A stone’s throw from Reid’s Palace is the standalone Villa Cipriani. Start at Reid’s for a drink at 1891 – seating both inside and out has exceptional views – then make your way over to Cipriani for dinner.
The Décor/Vibe
With a gelateria from Portofino on the street, right before Villa Cipriani, this stretch of Funchal feels like a (chic) Little Italy. Inside, the room is laid out like a villa, with a cosy bar, private dining rooms, and tables facing the sea, but the main star is the outdoor courtyard with tables that are essentially hanging off a cliff, over the Atlantic. Tablecloths are crisp, wait staff are elegantly formal, and the views – sea crashing below, city lights flickering in the surrounding hills and above – are incredible.
The Menu
This is classic Italian, with some interesting combinations done well. Specials focus on local products, and include things like black scabbardfish, and dinner starts off with a selection of focaccia with anchovy butter and olive tapenade. They also have signature Cipriani dishes like vitello tonnato; a butter-rich, fresh tuna crudo with pistachio; and gnocchi with nduja, porchetta, gorgonzola, green apple, hazelnuts and pickled fennel. The wine list has local Portuguese wines, as well as, of course, a large selection of Italian and French bottles, and several dishes can be adapted to be vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free.
Anything Else
For dessert, head downstairs and have a gelato at Gelataria San Giorgio, which has Italian classics, but also integrates local ingredients, including tropical fruits that might otherwise go to waste – and island favourites, including the cocktail, Nikita, which is made from beer, wine, pineapple, and vanilla ice cream – to create innovative flavours.
Highlights
The views. Supported by the atmospheric flickering candlelight. And the dapper, professional wait staff.
