Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira
Warmly greeting guests with its coral-hued walls and regal cliffside location for over 125 years, Reid’s Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira is a historic haunt that harkens back to the days when socialites spent seasons on grand European tours. Once a favorite of the British elite and prime ministers (Winston Churchill spent many months holed up here), the Portuguese island retreat is now a favorite of families and newlyweds for its blend of old-world charm and contemporary elegance.
Sun-draped terraces provide the perfect spot to sip on a glass of port with a splash of tropical breezes while vintage-inspired accommodations are quaint and comfortable with a dash of opulence. An array of restaurants, three ocean-side pools and a serene spa ensure plenty of exhilarating ways to fill your days, while stunning sunsets over the sea are all but guaranteed each evening.
- Thanks to its spectacular clifftop perch, Redi’s Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira offers one of the island’s best views from almost every vantage point. Even if you can’t score a sea-facing room, you can still savor breakfast from the luxury hotel’s spacious terrace and soak up some rays from the ocean-view pool deck.
- While there’s no beach to speak of, you can still enjoy a dip in the Atlantic Ocean from the luxury hotel’s ocean deck. Dive directly into the sea or opt instead to make waves in the seawater-adjacent saltwater pool.
- Enjoy some locally inspired pampering at the Madeira hotel’s spa. Local ingredients like lemon, bergamot and aloe vera balsam provide an indulgent sense of place, as do waterfront vistas from your treatment suite’s private terrace.
- Accommodation ooze old-world charm with floral-printed walls, wing-backed armchairs and classic wooden furniture. Plush fabrics and soft carpets make the spaces feel wonderfully cozy rather than stuffy.
- If you can tear yourself away from the luxury hotel’s bevy of comforts, the property offers nearly endless ways for you to explore further afield. Curated Madeira adventures include a sunrise breakfast from the peak of Pico do Arieiro, a wildlife-watching adventure to Desertas Islands and a guided tour of the historic Fajȃ dos Padres gardens.
- Celebrating the storied Reid’s Palace, A Belmond Hotel’s history in style, William Restaurant is an internationally acclaimed seaside dining room serving elevated takes on Madeira’s local bounty. Seasonally changing offerings might include coastal catch of the day served with smoked hollandaise or a fork-tender pork shoulder with a fresh bite of blackberry compote.
- Savor Italian cuisine and gentle sea breezes at Ristorante Villa Cipriani. Seafood-forward dishes such as linguine with lobster sauce are particularly enticing when enjoyed from the high-end restaurant’s ocean-view terrace.
- Afternoon tea on the black-and-white-tiled terrace overlooking the Port of Funchal is an elegant affair, especially when paired with a glass of bubbles.
- Enjoy a morning mimosa or light afternoon lunch alfresco at the Pool Terrace. If you’re feeling particularly daring, you can order your club sandwich to go and take it down the cliffside steps to savor by the ocean-side saltwater pool.
