When it comes to gastronomy in Madeira, we were blown away by the options available. The island offers so much more than a good restaurant meal; there are buzzing local markets, world-renowned chefs, and scenic Madeira wine tastings. However, what we loved most is how the locals honor the island’s heritage through the unique recipes, flavors, and home-grown ingredients. During our visit, we learned all about this through two incredible Madeira food experiences, both of which left us full, inspired, and eager to return to the island for more!
A Morning at the Farmers Market in Funchal
Our day began in the charming Old Town of Funchal, and luckily, it was Friday, which is one of the liveliest days to explore Funchal Farmers Market (Mercado dos Lavradores). Exploring this colorful and energetic market was the absolute perfect start to our day of Madeira food experiences. We loved seeing the local vendors in action!
We’ve spent lots of time in tropical countries across the world. However, we were still surprised by the variety of exotic fruits on offer, like fresh passionfruit, mango, bananas, and dragonfruit. There were even some fruits I’d never seen before! Fun fact: Madeira’s bananas are famous across Portugal! The market also has an excellent fish section, where we purchased some of the island’s specialties, like black scabbardfish and fresh tuna.
Show Cooking in Funchal: Learning from a Local Chef
From the market, we walked around the corner to Three House, a stylish hotel, bar, and restaurant. On the third floor is the Three House restaurant, where we had an incredible show cooking experience in Funchal by local Chef Mauricio Faria.
This experience was a little different from the hands-on cooking classes we’ve done in the past; it was more about sitting back, relaxing, and watching Chef Mauricio in action. He prepared and plated each dish in front of us, sharing stories and his professional techniques along the way. Who knows if we’ll be able to replicate them back in the Netherlands, but we’ll certainly give it a try! We particularly enjoyed how he gave traditional Madeira dishes a creative twist, using the same ingredient, black scabbardfish, but presenting it with completely different flavors.
The main course was my personal favorite: a flavorful fish broth topped with kimchi cream cheese and a perfectly cooked piece of fish. The dish was served with homemade bread and butter, and we’re not exaggerating when we say it was some of the best bread we’ve ever tasted. It’s made daily using a 150+ year-old yeast culture!
To finish, we had a melt-in-the-mouth chocolate mousse paired with homemade ice cream — the perfect sweet ending to this absolutely incredible display of Madeira gastronomy.
Wine Tasting in Madeira at Terra Bona, Boaventura
Later that day, we left the city behind and drove into the breathtaking green valley of Boaventura, where we visited Terra Bona, a boutique winery, hotel, and wellness retreat. It was one of the most beautiful vineyard estates we’ve ever been to, surrounded by lush hills and vineyards, and with stunning sea views.
We booked the picnic and wine tasting experience at Terra Bona (which must be reserved in advance). It’s a relaxed, intimate experience that gives you a real feel for the land, the winemaking process, and the passion behind it all.
Note: The picnic and wine tasting experience is only available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
We tried four of Terra Bona’s wines, each one showcasing a different technique:
• A young wine
• The same wine, aged, for a clear contrast in character
• An orange wine fermented in clay
• And finally, the same orange wine aged in oak barrels
• The same wine, aged, for a clear contrast in character
• An orange wine fermented in clay
• And finally, the same orange wine aged in oak barrels
It was fascinating to learn about the different processes for each wine; we could even taste the impact of fermentation and aging techniques on the flavor. We were even happier to discover that each glass was paired with delicious Portuguese snacks!
Even though Terra Bona is still relatively new to winemaking, they’ve already won several awards, which says a lot about the quality of the wines and tasting experiences here. And the setting couldn’t be more peaceful. As we sat on the terrace, we heard nothing but birds and the sound of the stream flowing through the valley below. No cars, no city noise, just one of the best Madeira food experiences in nature.
If you’re looking for a different kind of wine tasting in Madeira — something slower, quieter, and tucked away from the coast, Terra Bona is a must.
Is Madeira Worth Visiting for the Food and Wine?
Absolutely! We found that each of our Madeira food experiences went far beyond just eating; it was a great way to learn about the island's culture and heritage and connect with local people.
Foodies and wine lovers alike will love the culinary experiences on offer, whether you’re doing a wine tasting in Madeira up in the hills or watching a chef prepare your dish right in front of you. We expected jaw-dropping landscapes and epic hikes, but the gastronomy in Madeira was one of our biggest surprises on the island. We’re already dreaming of the new dishes we can try on our next trip!
