Mindelo’s Best Food & Drink: Top 5 Spots You Can’t Miss
Mindelo, Cape Verde, that absolutely stunning harbor city on São Vicente island, well, it really overflows with charm, history, and, most importantly, absolutely delicious food and drink! From fresh seafood to vibrant local dishes and, very often, that lively Cape Verdean music, this city offers a truly unique culinary experience, and it has something to tickle everyone’s tastebuds, that it does! Choosing where to eat and drink is quite difficult, with that amount of different places, I mean, there are so many amazing choices, it could feel just a little overwhelming. So, if you are planning a visit, or like your next stop is Mindelo and like you are looking for some direction, keep reading. This very detailed review will walk you through my top 5 food and drink spots in Mindelo, each one offering something different and super memorable.
1. Casa Café Mindelo: Where the Locals Mingle
Casa Café Mindelo, that truly authentic spot located near the city center, is really a must-visit if you want to soak in some real Mindelo vibes. The relaxed atmosphere, that kind of home-like charm, actually draws in locals and tourists alike. What sets Casa Café apart is that warm and friendly ambiance and the simple yet super flavorful food. Instead of extremely elaborate or complex dishes, expect well-prepared, classic Cape Verdean fare that just makes you feel at home, actually.
Must-Try Dishes and Drinks
For the full Casa Café experience, well, you just gotta try a couple of local specialities. The “catchupa,” a hearty stew made with beans, corn, and different kinds of meats, is really a staple and definitely comforting. It could be served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, proving that versatility that shows how it’s loved. And it makes an excellent pairing with the local Strela beer.
Seafood is naturally another highlight. The grilled fish, simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and just a squeeze of lemon, showcases just how fresh and delicious the ingredients truly are. Another fantastic seafood option to be sure to look out for are the Lapas (limpets) and the Buzios (whelks). These delicious and very simply prepared dishes are usually caught fresh that morning!
If you like your in need of a lighter bite, consider a sandwich or like one of their fresh salads. All made to order so they are extremely fresh!
Ambiance and Vibe
The cafe’s atmosphere is, to be honest, one of its greatest assets. With indoor and outdoor seating options, people like to linger for hours with good food, friends and the general Mindelo buzz all around you. The staff is usually very welcoming, the music is usually chill, and the overall vibe is just pure relaxation. It’s a little gem that’s worth finding, as a matter of fact. Spending an afternoon here gives you, in some respects, an experience you will remember of the everyday Mindelo life, that’s for sure. It is not the most polished or fancy experience, it feels just right, just perfect.
2. Restaurant Caravela: Fine Dining with a View
If like you are wanting a sophisticated dining experience, Restaurant Caravela, overlooking the stunning Mindelo harbor, might be perfect. It isn’t a budget-friendly choice, but the quality of food, professional service, and killer views makes it arguably worth that splurge, almost. It is quite the setting if you want something special.
Fine Dining Flair
Caravela positions itself as one of the fancier restaurants in town, with that sophisticated menu offering all kinds of French and European inspired dishes with just a touch of Cape Verdean flair. Very much an expert chef using the freshest seafood and local ingredients guarantees just about every dish tastes perfect.
Their wine list also has an impressive selection from the wine making regions around the globe!
Signature Dishes
Start your meal with that flavorful seafood bisque, it is often said that it sets the bar so high for the rest of your food. Followed by either the lobster Thermidor or a fresh tuna steak.
If meat is that thing, try their grilled steak, that is always sourced from the best farms around the island. The steak, that always cooked just as you like it, just melts in your mouth and its flavors mingle with that sauce in quite a beautiful marriage of tastes and smells.
The View
Let’s not forget why Restaurant Caravela is extra special, you know: the view! Perched atop a prime spot overlooking Mindelo harbor, the sunset dinners here are something else. Watching that sky explode with color as those boats gently rock on the water will most likely stick with you forever. If like you are celebrating something or looking to impress, this restaurant is just about perfect. Or like if you are a fan of fantastic restaurants with awesome vistas, get down to Caravela, naturally.
3. Mindelo Fish Market: A Seafood Lover’s Paradise
For the real seafood fanatics, the Mindelo Fish Market is really a sensory experience like no other. While not technically a restaurant, picking out fresh fish and like having a nearby restaurant grill it up for you is just part of that local tradition. This is truly the place to go if you want that freshest catch!
A Morning Ritual
To experience that market at its finest, you really do want to get there nice and early, in the morning. The fishing boats come and go, dropping off that precious bounty they’ve worked all night to secure. Watch them lug those crates up the beach. Those vendors setting out those glistening displays. Then you may haggle with those fisherman for the prime fish or crustacean of your choosing.
Seeing all the different types of seafood being bought and sold is that part of the fun. Barracuda, tuna, grouper, lobster, shrimp… the list just goes on. Everything is super fresh, with that distinctive sea smell permeating the air. This is life in Mindelo, the true way. Embracing a morning at the fish market and maybe eating what you choose at lunch might be the thing that gives you that insight to understand the city from its foundations.
How it Works
Select the freshest, shiniest fish that looks very appetizing, like one that just came off the boat, of course! Pay that nice fisherman the asking price or barter, maybe. Find the local eatery nearby that is willing to grill up that choice for you, that’s what is done. They grill it simply with just the right touch, adding just enough flavour and enhancing what the ocean has naturally made. Usually this spot charges per kilogram.
Worth it
Okay, so it’s not fancy, it’s almost, I’d say it’s even a bit gritty. However, this entire adventure is extremely rewarding. Knowing exactly how old that seafood is on your plate might really enhance the eating experience. Mindelo fish market offers an immersive food experience, really connecting you to that culture and to those food sources in that very fundamental way.
4. Simpático Sports Bar: Fun Times and Cold Drinks
Sometimes, you know, you just need some good times and also some cold beers while watching the sports. That’s where Simpático Sports Bar fits perfectly into that picture. It’s a relaxed, no-frills spot where folks just hang out, watch sports, and that listen to local music. It is more of an informal experience as a matter of fact, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t shine! Everyone in Mindelo goes here, at least once, that’s just about guaranteed!
What to Expect
Simpático Sports Bar offers several televisions showing all kinds of live sports events. That atmosphere can be really rowdy, and also especially during those soccer (football) matches. But hey, everyone’s nice, they really are, the beer is very cold, and that music’s playing – who could ask for too much?
While primarily a bar, Simpático has that surprisingly good selection of pub-style food to enjoy alongside those drinks. Order burgers, that staple nachos, and quite a few tasty local snacks, also.
Local Music Scene
This location very often offers different types of music from around the world that are enjoyed by local and travellers alike, but it is also where to get to know Cape Verdean music from local artists up close.
Affordable Fun
One of the best parts about Simpático is arguably that affordability. Drinks and eats aren’t just a rip off here. That makes it a place where, very easily, you might linger a little longer and sample more! In Mindelo, you may discover all kinds of great options when looking for somewhere chill to enjoy all those drinks with all those friendly locals.
5. La Bodeguita Mindelo: Tapas with a Twist
If you love Spanish cuisine, especially like your tapas and sharing food and eating tons of stuff with all your friends, this is the place to visit, certainly. Located just off the main square of Praca Amilcar Cabral, it offers a really fun environment to socialize and taste dishes, also, both new and recognizable, with your company or like if you are hoping to make new connections while you are there!
Traditional Ambience
The whole Bodeguita place seems like something has transported from one of the European countries, to the tiny island town. With authentic Iberian décor with stone work, brick accents and posters of matadors this venue might transport you elsewhere!
There is also outside space under umbrellas for that perfect chance for people watching as you graze and sip some vino or sangria!
Flavors From The Old Country
Naturally you have to expect some classics and like your favorites and La Bodeguita will serve them up: patatas bravas (fried potatos), croquettes (various flavorings!), gambas al ajillo (shrimp scampi).
You may also have plates filled with those fresh catches or shellfish and plates with different pork or beef cuts served. All that classic simple tasty tapas that might fill you up after all the exploring! Remember there are often specials of the day that are worth pursuing, so it’s really about checking those things out as you eat.