Where to eat

Taberna da Poncha in Serra de Água is one of Madeira's best-known poncha bars: freshly muddled poncha, peanut shells on the floor and a rustic roadside setting on the way to Encumeada.

Tucked away in Ponta do Pargo on Madeira's quiet northwest coast, Gato Legal Coffee Roastery has become a must-stop for specialty coffee lovers. Here's why it's worth the drive.

Motya brought Funchal's first true specialty coffee bar to Rua João Tavira, pairing globally-sourced espresso with organic teas, ceremonial matcha, and handmade mochi found nowhere else on the island.

Perched at the end of the trail to Madeira's highest peak, this mountain shelter serves tea, poncha, and homemade cakes to hikers who've earned the view.

Set in a historic building on one of Funchal old town's oldest streets, Taberna Ruel pairs traditional Madeiran and Portuguese cooking with a wine cellar built into a centuries-old cistern.

Widely rated the best sunset spot in Funchal, this old-town bar café pairs an open terrace over the ocean with well-made cocktails and a relaxed, DJ-soundtracked atmosphere.