IL Faro Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria — Restaurant in Sal

I was welcomed to the restaurant at lunchtime. Most other places in Santa Maria don't open until four in the afternoon and I wanted a good lunch. I had the fish of the day, which was cooked beautifully. It had a lovely, fresh flavour and was nice and hot. It came with rice, again very well cooked, and a side of vegetables. There were carrots, courgettes and potatoes cooked in stock I imagine and then finished with either butter or oil. They were so delicious I wanted to know how they were cooked. The meal also came with a slice of fresh, soft bread with a chewy crust. That too had great flavour and was ideal to soak up the last of the juice from the fish and the squeeze of lemon I put on. The meal was very reasonably priced. 600CVE and I had a pint of local draft beer with it for 350CVE. The beer here is lovely. Very cold and with a light flavour. Very refreshing. The waitress who served me spoke good English and was very helpful with my map and giving me directions. I had taken a book to read because I had heard that food in CV can take sometimes an hour to leave the kitchen, but my meal came so quickly I was surprised. I would recommend this restaurant without hesitation. I could not fault it at all. It you are coming to Santa Maria, have the fish. It is always excellent because it comes straight out of the sea. Thank you for my lunch and I will eat here again. Ben MacLeod Newcastle...

So, four of us did a week in Sal from the uk as a surprise for my girlfriend’s birthday. Amazing island! This restaurant we found on google one street over from the main stretch of Santa Maria. Honestly first walking in it looked small and I was a bit like oh no.. But we were quickly greeted and shown up a couple of steps to a back area which was honestly so lovely. Really nice atmosphere in a sort of open roof dinning room that’s still nice and enclosed from the street. The staff were incredible! So friendly and very funny.

This was our night to have dinner in town away from the hotel Buffett and we all had very high hopes. In total we had Bruschetta x4 to start. Three different pizzas off the menu and a carbonara. We all tried everything and it was all honesty amazing. I even got a portion of octopus which was very daring for us. Actually pretty delicious! Fresh made pizzas in what I can only guess is the world’s best pizza oven. And I will never forget that carbonara. If you are on holiday in Sal and need some real, beautiful food. You have to eat here! The memories from this night will stay with us forever. Really did make our holiday finding this on the second to last night, couldn’t have dreamt of a better dinner to end what was the most beautiful...

Residing in Santa Maria has given me the chance to explore nearly all the dining options this town has to offer, and I'm confident in saying that this restaurant ranks in my personal top three.

The pasta al pesto is a standout dish, generously coated with a rich and flavorful sauce that elevates it beyond the ordinary. It's hearty, satisfying, and exactly what you'd hope for when ordering this classic.

When it comes to pizza in Cape Verde, I've yet to find its match. The dough is well-fermented, yielding a crust that's airy and light, yet with a satisfying chew. It's a true representation of what good pizza should be - expertly executed.

For anyone looking for quality eats in the area, this place is a must-visit. The pasta and pizza are excellent starting points, but there's a good chance the rest of the menu will impress...