Art Kafé doesn’t shout, rush, or show off. That may be exactly why so many people end up coming back more often than planned. This isn’t a place for a quick photo — it’s for sitting down, eating slowly, and remembering that on Sal Island, simple things done well usually win.
Where the day starts slowly
There are places in Santa Maria where breakfast is just a formality, and others where it feels like an important life choice. Art Kafé clearly belongs to the second group. Nobody rushes here — not even the food. And on this island, that’s usually a good sign.
What this place really is
Art Kafé is a small, welcoming restaurant a short walk from the center of Santa Maria, where Cape Verdean cooking is taken seriously but without stiffness. It doesn’t try to reinvent anything: well-made cachupa, flavorful xauxau, perfectly cooked fish, with a few international touches that fit naturally.
The atmosphere helps: indoor and outdoor tables, old photos on the walls, soft music — sometimes live — and the kind of calm that makes you order another coffee “while you’re at it”.
Getting there without losing your patience
It’s about a 10-minute walk from the tourist center, depending on how often you get distracted along the way. Google Maps usually gets it right… though not always confidently. Taxis are easy too; nobody really gets lost here, they just arrive a bit later.
What you come to eat (and why you return)
Cachupa, whether for breakfast or with fish or sausage, comes up again and again — and not out of nostalgia. The xauxau rice with grilled plantain is another regular, as are the plantain fritters at brunch.
Vegetarian and vegan options are available, portions are generous, and the menu is flexible: changing side dishes never feels like an existential crisis. Allow between one and one and a half hours for dinner if there’s live music and you decide not to rush (recommended).
Things worth knowing beforehand
The service is usually friendly and relaxed, though at busy times it may move at an island pace. Nothing dramatic, but it helps to come with patience rather than a stopwatch.
You can pay in cash euros or by card (with a small commission). The euro–escudo exchange has raised a few eyebrows among visitors, so it’s best to check before paying to avoid unnecessary confusion.
Booking ahead for dinner is a good idea if you don’t like waiting.
Best time to go
Mornings are especially calm. For dinner, go early if you want a quieter experience, or later if live music and a bit more buzz sounds appealing. It works well year-round; the weather rarely ruins plans here.
At Art Kafé, nobody tries to impress you. They just cook well, let you be, and trust that it’s enough.
