About this hotel
General information
Reid’s Palace sits on a clifftop promontory above Funchal Bay on Madeira’s south coast. It was conceived from the outset as a grand hotel: building work began in 1887 and the first guests arrived in 1891. The vision belonged to a Scottish entrepreneur who had reached the island in 1836 and was among the first to see its future as a resort; his sons carried it through to completion. It has remained one of Funchal’s landmarks ever since.
Some 10 acres of subtropical gardens filled with the island’s exotic flora surround the palace, and its terraces look straight out over the Atlantic. There are 126 rooms and suites in classic Madeiran style with high ceilings, the William restaurant, Italian Ristorante Villa Cipriani, a long-standing afternoon tea tradition on the terrace, three outdoor pools, the Maré Spa and direct access to the ocean. The hotel is part of the Belmond collection.
Location
The hotel stands on a promontory above Funchal Bay on Estrada Monumental. Madeira airport is roughly 20–25 minutes by car and central Funchal 10 minutes by car or an easy walk, with a complimentary shuttle running into the centre. Pico do Arieiro is a 40-minute drive and Porto Santo a two-hour ferry crossing. The hotel team arranges private airport transfers, and valet parking is complimentary for guests.
Spa
The Maré Spa sits at the very edge of the cliff above the Atlantic, with treatments shaped by the ocean, the sea breeze and Madeira’s native plants. It has five treatment rooms and a couples’ room, a sauna, steam room and solarium, separate changing areas for men and women and a spa boutique. Beyond massages and body and facial treatments, the programme includes Pilates, mindfulness sessions, Reiki and sound healing.
Sports & leisure
Activities draw on the ocean, the mountains and the island’s gardens.
- 24-hour gym with Matrix equipment and indoor and outdoor training areas; personal training and Pilates
- Two tennis courts with coaching on request
- Complimentary kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding lessons with the hotel team; surfing off Madeira’s coast
- Dolphin and whale watching by speedboat (2–3 hours) and boat trips to the Desertas Islands
- Private yacht charters for a half or full day, along the coast or towards Porto Santo, with swimming, snorkelling and lunch on board
- Levada walks and hikes, sunrise above the clouds, tours of the island’s east and west, Funchal by electric tuk-tuk and visits to Madeira’s gardens
- Golf at Palheiro (about 20 minutes) and Santo da Serra (30 minutes)
- Garden tours with an expert horticulturalist (Wednesdays and Fridays), a tour of the hotel’s history, watercolour and botanical art workshops and mindful writing
- Food and wine experiences: a picnic under the palms, a Madeira wine tour and a traditional Madeiran cooking class
A weekly programme of complimentary activities is included in every stay.
For children
The Fun@Reid’s kids’ club runs all year and has its own children’s pool. Families can stay in the Family Rooms of the Garden Wing, which have a sofa bed and sleep two adults and two children.
Restaurants & bars
Most of the hotel’s restaurants and bars face the ocean.
- William — fine dining named after the hotel’s founder: contemporary cooking built on Madeiran produce, local fish and herbs from the hotel garden, with full-length windows onto the Funchal coastline
- Ristorante Villa Cipriani — Italian cuisine a few steps from the main building, with dinner on a terrace overlooking the sea
- Brisa do Mar — seasonal al fresco restaurant serving Portuguese cooking with Mediterranean touches, fresh seafood and live guitar music
- Reid’s Palace Pool Terrace — breakfast (buffet and à la carte) beside the heated pool, then light bites served around the pools through the day
- Afternoon Tea Terrace — traditional afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, scones and local pastries, 38 teas or a glass of champagne
- Tea Library — loose-leaf teas, homemade cakes and a tea-infused cocktail, next to the 1891 Bar
- 1891 Bar — botanical cocktails, live music and views of Funchal by night
- Gelateria San Giorgio — gelato from the celebrated Portofino gelateria, made with Madeiran ingredients
Swimming
Three outdoor pools look out over the ocean: a freshwater pool, a saltwater pool and a natural sea pool at the water’s edge. A few steps lead from the grounds straight into the Atlantic, giving the hotel its own access to the sea. The Fun@Reid’s kids’ club has a separate children’s pool.
Pets
Pets weighing under 10 kg are welcome in every room category.
Rooms
There are 126 keys across the Main Building and the Garden Wing: 79 double rooms, 31 junior suites, 14 suites and two signature suites. Interiors pair classic Madeiran style with modern comfort, and every room has a balcony or patio; signature suite stays add return transfers, a dedicated host, a complimentary in-suite bar, laundry and private lounge access at the airport.
Marble bathroom, Dyson hair dryer and luxury toiletries, clothes steamer, widescreen TV with Bluetooth speaker, Wi-Fi, writing desk, complimentary water and soft drinks from the minibar, tea and coffee making facilities, climate control, safe, fresh flowers and a pillow menu.
Superior Room
A room in the Main Building or Garden Wing with a furnished balcony overlooking the gardens and partly the sea, a sitting area and a king or twin beds. Sleeps up to three with an extra bed.
Deluxe Sea View Room
A room in a prime position with a large covered, furnished balcony and full sea views, a sitting area and a king or twin beds. Sleeps up to three with an extra bed.
Family Room
A Garden Wing room in soft pastel tones with garden views and a private furnished patio, a king or twin beds and a sofa bed in the sitting area. For two adults and two children.
Deluxe Junior Suite
A junior suite with a spacious sitting area, a king or twin beds, a marble bathroom with separate walk-in shower and a furnished balcony with full sea views or views of the sea and gardens. Sleeps two.
Superior Suite
A suite in the Main Building or Garden Wing with separate bedroom and living room, a king or twin beds and a large furnished balcony with full sea views; the marble bathroom has a separate walk-in shower. Sleeps up to three.
Deluxe Suite
Among the most spacious suites in the Main Building, with separate bedroom and living room, a kitchenette, a king or twin beds and a large furnished balcony facing the sea or the sea and gardens. Sleeps up to three.
Atlantica Suite
A signature suite on the seventh floor of the Main Building with floor-to-ceiling windows, hand-painted wallpaper, separate bedroom and sitting room, a kitchenette and a large balcony with full ocean views. For two adults and a child; it can be combined with a Deluxe Junior Suite to form a two-bedroom suite.
Winston Churchill Suite
A signature suite on the sixth floor of the Main Building, with high ceilings, hand-painted wallpaper and silk curtains, a bedroom separate from a generous sitting room, a kitchenette and a large balcony with full ocean views. For two adults and a child; it can be combined with a Deluxe Junior Suite to form a two-bedroom suite.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.