A guide to food and drink in Porto Santo

Exploring Porto Santo's delicacies

Most of the cuisine you’ll find on Porto Santo holidays is traditional Madeiran. There are many local favourites available such as endless fresh fish dishes thanks to the local fishing industry. This includes Espada, the very tasty black scabbard fish often served with locally-grown bananas.

You’ll also find delicious espetada grills which are skewers of succulent beef. This may be accompanied with bolo do caco, a local bread made from sweet-potato flour and served with butter and garlic. For dessert, try one of the tasty custard flans in melt-in-the-mouth filo pastry or a mouthwatering fresh passion fruit mousse.

Enjoy local cuisine at 5 Continentes Restaurant at Casa do Velho Dragoeiro, Vila Baleira

This restaurant serves great regional food as well as international dishes and gluten free options, with a fine selection of cocktails. It’s set in a modern Portuguese style villa, which is also a hotel, which offers a nice balcony area with stunning views to the beach and Atlantic Ocean. You can also relax with a drink in the Gallery Bar, where paintings by local and national artists adorn the walls.

Relax in the rustic environment of La Siesta Restaurant, Vila Baleira

Porto Santo holidays are all about sun, sea and sand, and this restaurant is right on the edge of Vila Baleira’s beach. The rustic, wooden interior and terraced area makes this an extremely appealing and relaxed place to enjoy a meal as the sun sets over the Atlantic Ocean. They serve international cuisine, which even includes curries and a delicious duck magret, plus the usual grilled fish dishes, all served via an attentive service. They have cosy areas with sofas where you can sit to enjoy a cocktail or local wine.

Charming family-run Vila Alencastra, Campo de Baixo

Serving traditional Madeiran food, this charming family-run restaurant is a little tucked away but ticks all the boxes. They serve delicious food including the salty codfish Bacalhau, fresh grilled lapas or limpets, and espada kebabs.

There’s a nice bricked interior and smartly decorated tables, as well as a more relaxed outside courtyard decked with gorgeous potted plants. Booking is recommended in high season, as Vila Alencastra is a particularly popular choice for those on holiday in Porto Santo.

Set up on a hill in a vineyard at Restaurante Adega das Levadas, Morenos

This rustic restaurant is located high in the hills in a working vineyard where they also grow orange trees and sugar-cane. Worth a visit just so you can relax in the stunning surroundings, it’s also great value for money. This venue is named after the walkways or levadas that many tourists like to explore and is a great place to come once you’ve built up an appetite. After eating a traditional Madeiran meal, you can head to the bar, situated in a small building on the holding, and sample some homegrown wine.

Enjoy the tropical vibe at Casa d'Avo, Campo de Baixo

Located in the tranquil village of Campo de Baixo, you’ll feel like you’re in the tropics here. The yellow-infused restaurant is a colour that flows through to the smart yet traditional outdoor terrace. Given the sub-tropical climate here perhaps that’s no surprise.

They cook fantastic regional and Portuguese dishes including plenty of fresh seafood such as grilled limpets and marinated octopus. More common options are delicious sea bream, with a nice selection of desserts including chocolate pancakes to finish off the evening.