Castanheiro boutique hotel, Funchal
Located in the heart of Funchal’s atmospheric old town, the five historic houses that make up Castanheiro offer guests an immersion in more than 300 years of Madeiran history. The common areas in each home are filled with antique furniture and period pieces from previous incarnations – one as a craft studio, the other as the home of wealthy merchants – while the bedrooms are sleek and modern. The icing on the cake is the rooftop pool, with fantastic views over Funchal and plenty of tranquil outdoor spaces on the walled terraces to relax with a book or a cocktail. There is no restaurant, but there are plenty of good options within a minute or two’s walk.
Doubles from £153 B&B; castanheiroboutiquehotel.com
Socalco Nature, Calheta
Created by one of Madeira’s best-known chefs, Octávio Freitas, Socalco offers guests the chance to immerse themselves in the island’s natural landscapes, gastronomy and wine, with cooking classes, wine tours and things to do around the farm do be. There is also plenty of opportunity to relax, with an honesty bar, freshwater swimming pool and solarium overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and gardens planted with vegetables and aromatic herbs, peppered with levadas (historical aqueducts developed into hiking trails). The accommodation takes place in individual houses, connected by limestone paths, or in rooms in the main house, with beautiful sea views.
Doubles from £133 B&B; socalconature.com
Estalagem da Ponta do Sol
Perched on a cliff above the small resort of Ponta do Sol, this chic design hotel is a clever conversion of a former quinta, with the spaces reimagined in minimalist black and white, with floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the communal areas with fresh, bright sunlight. A great choice for a restorative break; Yoga and Qigong sessions are included in the price, as are indoor and outdoor pools, sauna and steam room, with a wide choice of massages (payable locally). You can enjoy a cocktail hour by the outdoor fire on the terrace of the bar, where Mediterranean dishes with a Madeiran touch are served in the restaurant listed in the Michelin Guide.
Doubles from £92 B&B; pontadosol.com
Quinta do Furão, Santana
Explore Madeira’s spectacular north coast by settling into this cliff-top quinta, with widescreen sea views and five hectares of lush planted grounds, including a large swath of vineyards. The bedrooms are fresh and simple, the wellness center features a large swimming pool and a tempting menu of massages, and dinner in the charming, rustic restaurant – on the terrace on warmer evenings or by the fire when it’s cold – offers the chance to try classic dishes. Madeiran dishes. Ideal for walkers as many of Madeira’s spectacular levadas are close by.
Doubles from £180 B&B; quintadofurao.com
Atrio, Calheta
Billing itself as an island within an island, Atrio is a rurally beautiful escape run by Emmanuelle and Mickael, who have created the type of hotel they always wanted to stay in. The atmosphere is a relaxing retreat, with all the necessary comforts including a Klafs sauna, heated pool and restaurant menu with a good range of vegetarian, girlfriend and lactose intolerant options. Beyond the hotel’s lush gardens, the Levada Nova da Calheta is just a 10-minute walk away – the starting point for several walks, with rental bikes available and whale watching tours available. Twenty of the 22 rooms have beautiful sea views, most of which are spread throughout the gardens, each with its own private terrace.
Doubles from £78 B&B; atrio-madeira.com
1905 Zino’s Palace, Ponta do Sol
It’s impossible to miss Zino’s – a striking, bubble-gum pink mansion above the tranquil seaside town of Ponta do Sol, designed as a summer home for the Zino family in the early 20th century. It is one of the island’s most charming hotels, with rooms in dark pink or sage green with art deco accessories and modernist touches, and a small swimming pool – also pink – ideal for cooling off after a walk along the nearby levadas. Breakfast lasts until noon and a snack menu is offered all day, while Ponta do Sol, with a bit more hustle and bustle, is ideal for dinner in the evenings.
Doubles from £148 B&B; 1905zinospalace.com
The Vine Hotel, Funchal
Dark and light mingle at Funchal’s leading design hotel, with the focus on wine running through everything from the vinotherapy treatments at the Wine Therapy Spa to the floors, each representing a season in a grape’s life cycle. The purple and khaki tones give the interior a modern boudoir feel, offset by the sun-drenched roof, with a large infinity pool and a 20-metre hot tub, both with majestic views of Fort São João and the mountains beyond. The bedrooms are minimalist but super comfortable and the Terra restaurant is one of the best in town.
Doubles from £164 B&B; hotelthevine.com
Solar da Bica, Sao Vicente
This small hotel with eleven rooms is ideal for people who want to get off the grid for a few days. It is hidden in the beautiful valley of São Vicente, overlooked by forest-covered mountains with hiking trails. The bedrooms are functional and comfortable, and there is an indoor pool and sauna to soothe sore feet after a day of walking. But really it’s all about the location. Outside, the charming garden is planted with vegetables, fruits and aromatic herbs, many of which find their way to the breakfast table, and there are two terraces with beautiful mountain views. A car is virtually essential, with good restaurants just a short drive away.
Doubles from £106 B&B; solardabica.pt
Se boutique hotel, Funchal
Just a stone’s throw from the city’s imposing 15th-century cathedral, the Se combines sleek, all-white bedrooms with bold colors throughout the rest of the hotel – vibrant green in the restaurant, teal on the roof terrace – complete with sunken lawn – and an eclectic mix of retro and antique furniture. A sunset drink on the rooftop terrace, with 360-degree views of the city, is a must, as is dinner on the street-side terrace of O Calhau, where dishes are prepared using ingredients from the family’s organic farm in Camacha. The small indoor pool and menu of massage therapies are the perfect rejuvenating treat after a day of sightseeing in the city.
Doubles from £139 B&B; seboutiquehotel.com
Quinta Jardins do Lago
This island institution is a great choice for garden lovers and for those who want to experience the best of Madeira’s classic estate hotels. The elegant 18th century quinta is set in 2.5 hectares of flowering botanical gardens, with more than 500 different plant species and a number of rare and very old trees. The interior is classic rather than modern, but the rooms are light and airy. Colombo’s bistro offers relaxing poolside lunches, and dinners at Beresford restaurant feature traditional Madeiran cuisine in substantial style.
Doubles from £233 B&B; jardinsdolago.com