bbib

I have finally decided to escape the Christmas madness this year and leave the country. I have decided on Madeira.I have been several times before, but not for about 8 years and not in winter

Has anyone stayed at the Best Western Hotel Estrelicia in Funchal? It looks fine but any first hand experience of staying there would be much appreciated.

Also, can anyone recommend a restuarant for Christmas day? Or any other general restaurant recommendations would be fab too?

Finally, I am looking to book a couple of day tours of the island with 'Strawberry World'. Any one used them?

thanks

elina

Funchal is wonderful in Christmas time. I have been there many times, and almost every time Christmas lights have been on. Sorry, I don't know that hotel, and I have never used tour organizers. I just wanted to say that whatever restaurant you decide on, at least if it is upscale, book a table for Christmas Day the first day you arrive. Sometimes we have had to choose a restaurant on grounds that it is the only one with a free table.

bbib

elina, thanks for your reply. What has your experience been of the weather at Christmas and does everything close/shut up shop just on Christmas day or on other days too? Thanks

Kavey

We too intended to escape Xmas in the UK in favour of Madeira a year or two back but didn't get around to it... still on the burner but not for this year.

What kind of restau are you looking for for Xmas?

We enjoyed one meal in the Savoy's Grill Room on the top floor of the hotel - expensive by Funchal standards but not by London ones... more formal than many options but very nice.

I haven't been since 2001 but I did post some restau recommendations then (based on our visit in 2001 and our visit a couple of years prior to that). We stayed in Funchal for a week each time. I'll see if I can find them - it seems that many of the restaurants we preferred are long-standing favourites and likely to still be there/ as good as they were in 2001.

Kavey

I posted this in 2001:

<i>There are many many wonderful restaurants in Funchal.

My favourite is the Quinta da Palmeira. It's on the main Avenida up from Funchal in the direction of the Hotel Zone, between the Carlton Park Hotel and Casino and the Savoy.

It's a little expensive, about UK60/70 for 2 including a bottle of wine, but the food is absolutely fabulous and we try to go there twice during a week's stay.

The main restaurant is below the newer cafe they have added at street level so don't judge it by that. Go down and have a look.

Another great restaurant if you want to splash out is the Grill on the top floor of the Savoy hotel, I think you need to dress for this one, I seem to recall. Very good food and service, quite expensive. Lovely though. (Not quite as nice to us as the one above).

Other favourites include
Dona Amelia
Casa Velha
Casa dos Reis

which are in the area near the Savoy.

We also really enjoy walking down to the harbour and having some fresh kebabs of beef or seafood...

I always get confused between Espetada and Espadarte but I believe the first is the Madeiran skewer and the second a local fish which looks a lot like a long black toothy eel, it is a real local dish, actually very good, a white soft fish which I enjoy served with Banana in the local way.

These restaurants on the harbour front are much much cheaper, but also a lot more basic, the food is still great though.

Also walk across to the Old Town for another great selection of restaurants, most offering good food, though see if you can peer in at what those already dining have on their plates, the prices here are much lower again than those in the first list of restaurants I provided and also cheaper than those by the harbour too.


Apart from one meal, provided within a full day coach excursion to the far side of the island, mass catering for tourists in a canteen atmosphere, we have not eaten badly in Funchal.

Kavey</i>

bbib

Kavey - thanks so much for your, help, advice and pasting your old post.

The priority for a restaurant is basically just great food, and a relaxed ambient atmosphere but not too formal or dressy. Good wine is also important, but i am not talking vintage wine, just yummy local vino.

Kavey

It's hard because, given how busy Madeira is at that time of year, you will probably have to a) book in advance (meaning making your choice before seeing all the alternatives yourself and b) pay higher prices for &quot;special&quot; menus.

PS You're welcome.

elina

The weather during Christmas time: I have seen it nice and sunny, around 20?C, down to 15?C at night, but a couple of times it has been just pouring almost every day, so take an umbrella just in case. But when you look at Funchal with its millions of Christmas lights in most imaginative formations you don't really mind a little rain.

You cannot really escape Christmas in Madeira since that island is &quot;Christmas crazy&quot;, but at least it will be a little different Christmas. And yes, the shops will be closed on Christmas Day because people take it VERY seriously.

Buy each other little presents on Christmas Eve (they pack them very nicely), and on Christmas Day go and have that dinner (again: book the table as well in advance as you can), and at midnight you can go to Christmas mass if you like to watch the locals follow their Christmas traditions.