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Castanheiro Boutique Hotel

Castanheiro Boutique Hotel

Madeira, Portugal

Tucked away on a quiet cobbled street within Funchal’s historic core, Castanheiro Boutique Hotel is a characterful oasis just steps away from the city’s main sights.

In keeping with its location, the property is an amalgamation of five heritage buildings dating from the last 300 years, including a craft atelier, printers, and pastry shop. Reminders of this heritage are visible in the hotel’s exposed stone arches and wooden rafters, alongside thoughtful placement of antiques and artwork. A typography table in the lobby, bakery oven in the library, and paintings by local artists all celebrate its storied past.

Rooms and suites are scattered throughout, offering seclusion and privacy. Some look onto a central courtyard, others afford city views from French balconies or terraces. Each is stylishly designed in bold shades, and many come with kitchenettes.

You’ll also find a sizeable spa with an indoor pool and Turkish bath, and a restaurant serving seasonal Portuguese dishes inside a jazzy Art Deco-designed space or alfresco on the patio.

There are lots of lovely spots to kick back with a coffee or cocktail — a hammock chair in the garden, velvet sofa in the library, or lounger beside the rooftop pool looking out over the city’s terracotta roofs and spires.

OUR OPINION:

This boutique hotel brims with character and modern comforts. The spa is spacious, the courtyards peaceful, and the rooftop pool offers spectacular views of the Bay of Funchal. After a long day’s sightseeing, it makes a blissful sanctuary to return to.

OUR RATING: First Class

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Rooms

Rooms and suites are carefully spaced throughout the five buildings, each offering seclusion and privacy, as well as central courtyard or city views.

Some come with French balconies, others with roomy terraces and separate living rooms, and many have kitchenettes complete with cooking facilities. All rooms have walk-in showers, and one spacious suite features a freestanding rolltop bath.

Each is designed differently, and the decor is clean and contemporary, mixing wooden floors with streamlined furniture, patterned wallpaper with crisp white linens. All rooms are soundproofed and feature top-notch amenities.

Location

Nestled on a narrow leafy street in the heart of Funchal’s Old Town, Castanheiro Boutique Hotel is conveniently located for discovering the city’s historic landmarks, museums, gardens, and restaurants. It also provides a great base for exploring Madeira’s many scenic walking trails. The nearest beach is a 15-minute drive away and the airport is 20 minutes by car.

Food and drink

  • Tipografia restaurant offers all-day indoor and alfresco dining and serves Mediterranean dishes with a Portuguese slant using local produce.
  • Buffet-style breakfast is served daily at Tipografia.
  • Iris is a bar and lounge serving cocktails and hot drinks. Guests can sit inside or outdoors in a courtyard.
  • Pretas is a rooftop lounge bar offering light meals, snacks, cocktails, and 360-degree city views.

Families

  • The Junior Suite can accommodate two adults and one child, and the Suite up to four people.
  • Additional beds and cribs are available on request.
  • Connecting rooms can be booked.
  • Some suites offer kitchenettes that are suitable for families.

Facilities and activities

  • Large spa with extensive treatment menu.
  • Indoor pool, sauna, and Turkish baths.
  • Rooftop infinity pool, Jacuzzi, and loungers with panoramic views over the city, and a solarium overlooking the bay.
  • Weekly events, including Tapas and Jazz nights, and live music.
  • Bikes are available to hire.

Accessibility

  • One room has been adapted for guests with reduced mobility.

Tour ideas in Madeira

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Castanheiro Boutique Hotel as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.

    Experiences while staying here

    The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area's inhabitants.

    • Breakfast above the clouds
      Pico do Areeiro, one of the highest points on Madeira

      Breakfast above the clouds

      Breakfast above the clouds

      Tuck into a private picnic on the summit of Pico do Areeiro as the sun rises above an ocean of cloud. You can watch the sky brighten in rays of warm orange light to the sound of birdsong, all with a hot drink in hand.

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    • Hiking Madeira’s levadas pathways
      Levada, Madeira

      Hiking Madeira’s levadas pathways

      Hiking Madeira’s levadas pathways

      The levada trails run alongside Madeira’s 15th-century network of waterways. You’ll find panoramic views around every corner as you trek through the dense forests, emerald valleys, and remote villages of the island’s hinterland.

      View details

    Madeira and nearby places