There is a bar called “Garimpeiro” in the east of Nishizato street in Miyako Island. Garimpeiro is a Portuguese word which means prospector. The bar is quite fashionable, and if you have visited Tokyo, it may remind you of a bar in the modern areas of Tokyo.
Garimpeiro (Outside)
Garimpeiro is one of my favorite bars in Miyako Island. Like many other modern bars in Miyako Island, the owner of this bar is from Honshu (the main island of Japan).
Garimpeiro Counter
A Painting in Garimpeiro
They serve various wines and cocktails, as well as some beers. Whenever I visit this bar, I order “Yonayona Ale” first. It is a microbrewed ale from Nagano Prefecture and it is not a drink from Okinawa. It is one of the best beers in Japan, and as a beer lover, I can strongly recommend Yonayona Ale. Try this beer if you are a beer lover and have never tasted it before.
You can enjoy a variety of dishes at Garimpeiro. My favorite dish at Garimpeiro to start a night is “Shiobuta to Tomato (salted pork and tomatoes).” They have many other appetizers which go great with drinks.
Shiobuta to Tomato & Yonayona Ale
There are main dishes such as “taco rice” and pastas. Taco rice is a popular Okinawan dish which the ingredients usually wrapped in a taco shell are placed on top of rice. Pastas are also recommended at Garimpeiro. They usually have three pastas; spaghetti Napolitan (Japanese pasta made with tomato ketchup or a tomato-based sauce), spaghetti puttanesca, and penne with blue cheese.
Taco Rice & Tokyo Black (Dark Beer from the Same Brewery Making Yonayona Ale)
Spaghetti Puttanesca & Sangria
Like Garimpeiro, most bars in Miyako Island don’t have a cover charge. Besides, drinks and dishes at these bars are generally cheaper than those of bars in big cities like Tokyo or Osaka, although they are generally more expensive than local izakayas (Japanese-style pub) in Miyako Island.
Anyway, dining bars like Garimpeiro are the ideal place to visit if you are little tired of traditional Okinawan dishes at local izakayas.
Garimpeiro location: 567 Hirara Nishizato, Miyakojima-shi
