Top things to eat in Ponta Delgada

Ponta Delgada is the regional capital of the Azores archipelago. The town lies on the south coast of Sao Migueland is blessed with dramatic volcanic scenery due to its extraordinary amount of volcanic rock. The island might be small, but it's a perfect mix of new and old with the charming old town, shops, restaurants, cafes, parks, and lively waterfront area.

If you are heading to the Azores Islands, you will be surprised by the food found across all the islands. You can do many things in Ponta Delgada, like shore excursions around the Sao Miguel island.

Pineapples are one of the popular items to eat in the Azores.

You will get regional Portuguese dishes emphasizing olive oil, herbs, meat, fish, tomato, bread, and spices. If you are a foodie, take a tour of the top things to eat in Ponta Delgada.

Top things to eat in Ponta Delgada

Here are the top 5 things you should try in Ponta Delgada:

1. Bolo D. Amelie

This tasty little tart-sized cake is also known as Amelia Cakes. It is mainly found on Terceira Island. The cake is made with cinnamon and ginger and covered in powdered sugar. It was created for Queen Amelia, the last queen of Portugal, when she visited the island.

2. Cozido das Furnas

This Portuguese dish is made through geothermal heat. Some holes are made in the hot volcanic soil, known as fumaroles. The metal stock pots are placed inside these holes. Cozido das Furnas is added to the pots and simmered until it is ready. Chicken, pork, or sausage is mixed in the soup with vegetables like cabbage and kale. The dish is topped with broth.

3. Limpets

This is also known as ‘Lapas’ in Portuguese. The dish of mollusks lives in cone-shaped shells and serves as grill-fried with a mix of garlic, butter, and pepper. You can eat them raw, just like oysters. They are a bit chewy but quite tasty, found only in the Azores. This is one of the best things to eat in Ponta Delgada.

Also, Read: What are the best things to do onboard Viking Venus?

4. Queijadas da Vila

Nuns in a convent created this tiny sweet dessert, and they are delicious. The buns are made from flour, milk, butter, sugar, and eggs wrapped in a white paper. While on the shore excursion, you can pack them in bags.

5. Black Sausage

Black sausage or blood sausage is one of the delicious meat preparations famous among the Azoreans. Over time, the dish has been prepared in different ways passed through generations but always includes cinnamon. This makes the sausage of Azoreans distinctive from others and also one of the top foods to relish in Ponta Delgada.

What’s more in Ponta Delgada?

The town is full of a colorful character; explore its historic center and discover museums, cobbled squares, monuments, and well-tended gardens. Here are some of the best places to visit in Ponta Delgada.

1. Lagoa das Sete Cidades 
2. Convento de Nossa Senhora da Esperança
3. Portas da Cidade
4. Gruta do Carvão
5. Igreja de São José
6. Museu Carlos Machado
7. Forte de São Brás
8. Pico do Carvão
9. Lagoa Empadadas

If you are a first-time cruiser and visiting with family on a cruise, you can learn more about best cruise lines for First-Time Cruisers.