For over a century, Reid’s Palace has welcomed guests to its luxurious haven on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
A recent renovation has brought a lighter, brighter feel to the hotel whilst maintaining its obvious respect for its cultural heritage and its period furnishings. The history of the hotel and the island are woven hand in hand into the fabric of the hotel, with various artifacts and memorabilia attesting to the stories of the British families who lived out here, and the history of Madeira wine.
Local handicrafts from tiles to linens complete the feel, but the overwhelming character of the hotel is a sunny one with views out to the sparkling sea and black-and-white check balconies jutting out from the old pink walls offering the perfect place to finish that book.
As part of the Belmond group, the service is of course excellent. There are two tennis courts with a coach available for lessons, and a variety of both seawater (heated) and freshwater swimming pools. There is also direct access to the sea via stairs built into the rocks.
The impressive gardens around the hotel are open to the public several days a week, with guided tours available.
There is a spa with treatments using Natura Bissé and Aromatherapy Associates products.
Rooms vary in size and shape due to the old structure of the hotel, but the best have sea views and balconies, which are hard to tear yourself away from. Rooms are charmingly old fashioned, in powder blues and creams with large beds clad in exquisite linen and fresh flowers; they are comfortable rather than cutting edge. Bathrooms are done in hand-painted tiles and have tubs and showers with amenities from Portuguese brand Claus Porto.
Afternoon tea at Reid’s has long been famed for its scones with clotted cream and finger sandwiches on the terrace, as has the Manager’s cocktail every Monday evening. The Champagne Gala Buffet is held in the summer months amidst the elegant columns and crystal chandeliers of the 19th-century room.
The Michelin-starred William Restaurant offers modern seasonal cuisine inspired by local ingredients with dishes such as duo of lobster with Funchal aromas or suckling pig with caviar, cauliflower and almonds amidst views of the Bay of Funchal. Villa Cipriani, a nod to owning group Belmond’s Venetian hotel, delivers delicious Italian specialities (try the famous Cipriani carpaccio) on its warm, open air terrace to the sound of the sea. In the heart of the island’s capital, Funchal, so highly convenient for the surrounding shops, museums and restaurants, although some might just want to enjoy the spectacular gardens of the hotel. The airport is a 20-minute drive away.
