Horta Restaurant – Funchal

But it’s not just hotels for which PortoBay has become a leader in its field, the group has several top-notch restaurants on the island of Madeira, too.

Here at Travellowdown, we’re frequent visitors to this lush, mountainous isle sitting 280 miles from the African coast, and one of our favourite eateries is the sublime Il Basilico, an attractively decorated restaurant specialising in Italian cuisine.

On our most recent visit, however, we enjoyed lunch at Horta, located next-door to Il Basilico on Funchal’s popular Lido promenade. The focus here is healthy, fresh food using local and home-grown ingredients; in fact, many of the vegetables and fruits used are grown in the large PortoBay garden, situated in the upper part of the city.

Recognised by the Michelin Guide, the menu offers plenty of choice. Meat and fish eaters are well catered for, as are vegetarians and vegans – much to our delight. Vegan options include starters such as flocão with coconut vinaigrette plus pea hummus. As for main dishes, barley risotto with hazelnut and chive pesto or green lentil curry caught our attention.

There’s a relaxed ambience at Horta which adds to the occasion of dining here. Add attentive, welcoming staff and delicious, freshly-made meals complemented by fine wine or cooling soft drinks into the mix and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a first-class dining experience.

Another important element for us at Travellowdown when choosing a restaurant is décor. We prefer a contemporary style and Horta certainly boasts clean lines and uncluttered forms. The work of Lisbon-based interior designer and architect, Catarina Cabral, the décor is based on light tones and natural touches, including wooden furniture and spot lighting, while the outside dining area is edged by vegetation.

We enjoyed our delicious lunch at Horta and would recommend you add a visit to your itinerary next time you’re in Funchal.

For more information about PortoBay hotels and restaurants on the island, go to