The visual record
Beira Calhau — restaurant in Madeira
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.
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About Beira Calhau
Beira Calhau is a mid-range portuguese, seafood, snacks and cocktails restaurant in Funchal — Praia Formosa
Order whatever the kitchen is pushing that day — Madeira's best restaurants change menus with the fish landings and the season.
Beira Calhau is about as close to the sea as lunch gets in Funchal: it sits on Praia Formosa — the city's biggest beach — right beside the car park, with a terrace directly above the pebble shore so you eat with the surf rolling in below you. The menu leans casual — big mixed salads, toasted sandwiches, grilled fish and simple petiscos — and the cocktails have a strong local reputation.
Come in swimwear-and-shirt mode after a beach swim, or time it for late afternoon when the sun drops over the water. It's open every day from 11am until half past midnight, so it works just as well for a lazy lunch as for drinks after dark. Expect roughly €10–30 per person.
What to know before you go
- Walk-ins usually work outside the 20:00–21:30 peak; arrive before 19:30 or after 21:30 for the best table.
- Cards accepted. Tipping ~5–10% on the total is appreciated but not expected.
- Outdoor seating is available — request when booking, as it goes first.
- Hours: Daily 11:00–00:30.
- Address: Tv. da Praia Formosa, São Martinho, 9000-250 Funchal, Madeira.
- Phone: +351 291 649 403.
- Price guide: around €10–30 per person.
- Google rating: 4.2 from over 1,300 reviews.
- Beside the Praia Formosa beach car park; outdoor seating and a private dining room.
Best time to visit
Year-round. Dinner reservations are tightest from late April to October and over Christmas / New Year; lunch is easier almost any day.
Location
Funchal — Praia Formosa, Madeira · Open in OpenStreetMap · Google Maps
32.64060, -16.94830
Visitor reviews
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Frequently asked
What is Beira Calhau known for?+
Beira Calhau is known for portuguese, seafood, snacks and cocktails cooking in Funchal — Praia Formosa.
Do I need to book a table at Beira Calhau?+
Reservations are not strictly required, but they are sensible at peak dinner hours (20:00–21:30) and on weekends.
How expensive is Beira Calhau?+
Beira Calhau is rated €€ — mid-range. Expect a typical dinner main to reflect that band, with Madeira wines and bottled water added on top.
Plan around Beira Calhau
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Where Beira Calhau fits
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Plan the rest of your trip
The four guides most first-time visitors reach for.