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Culinary Tour: Discover Madeiran Flavors
4.7
39 Ratings
Funchal
Embark on a culinary adventure in Madeira as you explore the local market, learn about exotic ingredients, and blend global flavors with the help of a native chef.
Embark on a culinary adventure in Madeira as you explore the local market, learn about exotic ingredients, and blend global flavors with the help of a native chef.
Duration:
3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
-
Farmers’ Market - Enjoy a Cooking Show with a Talented Chef!
Begin with an insightful tour of the local market, where the origins, history, and traditions of tropical fruits, exotic flowers, unique fish, and seasonal vegetables are shared. After a brief 5-minute walk, take an elevator to a hotel’s rooftop, where a breathtaking view of the city of…
- Farmers’ Market - Enjoy a Cooking Show with a Talented Chef!
Begin with an insightful tour of the local market, where the origins, history, and traditions of tropical fruits, exotic flowers, unique fish, and seasonal vegetables are shared. After a brief 5-minute walk, take an elevator to a hotel’s rooftop, where a breathtaking view of the city of Funchal awaits. A young, energetic, and friendly team is ready to guide you through a cooking show, rather than a hands-on class.
From simple local fish ceviche to the iconic espada fish with banana guacamole and “espetada,” beef on a skewer, the world of fusion cooking is made accessible and enjoyable through our Chef’s impressive demonstration and explanation. Discover the basics and more, picking up a few tips for your home kitchen.
Each cooking experience concludes with a delightful lunch paired with carefully selected Portuguese wines. Gather around our table on the rooftop, with a stunning view, to savor your meal and engage in conversation with fellow culinary enthusiasts.
A minimum of 4 participants is required. If this number is not reached, we will contact you to reschedule or offer a refund.
What's Included
- Qualified local guide
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
- Alcoholic beverages
- Qualified local guide
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
- Alcoholic beverages
What's Not Included
- Private transportation
- Private transportation
Meal Options
- Loca fish ceviche
- Local fish espada breaded with almond - Served with banana guacamole
- Madeiran “Espetada” - Beef on a skewer madeiran style
- All drinks included - Portuguese red and white wine, water , fresh lemonade and coffee
- Chefs speciality
- Loca fish ceviche
- Local fish espada breaded with almond - Served with banana guacamole
- Madeiran “Espetada” - Beef on a skewer madeiran style
- All drinks included - Portuguese red and white wine, water , fresh lemonade and coffee
- Chefs speciality
Additional Information
- Explore the lively local market;
- Sample a variety of exotic fruits;
- Experience the distinctive tastes of Madeiran cuisine combined with global flavors;
- Engage with a skilled and friendly chef to ask any culinary questions;
- Acquire new cooking techniques to practice at home;
- Enjoy exceptional and delightful meals;
- Eco-friendly, zero waste restaurant;
- Charming and knowledgeable tour guide;
- Explore the lively local market;
- Sample a variety of exotic fruits;
- Experience the distinctive tastes of Madeiran cuisine combined with global flavors;
- Engage with a skilled and friendly chef to ask any culinary questions;
- Acquire new cooking techniques to practice at home;
- Enjoy exceptional and delightful meals;
- Eco-friendly, zero waste restaurant;
- Charming and knowledgeable tour guide;
Location
Farmers' Market
In front of main entrance of local Market
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(39 Ratings)
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Roadrunners27
Apr 5, 2026
From market to kitchen to plate - Having hugely enjoyed their Food and Culture tour on our last visit we decided to try another and it didn't disappoint. Our excellent guide explained the history of Funchal's main fresh food market. We then walked around the various parts of the building itself - fruit, vegetable. meat and fish. This highlighted some of the main ingredients in the food we would later eat. We then sampled a range of local fruits.
Proceeding to a local high end restaurant, we were treated to a range of specialities cooked in front of us. These excellent dishes were consumed with matching wines. An excellent half day tour. We'll happily try another of their tours on our next visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rich_v
Mar 19, 2026
A beautiful market and lovely restaurant - The culinary experience is sitting at The Chef's Table watching them cook. It was so much fun and the interaction was so joyful as they prepared our food as well as for the entire restaurant. Ana, our guide to was wonderful and informative. A great time!
Review provided by Viator
J2683kwfrancinec
Oct 15, 2025
Best on the best: Food on foot - Very friendly and smiling guide, interesting visit! She was able to answer all our questions! Group homogeneous and friendly! Delicious tastings
Review provided by Tripadvisor
318thelmab
May 22, 2025
Finding out about exotic fruit, pairings of ingredients in the lunch explained by the chef, superb. - Super tour around the market, with exotic fruit tasting, great and the meal experience at the three house restaurant with Maurice the chef, brilliant.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
814carolinah
Apr 11, 2025
Wonderful! - Great insight to local foods and how used. Excellent guide and cooking experience in hotel with entertaining chef and terrific meal and wines.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Larag652
Dec 4, 2024
Amazing experience! Wonderful showcase of Madeira flavours - We started in the market where Ana has amazing local knowledge and explained everything perfectly. Moving onto the food it was just more than we could have expected. Chefs were so friendly and talked us through everything. Food was tasty and wine paired perfectly. Would recommend to anyone who loves food and wants to explore new flavours
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hofacker
May 7, 2026
We wouldn't have discovered that on our own - Very informative competent and friendly walking tour with 7 stops food in the old town of Funchal
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q6248zmmichaelb
Oct 16, 2025
Nice tour and lunch, but not a cooking class - So …
The GOOD here is an excellent tour through the Funchal main market with explanation of history of food on the island and a tasting of local fruits. Our guide Isabel explained things very well and could answer our second and third level questions.
The EXCELLENT here is a local chef’s table lunch with superb food, mostly local/local ingredients, and excellent wine pairings, with excellent and fun engagement by both the head chef and the sous chef.
The DISAPPOINTING thing is that this is not in any way a local cooking class or session. This was implied or maybe even said in the description, and was simply not the case.
If the first two things draw you in, by all means join this tour. If you want to learn to cook local dishes, this is not the tour for you.
You might also simply choose to book lunch or dinner at the Three Houses restaurant.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Piers_h
Jul 31, 2025
The guide was fantastic,... - The guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable and flexible to adjust to the interests of us.
The food was great too! However I missed a bit of interaction on hoe the food was prepared (they only told us but did not really show).
Also we had to pay extra money because they were below an minimum amount, however there was no minimum amount of people mentioned in de advertisements or in the details only a maximum of 6, this additional suprise cost did sour the experience a little.
Review provided by Viator
217janskeh
Jun 13, 2025
Unique experience - Delicious food! Nice to get a look in the kitchen. You shouldn't expect a workshop, another participant had that idea with us, it's really looking at life cooking.
Besides the cooking experience also had a tour at the market and we were allowed to see the roof terrace. Nice to see the city like that, but it also felt a bit like a sales pitch in front of the hotel.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
