Cape Verdean food is an enticing mixture of Creole, Portuguese and African flavours. The islands have a wealth of seafood which is often cooked straight from the sea. The influx of tourists is causing an increasing number of quality restaurants to open up.

National specialities:
• Canja (a thick chicken soup with rice).
• Catchupa (a slow boiled stew of corn, beans, vegetables and marinated tuna).
• Fruits include goiabas, zimbrão, tambarinas, marmelos, azedinhas, tamaras and cocos.

National drinks:
• Aguardiente (sugar cane rum).
• A San Antao liqueur made from coffee, cinnamon, fig leaf, peppermint, orange or lime.
• Manecome (local wine from Fogo).

Tipping: It is normal to give 10% for good service.

Cape Verdean nightlife is based on traditional live music and dance. It is impossible to wander round at night and not hear locals playing ‘morna' music - a combination of guitars, violins and lovelorn lyrics. Nightclubs are mainly found in the big hotels, although a number of local dive bars sell beer and rum on the islands.

Shopping in the islands is low-key and is mainly in local markets. Toiletries and other day-to-day items can be expensive as most things are imported, but the markets are a great place to look for handicrafts. Basket-weaving is a popular past-time, and artists fashion utensils and figurines from clay.  

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1500-1900.