Friday’s Featured Food: Local Fish, Rice and Vegetable Stew at Papa Figo, São Tomé, São Tome And Principe 🇸🇹

After arriving into Sao Tome from Gabon, and getting a stamp on arrival (no visa needed for me at the time), I was backpacking here in São Tome E Principe. My first port of call was my excellent “Writer’s Lair” at Casa De Ferias. I rested here in this lovely abode whilst making onward plans.

In São Tome E Principe, I visited Bobo Forro, Trinidade, São Tome (the capital city), Porto Allegre and Ilheu Das Rolas, where I crossed the equator on foot. I enjoyed hanging out with Marek Bladowski from Poland and ended up staying 6 days. Food had been predictable and mildly average this far here and then I heard about Papa Figo, which had good recommendations and where I could also pay on VISA card, a novelty and my only chance of a final dinner on my last night as I needed all my Dobras (local currency) for my final day.

I arrived into this quirky venue with art on the wall and a fine menu soon arrived.

The menu offered a decent range of local and international cuisines so naturally I went local. I have included some of the other menu options that I didn’t choose here.

I chose the dish called Arroz A Moda De Terra which is a hearty bowl like a hot stew with fish, rice and vegetables!

This was about to be my best meal in the country. I chose a local beer, which always comes in a bottle with no name here. They don’t waste money on printing and sticking on beer labels here. But it’s a local São Tome beer and miles better than the imported Portugal excrement. Officially the beer comes in black cases bearing the word Rowena on it. So it’s Rowena beer, yet when ordering, you just ask for a Cerveja Nacional. The national beer.

The Arroz à moda da terra came in a silver pot with a lid, to keep it warm. You scoop it out onto the plate then close it. I was backpacking alone on this evening but for sure I could have shared this with someone as it was a huge dish!!

The food was delicious here and I’d recommend it as my favourite restaurant in São Tome.

Only complaint – as this was my last night, instead of beer I fancied a cocktail as I didn’t have one in Sao Tome. It mentions on Facebook and on their website that they do great cocktails here. Yet when I asked, they said none were available, which was a pity. Even though they were on the menu. Strange!

Here are the details of Restaurant Papa Figo in São Tome:
Service options: Serves great cocktails · Has kids’ menu
Address: Avenida das Nações Unidas, São Tomé, São Tomé & Príncipe
Hours:
Opens 8 AM
Phone: +239 222 7261
Facebook: Papa Figo

Here is a video of me eating at Papa Figo, São Tome: