Campo de Ourique is home to one of the restaurants that is causing quite a stir in the city. At Ilha da Madeira they serve the main specialties of the “pearl of the Atlantic”, namely the delicious Espetada à Madeira, the famous Filetes de Peixe Espada and, of course, the Poncha de Maracujá, one of the best we’ve ever tasted.
The Ilha da Madeira restaurant has ample space and immediately transports you to Madeira Island, not only because of the décor and the map on one of the walls, but also because of the authentic flavors of Madeiran cuisine.
So if you haven’t had the chance to go to Madeira yet, you can start your journey here.
And if you’re planning to travel there in the meantime, stop by this restaurant first and take a cue from Sérgio, the son of the owners and manager of this restaurant, who was born in Lisbon but has a deep knowledge of the island.
The proof of this is right on the first page of this restaurant’s menu, where you’ll find a QR code that will give you access to 12 pages full of tips and suggestions on what not to miss when visiting Madeira.
Our experience
We visited this little corner of Madeira one weekend and here’s our first tip: book in advance because they’re always full.
The dishes that “fly” out of the kitchen of Dª. Maria, a Madeiran by heart, are really tasty, true delicacies of the island’s gastronomy, of which we tried two specialties: the Espetada à Madeira (19.50€), prepared with succulent pieces of meat seasoned with garlic and bay leaf, served with fried potatoes and fried corn; and the Fillets of Espada Fish (16.80€), accompanied by corn and fried potatoes, banana and vegetables, in a combination that reflects the essence of Madeiran cuisine.
We’re still trying to figure out which one we liked best, so we suggest you choose according to your favorite protein, whether it’s meat or fish. Whatever it is, you’re sure to be very well served.
Before these main dishes, our taste buds had already been tantalized by the famous, traditional and homemade Bolo do Caco (€4.50); the classic Grilled Limpets (€14.50); and yet another house speciality, the Sweet Potato Bread (€1.80), served as a starter with butter and olives seasoned with olive oil and garlic (€1.10).
To “push” all this, and to “kill nostalgia” for one of the most consumed carbonated drinks on the island, we ordered the incomparable Brisa de Maracujá (we drank three, so nostalgic was we).
To round off the meal, Sérgio gave us a tasty dessert, a Queijada with ice cream and cookie crumble , before we moved on to Madeira’s real signature drink, poncha , the famous traditional drink made with cane brandy , honey and lemon juice, which the manager proudly assures us is a house recipe, having tasted several until he was able to create his own Poncha de Maracujá (4.50€) which, we confirm, is really different from any we’ve ever tasted , thanks to its liquid, which is much creamier than the usual ponchas.
The tavern next door
Right next door is another, smaller place dedicated to Madeira Island. It’s owned by the same people and is called Tasquinha da Ilha da Madeira. It serves practically the same dishes, making it the ideal place to order quick snacks such as
- Picadinho à Ilha (our Pica-Pau) (€15.80)
- Alheira balls (€4.50)
- Eggs with Farinheira (7,50€)
- Gambas à Guilho (14€)
- Black pudding with apple (9,50€)
- Ovos Rotos (8,50€)
- and, of course, the traditional and imperative Prego Especial em Bolo do Caco (9.50€)
- as well as many other delicious snacks.
Address: Rua Campo de Ourique 33
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 12pm to 4pm, and from 7.30pm to 11pm; Sundays from 12pm to 4pm
Menu and reservations: on the website