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Reid's Palace

Reid's Palace

Madeira, Portugal

Nestled within botanical gardens on a rocky cliff overlooking Funchal Bay, this grand old dame has been welcoming guests for more than a century. Winston Churchill wrote his war memoirs here, and the walls are awash with photographs of the property’s rich heritage.

Dating to 1891, Reid’s Palace has been sensitively renovated and extended. Lofty ceilings, a light palette, and Edwardian decor prevail, and original features like ornate frescoes, marble chessboard floors, and Murano crystal chandeliers shine anew. All rooms and suites face the sea and come with a patio or balcony overlooking the subtropical gardens and ocean beyond.

The hotel’s two swimming pools make the most of the bay views and a luxury spa offers treatments that harness local ingredients. You can tour the botanical gardens with an expert horticulturist, play tennis, or jump straight into the sea from a terrace built into the rocks.

Here, traditions abound, and you can join a dinner dance, Champagne buffet, or cocktail masterclass, or take afternoon tea on the terrace — an occasion that dates to the hotel’s earliest days.

The one-Michelin-starred William Restaurant celebrates Madeira’s rich bounty with a menu crafted around seafood from the Atlantic, while an Italian eatery dishes up homemade pasta and ocean views from its alfresco terrace.

OUR OPINION:

Reid’s Palace has history, elegance, and magnificent views of the Bay of Funchal and Atlantic Ocean — and that’s just the start. Lovely botanical gardens, Michelin-starred food, a private beach, and slick, razor-sharp service make for a fabulous stay.

OUR RATING: Deluxe

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Rooms

Spread across the old building and newer wing, rooms and suites are spacious and bright, featuring marble bathrooms and balconies or patios overlooking the botanical gardens and ocean.

High ceilings, draped curtains, and squashy sofas give rooms an old-world charm. All are furnished with antique-style furniture and decorated in delicate pastels. Florals are a recurring theme, splashed across wallpaper, curtains, headboards, sofas, and artwork — while nods to Madeira’s heritage include locally made blue-and-white linens and hand-painted tiling in the bathrooms.

The room where Winston Churchill wrote his memoirs is now a Presidential Suite, and comes with Chinese hand-painted wallpaper, silk curtains, and a private veranda with panoramic ocean views.

Location

Perched on a clifftop in a quiet spot along Madeira’s rugged coastline, Reid’s Palace overlooks the Bay of Funchal and offers direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s also conveniently located for exploring Madeira’s capital with its museums, boutiques, and restaurants. Funchal’s old town is a 30-minute stroll or ten-minute shuttle ride away. The airport can be reached in 20 minutes by car.

Food and drink

  • William is a Michelin-starred restaurant serving modern seasonal cuisine inspired by local ingredients.
  • Ristorante Villa Cipriani serves homemade pasta on an open-air terrace overlooking the Atlantic.
  • Brisa Do Mar is an alfresco venue celebrating fresh seafood.
  • The Pool Terrace offers breakfast and all-day dining.
  • Champagne afternoon tea is served on the ocean-view terrace.
  • GastroBar serves signature cocktails, wines, and light dishes.

Families

  • Family rooms come with a sofa bed and terrace overlooking the hotel gardens.
  • Interconnecting rooms are available.
  • Games room and children’s club for ages three to nine.
  • Babysitting services can be booked.
  • Children’s menus available in all restaurants.
  • Bathrobes, slippers, toiletries, and soft toys provided for children.

Facilities and activities

  • Two heated outdoor swimming pools — one freshwater, one seawater.
  • Private beach with tidal pool and serviced sundeck.
  • Luxury spa with sauna, steam room, and five treatment rooms offering ocean views.
  • Well-equipped fitness room.
  • Extensive subtropical gardens featuring the island’s native flora, where guests can take tours and botanical art workshops.
  • Boutique offering fashion, accessories, and gifts.
  • Tennis courts with lessons available.

Accessibility

  • Communal areas are wheelchair accessible, except the gardens.
  • Several suites are fully adapted for guests with disabilities.

Tour ideas in Madeira

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Reid's Palace as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.

    Experiences while staying here

    The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area's inhabitants.

    • Breakfast above the clouds
      Pico do Areeiro, one of the highest points on Madeira

      Breakfast above the clouds

      Breakfast above the clouds

      Tuck into a private picnic on the summit of Pico do Areeiro as the sun rises above an ocean of cloud. You can watch the sky brighten in rays of warm orange light to the sound of birdsong, all with a hot drink in hand.

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    • Hiking Madeira’s levadas pathways
      Levada, Madeira

      Hiking Madeira’s levadas pathways

      Hiking Madeira’s levadas pathways

      The levada trails run alongside Madeira’s 15th-century network of waterways. You’ll find panoramic views around every corner as you trek through the dense forests, emerald valleys, and remote villages of the island’s hinterland.

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    Madeira and nearby places