Madeira food guide: 15 best restaurants on the island

Madeira is not known as a culinary destination. That is why I have created an extensive blog featuring the best restaurants on Madeira for lunch and dinner. Madeiran cuisine is not particularly distinctive, but you will find fresh fish and seafood on the menu almost everywhere. Most restaurants can be found in the capital, Funchal, where, alongside authentic tabernas, you can also find international restaurants. Want to know more about Funchal? Read the comprehensive Funchal Travel Guide with 19 tips here >>

These are the best restaurants in Madeira according to the locals

On the boulevard, but also in the narrow streets of the old town, they're already waiting for you with menus. It's part of the experience on an island that thrives on tourism. But... with the tips from this Madeira restaurant guide, you'll simply walk right past them.

A chef friend gave me tips on his favorite restaurants on the island. You'll find them in this list of the best restaurants in Madeira! Along with my personal favorites where I ate during my trip and the tips I solicited especially for you from the locals I met on various tours.

Pulpo at Faja dos Padres

These are the dishes you want to try in Madeira

Dishes you'll definitely want to try include grilled octopus, lapas in garlic wine sauce (also called limpets or Chinese hats), and steak with Madeira sauce. Start the evening with "doses," the local tapas. These often feature seafood, like lapas, but also, for example, pickled octopus with onion (so incredibly delicious, you'll definitely want to try it).

Limpets

Can't quite figure out the menu? Feel free to ask the wait staff for tips and explanations! That way, you might discover the 'black scabbardfish,' which you wouldn't normally order. Curious to see how monstrous this local fish looks? Then be sure to check out the fish market at Mercado dos Lavradores in Funchal.

Mercado dos Lavradores in Funchal

15 Madeira restaurants to remember for your next trip

Most good restaurants are located in Funchal. Therefore, in this blog post, I'll distinguish between restaurants in Funchal and those outside.

Best restaurants in Funchal

Boho Bistro: At Boho Kitchen, Asian and Portuguese cuisine come together. You can choose from various menus where you taste the best of Chef Francisco Silva's kitchen, but of course, you can also order à la carte and create your own perfect menu.

Kampo: This restaurant opened its doors in 2018 near Funchal Cathedral and is already known as one of the best restaurants in the wider area. A modern bistro where I will reserve a table immediately after booking my ticket next time.

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Restaurante SHU.AKA: For the best sushi in Funchal (and probably on all of Madeira), you have to go to Shu.Aka.

Il Vivaldi: A classic in terms of food and interior in Funchal, near the boulevard. If you dine here, reserve a table on the terrace with a view.

The Vivaldi

William Restaurant : This Michelin-starred restaurant is located in the luxurious Belmond Reid's Hotel , which is also known for its excellent afternoon tea. If it happens to rain in Madeira (which can happen quite often), treat yourself to a culinary afternoon.

Jolie : Not really a restaurant, but the nicest juice bar on the island, which you can find in the corner of the farmer's market Mercado dos Lavradores in Funchal.

Jolie

Mula: This restaurant opened not so long ago in Funchal and belongs to the new guard of bistros raising the culinary level of the island. So say insiders from the local food scene. The dishes are pure, with a surprising twist.

Taberninha Zé Vitória: Don't be put off by the restaurant's location. It is situated at the end of the touristy Rua Santa Maria, a street with street art on the centuries-old, dilapidated doors. The street is full of touts, but according to the locals, this is the only tavern you want to dine at for authentic Portuguese dishes.

Nini Design Center

Nini Design Centre: Do you want to have lunch at a unique location? The studio and restaurant of Madeiran designer Nini Andrade Silva are now located in a former fort. You can also have dinner there, but personally, I think the terrace with a view of the water is the nicest place to sit.

Confeitaria No Mercado: Good coffee shops on Madeira are scarce. Especially if they also have to look nice so you can take an Instagram photo. For the tastiest sweets and the best coffee, you have to go to Confeitaria in the Mercado dos Lavradores in Funchal.

Confeitaria No Mercado

 TIP: Want to try the local alcoholic drink Poncha at a bar? Then go to Barreirinha Bar Café (with a sea view) or Rei da Poncha (among the locals on a small square).

Estalagem Da Ponta do Sol

Best restaurants in Madeira with a view

Estalagem Da Ponta Do Sol: During my trip to Madeira, I stayed at this design hotel in the village of Ponta Do Sol. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, the restaurant is highly recommended for a meal. The steak with Madeira sauce is delicious!

Quinta do Farao: Yet another restaurant in a hotel. Outside the center of Funchal, I notice that most of the better restaurants are located in hotels. If you dine at this quinta, you will want to reserve a spot on the terrace with a view of the cliff. Don't be surprised if it gets very busy inside during lunch, as you won't notice it much from the outside. This restaurant has a beautiful view.

Faja dos Padres: This unique eco-hotel at the foot of a high cliff is worth a visit for lunch if you are on holiday in Madeira. I stayed there for two nights and did a lot on the island during those days, but actually, if you stay here, you should just enjoy the location and the tranquility. You can only reach the restaurant by cable car or boat. The food is local and certainly not fancy, but very tasty and pure. The octopus, the tuna, and the paella are highly recommended. Order some appetizers to share as starters, such as the lapas clams.

Quinta do Farao

| TIP: You can find a lot of practical information about the island on the Visit Madeira website.

Madeira travel tips for planning your trip

Have these travel tips for Madeira made you excited to go on holiday to Madeira yourself? Then also read these travel tips to help you plan and book your trip. You can fly to Madeira with Transavia or Tui , but because there are only a limited number of flights per week, it is often more economical to book a package holiday. Therefore, for a trip to Madeira, it certainly pays to list all the alternatives when planning your trip. In these Madeira travel tips, I have already done some of the research for you!

FLIGHT TICKETS TO MADEIRA:
If you're looking for flights to Madeira, search for "Funchal" as your destination. This is the island's capital, where the airport is also located. Use the links below to find tickets for your desired dates.
➳ Transavia offers flight tickets from €75 for a one-way trip >>
➳ Book a return ticket via Tui from €249 >> 

| TIP: Flying via Schiphol? Then you can download a €5 voucher here for a discount at See Buy Fly! Book a cheaper parking spot in advance if you are driving to Schiphol . That can save quite a bit of money. Our favorite hotels near Schiphol (which we have also tested ourselves) are CitizenM and Hilton . Handy if you have a very early flight!

CAR RENTAL IN MADEIRA
Through which channels you reach those people, classic and out of the box. Sunnycars, Reviews, Happycar of Europcar You can book a car to pick you up at Funchal Airport upon arrival. If you want to see more of Madeira than just the area around your hotel, renting a car is essential.

YOURLBB'S FAVORITE (BOUTIQUE) HOTELS & TRIPS: 
☾ Estalagem Da Ponta Do Sol: Boutique design hotel with sea view and good restaurant. (From €615,- incl. car, also bookable as a package tour via Eliza Was Here)
☾ Fathers' Girdle: A unique eco-hotel at the foot of a high cliff, accessible only by boat or cable car. In the evening, you can relax at the seaside restaurant.From €615,- incl car, also bookable as a package tour via Eliza Was Here)
☾ Pestana CR7 Funchal: Design hotel with a pink rooftop pool. (Can also be booked as a package trip via Corendon from €913)
☾ Castanheiro: Small-scale apartment-hotel in Funchal with swimming pool and spa. (from €961,- via Tui) 
☾ Calhau Grande: 8 rustic houses for a real Portuguese atmosphere. (from €625,- incl. car via Eliza Was Here)
☾ Quinta do Farao: at the top of a cliff with a waterfall and a panoramic restaurant. (from €820 incl. car via Tui)
☾ Quinta do Arco: Quietly situated yellow quinta with a rose garden, private cottages and shared swimming pool. (from €605,- incl. car via Eliza Was Here)
☾ Baia Azul: larger modern hotel with sea views on the quiet side of Funchal. (from €613,- via Tui)
☾ Casa do Papagaio Verde: Romantically decorated, with a large garden and sea view. (from €595,- incl. car via Eliza Was Here)

TOURS & ACTIVITIES IN MADEIRA:
✦ Via Hit The Road Madeira You can book a sunrise tour for breathtaking views from Pico do Arieiro.
✦ Go on a RIB boat from Rota dos Cetaceos Dolphin watching from Funchal. You might even be able to snorkel with them if the weather is good!
✦ Would you like to take a Levada walk with an experienced guide? We took a tour with Madeira Adventure Kingdom.

Want to read more blogs about Madeira? Then click through to the extensive travel guide >>

Do you have any tips for Madeira that shouldn't be missing from the Madeira Travel Guide? Let us know via the button below and TIP THE EDITORS!

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PSSSST... you can find more (travel) tips in my books!

• Feed Your Wanderlust – Travel Guide for a bohemian lifestyle
• staycation – 22 guides and shortlists for a holiday close to home
• Wanderlust – Urban Travel Style Guide
• The Amsterdam City Guide (Dutch) & The Amsterdam City Guide (English)

Great as a gift for yourself or someone who loves to travel as much as you do!

WITH LOVE,

ANNE