Gastronomy and Wine

From the wide variety of traditional recipes, we can highlight, for example, the laurel branch grilled skewer, meat matured with wine and garlic, the black scabbardfish, the irresistible limpets and snails or 'bolo do caco', which virtually became one of Madeira's hallmarks.

However, while Madeira's traditional recipes are very appealing to food lovers, what can we say about the contemporary gastronomy that currently plays a prominent role in the capital of the archipelago? The best restaurants in Funchal, some of which have won international awards, offer a unique journey through the island's flavours. Without ever neglecting the island's regional products, reputable chefs bring the sophistication and elegance of haute cuisine to the city of Funchal. Feed your body and soul with Funchal's gastronomic offer!

Funchal is home to many of the companies that carry on Madeira Wine's legacy. It is also in Madeira's capital that the Madeira Wine Company - Blandy's Wine Lodge established its headquarters where the old Convent of São Francisco stood in the 17th century. The same family still runs this business since 1811, and it is home to the oldest Madeira Wine cellars in the archipelago.

A visit to this emblematic place includes a tour of the tasting rooms, warehouses, ageing rooms, exhibition areas and souvenirs shop. Along the way, some details of the history and production of this Wine are explained. Come and treat yourself to the unique aroma and taste of Madeira Wine!

Authentic temples of flavour, the restaurants in Funchal, from the most traditional (some of which historic) to the most contemporary ones, enjoy a rare privilege: the excellence of the archipelago's products. From the sweetness of Madeira's climate and the natural richness of its volcanic soils to the abundance of the sea, they offer fresh, tasty ingredients with sublime quality standards.

No wonder, then, that Funchal's gastronomy is full of irresistible delicacies (some of which very popular, both in the country and the world): from fish and seafood dishes, reflecting Madeira's symbiotic relationship with the Atlantic, to sweets, which often use sugar cane honey or tropical fruits from the region, to internationally acclaimed wines or the traditional 'bolo do caco'. Come and pamper your taste buds in one of Funchal's restaurants!