10 Best Cafés In Madeira That You’ll Have A Hard Time Forgetting

It’s almost impossible to list all of the best cafés in Madeira. Coffee shops and pastelarias are around almost every corner.

During my time on the island, I’ve stopped at more cafés than I can count, from Funchal to the north, east and west coasts. My weekend ritual was always the same: hiking with friends, followed quite naturally by coffee (and the occasional poncha).

This round-up features the 10 best cafés in Madeira that I’ve personally visited. Narrowing them down wasn’t easy, but these stand out for their views, location, coffee and overall atmosphere.

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1. Eira Do Serrado Café, Curral das Freiras (Nun’s Valley)

Accessible without a car? Yes (SIGA bus no. 81/181)

Location: Eira Do Serrado

Eira Do Serrado Café was one of the first Madeira cafés I visited, and boy did it leave an impression. I’ve been back since, and it never gets old. Granted, it’s based in a large hotel, next to a busy souvenir shop, so the atmosphere itself isn’t extraordinary. But the view is what makes it.

Best for a scenic drive or short hike, it’s located next to the Eira Do Serrado viewpoint, overlooking Curral das Freiras (Nun’s Valley), a small village surrounded by tall mountains in the centre of Madeira.

After taking your coffee, you have the option of taking the bus directly into Nun’s Valley to explore the village – chestnut dishes are the staple – or hiking there downhill via the zig-zag path down the mountain.

2. Katrepa’s Bar, Porto da Cruz

Accessible without a car? No

Location: Katrepa’s Bar

Katrepa’s Bar in Porto da Cruz is one of my regular go-to cafés in Madeira, mainly because it sits next to two of my favourite hikes: Eagle Rock and Levada do Castelejo (both feature in my guide to the best hikes in Madeira).

It’s a really nice stop after either hike. However, the views are also to die for – if you manage to grab a spot in the terrace out front, because it overlooks the dramatic Eagle Rock mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s only a small snack bar, so don’t expect too much from the offerings – you can get coffee and snacks.

3. Boutique do Areeiro, Pico do Arieiro

Accessible without a car? Yes (PR1 hiking transfer)

Location: Pico do Ariero

I really couldn’t write up a list of the best cafés in Madeira without mentioning the coffee shop at the top of Pico do Arieiro, the third highest mountain on the island. Kind of like the first one, I don’t recommend Boutique do Areeiro for the coffee quality, but it’s best for views.

It looks out over Madeira’s chiselled mountains, all sharp and misty and beautiful. Remember to check the weather (and webcams) before you go, because the views disappear completely when it’s cloudy.

You can drive to the café just for that alone, but if you’re willing and able (it’s a tough hike that’s sometimes closed), take a PR1 hiking transfer to do the PR1 hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo; remember to book the hike via SIMPLIFICA beforehand

4. Cabo Aéreo Café, São Jorge

Accessible without a car? No

Location: Cabo Aéreo Café Restaurant

Best for escaping the crowds, Cabo Aéreo Café is popular with locals and digital nomads in Madeira alike. It’s located on the northeast of the island, in São Jorge. The views are just so good from the outdoor terrace, which has a lot of seating.

You can see a zig-zag path in the distance. That’s actually a hike, Caminho Real to the São Cristóvão Viewpoint, which you can easily do before driving up to Cabo Aéreo Café – that hike also has a restaurant/bar at its halfway point, called Bar São Cristóvão.

5. Forest Food & Coffee, Funchal Ecological Park

Accessible without a car? No

Location: Forest Food & Coffee

My friend, João, who lives in Madeira, took me to Forest Food & Coffee on a rainy Saturday in Madeira. It’s only a 20-minute drive from Funchal, in the green Funchal Ecological Park, so it’s perfect for a rainy-day activity. Just note, it’s popular, especially on rainy days, so you may need to wait for a table.

I couldn’t fault the atmosphere in the wood cabin, especially with the rainy vibes outside. The coffee was also delicious. I feature this coffee shop in my list of the best things to do in Funchal, because it’s just that good!

6. Bar Hercules, Porto da Cruz

Accessible without a car? No

Location: Bar Hercules

Bar Hercules is a coffee shop I discovered almost by chance, and oh my goodness, it is so good. Best as a hiking stop, it’s located along Levada dos Castelejo hike in Porto Da Cruz, in east Madeira, but you could also visit it before doing the nearby Vereda do Larano coastal hike or climbing Eagle Rock, too.

It’s a small, indoor-only café packed with character. There are bottles, clocks and model cars lining the walls. The coffee is very affordable, too.

7. Jasmin Tea House, Sao Goncalo

Accessible without a car? Yes (bus no. 47)

Location: Jasmin Tea House

Best for coffee near Funchal, Jasmin Tea House is technically a tea house (it’s British-owned), but it still deserves a space in this round-up. I love, love, love the quality of the coffee and cakes here – they even had gluten-free lemon cake on my third visit – but it’s also just beautiful, overlooking the Palheiro Golf Course. Keep your eyes peeled for the chunky ginger cat, Molly!

You can reach Jasmin Tea House by bus from Funchal in about 20 minutes. I love taking the bus there, then hiking along Levada dos Tornos to Monte before taking the cable car back down to Funchal. So fun, mostly flat, and so pretty!

8. Pátio das Babosas, Monte

Accessible without a car? Yes (cable car or bus no. 20/21)

Location: Pátio das Babosas

Pátio das Babosas is such a nice café near Funchal. It’s located in Monte, above Funchal, and accessible by cable car, bus or on foot along Levada dos Tornos – in fact, one day, I took the bus to Jasmin Tea House (above), walked to Monte, and rewarded myself with a second coffee at Pátio das Babosas.

Pátio das Babosas has a lovely terrace overlooking Funchal and the cable cars. The vibe’s also really nice indoors. It is popular, though, so you may have to wait for a table. In the picture above, I’m smiling so much because we managed to get the perfect corner table!

9. Sabores Maria, Quinta Grande (Near Cabo Girão)

Accessible without a car? No

Location: Sabores Maria

Sabores Maria is another lesser-known coffee shop in Madeira. It’s actually a bakery/pastelaria, and we were tempted in by the promise of maracujá and chocolate-filled pastel de nata.

Unfortunately, I’m gluten-intolerant so I couldn’t eat them, but they were taste-approved by my friends. I loved the coffee, and the overall atmosphere. It’s also tucked just above Cabo Girão (with its popular Skywalk) and near Fajã dos Padres, so it’s a short drive from Funchal and an easy add-on to your trip to either attraction.

10. Doca do Cavacas, Lido (Funchal)

Accessible without a car? Yes (bus no. 1, 2 or 4)

Location: Doca do Cavacas

Doca do Cavacas is another of the best cafés in Funchal, located at the Funchal natural pools. It’s technically a café, bar and restaurant that’s known to host DJ nights.

The venue is based above the Funchal natural pools, and when I was there (I paid for entry to the pools), you could even take the drinks down to the poolside. Watching the sunset over the volcanic pools with a coffee in hand is a very Madeira experience.

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One thing I love about Madeira is how naturally coffee stops become part of the day: after hikes, near the beach or during a road trip. So I hope this gives you some inspiration!

If you’re planning a trip, make sure to check out my Madeira travel tips guide for everything I wish I knew before visiting the island.