If you are wondering what the food in Madeira is like and what to eat during your visit, here are the essential dishes and drinks you shouldn’t miss in this stunning island.
A group of islands in the middle of the Atlantic, Madeira will blow you away with its beauty, will keep you on your toes with exciting adventure activities, but it’s the food in Madeira that’s the cherry on the cake.
Whether it’s your first visit to Madeira or you’re returning for the tenth time, sampling Madeiran food is an essential part of enjoying this gorgeous island.
From hearty meat dishes and unique seafood delights, to an incredible variety of tropical fruits and refreshing drinks, here is a selection of traditional Madeira food and drink that you must try.
Must try food in Madeira
Espetada
Espetada is grilled beef traditionally cooked on skewers made of the local laurel wood. The meat is cut in cubes and seasoned with garlic, rock salt, and bay leaf before cooking it over hot coals.
It is a pretty spectacular Madeira dish, especially when it is presented to you at the table. It’s normally served on a metal skewer hanging vertically off a hook, with a piece of butter on top that melts and drips down the skewer and over the meat.
Traditionally, you would eat espetada with your hands accompanied by bolo do caco bread.
Where to eat espetada in Madeira
Espetada originates from the town of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, and of course, restaurants here are renowned for serving the best espetada in Madeira. One that keeps coming up as one of the best is Restaurante Santo Antonio. The tables here already have the espetada hook built in.
If you can’t make it to Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, Chalet Vicente Restaurante in Funchal serves a fantastic espetada too.
Bolo do caco
Bolo do caco is the typical Madeira bread. It’s a circular flatbread made with wheat flour and traditionally cooked on a hot basalt stone slab (caco).
It is normally served with garlic butter and eaten on its own, or accompanied by espetada, octopus, or as a prego sandwich.
Where to eat bolo do caco in Madeira
Bolo do caco is served just about everywhere in Madeira, and you really can’t go wrong wherever you have it. So order it at every restaurant and bar you visit!
Prego sandwich
The prego sandwich is possibly the most delicious sandwich I have ever tried. I have searched for this incredible sandwich in London, but I have not found a match to the original prego sandwich in Madeira.
A prego sandwich is made with bolo do caco bread spread with garlic butter, and a thin beef steak. That’s it! Sometimes it’s served with lettuce, tomato, cheese and ham, or with a fried egg on top of the steak.
However you eat it, it is truly delicious and I can guarantee that you will be thinking about this sandwich for years afterwards. It may even become the reason you’ll want to return to Madeira. It really is that good!
Where to eat prego sandwich in Madeira
My first taste of prego sandwich was at Madeirinhas Cafes in Funchal and I was totally blown away. I highly recommend this for your first experience of this incredible Madeira street food.
Lapas
Being an island in the middle of a vast ocean, it’s no surprise that seafood is integral to Madeira cuisine. And lapas (limpets) are the must-try seafood here.
Lapas Madeira-style are served grilled with butter, garlic and a squeeze of lemon. They look like a cross between a muscle and a clam, but they are slightly chewier. They are absolutely delicious though!
Where to eat lapas in Madeira
A great place to try this local delicacy is Chalet Vicente Restaurante, a one-hundred-year old manor house in Funchal famous for their pairings of Portuguese wines. I’d recommend booking a table in their beautiful outdoors terrace.
Espada com banana e maracuja
Espada, or black scabbard fish, is a Madeira traditional food that looks pretty scary and unappetising when you see it in the market. But once cooked, it’s incredibly delicate in flavour and a Madeiran food not to miss.
The black scabbard fish looks a bit like a conger eel but fiercer. It lives in the depths of the Atlantic and I was told that no one has ever seen one alive in the sea. I’m not sure how true that is, but what it is true is that it’s been fished in Madeira since the 14th century.
It is cooked in various forms throughout the island, and one of the most popular local recipes is black scabbard fish with banana and maracujá (passion fruit). Yes, really.
I would have never picked this on a menu, but it was recommended to me by a local and I’m so glad I tried it! The banana and the maracuja worked really well with the delicate flavour of the fish and it wasn’t overpowering at all.
Top Tip: Try this dish before visiting the Mercado dos Lavradores in Funchal, where you can see the fish for sale in the market. Don’t let the appearance of this scary-looking creature from the depths put you off trying it, or you’d be really missing out.
Where to eat espada com banana e maracujá in Madeira
This surprising local delicacy is served in many local restaurants. I tried it in Chalet Vicente Restaurante in Funchal and it was fantastic.
Espada sandwich
Another way to eat espada, or black scabbard fish, is simply fried and in a sandwich.
This is probably the closest thing to Madeira street food. I tried it as part of a food and drink tour, one of the top things to do in Funchal. During the tour, the guide explained that this espada sandwich is eaten by locals on their way home after a night out drinking and partying.
I can really see how it would hit the spot after a few drinks!
Where to eat espada sandwich in Madeira
I tried it accompanied by a bottle of Brisa Maracujá, a Madeiran soft drink, in Cristalina Chique Bar. Stop here to try it any time of the day.
Octopus
Although octopus is not a traditional Madeira dish, it is incredibly popular and I would recommend you try it while you’re on the island.
You can have it cooked in lots of different ways, as a starter, as a side, or with rice. I had sautéed octopus with shallots and soya sprouts as a starter and it was perfect!
Where to eat octopus in Madeira
The octopus at the Restaurante do Forte, a restaurant within a 17th century fortress in Funchal, was exceptional. This restaurant is on the pricier end of the scale, but if you have the budget for it, I’d highly recommend it.
Carne de vinha d’alhos
Carne de vinha d’alhos is a Madeira dish that consists of small pieces of pork meat marinated in garlic and wine for at least a day, and then cooked in the marinade. This dish really packs a punch when it comes to flavour.
It’s normally served with milho frito (fried cornmeal), a typical Madeira side dish similar to polenta. Traditionally it’s served at Christmas time, but in reality it’s eaten all year round.
Where to eat carne de vinha d’alho in Madeira
Despite it being a traditional Christmas dish, you will find it in a lot of local restaurants throughout the year. I tried it in O Calhau Restaurant in Funchal and it was fantastic.
Tropical fruits
With Madeira having a sub-tropical climate, all kinds of fruits and vegetables thrive here. Two of the local fruits that you must try are bananas and maracujá (passion fruit).
Bananas from Madeira are a bit smaller and sweeter than those we get in the supermarket back home. But the star of the fruit world on the island is passion fruit. Or maybe I should say all the passion fruits you can imagine and those you didn’t even know existed.
In Madeira you will find tens of passion fruit varieties with different flavours. Some are sweet and some not so much. Try as many as you can to compare. They are all delicious!
Other fruits to try too are Swiss cheese fruit, from the Swiss cheese plant or Monstera Deliciosa, and pitanga, or Surinam cherry.
FUN FACT: Passion fruit can be used as an accompanying sauce for espada fish. An unusual combination you wouldn’t think would work. Here are more fun things to know before traveling to Madeira.
Where to try tropical fruits in Madeira
Don’t try the passion fruits or other tropical fruits from the sellers in the Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmer’s Market) in Funchal, as they are overpriced. Find a shop one or two streets away from the market instead.
Bolo de mel de cana
Bolo de mel de cana (sugar cane honey cake) is a traditional cake from Madeira and it’s considered the island’s oldest desert. It was first created by nuns in the Convento de Santa Clara in Funchal using spices from Europe and India back in the 15th century.
It was traditionally made with molasses, although it’s now mostly made with honey. This is an ideal Madeira food that you can bring home with you, as it can be stored for up to 5 years. I know in my house it wouldn’t even last 5 days!
Where to eat bolo de mel de cana in Madeira
Bolo de mel de cana is normally eaten around Christmas time, but there is a traditional bakery in the Old Town in Funchal called Fabrica Santo Antonio that makes this local delight all year round. They have an old fashioned shop where you can buy it already nicely packed to take home.
Queijada
Queijada is one of the most popular pastries in Madeira. You can find it in bakeries and pastry shops and you can have it as a dessert, at teatime, or even for breakfast.
They are made with requeijão (Madeira cottage cheese), milk, eggs, and sugar. And they are so good!
Must try Madeira drinks
Madeira wine
First and foremost, Madeira wine, of course!
Madeira wine originated in the 18th century, when the island started exporting wine to the rest of the world. They found that the wine that wasn’t sold and was returned home was much more aromatic and flavourful than when it first left the island.
This was caused by the temperature variations during sea voyages, and this is how Madeira wine came to be.
Where to drink Madeira wine in Madeira
Anywhere, really. But if you’d like to try the different kinds of Madeira wine, which I’d highly recommend, the best place is the Madeira Wine Museum in Funchal, in Blandy’s Wine Lodge.
Here you can learn about the 200 years of history of the wine, how it’s produced, developed, and stored, and you get to do a tasting at the end.
Poncha
Poncha is a traditional alcoholic drink made with aguardente de cana (sugar cane rum), sugar, and lemon juice. There are two main types that you can try.
Poncha à Pescador or Fisherman’s poncha is the traditional one, and is made, as mentioned above, with sugar cane rum, sugar and lemon juice.
It is said to have curative qualities, so traditionally fishermen would have it before setting off to sea to avoid getting sick. Still today, locals will tell you that poncha cures everything, from a cold to heartbreak.
Another type you can have is Poncha Regional, which is made with sugar cane rum, honey and orange juice. This one is a little milder. But only a little – poncha is a pretty potent drink!
Where to drink poncha in Madeira
Like Madeira wine, poncha can be found everywhere. But, if you’d like to drink poncha like the locals, visit Mercearia A Mercadora, an old fashioned grocery store-cum-bar in Funchal. Order, drink it, and go!
If you’d like to combine a bit of poncha tasting with stunning views and a scenic drive on a classic VW Beetle, check out this tour.
Brisa Maracujá
Brisa Maracujá was originally created in Madeira and it was the first soft drink in the world based on pure passion fruit juice. It is slightly carbonated and really refreshing – always welcome when it gets hot in one of Europe’s sunniest destinations.
When Madeirans leave the island for another country, one of the things they are said to miss the most is Brisa, as it’s really hard to find outside of Madeira.
FAQs about food in Madeira
Espada com banana (black scabbard fish with banana) is one of the most popular Madeira dishes and it’s unique to the island. Another unique Madeira food is the bolo do caco bread.
The average cost of food when travelling to Madeira varies between 25 Euros and 30 Euros. Madeira food prices will depend on whether the food is locally produced or imported. Imported food tends to be more expensive, this is why it is highly recommended to stick to local food in Madeira. Not only will it be cheaper but it’s also delicious, so you don’t want to miss out! It also helps support the local economy, so that’s a triple bonus!
Food in Madeira will surprise you. Due to its remote location in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira cuisine is pretty unique to the islands. It focuses mostly on local produce and it’s not just incredibly fresh, but it’s also packed with flavour. The food of Madeira will be one of the highlights of your visit.
The first thing that comes to mind for most people when you think of Madeira is Madeira wine. And it does, indeed, originate here. Madeira is also famous for its seafood such as espada (black scabbard fish) and lapas (limpets), as well as for its meat, particularly espetada, skewered beef cooked over hot coals.
Have you tried any of this food in Madeira?
Let me know in the comments below!
Like this post? Pin and save for later
Pedro Freitas
Friday 2nd of July 2021
I’’ from Madeira and I must say this is a really good and comprehensive article. The traditional Portuguese prego is in “carcaça” bread but ours in bolo do caco is better. You can eat prego in Taberna do Mercado by chef Nuno Mendes in London. There is one thing missing from Madeira gastronomy that is a must: Tuna. Tuna steak, tuna stew, dried tuna… Regards!
Teresa Gomez
Friday 2nd of July 2021
Thank you so much for your comment Pedro. I'm really happy I get the 'local seal of approval' :D Sadly, the Taberna do Mercado is now closed, so I'll have to keep looking for a prego. Or maybe I'll just have to go back to Madeira! :) And on my next visit I will try the tuna so I can add it to my guide.