Restaurante Do Forte

Tucked away in a cozy spot, this restaurant was a delightful surprise! The staff greeted us with warm smiles, making us feel instantly at home. Opting for the tasting menu was a brilliant decision—each dish was a perfectly balanced adventure of flavors. 😍🥰

While the location might not dazzle at night, the delicious food and warm vibes more than compensate. We left feeling charmed and eager to return. If you’re looking for a meal that feels like a cozy hug, this place is a must-try!

I was lucky enough to photograph a wedding at the Forte in November last year. It is such a unique venue, and I was in my element shooting it; it's stunning, with amazing views and an epic backdrop for images. The staff were very friendly and helpful throughout the day, making it a pleasure to work at. Thank you.

It was a wonderful moment. We didn’t take a lot of thing just the main course. The food was tasty. The welcome was good. Friday night you have to book to eat there . You have live music also !!

I had the privilege of dining at this esteemed establishment alongside two friends/work colleagues, and I am delighted to report nothing but praise for our experience.

The ambiance, though slightly more formal than my personal preference, exuded an air of sophistication that I found acceptable and befitting.

The service we received was truly commendable, characterized by a genuine attentiveness and utmost professionalism. Our every need and request were met with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to ensure our utmost satisfaction.

Now, let us turn our attention to the culinary delights that awaited us. The food served at this restaurant surpassed all expectations, leaving an indelible impression on our palates. Each dish was meticulously prepared and presented, exhibiting a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that pleased even the most discerning palate.

However, it is the dessert that lingers in my thoughts incessantly— the passion fruit soufflé. Its ethereal combination of tangy sweetness and delicate texture was nothing short of remarkable, leaving an everlasting imprint on my culinary memories.

In summary, my visit to this restaurant was an extraordinary gastronomic experience, heightened by the impeccable service and unforgettable cuisine. While the ambiance leaned towards formality, it did not detract from the overall excellence of the establishment. I wholeheartedly recommend indulging in the culinary masterpieces presented here, with the passion fruit soufflé deserving a special mention for its exceptional taste.

Unbelievable!!! The whole experience was amazing!! We got picked up in a vintage car and driven down to the restaurant via the Christmas lights! Champagne reception for my wife and I on the roof top followed by the most amazing 3 course meal with wine to accompany each course. The food is unreal!! I have not had food like it since our wedding day over 10 years ago. If you are in Funchal you have to go to this restaurant.!!!

A hidden gem! We chose to have the gastronomic tour of 7 courses with wine pairing for 70 euro pp. It was unexpectedly good! We where absolutely positively surprised. The staff was super friendly, the location was beautiful (we sat outside under a tree and there was an artist on guitar playing lovely modern tunes. You couldn't tell from the outside that this was such a great place to enjoy this special meal. The food was excellent. We didn't want to eat the suggestion for the main course (duck) but we could choose anything we wanted. Also the wines kept coming and we expected to pay extra for this. But the price stayed the same. After dinner, a beautifull old timer car brought us to our hotel. It was a wunderful evening and will stay in our positive memories of Madeira for ever!

We spent our wedding evening here. Thank you very much for the professional service and delicious dishes. Thanks to your involvement, this day was even more special.

A fabulous meal and a really good price. We had the 3 course a la carte own choice which includes drinks for €55. The food was excellent, as was the free flowing wine. Waiting staff were really friendly and helpful. We last came here 10 years ago and remembered it being excellent. Now, 10 years later we still love the place. Definitely recommended 👌

Absolutely amazing restaurant and staff, the best meal I've ever had!! We did the £85 meal option (there are other cheaper options but as it was a special occasion we went for this package). It was worth every penny! We were picked up from our villa in a beautiful 1920s car, we were taken the scenic route to the restuarant. We then had a private terrace in the Fort with drinks before being sat at our stunning table. The meal was faultless and we were even given a bouquet of flowers each when we left. Can't recommend this place enough!!

Great service and fabulous food. A truly wonderful atmosphere and the staff made it a very enjoyable experience

Amazing food ans excellent service. The wine good but in they can try a little bit more!But still an amazing restaurant and the location very romantic! Thank you vor your services 😊

If you want a incredible meal with a picturesque European setting then this is the place. The 4 course meal with wine pairing is the way to go. The musician singing live the night we were there was like being at a concert. Highly recommend making a reservation and asking to sit by the wall with sea views.

Fantastic place to eat. Had lunch here with the special menu - 3 courses + convert, muse bouch and a "pallet cleanser" along with 4 glasses of wine, and a few top ups. White linen table cloths and attentive staff. Excellent value at 42€ each. Deserves a michelin star

Do Forte was our first best dining experience in Funchal.
I had the kataifi prawns, the black scabbard fish and the Mille feuille. I loved them all, but my heart was set to the black scabbard with the passion fruit sauce! A dish made in heaven!
Do not miss it also for the great fortress atmosphere!

Haut Cuisine on a Budget!
We had a great lunch for two at the Fort. An outside table sheltered from, but overlooking, the huge Atlantic rollers in the harbour. Stunning scene!
Go for the Concerto Especial (Special Concept) set meal. See photo. €45 pp. It includes warm bread, three types of butter, and a fine amuse bouche of curd cheese with passion fruit quenelle.
Then a starter for me of foie gras (includes extra pate de fois gras!), mushrooms for my companion, all with a nice Spanish cava.
Another amuse bouche of coconut sorbet.
Mains of Fillete de Robalo (sea bass with black risotto) and an octopus risotto. Plenty of white or red Portuguese Alantejo wine.
Then we had a shared pistachio creme brûlée and Portuguese cheese plate and coffee with a glass of Madeira wine.
Top quality food and great value for money!
Excellent service.
Clean toilets.

Excellent! Good food at an incredible price with fantastic service.

Every meal was very well prepared and presented. The staff were always on hand to top up any drinks and service was a charm.

The restaurant offers a €50 Starter, Main and Dessert option, which includes drink pairings for every meal, bread at the beginning and coffees at the end - would highly recommend. Unbelievable value for money!

top services and the food was excellent. The concept with the Menu and Wine great idea , we come back

Super delicious food, served in a wonderful setting with attentive and amazing staff. Loved every minute of dining here. The food is fine dining, with courses interspersed with palate cleansers. The wine was divine and no matter your tastes there will likely be something for everyone. I would recommend the romantic package, because you get picked up in the restaurants vintage car (we had the Austin 12). A wonderful way to while away the evening with great food and grog.

Restaurant do Forte | Romantic Package - A Dream Evening

For our 32nd anniversary, at our hotel (Castanheiro Boutique Hotel) they suggested us the Romantic Package of the Restaurante do Forte for our dinner. We were far from expecting such a wonderful evening!
Paulo came to pick us up at the hotel in an Austin 12 from 1932 (for our 32nd, pretty good one no!) very well preserved.
The ride in Funchal with him was very nice and everybody was looking at us (no, at the car I think!) and our driver was having fun using the trumpet horn.
We had a VIP welcome by the personnel and one of them opened the gates of Forte São Tiago, which is closed to the visitors at night.
He escorted us to the top level. There was a table waiting just for us with a bottle of sparkling Spanish wine (very good one) and fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate. We had our aperitif alone in the Forte on the battlements and old walls overlooking the Ocean.
We then had a nice dinner on a wonderful special table, prepared for the occasion, with ocean view down at the restaurant.
The starters and three course dinner, the food and accompanying wines from the sparkling, passing to the white and red ones. were very good. The service was very professional and nice. We went back to our hotel in the Austin, filled with joy and happiness.
We want to thank Sandra & Co for making this evening even more special with her/their attentions and nice words. We really felt at home, surrounded by love, for an unforgettable anniversary.
A very nice experience that we recommend for a special romantic evening, or simply to go for a classic dinner in a historic site in Funchal.

It was such a treat to dine here. Staff treat you as special and the food is of the fine dining variety. The concept menu is great value.
This was the second time this year we have dined here and it didn't disappoint. We will be back next year.