Camping of Madeira
Das Touristenbüro in Funchal war leicht zu finden und somit haben wir uns erst einmal nach dem Campingplatz „Montado do Pereio“ erkundigt. Von der Existenz dieses Campingplatzes wußten wir aus dem Internet, auf Landkarten ist er nicht verzeichnet. Wie wir erfahren haben, braucht man, um dort zu camp... more
Theatre café
You would have to try hard to miss this, even though you have probably gathered that I forget its name!
It's attached to the rather impressive theatre on your right as you walk from the cathedral towards Blandy's Wine place.
We only had a cup of coffee but it's excellent and no more expensive than elsewhere.
The little pcket served with it contains neither sweetener nor, as we thought, a little biscuit; it's a cinnamon stick! more
Restaurante Embaixador Madeirense
Sorry for lack of information but it's easy enough to find.
Go along the Rua de Santa Maria [ second left as you go from the market towards the sea] It's on the far side of the corner of a fairly early turning to the right.
In two nights we had good soups, 3 excellent fish dishes ad a meat one that was a reminder of WW2 school meals; Thr three thumbs only applies if you stick with fish. more
Adega Cuba
Perhaps this should be called a bar but the food was delicious and cheap. I don't know the phone number or the street number but it's easily found on the left as you walk from the end of the street nearest to the municipal building.
Not open weekend evenings. more
Jardim de São Francisco
I venture to enter this as a 'secret place' only because some Internet friends in America didn't know where Madeira was at all and some English friends who visited Madeira, and loved it, managed not to find this beautiful little park.
It is actually on one of the largest and most impressive streets of Funchal, parallel with and near to the coast. Close to the road there is a fine border of holihocks and behind it are delightful flowering trees [a mass of scarlet, yellow, orenge, mauve and blue,] ponds and fountains.
There is a good kiosk and clean conveniences. Madeira usually avoids sweltering heat but even so a place that is both shady and beautiful right in the centre is a true bonus. more
Casa-Museu Frederico de Freitas
We weren't particularly attracted here by the guidebooks but the entrance ticket for the Tile Museum, down on this site as a separate entry, covers both and, even though it only cost us old codgers €1 each, [double for 'real' people,] it seemed silly to miss it. Am I glad we didn't!
This was the house of a wealthy businessman and is packed with great furniture, ceramics, objects of precous metals and paintings. The last weren't really to our taste but you can't win 'em all and generally it was a real treat. more
Casa dos Azulejos
Two museums for the price of one - and a very low price too! This tile museum is in the same grounds as and combined for tickets, website and e-mail with the Frederico de Freitas Museum. Sadly the website is in Portuguese only.
This specialist tile museum is the smaller of the two but it really is most impressive. The collection of tiles from Turkey, Syria, Iran, the Netherlands and even England as well as Iberia is beautifully displayed over three floors.
Tiles range from the 13th to early 20th centuries.
Very highly recommended. more
Restaurante Portão
The fact that we ate three times in a week at the same place should be sufficient to explain how we rated it. The locally ever-present scabbard fish is delicious and the squid, salmon and octopus dishes are first class.
On the last night I asked what their 'fish of the day' was. Coincidentally it was only that morning that I had discovered the meaning of 'cherne.' Turbot - terrific.
The three men serving all spoke fluent English - but as they didn't waylay people [unlike many reataurants in the road] it can't have been this that made the English preponderant among the clientele - and, no - it wasn't a tourist rip-off; there were enough Portuguese speakers.
All were most friendly and the prices were just about on the budget side of the divide with mid range.
Their zabaglioni was magnificent - Madeira wine and brandy were superlative ingredients. Lastly they provide a complimentary liqueur or brandy at the end! more
Hotel do Centro
If you want a hotel where you can stay around all day by the pool, you will really hate this one. There's no pool and no views.
On the other hand if, like us, you want somewhere near to the local and island buses, to Funchal's glorious market and to any number of good, cheapish restaurants for only €50 per night for a double room [not per person] that includes as much as you want for breakfast, then you have just found it. Very friendly too and good English. more
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