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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.
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.
In the tiled dining room of this well-established restaurant, exuberant floral arrangements, white-lace curtains, and green tablecloths rustle gently in the breeze of ceiling fans, while outdoor tables are set beneath a leafy trellis. The food is prepared with great care, and menus change every few months; starters feature seafood dishes like swordfish carpaccio and mains include pastas, grilled fish, and Chateaubriand.
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