Quinta Do Martelo

We had the absolute best experience at Quinta do Martelo. We island hopped for 2 weeks and this restaurant by far offered the best food, wine, and atmosphere out of all of the islands and restaurants we visited and dined at. Paul was our server and recommended excellent dishes and wine pairings. He also shared with us the history of the restaurant and the island and gave us an overview of each of the traditional foods we tried, which islands they came from, and how the dishes are traditionally prepared. My husband and I enjoyed a private dining room and did not make a reservation. However, we did arrive fairly late in the evening on a Tuesday, so a reservation might be necessary for normal dining hours and on the weekends. I would visit Azores again just to experience this wonderful restaurant!

Staying here is like stepping back into a simpler life of idyllic peace and quiet. The property is a living museum of how Azoreans lived connected to the land with their own animals, gardens and market for guests. We spent an entire afternoon exploring the grounds of Quinta do Martelo and still didn't cover it all with all the winding paths and hidden "gems". The location was central for exploring the island, close to city of Angra do Heroísmo but set off in a more secluded, quiet area. Each house is like a museum in itself, illustrating what village life was like more than a century ago. The attention to detail and authenticity is remarkable, each part of the house has been well thought out to preserve both history and tradition, while ensuring coziness and comfort to its guests. The house we stayed in had a traditional wood fired kitchen and it was great to imagine what it was like keeping a fire going all day (but then just flipping on the stove when we needed to use one, LOL). We also had a chance to light the old-fashioned kerosene lamps. We enjoyed dinner one night at the restaurant, which was very special as they serve traditional dishes and we ate appetizers we hadn't tried anywhere else on the island. The Alcatra was incredible and the staff was attentive and kind. Nearly all the food served is grown at the Quinta. For anyone who enjoys connecting to history and culture, and getting a real sense of a place Quinta do Martelo is the place to stay! Thank you, we'll be back ＜3

We stayed for two nights at Quinta do Martelo in September 2021. Whilst we knew we'd booked somewhere that was looking to offer an authentic Azorean island experience, we were amazed by the place - the various different stone buildings, set in beautiful rural countryside, the main buildings and all of the hidden places to discover as we toured around the site taking it all in (which we highly recommend doing, following the map that is given on arrival). It was, as our friendly host promised when we arrived, truly a unique place on Terceira! Our accommodation was one of the stone houses, with the entry room recreated in traditional style, complete with straw bed, wooden table and stools, dresser and other historical items. In the passage way behind we were able to access our room, which was clean and spacious, whilst still manging to feel true to the rest of the style of the building. We ate at the restaurant on the first night, and despite not being big meat eaters, benefitted from the recommendations of Paulo, our waiter, who suggested we try the local Alcatra and sweet bread, with vegetable soup to start, local wine and followed by a traditional Azorean dairy dessert. The setting was lovely and the meal was the best we had in our two weeks on the islands. Paul was an excellent server. The following morning, breakfast was served in our accommodation, and again we were delighted by the fresh produce - various different types of bread, fruit, three types of jam, honey, yoghurts, cheese and ham, and coffee, teas and orange juice. Throughout our stay we were well looked after, our laundry was done swiftly by the kind housekeeping team, and our taxis arranged by our host. We enjoyed sunbathing by the pool, and our only regret was not leaving enough time for a swim before we left for San Miguel island. Overall, we are so grateful to have discovered Quinta do Martelo we'd like to thank everyone who works there for welcoming us, and we'll be recommending to anyone we know planning a trip to the islands. Thanks so much, Gemma and James