- Madeira Holidays
- Funchal
- The Cliff Bay
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The Cliff Bay
Portugal, Europe
Funchal
ELEGANCE AND SEA ACCESS... classic, sophisticated, gourmet cuisine, direct sea access, views, quality service, spa, healthclub, free Wi-Fi...
The Atlantic Ocean stretches as far as the eye can see at the foot of The Cliff Bay... Perched on the top of a natural promontory, the hotel is surrounded by gardens - with innumerable secluded corners and centenary palm trees extending to the very edge of the cliff face. The panorama is completed by a magnificent view over the bay of Funchal to the east of the hotel.
This 5 star hotel, one of Porto Bay Hotels premium resorts, assures that every single little detail has been carefully conceived to present genuine peace, well-being and elegance. In the hotel's sea access area one can combine the Atlantic Ocean breeze with the spell-binding views when choosing the new pontoons and solariums.
The most influential restaurant guide in the world, the Michelin Guide, has awarded the Il Gallo d'Oro, The Cliff Bay's gourmet restaurant, run by Chef Benoît Sinthon, with a star. This is Madeira's first and only star.
Facilities
- Poolside snack bar
- Highchairs
- Non-smoking area
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Café
- Electric kettle
- Library
- Clothes dryer
- Luggage room
- Please note some facilities may incur an additional fee
Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
The Local Area
Tripadvisor Reviews
5.0 Excellent6,844 reviews
Excellent
87%
Very Good
11%
Average
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
First Class Hotel in a convenient location
Excellent service, friendly helpful staff, comfortable rooms with air conditioning, Good views over the bay. Very good swimming facilities.
Review by RichardW90 Northampton, United Kingdom
Great hotel in a good location
Not my first time on the island but so glad I chose this hotel for my return visit Our room was so lovely and spacious with a Fantastic view of Funchal. The location is great with plenty of restaurants within walking distance should you choose not to eat at the hotel. We are not massive eaters who like 3 course meals so chose to eat out. The breakfast was brilliant, so much choice hot and cold , variety of bread and pastries, fruit cheeses hams salad cereals etc. all types of tea and coffee also mimosa . Staff friendliness was mixed some lovely but some we found a bit reserved not interactive and straight faced. Hotel decor is luxurious with plenty of seating and different areas to chill. Great bars some live music too. The pool areas were excellent and on different levels due to hotel built into a cliff. There is a lift to the sea level or you can walk down depending on level of fitness. We loved our weeks stay here and highly recommend
Review by T5333QIsharonc Berkshire, United Kingdom
Amazing 🤩
We had an absolutely wonderful stay at The Cliff Bay Hotel in Funchal, Madeira, and it’s easy to understand why this hotel has such a fantastic reputation.
This was our first time visiting Madeira, and if we’re honest, we were both a little bit nervous about travelling somewhere new. However, those nerves completely disappeared the moment we arrived at The Cliff Bay. From the very beginning, we felt incredibly welcomed and reassured by how well cared for we were. The level of service and attention from the staff made us feel comfortable straight away.
The location of the hotel is absolutely perfect. You can enjoy a lovely walk into the centre of Funchal in around 30 minutes, and getting around is incredibly easy. We found using Bolt taxis to be quick, reliable, and very affordable. I would definitely recommend using Bolt rather than the yellow taxis, as we found the traditional taxis to be much more expensive and not good value for money.
The hotel itself is stunning. From the moment you arrive, it makes a real impression — elegant, striking, and beautifully presented. The surroundings, atmosphere, and overall style of the hotel create a real feeling of luxury and relaxation.
The staff are truly exceptional. Every member of the team we met spoke excellent English and communicated brilliantly, which made everything so much easier and added to our comfort during our stay. They genuinely go above and beyond for their guests. Whether it’s arranging restaurant bookings, helping organise excursions, answering questions, or simply making sure guests have everything they need, they will do everything they can to help. Their kindness, professionalism, and willingness to assist really stood out and made our holiday even more enjoyable.
Our room was beautiful, spacious, and extremely well maintained. The bathroom was lovely, and the entire room was spotlessly clean. The only small criticism would be that the bedroom itself is beginning to feel a little outdated compared with other areas of the hotel. However, this did not affect our stay at all, as everything was exceptionally well looked after. My partner actually brought her own bed sheets with her, and when we stripped the bed before leaving, there was not a single mark on anything — a real credit to the housekeeping team and the standards they maintain.
The food at The Cliff Bay was absolutely unbelievable. We ate at both the Rose Garden and Avista restaurants, and both meals were easily 10 out of 10. The quality of the food was outstanding, with amazing flavours and excellent presentation. The restaurants are not the cheapest, but they are also not outrageously expensive — and for the quality of the food and the overall experience, they represent excellent value.
Overall, The Cliff Bay Hotel exceeded our expectations. The beautiful setting, fantastic location, incredible staff, exceptional cleanliness, and outstanding food made our first visit to Madeira a truly memorable one. We felt looked after from the moment we arrived and would have no hesitation in recommending this hotel. We would absolutely return.
Great Stay at the Cliff Bay
We decided to stay at the Cliff Bay hotel as part of our honeymoon based on feedback from friends and family who highly praise the hotel for it’s staff, location, rooms & facilities.
I must say the Cliff Bay did not disappoint with the quality of the room, breakfast options, staff interactions being exceptional and top notch.
The hotel has two reasonably sized swimming pools (one indoors and one outdoor) with easy access to the sea if that’s something you want to try.
The hotel restaurants and bars (we tried the Rose Garden, Blue Lagoon & Cliff Bar) are good options for something to eat and drink with a great variety of options at each location. Would highly recommend the Sweet Banana cocktail at the Blue Lagoon.
Service was overall really good however on busy days can be a bit slow.
Staff are really friendly and are knowledgeable when it comes to food recommendations & activities.
Breakfast at the rose garden is very good with a good amount of options.
Would highly recommend staying at the Cliff Bay when visiting Madeira for both special occasions and as a general hotel destination.
On Madeira, we would highly recommend as a destination to visit. Lots to do & see.
Also a thank you to all of the staff who also made our honeymoon that extra bit special.
Review by James M United Kingdom
Superb hotel, location and facilities
Can't recommend this hotel highly enough. The room (446) was spacious and comfortable. Lots of wardrobe and draw space. Large bathroom with twin sinks and a large balcony. The entire hotel was spotless throughout. All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Both pools were lovely, no shortage of sunbeds, or reserving with towels and disappearing for the day. We stayed Bed and Breakfast and the food choice was amazing and superb quality. We also ate lunch in the poolside terrace restaurant which was excellent. We will definitely return.
