Funchal Marina and sea front
The marina and sea front has undergone a huge period of change. It was very badly damaged by flooding some years ago and has been re-developed since. The marina is the latest part to have been re-developed and as I write in 2026 it is largely waiting for bars and restaurants to arrive and the scene to thrive again.
Unlike The Old Town or around the  Rua da Impreza Dona Amelia, the Sea Front is spread out from the harbour breakwater to the Cable car terminus. It is easy to drift down from Downtown Funchal onto the sea front.
Design Centre, Funchal breakwater
Standing high on the breakwater is the impressive Design Centre amongst the cruise liners. This is a design centre but also a very good restaurant with views back over the harbour and the bay of Funchal and its surrounding hills. At dusk as Funchal lights up the view is quite lovely. You can call by for a coffee or a drink during the day and enjoy sunning yourself and looking out to sea as well. The design centre belongs to Nini Andrade Silva who did much of the interior design work on the Savoy Palace hotel. It is a very impressive hotel.
You can read the history of the design centre along with images of its transformation from a fort via a grain store.
Hotel CR7: Cristiano Ronaldo.
Leaving the Breakwater and walking east (a right turn, a left turn will take you up a steep hill to the Rua da Impreza Dona Amelia district) you will soon come to Hotel CR7. Named and themed around Madeira’s most famous son Cristiano Ronaldo. (There is a museum to his life and achievements) The quayside coffee bars are nice and great to look in amazement as the size of the cruise liners that visit Madeira.
There are a number of restaurants and clubs opening around CR7. Continuing along Avenue Sa Carneiro on the left is a cafe -restaurant bar Gruta that is on the round about, but very popular as it is in a natural cave. This is a venue that stays open late, reflecting the nightlife scene of the sea front.
Continuing onwards you come to Funchal’s brew pub or beer house which overlooks the Marina. The beer is good. Having now joined the Avenue Do Mar. There ae pleasant gardens in which to walk in. On the city side of Avenue Do Mar are a number of international restaurants including McDonalds and Pizza Hut.
At the Praca do Povo (when not hosting an event) there is is often a cluster of street food stalls. The pleasant promenade continues with open spaces and shade along with the odd coffee bars / snack bars offering nice snacks, coffees and super ice creams.
Cable car
You now arrive at The Parca da Autonomia with 2 piers built as part of Funchal’s flood protection scheme ushering the confluence of 2 rivers into the sea. Both piers have food outlets on them. Following the promenade you will arrive at the Funchal Cable car terminal – Teleferico Funchal – Monte. You can take a ride to Monte enjoying fabulous views over Funchal as you swing above the rooves of the Old Town and the suburbs of Funchal arriving in Monte.
My mental map is based on the following quarters, Downtown Funchal, Sea front Funchal, Old town Funchal (Zona Velha), The Savoy, Carlton and Casino district around the Rua da Imprezza Dona Amelia and The hotel district.
This guide is based on personal experience and as such cannot guarantee the quality of any restaurant mentioned.