What to Eat in Madeira: Traditional Dishes, Drinks, and Where to Try Them

If you’re wondering what to eat in Madeira, you’re in for a real treat. The island has some delicious flavors to indulge in, with an incredible blend of traditional Portuguese dishes to island specialties.

Madeira’s food scene isn’t just about classic dishes thought. There are hidden restaurants, bustling markets, and food tours that give you a taste of the island’s unique culture, and will make your trip there even more special.

Whether you want to try local specialties, sip on world-famous Madeira wine, or discover fun culinary experiences, this guide will cover it all- showing you exactly where to go and what to try.

Madeira Food Guide: A Complete Overview

Before diving into the top dishes to try in Madeira and the best places to eat and drink, it helps to understand what Madeira’s cuisine is like. This island’s food scene is heavily influenced by Portuguese traditions, the Atlantic Ocean, and the unique agricultural products grown locally. 

Here’s a guide to meals, dishes, drinks, and experiences you won’t want to miss on Madeira.

 What is Madeira’s Cuisine Like?

Madeira’s cuisine is a combination of Portuguese roots and local ingredients. Expect fresh seafood, tropical fruits, locally grown vegetables, and robust flavors that come from grilling, roasting, and slow cooking. Fish, pork, and beef are staples, while sauces, garlic, and regional herbs add even more flavor. 

The island’s volcanic soil and subtropical climate produce exceptional produce, which is central to both savory dishes and desserts.

 What is the Most Popular Food in Madeira?

Madeira is most famous for seafood, traditional stews, slow cooked meats, garlic bread, and baked goods.

Local specialties include black scabbardfish, espada com banana (scabbardfish with banana), espetada (grilled beef skewers), and bolo do caco, a garlic bread often served with garlic butter. Many dishes are paired with Madeira wine, the island’s signature fortified wine.

What is the Signature Dish of Madeira?

The iconic dish of Madeira is espada com banana, which perfectly combines the island’s fresh black scabbardfish with the sweetness of banana. This dish is a must-try for visitors and is a perfect example of how Madeira blends land and sea flavors in a uniquely local way.

Another equally iconic dish is espetada, a large skewer of beef cooked slowly over an open flame.

 Can You Drink Tap Water in Madeira?

Yes, tap water in Madeira is safe to drink. However, many locals prefer bottled water for taste. Refilling a reusable bottle from taps in restaurants or hotels is common and a great way to be a more eco-friendly traveler.

What to Eat in Madeira: Meals & Dishes

Now you know a bit about what to expect in terms of cuisine. Let's now explore exactly what to eat in Madeira!

What to Eat in Madeira: Having Meals on the Island

Before diving into the great dishes that Madeira has to offer, let's go over what the typical meal for locals looks like.

 What to Eat in Madeira for Breakfast

Breakfast is often a lighter meal, with pastries, bread, fresh fruit, and cheese. Local options include bolo de caco with garlic butter, sweet pastries, and fresh tropical fruits like passion fruit, papaya, and bananas.

Coffee is typically served strong, and cafe com leite is one of the most popular options. In the trendier cafes, you can also find more "American options" like avocado toast or eggs. There are plenty of cute cafes to enjoy in Madeira, whether you're in Funchal, or exploring the smaller towns around the island.

 What to Eat in Madeira for Lunch

Lunch is usually a more substantial meal, and you'll notice restaurants near the sea tend to fill up. Many locals enjoy espada com banana, grilled fish, or other seafood dishes. Another popular option is espetada or other meats with salad and potatoes.

Lunch is typically from 12 to 2 or sometimes 3. Restaurants fill up at lunch time, and then oftentimes close for a break for a few hours before reopening at 6 or 7 pm.

 What to Eat in Madeira for Dinner

Dinner is often the main meal for both local families and tourists, with fresh seafood dishes, hearty stews, or grilled meats. Many restaurants offer terraces with ocean or mountain views, creating a perfect dining experience at sunset.

Dinner in Madeira is a bit later than other areas of the world, with most people eating closer to 8 or 9 pm, sometimes even as late as 10:00. We do recommend making reservations, as a lot of top restaurants fill up quickly, especially on weekends.

What to Eat in Madeira: Dishes & Drinks

Now that you know what meals look like in Madeira, let's take a deeper dive into the specific dishes you should try while visiting.

 Appetizers to Try in Madeira

• Lapas: Grilled limpets served with garlic butter and lemon.
• Bolinhos de Bacalhau: Codfish fritters which are crispy on the outside and soft inside.
• Chouriço Assado: Flame-grilled Madeira sausage.
• Salada de Polvo: Fresh octopus salad with olive oil and herbs.
• Sopa de Tomate: Tomato soup with a poached egg

 Main Dishes to Try in Madeira

• Espetada: Large beef skewers cooked over an open flame, often served on laurel sticks.
• Espada com Banana: Madeira’s signature black scabbardfish with banana.
• Bife de Atum: Grilled tuna steak served with local potatoes.
• Caldeirada de Peixe: Traditional fish stew with seasonal catch.
• Picado: Small cubes of beef sautéed with garlic and served in a communal style.
• Bolo de Caco: the signature garlic bread - we recommend getting sandwiches with bolo de caco, or getting it as an addition to any meal.

 Desserts to Try in Madeira

• Bolo de Mel: Rich Madeira honey cake, often spiced with cinnamon and cloves.
• Queijadas: Traditional sweet cheese tarts.
• Maracujá Mousse: Passion fruit mousse which is light and refreshing.
• Pudim de Coco: Creamy coconut pudding, a tropical favorite.

 Drinks in Madeira

• Madeira Wine: The island’s world-famous fortified wine with both dry or sweet varieties, similar to Port Wine.
• Poncha: Local sugarcane rum mixed with honey, lemon, or orange juice. Fisherman'd poncha is the strongest, and a must-try in a local bar!

The Best Restaurants & Bars in Madeira

Now that you know what to eat in Madeira, let's dive into all of the fun and delicious places to eat around the island!

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Where to Eat in Madeira

Now Madeira is a pretty big island, and there are an endless amount of places to eat! However, we're going to share some restaurants that really stood out to us.

Taberna do Petisco

Our first restaurant in Madeira was recommended to us by quite a few airport employees, and being just nearby the airport, we knew we had to try it.

Located right on the water, Taberna do Petisco serves up some super fresh and delicious seafood. It's also located in the cutest fishing town, making it a really authentic Madeiran dining experience.

Doce Satisfacao

This is another find from right near the airport, and is perfect for breakfast. It has great coffee, delicious pastries, and cute decor. It was absolutely packed with locals when we went, so you know it's one of the best places for breakfast in Madeira.

If you have a morning flight out, then we highly recommend stopping here even if it's to grab some goodies on the go.

 Mya's Petit Cafe

This is another one of our favorite places for breakfast in Madeira. It's a cute cafe with pink flowers and hot air balloons. It's perfect for those wanting more international breakfast options such as avocado toast and eggs, and is located right in the heart of Funchal.

Bluehouse Cafe - Monte Palace Madeira

This cafe is located inside the iconic Monte Palace Gardens, and is the perfect place to grab a drink or light lunch. Sitting up in the hills, it has beautiful views of the island, and even the indoor area is so green and inviting.

Arraial do Ribeiro Frio

This was definitely one of our favorite restaurants on the entire island. Up in the mountains of Madeira, Arraial do Frio is right by the hiking trail to Levada dos Balcoes. It has great views, a cozy atmosphere, great service, and excellent food. We'd recommend the espetada and the tomato soup!

Snack Bar Flor de Selva

Another great place for a bite to eat by Leva do Balcoes is Snack Bar Flor de Salva. It's right along the trail so you can stop and grab a drink or snack with some nice views. (It was closed when we went, but we heard great things about it!).

A Pipa Restaurant & Bar

One fo the most underrated areas of Madeira is Porta da Cruz, a cute coastal area with some excellent seafood restaurants. We had our eyes on some right on the water, but they closed early so we found A Pipa, a local restaurant and bar open a bit later.

We're so happy we ended up there, because the food was great and it had a fun atmosphere - definitely a gem of Madeira to add to your restaurant list!

Restaurante A Chave

This was another gem we randomly came across while driving around Madeira and desperately looking for somewhere to eat for lunch. We were surprised with a stunning outdoor garden with a pond. It had excellent food with good prices and friendly wait staff - 10/10!

Snack Bar Restaurante Sagueiro

Right when we were visiting the Porto Moniz pools, we wanted to grab a bit to eat. The restaurant there is super pretty and inviting, but the prices aren't so much. So we decided to head across the street to this restaurant instead. The prices were a fraction of the cost, and the food was absolutely delicious!

Snack Bar Amazonia

Since we work while traveling, we're sometimes just stopping at the quickest place we can find to get some Wifi. We walked into this small hole-in-the-wall bar, and decided to grab a snack. What a little gem though!

They have incredible shrimp dumplings and beef empanadas, and are super affordable- truly a great place for a quick bite.

 Cachadinha

This is another "hole-in-the-wall" we ended up at in Santana. It was a late night, and few places were open, but we were so happy we came here! They had really good sandwiches, and this is where we tried the Fisherman's Poncha, which a local so kindly bought for us. It's true local vibes. No frills - just tasty snacks and drinks.

The Old Pharmacy

Located in the charming town Ponta do Sol, this adorable pharmacy-style cafe is perfect for grabbing some coffee or even a nice lunch. It has both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a little shop inside with cutest local gifts you can pick up.

 Forest Food & Coffee

Heading inland to Pico do Arieiro? Well, don't miss out on this adorable little restaurant. It's tucked away in the forest and has beautiful views and delicious food, with both indoor and outdoor seating.

 Jungle Rain

We stopped here on our way to do the Risco Waterfall and 25 Fontes Hike, as it's just a few minutes from the trailhead. We didn't expect much, and just went to grab a few sandwiches to go.

The entire restaurant is decked out like a Rainforest Cafe, with flowers, animals, and animations. There is a bar area, as well as a large dining area, and there's even a robot that comes to your table!

Our sandwiches were so good that we went back for round two after our hike. Whether you're going for a quick bite like us or a sit down meal, this restaurant is definitely one of the coolest eateries on the island to check out.

Unique Culinary Experiences in Madeira

Now that you know what to eat in Madeira, and the best restaurants to try, let's get into our favorite part of our Madeira food guide! We're all about unique experiences, and these activities will be sure to leave you with the best impressions of Madeiran cuisine and the local drinks of the island.

Explore the Wineries

Madeira has its own special wine culture, and visiting a winery is definitely one of the best activities on the island, especially for those that like to enjoy local drinks.

There are plenty of great winery tours to join where you can tour the vineyards, sample tasty wines, and be able to take some bottles home with you to share with your loved ones. Some tours even include stops at viewpoints and you can ride around in a jeep!

Visit the Distilleries

There are several distillery tours in Madeira that you can enjoy, where they take you both modern and historic distilleries of rum and gin. You'll learn about the production of the island's spirits, and get to taste some great cocktails along the way.

Here are some tours that include the distilleries of Madeira:

Take a Guided Foodie Walking Tour

If you're a foodie (and wine lover), then don't miss out on this unique tour of Madeira, which allows you to dive into all of the local flavors of the island. Learn about the history of Madeira and its cuisine, while sampling some amazing food and drinks along the way.

 Try the Hybrid Fruits from Funchal's Market

There's something that makes the market in Funchal special, and it's their tasty tropical fruits. But these fruits are unlike any other - there are dozens of hybrid fruits created! Visit the stalls and try the different blends. (Just a warning that they are VERY pricey, so don't go crazy with picking out fruits).

Go on a Culinary E-Bike Tour

This fun tour is the perfect combo of indulging in local cuisine, exploring the island, and getting some exercise in. The culinary E-bike tour brings you down winding roads, scenic forests, and to local "Mercearias" and "Tascas," where you'll have the opportunity to taste the authentic flavors of Madeiran cuisine. 

Go Bar-Hopping in Funchal

Looking for a fun way to meet other travelers and experience the local drinks and nightlife of Madeira? These bar hopping tours and pub crawls in Funchal are the perfect addition to your itinerary!

Check Out the Honey Museum

The Honey Museum (Museu do Mel) is located in the town of São Vicente, and focuses on the local honey production and traditions of honey, with education about bees and the extraction of honey. 

It's a cute and quirky experience, and you can visit on your own, or join a guided tour with wine tasting and a visit to Cabo Girao (one of the best viewpoints in Madeira).

Take a Poncha Class

Poncha is the true drink of Madeira, and no trip to this island would be complete without trying it. But there are actually tours where you can try different ponchas, and learn how to make it yourself! 

It's unlike any other cocktail, and even has a specific stick and technique for making it, making it a fun class to take home some unique bar knowlodge!

Here are some excursions that include Poncha tasting or making:

Sao Jorge Cheese Tour

If you love cheese, then this is the ultimate cheese tour - you'll experience the process of milking cows, making cheese, and tasting cheeses with samples at different aging stages.

What to Eat in Madeira: FAQ

Now you have all of the information you need for what to eat in Madeira and where to find the best culinary experiences. In case you missed anything though, here are a few answers to some frequently asked questions that we've found across the web.

Madeira Food Guide: Final Thoughts & What's Next

Now you have all of the information for eating and drinking your way around one of the most incredible destinations in Portugal! But in case you missed anything, here's a bit of a recap what to eat in Madeira and more on our food guide:

• Madeira's cuisine blends traditional Portuguese dishes with local specialties.
• Madeiran dishes have a lot of meat and seafood.
• Tap water is safe to drink, but not typical for locals.
• Madeira is know for having its own wine, similar to Porto.
• Poncha is the most popular drink, and we recommend trying "fisherman's poncha" which is the most potent one.
• There isn't a "national dish" but there are a couple of signature dishes in Madeira.
• Funchal has the highest concentration of eateries, and also has local markets to explore.
• The market in Funchal is known for their unique fruit fusions.
• There are plenty of hidden gem restaurants tucked away in Madeira's smaller towns..
• There are a lot of unique activities in Madeira for eating and drinking.

What's Next?

Now you know what to eat in Madeira and some fun culinary experiences around the island - so you're probably ready to learn more about visiting!

Here are some other guides about Madeira we have:

 How to Get to Madeira

 How to Get Around Madeira Island

 Best Waterfalls in Madeira

 Top Viewpoints on the Island of Madeira

 45 Photo Spots on Madeira

 Best Things to Do in Madeira

 25 Fontes & Risco Waterfall Hike

... and more coming each week!

So are you ready to eat your way around this Portuguese island? We hope our guide what to eat in Madeira has helped you discover the best flavors of this unique destination. Have any questions? Feel free to drop them below!

Want to learn more about exploring Madeira or the other islands in Portugal? We have plenty of other Madeira travel guides, with some more Azores travel guides coming up as well. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you can receive all of our weekly article updates, along with exclusive discounts on our shop!

Ready to start booking an unimaginable trip to Madeira? Well, we're here to help! Scratch Your Mapa has custom travel planning services, offering specially-curated itineraries, budget-friendly flights, and unique accommodation options. Looking to learn more? Simply send us an email for your free consultation!

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