20 BEST RESTAURANTS IN MADEIRA – The Ultimate Guide

Are you looking for the best restaurants in Madeira? This Portuguese holiday destination has a great selection of restaurants scattered around the island. From Michelin-star restaurants to casual dining, vegan restaurants, but also some of the best sushi we ever had! Feeling more for hamburgers or a dinner including meat? Then definitely try the traditional espetada that can’t be missed when visiting Madeira! After living on Madeira island for more than 7 months, we have tried many different restaurants in Madeira. So here is our selection of the 20 best restaurants in Madeira in random order. You will find all the information in this ultimate guide on where to find them and what to expect! 

20 BEST RESTAURANTS IN MADEIRA

Santa Maria

Santa Maria Restaurant was one of our favorite restaurants in Madeira. During the 7 months that we lived on this beautiful island, we went here at least twice a month. Santa Maria Restaurant is located in the old town of Funchal in the charismatic Santa Maria street. With indoor and outdoor seating in their beautiful garden in the back, you will be assured of a relaxing dinner away from the hustle and bustle of Santa Maria Street.

The sushi at Santa Maria Restaurant is the best in Funchal. Order a white sangria with your dinner and your taste buds will tingle from pleasure! The meat steak and tuna steak on hot stone are also fantastic as you can make them exactly how you like them. I highly recommend trying this amazing restaurant in Funchal!

Uva Restaurant at Hotel the Vine 

The Uva restaurant is located on the rooftop of La Vie shopping Mall and is part of Hotel The Vine. The incredible 360° view from the restaurant and bar overlooking Funchal City and the ocean will keep you in awe while eating. The gastronomic cuisine offers a great variety of delicious food that is cooked with fresh local products. French creative cuisine with balanced flavors well mixed in an incredible explosion of textures and tastes. The plates were very nicely prepared and presented and will give you an unforgettable fine dining experience in Funchal. Prices for the meals are not cheap, but it’s worth paying for the high quality.

Where to stay to visit the best restaurants in Madeira?

Browse the map below to find all available options!

Kampo by Chef Julio Pereira

Kampo is one of the unique restaurants in Madeira (Funchal) with an incredible experience and one of the best restaurants in Madeira for dinner. The concept is that you can sit at the chef’s table and watch how your food is being prepared. The amazing ambiance, high-quality food, and great service all contribute to a wonderful experience. Their Fusion cuisine is creative in terms of the combination of the ingredients. Great seafood and the meat is soft and melts in your mouth! You can choose different plates to share which makes the experience of tasting different dishes a fun night out. Highly recommend this amazing and unique restaurant in Funchal! 

Prima Caju Funchal

Prima Caju is one of the best restaurants in Madeira to eat breakfast or lunch. Their incredibly stylish interior is super Instagrammable with lots of jungle plants around. With a super healthy but tasty menu, this is your go-to spot if you love smoothie bowls, want vegan options, or a super tasty bowl filled with veggies, salmon or chicken and rice, or couscous. Prima Caju is located on the ground floor of the Hotel Caju Le Petit Hotel, but you won’t notice that. We particularly liked the smoothie bowls, the Prima bowl with Thai chicken, and the Meraki bowl with salmon. If you’re in for a sweet dessert or snack, the pancakes of Prima Caju are also highly recommended! 

Aconchego

Aconchogo is located in the São Martinho district, so not in the center of Funchal. However, this restaurant offers amazing front-seat views of the ocean! From the outside, it does look a bit like a tavern, but once you enter the restaurant you will see it has a lovely garden with a sea view. The cozy atmosphere of Aconchego restaurant invites you to try their menu including seafood, Mediterranean, European and Portuguese dishes. A great extensive menu with choices for everyone! 

The Loft

Located in the São Martinho district, this is one of the more hip cafes in this area. With a retro 80’s 80-style interior, The Loft sets the vibe with relaxing music and friendly staff. Their varied menu has a selection of savory breakfast options, salads, or a great Açai smoothie bowl for the sweet tooth. The Loft offers pretty big plates for a reasonable price. The choice of egg dishes is varied but their menu also has vegan options. Great place for brunch, definitely worth a try! 

Restaurante Santo Antonio

This is the best espetada restaurant in Funchal! If you want to try the local favorite dish espetada, then Santo Antonio Restaurant is the place to go. However, this restaurant is not in the center of Funchal located. You have to get here with a rental car or taxi. The restaurant has little atmosphere inside, however, the food is really good. The espetada and Bolo do Caco was at Santo Antonio some of the best we had in Madeira. The meat of the skewer is very tasty and perfectly prepared. I think it’s one of the best restaurants in Madeira for eating espetada. But, in case you know a better restaurant in Madeira let me know in the comments!

Three House 

On top of the Oudinot building, The Three House offers an endless panoramic view over Funchal city and the Atlantic Ocean with great food and cocktails. It’s a hotel, but outside guests can eat at the restaurant as well. Their stylish and Instagrammable rooftop bar with a swimming pool invites you to enjoy this place for not only a quick breakfast or lunch. You can see they have an eye for detail in the selection of their menu, presentation, and color combination of the interior. The Three House provides some of the best rooftop bars and restaurants in Funchal with an extensive contemporary menu and a beautiful presentation of the food. 

Goût

Goût is a pretty new restaurant in Funchal located near the Farmers Market. Their menu offers a great choice for lunch and dinner in Funchal with creative and fresh food served aesthetically. It may not be the cheapest place for dinner in Funchal, especially when you compare the prices, but the quality is very good and the food has a lot of taste!  

It’s Fresh by the Snug 

Tucked away in one of the streets close to the Farmers Market you will find this cute restaurant in Funchal. With the tropical feel interior, It’s Fresh provides a great variety of colorful poke bowls, smoothie bowls, and all sorts of wraps and toasted bread. It’s next to The Snug and part of that restaurant. We liked the poke bowls here. Worth a stop to grab some food in Funchal! 

The Snug Smoke House

For big burgers and smokey meat, you have to go to The Snug Smoke House. Their menu offers a great variety of burgers, chicken wings, pulled pork, smokey ribs, wraps, salads and more. Perfect for meat lovers, but if you want a vegetarian dish you can order it from the menu of It’s Fresh which is their other restaurant in the same street.

O. Giro Churros & Paninis 

In the heart of Funchal center is the cute restaurant O. Giro Churros & Paninis located. It’s on the same street as Prima Caju and offers great paninis, salads, wraps, and churros for the sweet tooth. The portions are pretty big with reasonable prices and the fries that come with the sandwiches are amazing! Absolutely a great spot for lunch in Funchal with indoor and outdoor seating. 

Mundo Vegan

Mundo Vegan is just like The Loft located in the São Martinho district. This Vegan restaurant in Funchal offers a variety of hot and cold dishes such as vegan pancakes, colorful salad bowls, pasta, burgers, and risotto. For the sweet tooth, there are cakes, smoothies, and fresh juices available. The interior felt a bit ‘cold’ to us, in terms of not being a super cozy place to have lunch or dinner in comparison to the other mentioned restaurants in Funchal above. That’s why I mention Mundo Vegan as the last one in this section about the best breakfast and vegan restaurants in Funchal. 

Abrigo do Pastor in Camacha 

If you’re in for traditional Portuguese food with lots of meat choices, then Abrigo Do Pastor is the place to be! Surrounded by nature and fresh air, this restaurant offers a great atmosphere with a pinch of history and culture from Madeira Island. The meat from Abrigo do Pastor is melting in your mouth and the traditional Bolo do Caco is well prepared. Portions are big and reasonably priced. Order a poncha or the traditional Madeira wine to make this a typical Madeirean evening out for dinner in Madeira. 

Estalagem de Ponta do Sol 

Another great restaurant in Madeira with wonderful ocean and sunset views. Estalagem Da Ponta Do Sol Restaurant is part of the hotel but also welcomes guests from outside. The restaurant has tables around the hotel garden, set into the cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a fantastic setting for a meal and their menu has a good choice of Mediterranean and European dishes. You have to make a reservation and take into account that the prices are a bit higher than the standard restaurants in Madeira. However, it makes sense given the standard of food and a beautiful view overlooking the ocean.

Maré Alta Ponta do Sol 

This restaurant is one of the few restaurants in Madeira which are located on the beach. Maré Alta is a great choice and value for money. Here you can eat delicious traditional Madeirean food such as meat espetada skewers and fish espetada. With beautiful sunset views, this restaurant in Madeira is a great place for families and couples for a cozy dinner evening. Bring a jacket because after the sun has set it can get colder along the coast.  

Leme Marisqueira in Calheta 

Leme Marisqueira is a great restaurant along the marina of Calheta. They have a varied menu of seafood, European, Portuguese, and Mediterranean food accompanied by a great selection of wines. Price quality is well balanced for the food especially considering the great location, looking out over the boats that are docked in the marina and a little sunset view from the side. 

O Fio Tea House in Ponta do Pargo 

O’Fio restaurant is located at the viewpoint do Fio and offers an incredible view of the cliffs and Atlantic Ocean. The cute cottage which is the restaurant is surrounded by a beautiful garden where they grow some herbs. You have to stop here at least for tea or coffee, and if you’re hungry O’Fio is also a great place for lunch or dinner. Serving mostly traditional dishes you are here at the right spot to try the fish espetada with potatoes and salad. A ‘simple’ meal but very tasty and great price. 

O’Forno in Ponta do Pargo

This restaurant located in Ponta do Pargo is one of the best BBQ restaurants in Madeira. The meat is mostly prepared on the wood oven BBQ giving it a great and tender taste. Their menu is varied from chicken, meat, and fish options to vegetarian dishes and of course the traditional Portuguese options. Dishes are great portions and reasonably priced. You will have the evening sun on the terrace, so it’s a great place for outdoor dining. However, the restaurant is directly located along the road. But if you want to sit inside, there is plenty of space as well.  

 Aqua Natura Restaurant in Porto Moniz 

Located in Porto Moniz, the Aqua Natura restaurant is part of the same named hotel. With undisrupted ocean views, you can feel the breeze of the sea on your face while enjoying your meal. The menu is a fine selection of local specialties, and very well prepared with great seasoned meat and vegetables. Prices are reasonable and the staff is friendly. This restaurant is the best choice to go to in Porto Moniz!

Where to stay in Madeira?

Funchal

Several towns in Madeira are great to stay in while exploring the island. Funchal is the capital town of the island with the most restaurants around. It has a charming old town and all sorts of facilities you might look for such as a boulevard, shopping center, cafes and nightlife. It is a great place to base yourself with plenty of culture and beautiful old buildings and charming streets to explore. There are also a few beaches in Funchal to enjoy the ocean. However, these beaches are from pebble stones.

We have stayed in The Vine Hotel and Okulus villa which are both beautiful locations. The Vine has the comforts of a hotel including breakfast and is located right in the city centre. Okulus Villa is located in the Old Town with the most amazing ocean and city view.

→ Book your stay at Okulus villa here

→ Book your stay at The Vine Hotel here

Calheta

If you want to be based near a sandy beach in Madeira, then Calheta is a great place. While Funchal is more to the east of the island located, Calheta is more to the west of the island located. So eventually you can also stay a few days in both towns depending on the total length of your stay in Madeira. Calheta has an atmospheric marine with restaurants offering great spots to watch the sunset and enjoy a meal.

We have stayed a few weeks at Calheta Boutique Houses during our 7 months living in Madeira. Highly recommend these private villas as you have all the amenities you have at home as well. The modern design and amazing ocean views make it a perfect vacation home.

→ Book your stay at Calheta Boutique Houses here

Small villages in nature

If you want to experience really small towns to stay in Madeira, then check out the accommodations in Seixal, Porto da Cruz, Sao Vicente or Ribeiro Frio. Take into account that there will be less restaurants around but you will be completely immersed in the local life and nature.

→ Check here the available accommodations in Seixal, Porto da Cruz, Sao Vicente or Ribeiro Frio

Best Madeira island tours

If you want to explore the best of Madeira with a guide then here are some great tours I recommend. All of these tours include transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides, and sometimes entrance fees if applicable. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.

• Customized 6-hour Madeira tour. On this six-hour tour, you can choose the different areas you want to visit on Madeira Island. Pick the landmarks and iconic places to make your itinerary with the help of your local guide/driver.
• West Madeira private tour. Starting in the fishing town of Câmara de Lobos you will drive via Cabo Girao, the highest cape in Europe, to the beautiful view of Serra d’Agua valley. From there you will head to São Vicente to explore the Laurisilva forest. Continuing north, you will visit Porto Moniz, known for its natural lava pools where you can swim. As a last stop, you will visit the famous rocks at Ribeira da Janela.
• East Madeira tour. Visit Pico do Arieiro viewpoint, take pictures at the Santana houses and the beautiful viewpoints at Porto da Cruz to finish the day at the impressive volcanic landscape of Ponta de São Lourenço.
• Canyoning adventure with a transfer from Funchal. Get the thrill of canyoneering and explore Madeira’s untouched nature. follow a river as you walk, rappel, slide, and jump through hidden waterfalls with streams that cross endemic forests. A super fun and adventurous day!
• Ponta de São Lourenço hike with pick up in Funchal. Explore the eastern tail of Madeira island with its unique volcanic rock formations to understand how the island was created.

Funchal Tours

• Funchal 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour. Explore the lush landscape of Madeira and the sights of Funchal at your own pace with a 2 or 5-day ticket for the hop-on, hop-off bus.
• Funchal Old Town walking tour. Learn about the history of Funchal and Madeira on a guided walk through the city’s medieval center. Visit the farmer’s market, the Campo Almirante Reis, the Fortress of St. James, and a number of other sites as your guide provides commentary.
• Tuk-Tuk tour to Monte Tropical Garden with Toboggan ride from Funchal. Explore Funchal Old Town with a Tuk Tuk before making your way to the mountains to the stunning Monte Tropical Garden. There you will explore over 70,000 square meters of exotic plants. At the end of the tour, you will enjoy the thrilling ride down the hill with a Toboggan ride.

Boat Tours

• Dolphin & Whale watching Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Funchal. Enjoy the views of Funchal from a luxury catamaran. Look out for whales and dolphins in their natural habitat as you relax on board and explore the underwater world with a snorkel.
• Scuba diving Madeira. Explore the underwater world of Madeira Island. A theory lesson and practice in the swimming pool are included before you dive about 12 meters for 45 meters in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Sunset tour from Funchal by Catamaran. Watch the sunset off the coast of Madeira on a 3-hour evening catamaran cruise from Funchal and spot dolphins (guaranteed, or you get a 2nd trip for free).

Book a Food, Wine & Culture walking tour

Are you a lover of good food and would you like to learn more about the best local flavors while absorbing the rich culture of Madeira? Then this 4-hour walking food tour is the perfect tour for you! During this tour, you will explore the best traditional cuisine that Madeira has to offer, learn all about the history of Funchal from a qualified tour guide and taste amazing Portuguese wines and other local drinks. All the food and drinks are included in the price and if you reserve now you can pay later with up to 24 hours cancellation in advance to receive a full refund.

• Book your scooter or motorbike here to get around in Madeira. For most of the scooters, you can drive with a driving license (A1/A2/A) from 18 years old, or from 25 years old with a car (B) license. The motorbikes have a minimum age of 20 or 21 with an A (moto) license.

Do you prefer a private driver for the day and the freedom to create your itinerary?

• Book your full-day customizable private tour here

General travel must-haves for Madeira

Have you thought about how to get around in Madeira? A car is the easiest way to drive around the island.

• Book your rental car here and compare the providers to get the best deal.

Are you insured during your travels?

• Buy your travel insurance here. Safetywing not only includes coverage for travel delay, lost checked luggage, emergency response, natural disasters, and personal liability. But also covers all your medical expenses for hospitalization.

More Madeira travel inspiration

I hope you enjoyed this blog post about the best restaurants in Madeira.

For more information about Madeira, read our other travel blogs from this incredible island.

50 best things to do in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

40 best photo spots in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

30 best hikes in Madeira – The Complete Guide

30 Best Viewpoints in Madeira – The Complete Guide

25 best things to do in Funchal – The Ultimate Guide

25 best waterfalls in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

20 best levada walks in Madeira – The Complete Guide

15 best Sunrise Viewpoints in Madeira – The Complete Guide

15 Best Sunset Viewpoints in Madeira – The Complete Guide

12 best beaches in Madeira – The Complete Guide

12 best Funchal restaurants – The Complete Guide

All about Poncha – The Ultimate Guide about Madeira’s traditional drink

All about Madeira wine – The Ultimate Guide