Casa da Matriz

One hundred metres from the iconic Portas da Cidade — the triumphal arch that serves as Ponta Delgada's most recognisable landmark — Casa da Matriz offers a warm, intimate guesthouse experience in the very centre of Sao Miguel's historic capital. The Igreja Matriz de Sao Sebastiao, one of the finest Manueline churches in the Azores, stands virtually next door, and Ponta Delgada Harbour is a short stroll downhill.

Seven rooms with parquet floors, private bathrooms, air conditioning and free WiFi offer comfortable accommodation with a personal touch that larger hotels cannot replicate. A buffet breakfast is served each morning, and a shared kitchen gives guests the flexibility to self-cater when they choose. On-site laundry facilities and luggage storage make this an equally practical base for island-hoppers arriving by ferry.

From this address you can walk to Ponta Delgada's seafront promenade, local fish restaurants serving limpets and Azorean caldo verde, and the lively weekend markets in the town square. Day trips to Sete Cidades, Furnas and the island's volcanic hot springs are easily arranged from the harbour or town bus terminal nearby.

Casa da Matriz suits travellers who prefer a guesthouse rooted in the neighbourhood over an anonymous hotel room — a genuinely Azorean place to stay, in the most walkable part of Ponta Delgada, at a price that leaves room in the budget for the island's exceptional seafood.