The Best Restaurant in Funchal, Madeira

Background Illustration for Restaurants

The streets of downtown Funchal are lined with restaurants, where tables and chairs are laid out for al fresco dining during warm weather. Some spots have front and back entrances—avoid taking a table on the traffic-facing front street and instead head for the pedestrianized alleys, where the smell of grilled fish fills the air. Don't hesitate to join the locals in the small restaurants and snack bars spread all over the narrow backstreets (such as Rua da Carreira, Rua das Murças, Rua do Bispo, Rua Queimada de Cima, Rua Queimada de Baixo), where you will often find freshly prepared daily specials at extremely reasonable prices.

A Confeitaria

$ Fodor's Choice

This excellent coffee shop has a few branches across Funchal, including one in the Mercado dos Lavradores. After browsing the market's fruit, vegetable, fish, and flower stalls, take a seat at one of the cafe's small wooden tables and enjoy 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.