Best Brunch & Breakfast in Funchal
Where to eat before the hotel buffet, and where to go instead of it.
Selection: Cafés and kitchens serving a proper breakfast or brunch menu — not a pastry counter with a coffee machine.
Funchal does two kinds of morning. There is the Portuguese version — a bica and a pastel de nata standing at a counter for under €2 — and there is the imported brunch version, with bowls, eggs and flat whites at €10–€15. Both are worth your time and they are not in competition.
The brunch kitchens cluster in the centre and around the Lido; the pastelarias are everywhere, and the good ones are full of people on their way to work rather than tourists.
The list (7)
1.The Ritz Café
RestaurantsHistoric Funchal landmark on Avenida Arriaga — terrace seating, ideal for a relaxed lunch, coffee break or afternoon tea in the heart of the city.
portuguese€€Afternoon tea on the terrace2.Prima Caju
RestaurantsTrendy, health-conscious brunch spot in Funchal — colourful bowls, protein-rich dishes and excellent coffee in a contemporary setting.
brunch€€Brunch bowls & speciality coffee3.Brunchology
RestaurantsFavourite of locals and visitors alike — creative breakfast dishes, matcha drinks and a modern vibe in central Funchal.
brunch€€4.Docas Café
RestaurantsEasy-going beachfront café-restaurant on the Praia Formosa promenade — coffees, light lunches, burgers and simple Portuguese dishes on a terrace overlooking the black-sand beach. Handy refuelling stop mid-walk along the São Martinho seafront.
cafe€5.Café do Teatro
Cafés & BakeriesBelle-époque café tucked into the courtyard of Funchal's Baltazar Dias municipal theatre — outdoor tables under jacaranda trees, full espresso menu and small bites. A locals' meeting point since the 1970s.
traditional pastelaria€€6.Pastelaria Penha d'Águia
Cafés & BakeriesClassic Funchal pastelaria — bolo de mel, pastéis de nata, queijadas and a constant queue of locals at the counter. Stop for traditional Madeiran pastries in the centre.
traditional pastelaria€Bolo de mel (Madeiran honey cake)7.Jasmin Tea House
Cafés & BakeriesQuiet tea house in a restored Funchal townhouse — leaf teas, homemade cakes, vegetarian quiches and a courtyard garden. A calm alternative to the Old Town's busier cafés.
brunch cafe€€Wi-Fi
Practical notes
- Brunch kitchens fill between 10:00 and 12:00 at weekends — go before 10:00 or after 13:00.
- A bica (espresso) is €0.75–€1.20 standing at the counter; the same coffee at a table with brunch is four times that.
- Order a pastel de nata warm, and try bolo de mel and broas at a traditional pastelaria.
- Most brunch spots close mid-afternoon; they are not a lunch backup after 15:30.
Frequently asked
- Where is the best brunch in Funchal?
- Prima Caju and Brunchology are the two dedicated brunch kitchens in central Funchal — bowls, eggs, good coffee, both busy at weekends. For the traditional version, a counter bica and a warm pastel de nata at a neighbourhood pastelaria costs a fraction of it.
- What do Madeirans eat for breakfast?
- Very little and very quickly: an espresso (bica) or a galão with a pastry, taken standing at the counter of a pastelaria. The big cooked breakfast is a hotel and visitor habit rather than a local one.
- How much does brunch cost in Funchal?
- €10–€18 per person at a brunch kitchen with coffee. The traditional alternative — coffee and a pastry at a pastelaria counter — runs €2–€3.50.