Cape Verde

Cape Fruit is a small but absolutely charming café that focuses on healthy living and healthy eating. It is one of the few places that cater to vegetarians and vegans, offering delicious meat-free options for breakfast and lunch, including sandwiches, wraps, and pancakes, along with refreshing fruit smoothies and juices.

Ask any local what the best pastry shop is in Mindelo and you'll inevitably get the same answer: Pastelaria Morabeza. Various types of bread, fresh fruit juices and coffee all make it a wildly popular place, but the biggest draw here is the huge selection of fresh pastries, including bola de berlim (Berliner) and pastel de nata.

Beat the oppressive midday heat by indulging in a cool escape at GiraMondo, the city's best ice cream shop. On the menu: decadent waffles, crepes, and cakes. However, the true star of the house is undeniably their homemade Italian-style ice cream, available in a delightful array of flavours.

Originally a family business, Pão Quente has grown quickly to become one of the most loved bakeries in the country. They offer a variety of pastries, including the mouth-watering pastel de nata, plus, fresh bread, cakes and coffee.

Nhamii Ice Dreams is a small but modern gelateria, renowned throughout the islands for its high-quality ice cream, fresh natural fruit juices, and smoothies, as well as its sweet crepes and other desserts.

On a hot day in Santiago, Gelataria Ártica, the city's oldest ice cream shop, is the perfect retreat for a refreshing scoop. In addition to classic flavours, the shop boasts locally inspired options such as mango, papaya, and camoca — all crafted in-house. For those seeking heartier fare, Gelataria Ártica also offers light, home-cooked meals.