Terra Nostra Garden Restaurant

Terra Nostra Garden Restaurant sits inside the Terra Nostra botanical garden in Furnas, on São Miguel island, pairing the traditional cozido das Furnas with one of the Azores's most scenic settings. The kitchen follows the same geothermal cooking method as other Furnas cozido specialists, burying pots of meats, sausages and vegetables in the volcanic ground to slow-cook for hours, but the draw here is as much the location as the food -- diners eat within view of the park's iron-rich thermal pool and lush subtropical gardens. The dining room and terrace seating are more polished than the village's simpler cozido houses, reflecting the botanical garden setting, though the atmosphere remains casual rather than formal, with families and garden visitors making up most of the crowd. The wine list is modest, offering Portuguese and Azorean options to accompany the rich stew. Cozido runs about EUR 20-28 (approx USD 22-30), slightly higher than village competitors given the garden setting. Reservations for cozido must be made at least 24 hours ahead, and combining lunch with a garden admission ticket is the standard way to visit.