Traditional Madeira Food & Drinks [+ Best Restaurants in Funchal]

Its secret consists in the use of fresh and varied ingredients, whose origin can be traced to the rich, volcanic nature of this island, abundant water, and favorable climate.

To say that food is a big part of Portuguese life would be an understatement. The Portuguese love to eat, and they especially love to eat out.

Many of these dishes are only really found in Madeira, and haven’t made their way into mainstream Portuguese cooking, and the only way to try them is to go and spend a few days on Madeira.

I’ve divided this Madeira Food & Drinks Guide into 3 different sections:

1. Traditional Madeira Food Favorites
2. Recommended Food & Wine Tours in Madeira
3. Some really good Restaurants, Cafés, and Bars in Funchal & Madeira in general

1. Traditional Madeira Food Favorites

I’ll start with sides, appetizers and soups, followed by main Madeiran dishes and desserts. In the end, I’ll share a few traditional Madeira drinks as well.

Bolo do Caco

The “Bolo do Caco” is a typical wheat bread of Madeira and Porto Santo. This bread, made from wheat flour, is flattened and has rounded edges. Its name is due to the way, until very recently, it was cooked: on a basalt stone, called “caco”, on hot coals.

It can be consumed hot, such as a meal entree, barred with garlic butter to melt, or even as main delicacy. It is common to be used in making sandwiches based on the “Bolo do Caco” with most varied fillings, such as steaks (Prego no Bolo do Caco), ham, swordfish, octopus.

You’ll see bolo de caco as a starter in Madeira, and you’ll also be able to get it from the bakeries and supermarkets and from the specialist Bolo de Caco sandwich shops. Easy snack on the go, especially for vegetarians.

Açorda (Bread Soup)

Açorda or Açorda à alentejana is a soup that originates from the Alentejo, and is made from bread, garlic, salt, olive oil, bread, and fresh herbs like coriander (cilantro) or penny royal. It is usually served with a poached or boiled egg, but could also be served with fresh fish or bacalhau..

Soupa de Tripa (Wheat Soup)

The Wheat Soup is one of the specialties of the island, characterized by its gummy texture, much appreciated by residents and also by theones who visit the island. It is a great soup to eat in the winter because it is very dense, due to the amount of vegetables it takes.
There are several variations of the recipe, each home does its own thing. The richest recipes are prepared with pork and various vegetables, in the humblest, only lard and seed are added.

Soupa de Tomate (Tomato Soup)

The tomato soup and onion is one of the references of traditional Madeiran cuisine. Served with poached egg and bread, it is to eat and cry for more!

Lapas

Lapas or limpets are another Madeiran specialty, and you’ll find them in restaurants in Madeira and in The Azores. These are similar to clams, although they tend to be chewier. They are usually served in the frying pan that they’re cooked in, with slices of lemon on the side and, in Madeira, they’re often served with bolo de caca as well.

Espetada Madeirense

The “Espetada“, made with beef cubes in a laurel skewer and grilled on wood or charcoal. Many restaurants have tables with iron structures applied in the center, to hang long laurel skewers in which broil the meat pieces.  To accompany the dish, the locals suggest the Fried Corn “Milho Frito” and Bolo do Caco, traditionally baked in a tile bit on fire. The restaurant “Polar”, “Lagar” or “Santo António” in Câmara de Lobos are of the most popular restaurants to eat a good espetada.

Most restaurants nowadays serve them on metal skewers, this is not the traditional Madeiran way to grill them though. It’s mostly to put on a show. Look for the wooden skewers instead!

Filete de Espada (Swordfish Filet)

The most typical fish of Madeira Island is the black scabbard fish “Espada“, which swims in deep waters and which has a scary aspect, at least when viewed in the market.Black Scabbard fish is a fish that is available in few places in the world, such as Madeira, where it is found in the deep sea ( around 1000 meters of depth). However, it is also very tasty, especially when prepared on “Madeiran Way”, with passion fruit and banana sauce.

This is quite a unique flavour combination, but it’s always fun to try new things when you’re in a new place. You probably won’t find this dish elsewhere in Portugal, or anywhere else in the world.

Espada com banana

Passionfruit Pudding & Passionfruit Cake

Passion fruit is one of the most valued fruits in Madeira. There are different species of passion fruit, such as banana passion fruit. The most common are Passiflora edulis. Its sweet taste, strong aroma and variable acidity, make this the ideal fruit to use in desserts and local drinks. The passion fruit pudding is made with passion fruit pulp, jelly, condensed milk, and cream. Savour this impressive combination of aromas!

Mousse de maracujá Mousse de maracujá is a passionfruit mouse that’s made from passionfruit (often tinned), condensed milk, sugar, cream, and occasionally gelatin as well. It’s not really a mousse in the same way that the mousse de chocolate is: the passionfruit isn’t folded into egg whites, but it’s called a mousse nonetheless.

Tip for passionfruit lovers: Bring concentrated passionfruit pulp in a can. 500g cost 3,95€ and you can buy it in one of the big supermarkets! That way you can bring some Madeiran flavor home as passionfruit is usually hard to get and expensive in other countries.

Pastel de nata

The pastel de nata is Portugal’s most famous cake, and probably Portugal’s best cake as well. It originates from Lisbon, and was originally invented by monks at Jerónimos Monastery.

In Portugal, there is even an annual “Melhor pastel de nata” award.

Most loved among tourists is the “Bolo de Mel”, a honey cake available with or without cinnamon. Bolo de Mel can also be bought in most every shop.

Pralinés

Exotic fruits

This is where I tried more passion fruit varieties than I even knew existed: pineapple passion fruit, lime passion fruit, tomato passion fruit, as well as locally grown tiny bananas and peach-mango.

Travel tip: The most known market in Funchal has loads of exotic fruit, but be aware that the prices there are high. You will pay 19,80€/kg for passion fruit. Not far away from the market, we have found a small fruit and veggies shop and guess what, the prices were half lower than at the market; passion fruit (9,80€/kg), mango (4,50€/kg), papaya (3,30€/kg), bananas (1,30€/kg), strawberries (3,90€/kg), tomatoes (2€/kg).

Poncha

Poncha or punch is a drink you’ll find in bars through Madeira and many bars, particularly in Funchal, specialise solely in poncha. It is made from Aguardente, honey, sugar, and lemon juice, and different fruit juices.

Did you even know that Portugal was once one of the largest sugar cane exporters due to Madeira? Even nowadays Madeira grows sugar cane and mostly uses it to produce sugarcane rum. The sugarcane rum is the basic for its local drink Poncha,

Madeira wine

Portugal is famous for its fortified wine, but only really for Port. Portugal’s other fortified wine, Madeira, just doesn’t have the same reputation as its mainland cousin. There are a couple of differences between Port and Madeira, but one of the main – and unusual – differences is that Port is stored and matured in a cold cellar whereas Madeira is stored in a warm place like the attic.

Poncha may have been inspired by an Indian drink called pãnch, which led to the creation of punch by the English. Pãnch means five as it’s made from five ingredients – alcohol, sugar, lemon, water, and tea or spices – which is almost identical to the recipe for poncha. Nobody knows for sure whether pãnch inspired poncha, but they do know that poncha inspired the Caipirinha.

You’ll see Poncha bars when you’re walking around Funchal. They’re incredibly colourful, and it’s almost impossible not to stop walking and go in for a drink.

2. Recommended Food & Wine Tours

There are a few great guided tours that center around food and wine. Whether it’s walking tours in Funchal or an entire day trip, these tours will give you a fantastic insight into the Madeira food and wine culture. Just click on the titles to get more information about individual tours.

• Food and Wine Walking Tour in Funchal

Enjoy a walking tour in lovely Funchal and taste a wide variety of foods and wines along the way. You will stop at 9 venues for 11 food and 6 drink tastings. Your guide will take you to producers, bars, stores and a local market, and tell you about local gastronomy as you savor the tastes of Madeira.

Price: from 60€

Duration: 3 hours

• Madeira Wine Tasting Tour From Funchal

Sample the fine wines of Madeira on an 8-hour tasting tour from Funchal, and get explanations about the island’s wine industry and delicious food. You will stop at a selection of wineries to meet the producers and taste their produce. This trip goes to the vineyards of Câmara de Lobos, Madeira’s main wine region and continues along the north coast to San Vicente where you will marvel at the natural beauty of the landscape, all the way to Porto Muniz. A typical meal of local ingredients with wine pairings is included for lunch.

Price: from 130€

Duration: 8 hours

• Folklore Show Tickets with Dinner and Drinks

Experience the culinary delights of espetada, a marinated beef dish cooked over an open fire on laurel skewers, accompanied by wine and a traditional folklore show. You’ll enjoy Madeiran music played on local instruments along with traditional dances.

Price: from 36.50€

Duration: 2.5 hours

• Nature & Wine 4×4 Tour from Funchal or Caniço

Head out on an open-top 4×4 tour through relaxing nature, combined with the flavors and traditions of Madeira. You will get a guided tour through the vineyards, followed by a wine tasting and learn more about wine culture and wine production in Madeira. Another highlight is the visit to Cabo Girão, the highest cliff in Europe and second-highest worldwide.

Price: from 53.60€

Duration: 4 hours

3. Some really good Restaurants, Cafés, and Bars:

Funchal:

Biscuit Shop since 1893, traditional interior

Fábrica Santo Antonio, a secret biscuit shop in Funchal, where most locals purchase their bolo del mel, sugar cane biscuits and traditional jams.

Fabrica S. to Antonio

Tv. do Forno No. 27-29, 9000-077 Funchal

www.fabricastoantonio.com

Revolucion Bar:

Madeira Mojito, made with locally grown passion fruit. Yum!

Restaurante O Piano (Hot tip for vegetarians!)

Very accommodating, especially for vegetarians

Best Passionfruit Pudding & chocolate pralinés, free Madeira wine

12,95€ set menu w starter, main course, and dessert

Mercearia d. Mercia 

Whole weat sandwich with avocado, mozzarella, red onions, homemade pesto and tomatoes 4,50€, passionfruit lemonade 1,80€

Bella Ilha:

Simple and cheap cafe at the zona hoteilera, solid, good food – try bread soup and fabulous mousse au chocolat 3,50€

Porto Muniz:

Conchinha

A bit hidden, upstairs

Best food I had in Madeira, two lovely women cooking with love, beautifully decorated. Simple menu, but very tasty.

Bolo do Caco with tomato and homemade potato and sweet potato chips 2,90€

Delicious salads and cakes (2,90€)