Where to eat in Funchal

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works

Visitors in Funchal have no trouble finding a restaurant; the harder question is which part of the city to eat in. The answer depends on what you want. The old town, the Zona Velha, has 96 restaurants within 450 m of Rua de Santa Maria. The centre around the cathedral is the densest, with 149 within 500 m. The Lido hotel zone, to the west, has 135 within 1 km, and Monte, on the hill, a handful with terraces and views.

Prices are moderate. Of the city's restaurants with a price band, the commonest is €10 to €15 a head, then €5 to €10 and €15 to €20.

For the island's own dishes, espetada, bolo do caco, black scabbardfish and limpets, look for them on the menu in any area.

The old town

The common mistake is to eat on the first terrace on Rua de Santa Maria. The best-reviewed places are spread through the lanes.

The Zona Velha is Funchal's eating street: 96 restaurants lie within 450 m of Rua de Santa Maria. On the street itself, Restaurante Taberna Ruel, at number 119, has 4.3 from 3,445 reviews, and Santa Maria Restaurant, a Portuguese restaurant at number 145, 4.5 from 1,855, with a price band of €20 to €25.

In the lanes around it, Taberna Madeira has 4.5 from 2,870 reviews, and Restaurante Lá ao Fundo, on Rua Portão de São Tiago, 4.6 from 1,769. For a cheaper meal, Bela 5 Snack Bar, on Rua Bela de São Tiago, is rated 4.8 from 2,590, in the €10 to €20 band. A Bica, on Rua Hospital Velho by the market, has 4.5 from 3,588.

The old town is busiest in the evening; for dinner on a busy night, book.

The centre, around the cathedral

Visitors often think the centre is for shops and offices. It holds the most restaurants in the city.

Within 500 m of the Sé there are 149 restaurants, from snack bars to modern kitchens. On Rua dos Murcas, Restaurante Informal has 4.7 from 2,910 reviews, and Akua, a modern European restaurant, 4.7 from 2,738. On Rua da Alfândega, Kampo by Chef Julio Pereira, modern and with an open kitchen, has 4.7 from 2,492.

For the island's bread, Casa do Bolo do Caco, on Rua Dr. Fernão de Ornelas, has 4.4 from 2,526 reviews in the €5 to €10 band. Bolo do caco is the sweet-potato flatbread, served warm with garlic butter, or around a steak as a prego.

The centre is also where the lodges are: Blandy's on Avenida Arriaga and H.M. Borges, a walk away, for a glass of Madeira wine before or after dinner. The market, the Mercado dos Lavradores, opens from 07:00 on weekdays for fruit and fish.

São Pedro

People often pass São Pedro on the way to the museums. Its streets have 73 restaurants within 500 m.

On Rua da Carreira, Rise & Dine, a brunch restaurant, is rated 4.9 from 2,435 reviews, and Restaurante Londres, a Portuguese restaurant on the same street, 4.5 from 1,856. On Rua dos Netos, Jarana "Tapas & Enchidos" is rated 4.9 from 1,781, in the €15 to €35 band.

São Pedro is close to the centre on foot, which makes it an easy choice for dinner after a day at the museums.

The São Pedro guide covers the area's museums and streets.

The Lido and the hotel zone

Visitors staying in the Lido often take a taxi into town for every meal. There are 135 restaurants within a kilometre of the hotels.

Along the Estrada Monumental and the streets behind it, Alforno Madeira, an Italian restaurant, has 4.7 from 4,402 reviews in the €15 to €20 band. La Vaca Negra, a steak house on Rua Velha da Ajuda, has 4.8 from 2,151, and Leeno's Restaurant, on Rua de Leichlingen, 4.5 from 2,335. Nearer the Lido complex, Papa Manuel Lido Restaurant & Pizzaria has 4.4 from 3,524 reviews, and Sabor da Índia 4.8 from 2,166.

In São Martinho, near the Lido, Dona Nina, on Rua da Ponta da Cruz, is rated 4.9 from 3,378 reviews in the €20 to €45 band, and Restaurante Casal da Penha, a Portuguese restaurant on Beco da Ataíde, 4.7 from 3,214.

In the hotel zone, the seafront promenade makes an evening walk before dinner.

Alforno Madeira is an Italian restaurant located along the Estrada Monumental with high customer ratings.

Monte and the hills

The mistake is to go up to Monte for the garden and come straight down. Its terraces make a good lunch.

Monte has 12 restaurants in the area. Pátio das Babosas, a Portuguese restaurant on Largo das Babosas, the square of the cable car's top station, has 4.6 from 2,652 reviews, in the €15 to €25 band. O Rústico, on Caminho do Monte, has 4.5 from 1,010, and the Monte Tea House, also on Caminho do Monte, 4.9 from 242.

Higher up, on the roads above the city, two of the most-reviewed restaurants of the whole area are out of the centre: Restaurante Alta Vista, at Largo do Miranda, with 4.8 from 5,964 reviews, and Abrigo do Pastor, on the Estrada das Carreiras, with 4.6 from 5,683, in the €20 to €45 band. Largo do Miranda is on the route of city bus 029; for the Estrada das Carreiras, a car or a taxi is simplest.

For fish by the sea, go west to Câmara de Lobos, 14 minutes by road, where its fishing tradition lives on. Visit Madeira lists the island's restaurants, and Visit Funchal the market's hours.

Common questions

Where is the best area to eat in Funchal?

The old town for atmosphere, with 96 restaurants round Rua de Santa Maria, and the centre for choice, with 149 within 500 m of the cathedral.

How much does a meal cost in Funchal?

The commonest price band in the city's restaurants is €10 to €15 a head, followed by €5 to €10.

Where can I eat near the Lido hotels?

There are 135 restaurants within 1 km, among them Alforno Madeira, La Vaca Negra and Leeno's.

Where can I eat traditional food in Funchal?

Look for espetada, bolo do caco and black scabbardfish on the menu; Casa do Bolo do Caco in the centre is named for the island's bread.