In a nutshell
- Madeira has seriously delicious food — the fish dishes in particular absolutely won us over.
- Must-tries include scabbardfish with banana (Espada com Banana), the classic flatbread Bolo do Caco, and the local spirit Poncha, which you’ll find on every corner.
- We’ll walk you through 10 standout dishes and drinks from Madeiran cuisine — plus 5 personal restaurant recommendations at the end of the article.
Bolo do Caco
Bolo do Caco is the traditional bread of Madeira. It looks like flat, circular rolls and is served both as a side dish and stuffed into sandwiches.
“Bolo” actually translates to cake — but don’t let that throw you off. It’s a flatbread made from sweet potato flour, not anything sweet.
We especially loved Bolo do Caco with garlic butter or herb butter. You’ll usually get it in restaurants alongside your meal. Seriously addictive!
Espada com Banana
Black scabbardfish is a rare find elsewhere in the world — but on Madeira it’s incredibly popular, and for good reason.
The scabbardfish (Espada) is typically served as a boneless, tender fillet, accompanied by fried banana and often a passion fruit sauce.
You’ll find this dish in most fish restaurants on the island. Don’t skip it when you plan your stay on Madeira!
Espetada
Before you get confused: Espetada = meat. Espada = fish.
Espetada is a grilled beef skewer, found mainly at steakhouses and grill restaurants on Madeira.
In restaurants, the skewer is classically hung on a rod above the table and you pull the individual pieces of meat off with a knife and fork. Absolutely delicious!
The sides vary quite a bit — Bolo do Caco, Milho frito, salad — whatever you’re in the mood for.
Milho frito
Milho frito is a popular side dish served with all kinds of meals on Madeira. The name translates to “fried corn” and it looks like fries in cube form.
Despite the name, the cubes aren’t made from potatoes but from cornmeal. They taste a bit like polenta in Italy — but properly deep-fried!
Lapas
Lapas are sea limpets. They look a bit like oysters and are eaten in a similar way.
Honestly, we didn’t work up the nerve to try them — but Lapas are a real staple of Madeiran cuisine, and if you’re a seafood lover, you should definitely give them a go.
Bife de Atum
Forget everything you think of when you hear the word tuna. The tuna fillet on Madeira has absolutely nothing to do with the stuff in a can.
Bife de Atum is grilled tuna that tastes more like an incredibly tender piece of meat than fish — at least that was our impression.
The flesh is usually slightly pink on the inside and beautifully crispy on the outside from the grill. Definitely one of our favorite dishes in Madeiran cuisine.
Bolo de Mel
Bolo de Mel is a honey cake that’s popular as a dessert or snack on Madeira.
Of course there are plenty of other typical sweets to try too — like Pastéis de Nata, the custard tarts that are to Portugal what croissants are to France.
Other treats you’ll find in many bakeries include Bolo de Arroz, Queijadas, and passion fruit pudding.
Passion Fruit
Speaking of which — passion fruit is everywhere on Madeira.
The fruit turns up in just about everything: lemonade, desserts, as a side — you’ll always find it somewhere on the menu.
Particularly iconic is Brisa — a soft drink brand whose passion fruit lemonade you can buy at literally every bar on the island.
At markets like the famous landmark in Funchal, Mercado dos Lavradores, you can pick up fresh passion fruit alongside all kinds of other local produce.
Bonus tip: Another exotic fruit on Madeira is the baby banana, also known as the Monstera fruit. It really does taste like a mix of both and should only be eaten when fully ripe.
Poncha
Poncha is the quintessential Madeira drink! It’s a sugarcane spirit mixed with honey and lemon juice — in its classic form, at least. There are many different variations, and a very popular one is made with passion fruit.
Because of its sweet, refreshing flavor, you often don’t taste the alcohol much at all — but be careful! Poncha still packs quite a punch.
There are several bars on Madeira that specialize in Poncha. In Funchal, the Rei da Poncha Bar is well worth a visit, and on a road trip around Madeira, check out the Taberna da Poncha in Serra de Água.
Madeira Wine
Madeira wine is a protected designation for a fortified wine produced exclusively on the island. It’s stronger than regular red or white wine and is somewhat reminiscent of port wine from Porto.
It’s made exclusively from white grapes, and during production the fermentation is stopped a little earlier so that brandy can be added.
For any wine lover, it’s an absolute must — and even if wine isn’t usually your thing, it’s worth trying a glass on a trip to Madeira.
Our Top 5 Restaurant Tips for Madeira
- Calamar in São Vicente
- O Recante in Caniçal
- Alta Vista in Funchal
- As Pedras in Ponta Delgada
- Dominó in Ponta de Pargo
Restaurante Calama
The Calamar restaurant in São Vicente is our favorite restaurant on the island and a genuine under-the-radar pick on Madeira.
It belongs to the Madeira beach hotel of the same name, Calamar, but is open to everyone. You can sit inside or out on the terrace with ocean views. There are plenty of tables, so you can even drop in spontaneously without a reservation.
The value for money is great and the food quality is outstanding. We tried the Espada com Banana here and loved every bite.
Bonus tip: The hotel has a publicly accessible natural pool on Madeira where you can swim and cool off. It’s free of charge.
Restaurante O Recante
At O Recante in Caniçal, we had one of the best fish fillets we’ve ever tasted. The food here is simply top-notch. Prices are a bit higher than the Madeira average, but it’s absolutely justified.
We stumbled upon this place after the São Lourenço hike. The service was super friendly and the atmosphere is really lovely too.
A clear 10/10.
Restaurante Alta Vista
Restaurante Alta Vista is perched high above Funchal and the view from the terrace is simply breathtaking. It’s a mix between a restaurant and a bar — you can come for a full meal or just stop in for a coffee.
One evening we had a generous portion of omelette with fries, salad, and Bolo do Caco and left completely satisfied.
The restaurant sits off the tourist trail above the Botanical Garden, so you get a nice mix of locals and visitors. We discovered it by chance after watching a soccer game nearby — and we’re so glad we did.
Simple home cooking at great prices.
Restaurante As Pedras
Another real insider tip is As Pedras in Ponta Delgada. It’s a bit off the beaten path, above the village, and draws mainly guests who’ve been hiking in the area.
Also read our tips for hiking on Madeira
It’s a small, personal spot with a homey atmosphere and incredibly friendly staff. Expect typical Portuguese home cooking at very reasonable prices.
If the weather’s good, definitely grab a table outside and enjoy the view. Otherwise, the cozy interior is a great place to settle in.
Restaurante Dominó
It doesn’t get much more authentically Portuguese than this. Dominó is a simple, no-frills restaurant in Ponta de Pargo where mostly locals come for lunch.
From fish and meat dishes to vegetarian pasta, there’s a solid range of options at very affordable prices. Don’t expect fine dining — just honest, tasty food that fills you up.
How expensive is food on Madeira?
Madeira food is generally very affordable.
In many restaurants on the island you can get a lunch menu for as little as 10–12 euros. This is especially true in the smaller towns on Madeira. A main course, a drink, and a coffee are usually all included.
In the evenings, expect to pay 15 euros and up for a plate plus a drink.
The more popular the area, the higher restaurant prices tend to be. In the old town of Funchal, dining out will often cost you noticeably more.
Coffee on Madeira is very affordable — and delicious, by the way. Espresso is the drink of choice on the island and a cup will only set you back around 80 cents.
