Best Seafood Restaurants in Madeira

Tiny seafront gem tucked off the main road in Porto da Cruz — fresh fish and seafood with a creative touch, eaten to the sound of the waves with some of the best views in the village.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fine-dining inside the 17th-century São Tiago fortress overlooking Funchal's Old Town and the Atlantic. Views and atmosphere as much as the food.

Fresh fish grilled to order, sold by weight, on a terrace above Câmara de Lobos harbour. Pick your fish at the counter and watch the boats come in.

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

Relaxed beachside dining with a focus on fresh local flavours. Friendly service, affordable prices and scenic sea views in Caniço de Baixo.

Restaurant and gallery above the sea at Reis Magos, Caniço de Baixo — fresh fish and seafood, Madeiran and international plates, served among rotating art exhibitions with a big ocean-facing terrace.

Barefoot-chic beach club on the Calheta seafront at the Saccharum resort — lunch under the thatched pergola, feet almost in the sand, with a menu of shrimp gazpacho, tacos, bao boards and salads, and cocktails with the Atlantic in front of you.

A seafront restaurant and terrace on Praia Formosa in São Martinho, right beside the beach car park — salads, sandwiches, grilled fish, great cocktails and cold drinks served a few metres from the Atlantic, with thatched parasols and the sound of the waves for company.

A relaxed café-restaurant in Ponta do Sol — Madeira's sunniest spot — serving fresh grilled fish, garlic prawns and simple Mediterranean plates on an outdoor terrace a short stroll from the seafront.

Polished São Martinho restaurant on Rua da Casa Branca, serving beautifully plated Portuguese and international dishes — seafood risotto, prawn-topped meats and elegant starters — with great cocktails and outdoor seating.

Cozy seafood specialist in Caniço, known for fresh fish dishes like scabbard fish and grilled octopus in a warm relaxed setting.

Tuscan Italian restaurant on the Funchal seafront promenade, led by Florence-born chef Cristiano Cutietta. Wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta and coastal seafood on a sunny deck terrace with the Lido at your back.

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.

No-frills seafood specialist on R. Dom Carlos I in central Funchal — lapas (limpets) flame-grilled with garlic and lemon, fresh black scabbard with banana, gambas al ajillo. Locals' choice for affordable seafood done right. Previously known as Marisqueira Tropicana.

Seafood restaurant by Chef Júlio Pereira in the centre of Funchal, a short walk from Kampo. Contemporary Atlantic cooking with a focus on the island's fresh fish, shellfish and sea flavours, served in an intimate, family-style room. Michelin Guide listed; the 'water' counterpart to Kampo's 'earth'.