Please note our writers visited Madeira prior to the coronavirus pandemic
Holidaymakers often head to the Algarve to make the most of summer on a golden beach. But those who prefer a more interactive relationship with nature should head to Madeira. Here, you can hike through ancient laurisilva forests or along levadas, the characteristic terraced paths (once irrigation channels) that criss-cross the island in well mapped trails. Or explore the extraordinary botanical gardens and old sugar cane plantations, plus natural swimming pools in Porto Moniz formed by volcanic lava and black beaches at Seixal. In the capital, Funchal, dip into the farmer’s market to try the sweet pineapples, miniature bananas and to admire the mass of brightly coloured flowers sold by women in their national dress. Whichever part you choose to stay in, here’s our pick of the best boutique hotels in Madeira, featuring the top places to stay for designer interiors, rooftop pools, tropical gardens, relaxing spas and excellent restaurants.
Castanheiro Boutique Hotel
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Ochre-coloured exteriors with dark red trim and awnings unite five different houses from over the last 300 years. The oldest, dating from the 18th century, was originally the atelier of artisans; another was home to wealthy merchants in the 19th century. From across their inner courtyards, three buildings from the early 20th century, which were houses for embroidery, a bakery and a typography company are also part of the hotel. Exposed stone arches and wooden rafters preserve the sense of heritage in the public areas, whilst the bedrooms are stylishly designed in bold, contemporary tones. Local modern art hangs throughout. On the rooftop there is a heated outdoor pool with a solarium overlooking the bay.
From
£
97
per night
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Sé Boutique Hotel
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
The design concept of this small but colourful boutique hotel – right in the heart of Funchal – draws on the cathedral next door, taking the blue and white tiles from its interior and recreating a patchwork of them for the bedrooms. The rooms are muted and calm in contrast, however, to the other areas of the hotel, which are clad in bold colours such as yellows, blues and reds, or the lush green of the inner courtyard. Much of the furniture is antique and many of the glasses and plates come from the old collections of Portugal’s best porcelain houses. The produce in the three restaurants is sourced from the owner’s nearby farm, and there’s a rooftop bar offering 360-degree views onto the neighbouring cathedral and terracotta-tiled city skyline.
From
£
67
per night
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Casa Velha do Palheiro
Sao Goncalo, Madeira, Portugal
This former hunting lodge is high up in the hills above Funchal, right next door (with free entrance) to the Palheiro Gardens which are famous for their camellias. The interiors, filled with sunlight and antiques, fresh flowers and floral chintzes, are beautifully preserved and brimming with country house charm. The 38 rooms and suites look onto the lush gardens that surround the Manor House and bathrooms are tiled in white with hand-painted floral details. Dining options include what is considered to be one of the best restaurants on the island, the elegant Casa Velha Dining Room, which draws on local specialities. There is an outdoor heated swimming pool and spa, plus tennis and croquet. A private motor yacht is also available for hire.
From
£
141
per night
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Pestana Churchill Bay
Câmara de Lobos, Madeira, Portugal
Pestana Churchill Bay is beautifully positioned in the small town of Câmara de Lobos, right opposite a little black pebble beach and the fleet of fishing boats that bob in the harbour. The 57-room hotel is split across two buildings. One is housed in the old town hall which incorporates original elements such as the old stone arches; the other is a newer building which takes the place of the former fish market, just across the road. Winston Churchill came to the town to paint, and walls in the new building are covered with his inspirational quotes while the old building is filled with antiques and framed Churchill memorabilia. Pier One Restaurant offers local cuisine and there is a bar in the main building where you can sample the island’s rum punch. A rooftop pool completes the picture.
From
£
81
per night
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Estalagem Quinta da Casa Branca
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Opened in 1998 as the first ‘design’ hotel on the island, the hotel comprises a 19th-century manor house with five luxury suites and a design-driven glass and steel cube with 43 rooms. In the modern wing, interiors mix light and dark woods against white walls, resulting in a warm feel flooded by light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. In the manor house, the suites echo the public areas which are filled with Portuguese antiques, Venetian chandeliers, polished wooden floors and memorabilia from the Leacock family, initiators of the Madeira wine trade with England in the mid-18th century. A heated swimming pool can be found in the gardens, as well as a health club and spa.
From
£
162
per night
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Quinta Jardins do Lago
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
General Beresford, who lived here in his role as commander of the British forces during the Napoleonic wars, installed himself in this elegant 18th-century house in botanical gardens on the outskirts of Funchal, now a charming small luxury hotel imbued with calm, the scents of exotic plants and a sense of history. The Quinta has preserved the essential character of a stately home, but with a less formal ambiance than would have prevailed during General Beresford’s tenancy. It’s easy to relax on comfortable sofas in well-appointed public rooms and on shady garden terraces, and succeeds in being both refined and homely. A pool in the gardens has views to the hills, and there is a gym with sauna, Turkish bath and whirlpool tub.
From
£
179
per night
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Hotel da Vila
Ponta do Sol, Madeira, Portugal
Well-known architect and designer Duarte Caldeira has cunningly wrought his ‘chic & rural’ concept on what used to be the town’s prison. Decoration draws on wood and stone from the surrounding mountains mixed with local blue tiles. The whitewashed façade is broken up by khaki green shutters and wrought iron balconies. The 15 rooms are completely simple, but pleasingly so; furniture is in peaceful white – including the television – and all rooms have desks. Headboards are made of wheat straw encased in transparent plastic. The feel is welcoming and homely with a stylish twist. Just in front of Hotel da Villa is a diving centre and the pebbly beach is just across the road.
From
£
77
per night
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Porto Bay Serra Golf
Santo da Serra, Madeira, Portugal
This beautiful Art Nouveau villa is full of character and charm. Exteriors are powder blue with a frieze of flowers running around the top of a small turret, capped by grey, fish-scale tiles. Interiors in the main house are traditional with wooden floors and fireplaces whilst a newer annexe, which includes the pool and spa, has floor-to-ceiling glass windows with views onto the garden. Two superior rooms and one two-bedroom suite, with direct access to the garden, are in the main house, with exposed stone walls, wooden floors, a fireplace and in the suite, a kitchenette. The remaining 18 standard bedrooms, in various shades of cream, are more modern in décor and are housed in the annexe.
From
£
69
per night
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Estalagem Ponta de Sol
Madeira, Portugal
Perched on a cliff overlooking the sea high above the pretty village of Ponta do Sol, this stark white inn, designed by architect Tiago Oliveira, is dramatically eye-catching as it tumbles in a series of layers down the slope. Interior designer Carvalho Araújo has whitewashed the inn inside and out and added minimalist furnishings in light wood, floors of slate and black-and-white photographs on the walls, allowing your eye to be dominated by the magnificent coastal views. Cubes, angles and boxes are linked by bridges creating a stark, design-driven exterior but the interiors are flooded with light from its clifftop position. The much photographed infinity pool lies above a generously-sized hot tub, which is perfectly positioned for watching the sun set.
From
£
92
per night
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Hotel The Vine
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Designer Nini Andrade Silva has encapsulated her passion for the island’s fortified wine in the hotel’s interiors, adding full-bodied warmth to the ultra modern building. Each of the four floors of the hotel represents a different season in the life cycle of the grape. Food and wine are very much the focus here with a guided chef’s tour of the local market followed by a cooking lesson on offer. The poolside bar, with its twice daily happy hour, is not to be missed for its 360 degree views and introduction to local wines. Rooms are sexy and warm, with free-standing baths, often at the foot of the bed, which are lit up by the lights of Funchal town shining through floor-to-ceiling windows.
From
£
125
per night
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This article was originally published by Telegraph.co.uk. Read the original article here.