Pestana Carlton Madeira

The Pestana Carlton Madeira is a luxurious five-star hotel in western Funchal.

The seafront Pestana Carlton is where it all began – this is the original Pestana hotel, built by visionary Madeiran hotelier Manuel Pestana in 1972. He set the bar high and many imitators followed, but few of Madeira’s 21st century hotels have bettered the Carlton. The hotel has moved with the times of course, and the last renovation was in 2007 – the décor is periodically refreshed but many of its original, sixties-inspired architectural features are rightly celebrated.

There are 248 rooms and 64 suites in all, with polished oak floors and Crema Marfil marble bathrooms. Sea view rooms are our favourites, overlooking the outdoor pool and south-facing sun terrace – there’s also a second, lower-level outdoor pool which leads you down to the ocean. There’s a heated indoor swimming pool and spa, three excellent restaurants and two terrace bars which make the most of the sweeping, panoramic views out across the Atlantic Ocean.