Funchal – Madeira’s capital – has some fine restaurants but a “must” whenever we visit is the sublime Il Basilico. Owned by the successful PortoBay Hotels & Resorts, it’s one of several eateries the group has in the city and, in our view, one of its finest.
Situated on Funchal’s popular Lido promenade, this attractively decorated Italian restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. We visited for lunch and sat outside, enjoying the clement weather.
Among the dishes we chose were a wheat-based pasta dish and a tasty pizza with vegan cheese (made from tofu) topped with cherry tomatoes and asparagus. I’ve tried various versions of vegan cheese and this was the most delicious by far.
As well as being located in a favoured location and offering fine food, the restaurant has staff who are not only attentive but extremely welcoming. It was good to meet Paulo (who looked after us on a previous occasion) again; as always, he helped make this occasion among the most pleasant of our stay.
So, if you like Italian food, you’ll definitely love this restaurant – and not only for the food. The décor is swish, the service first-class and the general ambience top-drawer.
Next-door to Il Basilico is the company’s sister restaurant, Horta. It opened relatively recently and promotes itself as offering “healthy, comfort food”. With the lion’s share of vegetables used coming straight from the PortoBay veg garden, you can’t get much fresher than that!
Rua de Leichlingen 9 and 11, Funchal; Il Basilico open all week, 12.30-3pm, 6.30pm-10pm; Horta closed Mon & Tues, otherwise open 12.30-3pm, 6.30pm-10pm; www.portobay.com
For All Those Little Holiday Extras…
Sometimes, it seems like there is an endless list of components to consider when booking a short trip or choosing your main family holiday. That’s where a company like Holiday Extras comes to the fore. We’ve used them plenty of times and have never been disappointed.
This time, they set up our parking at Bristol Airport and everything went smoothly – but then again, I don’t expect anything less from this company. The paperwork arrived quickly and the instructions were clear.
So, whether it’s airport parking, airport transfers, lounge access, overnight hotel stays or other aspects involved with travelling, try Holiday Extras to help make your trip run smoothly.
Reviewied: August 2024
Leave A Comment