More than skewers! The best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Madeira
It’s an island in the middle of the Atlantic. And to make things worse, the most traditional dish consists of skewered chunks of beef on laurel branches. Panic starts to settle. For a second there, you get buyer’s remorse. What can vegans and vegetarians eat in Madeira? Are there any vegan restaurants in Madeira? Will you eat nothing but salads for a whole week?
Hold on. Don’t start spiraling just yet, because I have good news for you. Although traditional Madeira food may not be veggie-friendly, Madeira is a place where vegetables and fruits abound. Plus, don’t forget about that delicious bread. So, even in the remotest parts of the island, you’ll always find something delish to try.
Plus, you may be pleased to hear that Madeira has increasingly more and more vegetarian options, even in the most unsuspicious places. I was recently at Santo da Serra and one of the traditional snack-bars over there had both vegetarian and vegan burgers. Are they Michelin-star grade? Probably not, but you won’t go hungry either.
In fact, you may be pleasantly surprised with some of the options the island has to offer for vegans and vegetarians. Since the raw ingredients are here, all you need is a good cook to make them shine. Without further ado, here’s my updated list of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Madeira [2025].
Vegan restaurants in Madeira
The unexpected Middle Eastern wrap at Fala Fala, perfect as a snack or a whole meal, depending on your appetite.
Fala fala
Fala fala is the absolute best vegan restaurant in Funchal. Tucked between Blandy’s Wine Lodge and an old mall, it may look unassuming at first. But don’t let the looks deceive you! Their motto is “international ideas, local products” and do they do it justice. The owner crafts the most delicious dishes using local produce, and I wholeheartedly recommend their dish of the day (10€) any day, but especially if it’s pasta.
Apart from the dish of the day, Fala Fala also offers falafel wraps and vegan picado. However, their vegan picado, a version of the Madeiran dish made with soy curls, is the only dish I wouldn’t recommend out of their menu. That said, around December they do a mean version of “carne de vinha d’alhos”, vegan bolo de mel and bolo de mel-inspired desserts which taste exactly like the original ones.
And of course, they have vegan chocolate brownie all year round – which is not to be missed.
The luscious plum cheesecake at Veganaria, in Ponta do Sol.
Veganaria (Ponta do Sol)
After Fala fala, Veganaria in Ponta do Sol is the place where you’ll have a second revelation. A vegan cheese deli hidden in a 90s shopping mall – seriously, they still sell cassettes over there! – in a village where only 8.000 people live? It may sound like finding an igloo in the middle of the desert, and I wouldn’t believe it myself if I hadn’t been there. But it’s real. And their cheese is so good it is equally hard to believe.
All of their cheeses are made entirely in house: they start from humble cashews and almonds, soak them, blend them, age them and, in the process, do some sort of sorcery that turns them into gooey deliciousness. As any vegan will know, vegan cheese that actually *melts* and spreads is the Holy Grail of vegan cheesemaking, and they’ve perfected it. And while that’s a feat on its own, the flavour is all there too. Just try their cheese platter and taste it for yourself!
For those with a sweet tooth, they also offer homemade cheesecake. Flavours vary, but I recommend their intense chocolate and orange combo, the plum cheesecake on the photo above, and their refreshing lemon-poopy version.
For the sake of honesty – there’s another fully vegan restaurant in Funchal, called Mundo Vegan, in the Lido area. I’ve only been there twice, and both times I was disappointed with the service and the food. Hence, even though it has good reviews on Google Maps and on Happy Cow, I’m not including it in this guide. If you go there, please give me some feedback to decide if I should include it in the future. (The same happens with other popular spots with vegan options are Pima Caju and Mya Café, that I’m not recommending as of today.)
restaurants with Vegan Options in Funchal (no salads, Omelets, or Souless food)
Friic
One of the great pains of living in Madeira is finding out about Friic, and then learn how to live without them during the winter months. Friic has two locations: one at the Forum Shopping Mall, and another one at Madeira Shopping, and both close from November to April. Thus, I have created a third, well-hidden location in my freezer, where I hoard several of their ice creams. You know, for those long winter months.
Friic is an ice parlour that uses purely fruit grown in Madeira, harvested at the perfect time for maximum flavour and intensity. When you eat one of their sorbets, you feel like you’re eating the actual fruit, with the right amount of sweetness and acidity. And of course, you can always go for strawberry, but why not try anona (cherimoya), pitanga (Surinam cherry), tomate inglês (tamarillo), tabaibo (prickly pear) or goiaba (guava)?
And no, it’s not just fruit sorbets. They also have vegan nut-based ice creams, such as dark chocolate, chocolate with hazelnut, pistachio, and almond with orange. The chocolate and hazelnut one tastes just like a Ferrero Rocher, and I’ll die on that lane.
Mo’rella melting.
Lume, Pizzas do Mauro, and Alforno
Okay, less desserts and more food. Madeira is a small place and, as in most small places, you can make a name for yourself relatively fast. That’s what happened to Veganaria, and it quickly started supplying several restaurants around the island. This means there are currently three pizza places in Funchal where you can get vegan pizza with Veganaria’s mouth-watering, soft “Mor’ella”.
These three places would be Pizzaria Lume, Pizzas do Mauro, and Alforno. All of them are good and it’s hard to pick one. In my opinion, Lume has the best tomato sauce; Pizzas do Mauro has the best crust and Alforno is the most generous with the cheese. You can ask for any pizza (just ask to sub regular cheese for Veganaria’s), but my favourites are the Ortolana (Pizzas do Mauro), Tartufata (Lume) and Roasted Eggplant (Alforno).
If you’re vegetarian and okay with lactose, Pizzas do Mauro also serves a great tiramisu, which will be the perfect end to your meal. Alforno usually has Veganaria’s tiramisù on Fridays.
Café do Museu
For vegetarians, there’s another great option in downtown Funchal with a daily menu: Café do Museu. From Monday to Friday, they always have a creative daily menu with an option for omnivores and another for vegetarians. Sometimes the vegetarian option can be made vegan, but not always. However, the staff are knowledgeable and accommodating. If you can’t have the dish of the day, the lentil burger is quite good.
Terra
Terra is where you can go if you want to splurge a little more on a meal (they’re not dish of the day prices), but aren’t looking for Michelin-star restaurant indulgence. Their menu changes seasonally, but they always have a few vegetarian and vegan options, including desserts. And they’re not just “phoning it in”, because the veggie dishes are well-balanced and seasoned. Just make sure you book ahead.
Typographia
Also in downtown Funchal, almost next to Terra, Typographia offers three vegetarian dishes on their menu. Again, it’s a little more on the expensive side, but it won’t break the bank either. The hotel where it’s located, Castanheiro Boutique Hotel, often organises concerts and events, so make sure to check their Instagram page before your holiday to see if anything sparks your interest.
Beer Garden
Beer Garden is one of the local’s favourite places to eat picado. They just can’t get over little pieces of meat in a buttery sauce served with fries and shared with friends, so this place tends to get crowded. But if you’re in Funchal, want to try a traditional picado and do okay with gluten, get there early and order the vegan picado, which they make with seitan and pleeenty of laurel.
Japanese, Korean and Indian Restaurants with Vegan Options in Funchal
Kirita Noodles
First, a vegan cheese deli in Ponta do Sol, and now I’m trying to convince you to have Japanese food in Madeira? I ought to be messing with you! But alas, I’m not. Kirita is owned by a third-generation expert Japanese noodle maker who apparently just fell in love with Madeira and started doing what he had always done – just with local ingredients. Even their noodles are made on site with Madeiran Insular-brand flour.
You’ll love the miso leek homemade onigiris (and yes, the seaweed also comes from here!), the vegetable tempura (using local produce), and the noodle soups. Basically anything on their menu can be made vegan and with very little fat, so it’s a light yet wholesome option. They do require you to book ahead, but it’s very easy to get in touch with them through Instagram or WhatsApp.
Vegan samosas with chutney, aloo gobi, and basmati rice at Chef Guru
Indian: Chef Guru, Basmati, and Himalaya
Indian cuisine is well-known for being very vegetarian and vegan-friendly. There are several dozen throughout Funchal, so no matter where you are I’m sure you’ll be able to find one nearby. Chef Guru has an all vegan menu (ask for it), while Basmati and Himalaya have several vegetarian options that can be made vegan, including chana masala or lentil dal. None of them are earth-shattering, but they will do the trick and add some variety to your diet.
Tapy’s (Funchal and Machico)
Tapy’s is Madeira’s single Korean restaurant. It started as a food truck by Machico’s beach, and they recently opened a restaurant in Funchal, right next to Mercado dos Lavradores. Vegetarians can delight in their kimchi fried rice with egg, cold spicy bibim noodles, or their intense, caramelised black jjajang noodles with veggies, which can also be made vegan. At their Funchal location, you can also have bibimbap or gyozas.
Sushimari Monumental
Sushi is also a very vegan friendly option, and a lot of sushi places in Funchal have vegetarian servings with avocado, mango and other tropical fruits. Sushmari, however, has one of the best presentations, and they recently started to offer sushi with Veganaria’s cremoso to replace Philadelphia cheese. They are really stepping up their game for vegans and deserve some credit for it.
Umami Don
Umami Don is another Asian restaurant with several options for vegetarians, including a vegan miso eggplant bao (which is very tasty), vegan sushi (passable) and vegan bowls (acceptable). It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s an okay place to grab a bite near Jardim Municipal, has generous opening hours and you can order in, so it’s a good place to keep on the back of your mind.
More vegetarian restaurants in Madeira (outside of Funchal)
Palm Spot Restaurant, Ponta do Sol
We’re back on the road and back to Ponta do Sol. Yes, this is another place with Veganaria’s cheese on their menu (an earthy beetroot carpaccio with nuts and vegan feta), but they have a ton of vegetarian and vegan options on their menu. The menu itself is a bit hard to decipher, since they use both “plant-based” labels (for vegan dishes) and “vegan” (for dishes that can be veganised).
Apart from the carpaccio, you can also snack on some hummus and falafel, or go for something heartier like butternut carbonarata or white bean ragù. For dessert, they have a mango brulée, panacotta or pineapple cake, which are all refreshing options to enjoy right in front of Ponta do Sol’s pier and beach. And if the sunset asks for something more, they offer an extensive drink menu too.
O Forno, Ponta do Pargo (Calheta)
Didn’t I tell you that Madeira can surprise you? O Forno is a family-run restaurant all the way in Ponta do Pargo, basically dedicated to, well, barbecues. However, it has included vegetarian dishes on their menu for at least the last 8 years. Vegetarians can enjoy their “jacket potato” filled with hearty, smokey red beans, corn on the hob, vegan chilli, and moroccan tagine with local veggies and couscous.
And if you want a taste of Madeira, look no further either. I’m told they now have a fairly priced vegan picado for 12€, which you can have with fries or milho frito (sort of fried polenta). Plus, if you ask, they will serve bolo do caco with soy garlic butter, making it vegan as well. The only thing they’re really lacking is a good vegan dessert, but I doubt you’d have space for it after you’re done with the main dish.
Snack Bar Picadinho, Arco da Calheta
Dismantling yet again the recurring myth that you cannot get vegan food outside of Funchal, here’s Picadinho at Arco da Calheta. Yes, it’s filled with locals eating steak and drinking Coral, but it will give you a taste of the real Madeira – literally and metaphorically. Apart from the vegan hamburger and the oat-carrot nuggets (hard pass), they have spinach croquettes served with salad and friends, and vegan picado with soy curls and tofu.
Década, Ribeira Brava
Venezuelans are a part of Madeiran culture. You’ll find empanadas at almost every caffe, pirulín at small supermarkets, and a healthy stock of Harina Pan. But nowhere takes Venezuelan food as seriously as the Ribeira Brava, where everybody either emigrated to Venezuela at some point, or is related to someone who did. So where else should you stop for the best Venezuelan food on the island?
If you just want a snack, Década has cheese empanadas or empanada dominó (black beans with cheese). If it’s lunch time, then go for arepa dominó (cheese and black beans) arepa perico (scrambled eggs, tomato and onion), or make it vegan with black beans and avocado. The arepas can either be grilled or fried – I prefer the grilled ones – and are always made to order, which means you’ll have them perfectly hot and crispy.
Vila North 77, Porto Moniz
Porto Moniz is not a place where it’s easy to find good food, let alone vegetarian options. But Villa North 77 recently opened and they have a vegan burger with mushrooms and carrot sauce on their menu, which is probably your best bet around that area. If you’re vegetarian, you can also try the homemade tequeños, Venezuelan cachapas with cheese, or mushroom risotto.
Las Caraibas, Seixal
Las Caraibas is a seafood bar in Seixal mostly known for its calamares (fried squid). However, they can prepare a falafel salad (which can be made vegan without the sauce) or a vegetarian burger. While I can’t swear their veggie dishes will be earth-shattering, it’s a good option if you’re spending the day at Praia do Seixal or at the natural pools nearby (20 minutes on foot).
Quinta do Furão, Santana
Quinta do Furão is a hotel in Santana, but the restaurant is open to everyone and has several vegetarian dishes, some of which can be made vegan, including vegetarian skewers (a take on the traditional skewers of your nightmares). Vegetarians have several options when it comes to desserts, and vegans will be more than happy with their vegan petit gâteau, magnificently runny and gooey, served red fruits sorbet on the side.
Quinta Levada do Rei, São Jorge (Santana)
Also in Santana, Quinta Levada do Rei has a small yet fulfilling vegetarian menu featuring shakshuka with free range eggs (or vegan with tofu and potatoes), tofu salad, tofu sandwich, fries and milho frito. It’s nothing worth getting out of your way for, but definitely a decent option if you’re in São Jorge or taking the PR 18 – Levada do Rei. Plus they have peacocks and hens running around in the garden, and who doesn’t love those?
Vegetarian fine dining in Madeira
Afternoon Tea at Reid’s
Reid’s Palace is one of those hotels that is synonymous with its city, whose halls and stairs saw history happen, where you can imagine a spy novel. Its checkered balcony is iconic, and the view isn’t too shabby either. When you book your afternoon tea, ask them in advance to prepare an all vegan menu featuring chocolate cake, scones and many more goodies. But at 38€ a person, it’s worth more for the experience than the food.
Horta
Horta is Porto Bay’s offering for vegans and vegetarians. In the most expensive side of town, it doesn’t feel as “fine dining” as the other options, but you should prepare to spend a little over 30€ per person, and that’s just with a main dish, a drink and dessert. Their vegan options include an expected combo of sweet potato with spicy Korean gojuchang, barley risotto with hazelnuts, and an adaptation of Madeira’s bolo de mel.
A vista
Avista (literally “the view”) is another of Porto Bay’s offerings, albeit slightly more focused on Mediterranean cuisine and local products than Horta. They have a special vegetarian menu and several main dishes can be made vegan, including the homemade lentil tofu served with quinoa and vegetables. It’s a fine dining experience and indeed a nice view, although it doesn’t end on the best note: the only vegan dessert is fruit.
Gazebo Experience
Gazebo is a hidden gem in Funchal where you've been pulled to a local family’s farm and served a gourmet, flavour-packed meal. They have two fixed-priced menus and use seasonal produce from the island, but they can prepare a vegan menu if you warn them two weeks in advance. Although I’ve never been there personally (it’s been on my wishlist forever!), the folks at Fala Fala swear by it, and I trust their judgement.