A Gruta is a traditional portuguese restaurant in Sé, Funchal.
Editorially verified August 3, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
Private tour · 3.5 hours
Explore Madeira's east coast on a half-day tour from Funchal. Visit the Cristo Rei Viewpoint, Santa Cruz, Machico Viewpoint, and Ponta do Rosto for stunning views and ...
Day trip · 8 hours
Sample the fine wines of Madeira on a full-day tasting tour from Funchal and learn about the island's wine industry and delicious food. Stop at a selection of wineries...
Guided tour · 4 hours
Sample some local Madeira fortified wine. Visit Funchal market with all its colors. Head to Monte for the toboggan ride. Visit Câmara de Lobos, the fishing village.
Address: Avenida Sá Carneiro, 9000-017 Funchal
Ákua is chef Júlio Pereira's fish counter in central Funchal, opened in 2019, working the Atlantic catch against produce grown on the island.
OrderWhatever the counter lists off the day boat, cooked simply over fire.
TipThe room is small and popular with locals at lunch, so reserve. The operator publishes no schedule online.
Kampo is chef Júlio Pereira's land-facing Funchal restaurant, built on island growers and on matured Rubia Galega beef carved at the table for sharing.
OrderThe maturado chuletón or T-bone from the beef section, carved for sharing.
TipNo two sources agree on the schedule and the operator publishes none, so call before lunch. Dishes are built to share across the table.
Villa Cipriani serves Italian cooking on the clifftop terrace at Reid's Palace in Funchal, revisiting Italian classics with the Atlantic below the balustrade.
OrderA dish from the constantly renewed Italian carte, on the terrace.
TipThe terrace tables at the seaward rail are the ones to ask for when booking. Last orders are at 22:30.
Chalet Vicente reopened on 28 July 2026 in a late-19th-century Estrada Monumental chalet, cooking regional Madeiran and Portuguese food in Funchal.
OrderPortuguese petiscos in the adega, which the reopened house runs alongside the dining rooms.
TipThe rebuild added a ten-seat cigar room and a Portuguese adega. Schedules published before July 2026 predate it, so call before turning up.
Gavião Novo grills fish off the Funchal coast on Rua de Santa Maria, the old town street where the day boat rather than the menu decides dinner.
OrderFish from the Funchal coast, grilled whole off the day boat.
TipBook ahead for dinner. The dining room is small and the pavement tables on Rua de Santa Maria go first.
Ákua is chef Júlio Pereira's fish counter in central Funchal, opened in 2019, working the Atlantic catch against produce grown on the island.
OrderWhatever the counter lists off the day boat, cooked simply over fire.
TipThe room is small and popular with locals at lunch, so reserve. The operator publishes no schedule online.
Kampo is chef Júlio Pereira's land-facing Funchal restaurant, built on island growers and on matured Rubia Galega beef carved at the table for sharing.
OrderThe maturado chuletón or T-bone from the beef section, carved for sharing.
TipNo two sources agree on the schedule and the operator publishes none, so call before lunch. Dishes are built to share across the table.
Restaurante do Forte has cooked inside the São Tiago fortress in Funchal since 2001, with terrace tables above the bay and a Portuguese carte.
OrderFish from the Madeiran boats, cooked in the fortress kitchen.
TipAsk for a terrace table at sunset. The fortress walls block the wind that hits the promenade below.
