13 Best Restaurants in Madeira, Portugal

This excellent coffee shop has a few branches across Funchal, but the best has to be the one on Rua da Conceição, where chairs spill out onto an unnamed square that's cobbled in black and white stripes. Small tables under shady parasols provide the perfect rest stop to grab a bica (espresso) and a pastel de nata (custard tart); step inside and you'll see row upon row of neatly presented cakes and tarts laid out in the chilled counters like gems in a jewelry box.

The best seats in this intimate restaurant are at the counter in front of the open kitchen, where you can watch the talented young chefs work their magic with local seafood. Though there are a couple of meat items on the menu, fish is the star, with complex yet delicious flavors and beautiful presentations. Both the small plates as well as the more substantial fish and rice dishes are perfect for sharing.

A café by day and bar by night, Barreirinha is popular with the locals no matter what time of day you visit. This is partly thanks to its menu of easy-to-eat items like burgers, sandwiches, burritos, and salads, and partly due to its location on a hillside with small outside tables on the terrace overlooking the ocean; huge white parasols shade you from the Madeiran sun while local musicians keep the atmosphere lively.

Seated on the 16th floor of the Savoy Palace, in a cozy room with painted ceilings, you’ll feel like you’re dining under the stars—and the food will truly transport you to another world. Chef Carlos Gonçalves serves up innovative five- to seven-course tasting menus (à la carte is also available) using local ingredients but with a twist—think traditional cozido panelo (vegetables and sausage) transformed into tasty tacos and creamy rice with nori seaweed and lemon purée.

It's best to make reservations or arrive early to bag an outdoor table at this cozy, traditional restaurant in the heart of the old town, where they start you off with a complimentary shot of Madeira. The family-run restaurant offers simple yet delicious local food such as expertly grilled limpets, top-quality steaks, and some of the best grilled fish in town.

Located within the Cliff Bay Hotel, this upscale restaurant serves ambitious, high-end tasting menus, with prices to match. Views are lovely from both the contemporary dining room and the terrace, dishes are presented as works of art, and the extensive wine list showcases bottles from around the world (the excellent sommelier is happy to pair each course with top Portuguese wine, if you choose).

From the road, this restaurant doesn't look like much: a fading yellow building with a few signs outside to attract the tourists; step inside and you'll be blown away by the views of the valley from the balcony in the rear. There's a huge wood oven where they grill whole chickens, serving the tender meat with generous bowls of bolo do caco.

A classic spot to sit back and relax, this quaint tea shop specializes in various herbal and fruit teas, as well as coffees, cakes, and light lunches, that you can enjoy at outdoor tables facing a pretty square. You can pick up teas to take home, too.

This laid-back beach bar on the sandy shores of Praia da Fontinha is one of the best places on Porto Santo to soak up the island spirit. Parasols made of dried grass shade the tables, which sit directly on the sand; kick off your shoes, grab a cold beer, and watch the waves lap gently on the shore.

From the sandy shores of Praia da Fontinha, climb the stairs to reach this somewhat hidden spot. Sit outside on the rustic deck shaded by palm trees or dine in the surprisingly modern indoor space and watch the staff grill your food in the open kitchen—and come hungry: Pé na Água specializes in huge pots of seafood big enough to feed a whole family.

You can't visit Porto Santo without stopping by this fantastic seafood restaurant on the far end of Calheta Beach. The fresh fish of the day is always your best bet, or try the giant spicy prawns, amêijoas (cockles), or caldeirada (fish stew). There's also a snack bar open all day for drinks and lighter fare.

For the most unique dining experience in Madeira, head to the ground floor of a nondescript shopping mall, where you’ll enter into another world—one only experienced by six lucky diners at a time, who sit communally at one long table. Self-taught Swiss-born chef-owner Selim Latrous, who spent many years in Southeast Asia, incorporates Thai and Indian flavors into his five-course tasting menus; friendly sommelier Christian pairs every dish with unique drinks (either alcoholic or non) while Selim shares the story behind each dish, making for an entertaining and culinarily satisfying evening you won’t soon forget.

You'll find this striking restaurant on the rooftop of The Vine Hotel, where at night the city sparkles below. The name comes from the Portuguese word for "grape," so it's no surprise that wine takes center stage here, with an excellent selection of local vintages that the waiters can confidently talk you through.