s not just breathtaking views and volcanic landscapes, you know? It’s also, like, an awesome spot to grab some grub and sip on some pretty amazing drinks. So, if you are planning a visit or just day-dreaming about one, you ought to check out my list of must-try eats and drinks that should probably be on your radar, to be honest. That is, from fresh seafood to unique local spirits, there’s a whole heap of delightful things to taste. Be sure to come along as we check out Faial’s tastiest spots, all that good stuff that ought to make your taste buds sing.

1. “Queijo Faial” (Faial Cheese): A Creamy Island Treasure

First up on the list is that creamy, dreamy delight called “Queijo Faial.” You know, this isn’t just your regular cheese; it’s, like, a special kinda treat that tells the story of the island’s lush pastures. Basically, it’s a semi-hard cheese that tends to come from the milk of cows that apparently graze on Faial’s green fields, right? The result is that is ends up being something kind of smooth, a little bit tangy, and full of that local flavor. As I was saying, you ought to be able to find “Queijo Faial” pretty much everywhere you look: from local markets to fancier restaurants, this cheese basically ends up being a star. Don’t miss out! As a matter of fact, pairing it up with a local Azorean wine might be just what you’re looking for to elevate it a little bit!

2. Fresh Seafood: “Lapas” and Beyond

You really can’t visit an island that’s almost in the middle of the Atlantic and miss out on the seafood. Oh man. It’s almost a crime! So, in Faial, one thing you’ve gotta taste is that it’s called “Lapas.” Those are just basically limpets, little shellfish, really, and they are generally served grilled with some butter and lemon. When I say, you just have to eat it…you just have to. Seriously, they’re totally, completely, utterly, absolutely delectable. Anyway, you will also want to consider whatever the “catch of the day” is, to be fair, too. You know, it could be fresh tuna, maybe some parrotfish, or basically, anything the fishermen hauled in that morning. Look around a bit! Like your simple restaurants by the marina right through to fancier spots overlooking the ocean should almost always offer fresh catches daily!

3. “Espécies”: A Sweet Taste of Tradition

“Espécies” you may think it’s that you might want to pronounce that with some caution. Because those could possibly wind up becoming your new favorite treat, that is! At the end of the day, those little horseshoe-shaped pastries packed with spices might be like that perfect dessert to end the day. As a matter of fact, the recipe’s apparently ancient and the little cakes are packed with flavors that could just basically make you remember the good old days when stuff tasted, like, super legit, you see? Typically you ought to discover them for yourself at local bakeries and even possibly during some festivals, so keep those eyes open and it is very very likely that you find them if you look out, more or less. I mean, in some respects, they kind of represent the sweetest bite of Faial’s culinary heritage!

4. Local Wine: Volcanic Vineyards

OK, so even though Faial may not be, like, the first place you would imagine that good wine grows, it still ends up being, more or less, part of the larger Azores wine-making spot. Arguably, what makes Azorean wines different is because of those volcanic soils where the vines tend to grow. These kinda soils tend to have minerals and stuff that, supposedly, apparently end up making for wines that could, possibly, be considered really special, to be honest. Also you are kind of interested in trying a white or a red, asking around will probably let you find some spot that uses local grapes, right? Even though the options you get in Faial, for instance, can be fewer in some respects that, you know, maybe Pico or Terceira, experiencing any one from Azores can certainly make you know the Azores a little better!

5. “Ginjinha”: A Cherry Liqueur Kick

So now you could probably try one of those very traditional Portuguese liqueurs when you end up finding yourself in Faial! And then you can discover what it’s all about by drinking Ginjinha! Right, Ginjinha isn’t technically, like, *from* Faial, but you can get some spots here where they sell the kinda famous cherry liqueur, actually. Most people usually end up serving it, just a little bit, in a little chocolate cup so that the end ends up having even more punch in the flavor zone. Don’t skip it just for the Instagram photo ops as well! Be very very aware it has some kick so make it one or two before trying more options! Basically drinking Ginjinha winds up becoming a kinda like good way to finish any great meals or you know.