Because of the European covid-mess, at the last minute before Germany — unnecessarily — closed all hotels to tourists, I managed to fly to a jewel in the Atlantic Ocean: Madeira. After a first visit in 2013, once again my choice fell on the lovely Quinta da Bela Vista with its art and antiques collection to stay a few days.
The traditional Funchal hotel is situated in a 25,000 square meter subtropical garden. In addition to indigenous trees and plants, Quinta da Bela Vista offers botanical species from Australia, China, Japan and South America, including paulownia and hibiscus. The largest tree in the hotel garden is a Kapok Tree from Brazil with a bulbous, spiked trunk.
The owner and general manager of Quinta da Bela Vista, Gonçalo d’Ornellas Monteiro, told me in 2013 that he grew up in the historic Manor House dating back to 1844. The four Junior Suites on the upper floor are my favorite place to stay in the hotel. Unfortunately, due to maintenance, they were all closed during my November 2020 stay. Nevertheless, I had another look around the ground floor.
The elegant à la carte Bela Vista Restaurant in the historic Manor House. All photos copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista. Find books about the island of Madeira from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de.
In 1989, the family of Gonçalo d’Ornellas Monteiro turned their Manor House into Madeira’s first luxury hotel situated in an authentic Quinta. In addition, they built two new buildings. In 2013, I stayed in one of the new buildings, in Deluxe Room 350 with a marble bathroom and a balcony facing the backside of the garden. In 2020, Superior Room 323 in the main building was my home. From its balcony with a table and two chairs, it offers a great view of the hotel pool and Funchal Bay (see photograph below).
Once again, the Manor House with its four Junior Suites on the upper floor is THE place to stay. It will have to be next time. Book well in advance! On the ground floor of the 19th century building, you can find the elegant Bela Vista Restaurant, a drawing room, a library and — not to miss — a public bathroom with gorgeous, ancient, blue Portuguese tiles (Azulejos); unfortunately, I have no photograph of this gem.
This is the great view from a Superior Room in the reception building. They all feature a balcony with a table and two chairs. The photograph could have been taken from my Superior Room 323 from where I could also overview the hotel pool and Funchal Bay. All photos copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.
A great place to stay is the Penthouse Suite in the main, new building, above the reception. It features two bedrooms and two bathrooms, ideal for families or two couples. It comes with a large terrace overlooking the pool area and the Bay of Funchal.
Don’t miss the intimate, cozy Pool Bar on two floors with its electric piano. It is situated next to the 15-meter, fresh water pool, overlooking the Bay of Funchal and the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to the swimming pool, the hotel offers a Jacuzzi, a sauna, an outdoor-gym as well as a tennis court. You can stay fit at Quinta da Bela Vista!
The cosy Drawing Room with fireplace on the ground floor of the hotel’s historic Manor House. All photographs are the copyright © of Quinta da Bela Vista, Funchal, Madeira.
It is worth wandering around the public areas of the hotel’s three buildings. You can discover all kinds of art works, furniture and paintings. Quinta da Bela Vista is the dream of any antiques lover!
I fondly remember two 17th century, Italian school angels hanging in the reception area. In 2013, on the way to my Garden View Room 350 in one of the new buildings, I always admired two large-scale paintings. According to General Manager Gonçalo d’Ornellas Monteiro, they are attributed to Nicolas L.A. Delariva (1755-1818). In the garden wing, next to room 101, hangs a Spanish Louis XV-style guiltwood Trumeau Mirror and a 19the century, painted panel with a river landscape in the manner of Lancret. The Manor House features, among many other gems, an early 18th century, William and Mary walnut cabinet-on-chest with a molded frieze and a cushion-shaped drawer as well as a pair of George III mahogany side chairs, possibly by Wright & Elwick.
A Regency brass-mounted mahogany clock signed J. Forbes and a Regency mahogany sideboard. The maritime painting is an English school work dating back to the 18th century. All photos copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista, Funchal, Madeira.
On this photo you can admire walnut and parcel-gilt side chairs, Danish, 18th century, a Spanish Louis XV style giltwood Trumeau mirror and an Iberian Louis XV-style carved, giltwood serpentine-fronted console table. All photos copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.
Have a walk around the different buildings at Quinta da Bela Vista. In all public areas you can find artworks and antiques. All photos copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.
A starter at Avista Navios Restaurant. Photo copyright Quinta da Bela Vista.
In November 2020, I enjoyed a vegetarian dinner at the solid Avista Navios Restaurant, situated in the new reception building. It started with brick leaves with mushrooms and spinach, followed by an eggplant with buffalo cheese. My main course consisted of a (very hot) vegetarian lasagne. For dessert, my choice fell on a Beirão liquor cassata with biscuit and chocolate sauce, clearly my favorite dish.
If you aren’t a vegetarian, don’t worry. At Avista Navios Restaurant, the most popular meals were fish and duck. For non-vegetarians, my brick leaves were stuffed with alheiras, the typical Portuguese smoked sausages.
Don’t forget to try the different Portuguese wines. I fondly remember my after dessert Madeira wine, a medium dry Barbeito Rainwater Reserva, aged for five years, with 18% alcohol.
In short, at Quinta da Bela Vista you can relax, surrounded by lush gardens. All public areas, especially in the historic Manor House, offer plenty of artworks and antiques to discover. In addition, you have the option of having a swim, play a match of tennis or a work out in the gym.
The hotel’s Avista Navios Restaurant in the main, reception building. Here, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. All photos copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.
A pool with a view! All photos copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.
View of Suite 411 in the hotel’s new reception building. All photos copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista. Find books about the island of Madeira at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de.
The reception building at Quinta da Bela Vista with Avista Navios Restaurant on the bottom right of the photograph. All photos copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.
The historic Manor House at Quinta da Bela Vista features four Junior Suites on the top floor, the best place to get the real Quinta feeling. Unfortunately, they were closed for maintenance during my stay in early November 2020. But as seven years ago, I had a look around the ground floor with features a drawing room, an adjacent bathroom with Portuguese tiles, an elegant dining room and more. All photos are the copyright of Quinta da Bela Vista, Madeira.
Quinta da Bela Vista review added on November 18, 2020 in Funchal at 10:30 Madeira time. Additional details added at 10:41.
