Hanging around in Jardim do Mar

Joe's Bar is the socializing point in Jardim do Mar

There are restaurants and places to hang around in the village.

Famous and cosmopolitan Joe’s Bar is where locals and foreigners hang out, about 100 meters away from Sofia's Place. Close enough to get there in 30 seconds, but far enough of the house to assure quietness. Joe is Sofia’s cousin.

Their dear friend and painter Tony Kitchell owns a gallery next to Joe’s Bar. In this old house (beautifully kept) Sofia used to play in her childhood. It belonged to one of her grandmother’s sister.

If you want to go further down, you will get to the square with trees, a fountain and park benches, next to the local church, where you can relax, sunbathe and watch people passing by in their doings. It is the central and meeting point of Jardim do Mar with beautiful and typical Portuguese stone all around.

You have several ways to walk down towards the ocean and the beach. You can take the old path next to the church and visit Pontinha (West), that used to be the fishermen neighbourhood. From there you can wacth the promenade and the sea.

In the square you can also head East and visit Portinho, five minutes walking down. You can either take the new road next to the village's car park or take the stone path by Teresa's little bar and grocery by the square. In the new road you have Tar Mar restaurant. In Portinho you have a nice bar and small restaurant, in an old and typical house by de promenade and ocean. It belongs to local called Angelino, a cousin of Sofia's grandmother. Community in Jardim do Mar is for real.

There is a pebble beach and peer if you feel like a swim between cups of tea or beers. Then you can go for a stroll in the promenade, a 750 metres wallk breathing the fresh air from the sea and watching the waves. In Pontinha you have the famous surf break. Because of it, Jardim do Mar was named by surfers as the European Hawai.

Reaching the other side at the far West end of the promenade and the village, you are in Vigia. The place in named Vigia (watch) because it used to be a watch point to check any pirates' attacks.

Then you can either return to Pontinha (and go up to the church and square) or back all the way to Portinho or go up the old path from Vigia in the direction of Joe's bar, heading East.

Besides resting and relaxing, watching the birds or contemplating the landscape around, visiting locals of cultural and historic interest in Jardim do Mar and Calheta, walking and socializing, doing scenery drives and getting to know the local gastronomy, you can do a lot more if you wish. You find quietness but never feel bored in inspiring and intense Jardim do Mar. You can socialize and do exciting outdoor activities.

You may go swimming, sunbathing, do whale and dolphin watching from the marina in Calheta, do “levada” walks up in the mountains, do yoga, go sailing, cycling in the promenade, do mountain biking, pier fishing, big game fishing from the marina in Calheta or Funchal, scuba diving or snorkeling, surfing, wind-surfing, water skiing and paragliding.

Some activities depend on weather and time of the year and on your interest for more radical or in a more direct contact with nature.

You can also visit the lighthouse in Ponta do Pargo (a new Golf court is being built nearby) and the naturally occurring aquamarine pools at Porto Moniz.