Tendetudo is a well-organised Santa Maria supermarket with competitive prices, solid variety and unusually good Italian products for Sal. It isn’t built for tourists and it can get hot inside, but it’s excellent for practical, full everyday shopping here overall.
When you walk in by accident and walk out comparing
In Santa Maria there are supermarkets everyone mentions first… and then there’s Tendetudo. Sometimes you end up here almost by mistake, on the way to somewhere more famous. And that’s exactly when you realise maybe you didn’t need to go that far.
It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t show off. It’s simply there, doing its job.
A well-designed local supermarket
Tendetudo is a mid-sized supermarket, bigger than it looks from the outside and clearly aimed at everyday life rather than occasional tourism. It’s well organised, clean, and has prices clearly displayed — something you can’t always assume on the island.
It’s not trying to be a mega-store, but it does offer a solid alternative to the better-known supermarkets nearby.
More than expected, without the performance
The range is good and, in places, genuinely surprising: general groceries, drinks, cleaning products, female hygiene, kitchen utensils, a bit of home-hardware — and even basic furniture.
One detail that comes up a lot: Italian products. For some it’s a small bonus; for others, it’s the whole reason to return. There’s also a small shelf of African-style souvenirs, without turning the place into a tourist shop.
It looks like a bigger mini market… until you start walking the aisles properly.
Where Cazu enters the chat
Prices are often described as very competitive, sometimes among the best in Santa Maria. Still, the comparison with Cazu — a few minutes away — is constant. Some people say Tendetudo is slightly more expensive; others say the opposite.
The simplest truth is that they complement each other. You’ll find things in one that you won’t find in the other, and visiting both is a sensible strategy.
This is where opinions split
Service is frequently rated well: friendly, attentive staff, even if English isn’t always fluent. Paying by card — and even Google Pay — is usually straightforward.
The main point of friction is the heat. Air conditioning isn’t always there, and at certain times the humidity is hard to ignore. Some people cope; others last about a minute. The owner’s replies to a few complaints make one thing clear: they’re not apologising for the temperature.
Offers, attitude and expectations
There are negative experiences around promotions not being honoured and a lack of empathy when customers push back. In those moments, the feeling of “unequal treatment” comes through strongly, especially for tourists.
It’s not the norm, but when it happens, it sticks.
How to get the best out of it
Check prices and offers before you pay.
If heat hits you hard, go in with a clear list and move fast.
Use it for Italian products and items you don’t always see elsewhere.
If you’re torn between Tendetudo and Cazu, do both: they’re close and genuinely complementary.
Not the most famous, but very functional
Tendetudo Supermercado isn’t trying to be the star. Its strength is organisation, reasonable pricing and an honest offer for anyone living here or staying long enough to cook properly.
It may not be perfect, but when it works for you, it becomes the supermarket you return to without overthinking it.
You don’t come here to impress anyone. You come to fill a bag and get on with your day.
