Best Espetada Restaurants in Madeira

Village snack-bar on a narrow, bunting-strung street in the heart of Porto da Cruz, shaded terrace tables, generous plates of the day and cold beer at local prices. The kind of place where half the village passes through at lunch.

Laid-back Portuguese grill right beside Porto da Cruz's public sea pools, with the Penha de Águia rock towering behind. Grilled fish, espetada and cold beer after a swim or surf.

Classic Portuguese restaurant on the old square in the centre of Porto da Cruz, a short walk from the seafront. Known for generous plates of octopus, monkfish, espetada and home-style Madeiran cooking, with views towards the sea and Penha de Águia.

Large, traditional restaurant inside the old sugar-cane rum mill at Hotel Costa Linda in Porto da Cruz. Capacity for more than 150 diners, with original factory walls, Madeiran meat and fish dishes, vegetarian options and a terrace overlooking the sea.

Easy-going restaurant and café a few steps from the seafront in Santa Cruz, serving generous, honest Madeiran cooking at fair prices. Set menu or à la carte, a sunny outdoor terrace, air-conditioned rooms inside, free Wi-Fi, a children's area and takeaway.

Simple, family-run spot right on Santa Cruz's main square, with a small terrace under the trees. Snacks, prego rolls, grilled fish and shellfish at local prices, the kind of place regulars use for lunch rather than a tourist night out.

Small, casual kitchen on Rua da Praia in Santa Cruz doing quick, home-style plates and takeaway. Popular with locals for a fast, cheap lunch between the square and the beach; service can be hit and miss when it's busy.

Tiny, no-reservations tavern in the old centre of Santa Cruz that locals and visitors queue for. The menu is built around seafood petiscos, garlic prawns, octopus, cuttlefish and daily fish, served quickly at tightly packed tables or on the small pavement terrace. Arrive early or be prepared to wait; it fills up every night.

Machico's best-known restaurant, open since 1972 in the town's old market building. Portuguese and international cooking served in a walled garden with a fountain and a large shaded esplanade, a minute from the beach.

Seafood restaurant facing Machico beach, with a long dining room overlooking the seafront and prominent O Pescador signage. The entrance is beside the large blue anchor on the beach side of the building.

Unfussy fish and seafood restaurant on Estrada do Cristo Rei at Garajau, a short walk from the Cristo Rei statue and viewpoint. Grilled fish of the day, big garlic prawns and limpets served on a thatched, sea-facing terrace looking over the Garajau marine reserve. Open every day, 10:00 to 20:00.

Big, rustic grill house in Machico specialising in charcoal cooking, the charcoal-grilled bacalhau and the grilled chicken are what people come for. Covered esplanade, private parking and generous portions at local prices.

Modern, comfortable Machico restaurant with a good terrace, open from breakfast through to late. Regional Madeiran cooking with a strong shellfish and fish side, and a menu priced for locals rather than cruise days.

The reference espetada house: laurel-skewered beef grilled over an open fire and served hanging from a stand, with bolo do caco and house wine. A Madeira institution.

Tiny, character-packed tasca on Rua de Santa Maria in Funchal's Old Town. Daily-changing chalkboard menu of small Portuguese plates, strong on vegetables and offal.

Beachfront restaurant in Caniço de Baixo serving traditional Madeiran cuisine with serene coastal views. Great for Madeiran tapas right on the seafront.

Long-standing restaurant on Caniço's old town square, with a shaded terrace looking straight out over the parish church and the morning produce market. Traditional Madeiran cooking, espetada, grilled fish, bolo do caco, at everyday local prices.

Tucked-away tasca in Caniço serving proper old Madeiran home-cooked food, big portions of espetada, grilled limpets, black scabbard fish, proper local sides. The kind of place where locals eat.

Family-run casa de fados in Funchal's Old Town, open since 2011, traditional Portuguese home cooking served while the owners and their family sing live fado between the tables. Small, intimate room; dinner only.

Turkish and Eastern Mediterranean mezze and grill on Rua Imperatriz Dona Amélia in the centre of Funchal, cold and hot mezze, lamb kofta, charcoal-grilled meat and fish, and generous platters to share, cooked in an open kitchen.

Hillside restaurant and steakhouse above Funchal with one of the best panoramic views in the city, with the whole amphitheatre, harbour and cruise ships laid out below the terrace. Grilled steaks alongside traditional Madeiran and Portuguese cooking.

Mountain shelter restaurant at the Poiso pass, 1,412 m up on the road to Pico do Arieiro. Hearty traditional Portuguese food, a roaring fireplace in misty weather, and the classic Madeiran starter of fresh cheese with honey and walnuts.

Independent roadside bar and restaurant on Caminho da Entrosa in Arco de São Jorge, serving traditional Madeiran and Portuguese food in a simple local setting, with outdoor tables and green north-coast slopes behind it.

Friendly petiscos restaurant in the centre of Santa Cruz, serving Madeiran and Portuguese sharing plates, garlic prawns, breaded prawns, milho frito, rissóis and fresh salads, on a terrace steps from the seafront promenade.

Charming Caniço bistro with a warm ambiance and a menu blending Madeiran flavours with international dishes. Strong service and consistent quality.

Charming Funchal Old Town spot near the waterfront serving classic Madeiran cuisine on a sea-view terrace.

The namesake beach restaurant on Funchal's largest beach: a blue-and-white striped kiosk with a big seafront esplanade directly on the pebbles, serving fresh fish, seafood and Madeiran classics with the Atlantic as the backdrop. Coffee, cocktails and sangria all day on the terrace; a popular sunset spot on the São Martinho promenade. Tel +351 291 177 345.

Sea-view restaurant and bar on the São Martinho promenade at Praia Formosa, grilled fish, espetada and cold beers served on a big terrace a few steps from the water. Lively at weekends and a favourite for long, lazy lunches by the sea.

Country-house restaurant on the north-coast cliffs above Santana, serving regional dishes, bolo do caco from the wood oven, espetada, fresh local fish, with a panoramic vineyard-and-Atlantic view.

Classic espetada house in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, beef threaded on laurel branches, grilled over a wood fire and served hanging from an iron stand, with bolo do caco, milho frito and house wine.