Fine dining & living with a view
In general, Sao Miguel, the most important island in terms of tourism, is a gourmet paradise par excellence. And in Luis Cogumbreiro from the "Panazorica Agency", which manages pretty much everything here, I find the best gourmet guide. Whether at "Paladares da Quinta" or "Delicias do Mar", one of the best fish restaurants on the island. Modern, stylish but with typical Portuguese tiles on the walls, they serve delicious fish at truly moderate prices. The menu on the iPad offers dishes for around 12 euros, with wines between 10 and 15 euros and beer from two euros - a truly inexpensive gourmet paradise! There are also a surprising number of hotels in the four-star range.
Whether it's the modern Royal Garden Hotel in the middle of Ponta Delgado with its Asian-inspired ambience and beautiful garden in the courtyard or the pink Bahia Palace Hotel in Aqua d'Alto located directly on the beach and last but not least my favorite - the Caloura Hotel in Aqua de Pau all in white on a rocky cliff above the sea. I am overwhelmed by the vibrant flowers among the dark lava rock, the seawater basins in the rock and the fine selection of food in the restaurant. No wonder the golf clientele like to stay here. But there is also life without golf here with sailing, whale watching, swimming with dolphins, diving, horse riding and deep-sea fishing. I'll be back in the spring when everything starts to bloom here - from the exotic strelizias and avals to the endless hedges of hydrangeas in white and blue that dominate everything, the symbol of the Azores.
By Elsa-Maria Honecker
