Madeira Restaurants
Madeira has an abundance of good restaurants serving Madeiran regional specialities with an emphasis on fresh fish and seafood. The choice of cuisines, however, is varied in Madeira's restaurants and you will find restaurants serving Portuguese, Italian, Mediterranean and international cuisines. Hotel dining is a popular option for many visitors to Madeira, where the international choices are more varied, though Funchal's historic Old Town should be explored since it features many traditional Madeira restaurants.

Choose luxury hotel restaurants like Villa Cipriani and Quinta Palmeira for the assurance of first-rate cuisine; whilst O Jango and Jaquet are venerated fish restaurants in Funchal Old Town. Head for Jardins do Infante and Casa Madeirense for a fine selection of Portuguese favourites, or venture into a neighbourhood bar or restaurant for a delicious, great value alternative.

Scabbard fish (espada) is served either with a wine and vinegar marinade or with sliced banana - a delicious combination. All manner of fish dishes appear on restaurant menus - grilled tuna (atum) is often served with lemon; swordfish (espadarte), red mullet (salmonete), bacalhau and fish soup (caldeirada) are also specialities of Madeira.

Traditional meat dishes include spit roast brochettes (espetada) served with fried corn and pickled pork in wine and garlic (carne de vinho e alho), with savoury flat bread (bolo do caco), honey cake (bolo de mel) and ripe tropical fruits also essential menu items.

And don't forget Funchal's daily market for the best of the local produce, particularly for tropical fruits such as kiwi, mangoes, guavas, passion fruits and figs.