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Reid’s Palace, A Belmond Hotel

A historic five-star Belmond clifftop hotel on a rocky promontory above Funchal Bay in Madeira since 1891, built by Scottish wine merchant William Reid within ten acres of subtropical gardens sloping to the Atlantic, with the William Restaurant holding Madeira’s first Michelin star, four restaurants, three swimming pools, an oceanfront spa, and direct sea access from the hotel’s ocean deck.

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At a glance

Reid’s Palace stands on a rocky promontory above Funchal Bay, surrounded by ten acres of subtropical gardens that slope toward the Atlantic. The hotel was built by William Reid, a Scottish immigrant who arrived in Madeira as a young man and built a wine export business on the island before constructing the hotel that now bears his name.

It opened in 1891 and went on to attract guests including Empress Sissi of Austria and Winston Churchill, who spent several months at the property. The hotel became part of the Belmond portfolio, and today its coral-pink facade and clifftop position above Funchal make it one of the most recognizable buildings on the island.

The William Restaurant, the hotel’s signature fine dining venue, holds the first Michelin star ever awarded to a Madeiran chef. Three swimming pools, an oceanfront spa, direct access to the sea from the hotel’s ocean deck, and four restaurants stand within the property grounds. The hotel’s position above Funchal Bay provides views that extend across the harbor to the mountains behind the city.

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In detail

Food and Drink

William holds Madeira’s first Michelin star, with a contemporary tasting menu built around the island’s seasonal ingredients and the seafood of the Atlantic, served with panoramic bay views.

Villa Cipriani is the clifftop Italian restaurant, serving antipasti, pasta, and risotto with ocean views from the dining room and terrace. The Dining Room is the hotel’s main restaurant, serving breakfast daily and hosting themed dining evenings during the winter season, including the Sunday Champagne Gala Buffet. 1891 Bar is the hotel’s cocktail bar, named after the year of opening, with a resident pianist and a cocktail list built around Madeira’s fruits and wine tradition.
Spa and Wellness

Reid’s Palace Spa features indoor and outdoor therapy suites with private whirlpools and Atlantic-facing terraces, a menu of treatments using local Madeiran ingredients including lemon, bergamot, and aloe vera balsam, dry and wet saunas, and a fully equipped gym.

Pilates classes and yoga sessions are available daily. Three swimming pools stand on the clifftop, including two infinity pools and a seawater pool adjacent to the ocean deck where guests can swim directly in the Atlantic. Tennis courts are available on site.
Location

Reid’s Palace stands on a rocky promontory above Funchal Bay on the southern coast of Madeira, with ten acres of subtropical gardens sloping toward the Atlantic.

Funchal city centre is a 20-minute walk down the promenade or a short taxi ride from the hotel, with the Old Town, the cathedral, and the flower and fish markets close by. The Monte Palace Tropical Garden, reached by cable car, and the levada walks through the island’s laurel forests give easy access to Madeira’s more dramatic landscapes. Madeira Airport is around 20 minutes by car.

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Room Types

Rooms

All rooms feature dark wood furniture, floral-printed walls, wing-backed armchairs, marble bathrooms with a deep soaking tub and walk-in shower, and a private balcony or patio with ocean or garden views.

Each includes a minibar with complimentary soft drinks, free WiFi, air conditioning, and a safe.

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Family Rooms

Family Rooms connect two rooms to create a combined space for families, with the same marble bathrooms, private balconies, and ocean or garden views as the standard room categories.

An extra bed can be added on request.

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Suites

Suites average 80 square meters with a separate bedroom, an oversized sitting room, and a private veranda with sea views over Funchal Bay.

Each includes a marble bathroom with a deep soaking tub and walk-in shower, dark wood furniture, and the same finish as the rooms below. Suites can connect with adjoining rooms for larger groups or families.

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Signature Suites

The Signature Suite collection stands at the top of the property, with the Winston Churchill Suite as the most historically significant option. Churchill spent extended periods at the property painting the Madeiran landscape and the bay below.

The suite features floor-to-ceiling windows, hand-painted wallpapers, Portuguese tiles, a private terrace, and views across Funchal Bay and the mountains rising behind the city.

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Our reviews

“Our trip was truly magical and full of core memories that will last us a lifetime.”

Michael • Bora Bora Honeymoon

“We just returned from an incredible journey through Ireland, and we couldn’t have had a better experience”

Brad • Ireland Adventure

“This was a flawless experience right from the beginning, we had so many thoughts and ideas flowing around and they took all of them and perfectly curated the most beautiful honeymoon for us.”

Kris • Sicily Honeymoon

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