Casa Portuguesa is a traditional portuguese restaurant in Zona Velha, Funchal.
Editorially verified August 3, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Traditional Portuguese carte, Bacalhau
Must order: A traditional Portuguese main, booked with the fado sitting if you want music.
Tip: Fado nights need reserving in advance rather than asking for on the door.
Address: Travessa das Torres 30, 9060-314 Funchal
Restaurante dos Combatentes is a plain central Funchal dining room with a garden, cooking regional Madeiran plates at everyday weekday prices.
Signature: Regional Madeiran plates, Bacalhau
Order: The regional plate of the day, which is what the room is built around.
Tip: Lunch is the busy service with local office trade. Both services run Saturday too, and it is closed Sunday.
Doca do Cavacas is built on the rock above the Ponta da Cruz sea pools in Funchal, serving grilled fish, shellfish and espetada by the water.
Signature: Grilled fish, Shellfish, Espetada
Order: Grilled fish of the day, with the natural pools below the terrace.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Lunch on the terrace catches the sun over Praia Formosa.
Beerhouse brews on the São Lázaro pier in Funchal, pouring its own beer beside a marina terrace and a kitchen of fish and regional Madeiran plates.
Signature: House-brewed beer, Fish of the day, Regional plates
Order: A glass of the house brew with the fish of the day.
Tip: The terrace faces the marina and the cruise berth, so it fills fast on cruise days.
A Gruta reopened in 2019 above the Funchal port, cooking clay-pot Portuguese food and staying open past midnight when most kitchens have shut.
Signature: Clay-pot dishes, Grilled meats, Madeiran desserts
Order: A clay-pot dish finished at the table, which is the house method.
Tip: One of the few Funchal kitchens still serving after midnight, and later again at weekends.
Casa das Espetadas cooks Madeira's laurel-skewer espetada over wood in Funchal, with beef, chicken, tuna and pork versions off the same fire.
Signature: Espetada, Bolo do caco, Wood-oven plates
Order: Beef espetada on the bay-laurel skewer, hung at the table.
Tip: Closed Wednesday and Thursday, and the terrace runs folklore and fado on some evenings.
Prima Caju runs the all-day brunch counter at CAJU Le Petit Hotel on Rua da Carreira in Funchal, on bowls, pancakes, eggs and pressed juice.
Signature: Bowls, Pancakes, Eggs
Order: A savoury bowl with eggs, or the pancakes if you came for the sweet side.
Tip: Walk-ins only, no reservations, and the small courtyard fills through the late morning.
