Picolo recommends · Hotel in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
The Cliff Bay
Gardens tumble down a basalt cliff to the Atlantic, and on New Year's Eve the whole bay of Funchal lights up in front of your balcony.
The Cliff Bay is built right on the edge of the rock west of Funchal's centre, with gardens and pools stepping down towards the Atlantic. Most of the view is ocean, and on clear days the light on the water changes by the hour.
There are three restaurants, a spa and two pools, one of them indoors for the cooler winter days. The marina and the old town are a short taxi ride away, so the city is close without being outside your window.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose The Cliff Bay
We like it for couples who want a classic, well-run hotel with the sea in every view. Madeira stays mild through the winter, and few hotels give you a better seat for the famous New Year's fireworks over the bay.
Madeira is green because it rains, and winter brings some grey days. This is a place for walks, gardens and long lunches, not for baking on a beach. New Year books up early and costs considerably more.
What you get
- Clifftop setting above the Atlantic
- Outdoor pool and an indoor pool
- Spa
- Three restaurants
- Short drive to Funchal Marina
A day at The Cliff Bay
- Morning
- Coffee on the balcony while the morning light spreads across the Atlantic.
- Midday
- A taxi to the old town and the Mercado dos Lavradores.
- Afternoon
- The indoor pool if the clouds roll in, the outdoor one if not.
- Evening
- Dinner at the hotel with the lights of Funchal around the bay.
Location
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Open in MapsQuestions about The Cliff Bay
Is The Cliff Bay in Funchal?
Yes. It stands on the cliffs above the sea in Funchal, about five minutes by car from the marina and the old town beyond it.
Does The Cliff Bay have an indoor pool?
Yes. There is both an outdoor pool and an indoor pool, which is useful on the cooler, greyer winter days Madeira sometimes gets.
Can you see the New Year fireworks from The Cliff Bay?
The hotel looks out over the sea towards Funchal Bay, where the New Year's Eve fireworks take place, so it is a popular place to stay then.
Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
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