The 7 Best Restaurants in Madeira, Portugal’s Hottest New Dining Destination

Marisel Salazar
·2 min read

Situated between mainland Portugal and Morocco, is the subtropical Portuguese island of Madeira. It is reminiscent of a European Hawaii, with its tropical old-world charm, a closely kept gem floating in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The volcanic island’s landscape is stunning and dramatic, no matter which way you look, from its black, rocky beaches, UNESCO Heritage Laurisilva forest, steeply terraced landscapes, and sunny, balmy weather. Madeira has consecutively been considered The Best Island Destination in the World by the World Travel Awards since 2013.

Madeiran cuisine is an import of the collection of global traders who passed through the island since the 15th century and indigenous fruits and seafood. Because of its balmy, tropical climate, fruits common to Latin America and warmer parts of Asia thrived in Madeira when brought over. Sugarcane was introduced to the island from Sicily, and grew very well given the climate, spurring trade to mainland Portugal and creation of Portuguese rum. Bananas are plentiful, and one of the top traded commodities, mostly to the mainland. Madeira is also known for its namesake fortified wine and its abundant seafood, which infiltrates nearly every part of the cuisine.

To this day, chefs in Madeira draw inspiration from traditional dishes including espetada, lapas (limpets) and black scabbardfish. Madeira is an island of eternal spring, with fresh produce available year-round, which is a big contributor to Madeira becoming a culinary destination. Culinary innovators are also proudly Madeiran, striving to promote and innovate their cuisine while honoring tradition.

Since the early 2000s, Madeira has been a rising tropical fine dining culinary destination. In 2009, Il Gallo d’Oro received the first Michelin star in Madeira. This was renewed consecutively until 2017, when it was awarded two Michelin stars which it has kept to this day. In the 2023 edition of the prestigious guide, the restaurant led by chef Benoît Sinthon was also distinguished with a Green Star, which rewards sustainability in gastronomy. Various restaurants in Madeira have also been former recipients of Repsol Suns, which are the Spanish version of the Michelin stars.

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