Reids Palace, A Belmond Hotel

Reids Palace, A Belmond Hotel

On a clifftop above Funchal, Reid's Palace has watched the Atlantic since 1891, when the Scottish wine merchant William Reid built the hotel that would host Empress Sissi and, decades later, Winston Churchill. That mix of history and view still defines the place: subtropical gardens thick with orchids, hibiscus and hanging jade vines lead down to a tidal pool by the waves, while three outdoor pools, two tennis courts and a fitness centre cover more active days. What sets Reid's apart from Madeira's other grand hotels is William Restaurant, the first kitchen on the island to earn a Michelin star, alongside a cliffside Italian at Ristorante Villa Cipriani, the 1891 Bar built around the property's own botanical surroundings, and an afternoon tea tradition served with a view of the water. The spa's treatment rooms open onto sea-facing balconies, and the 158 rooms, spread across nine floors, are individually decorated rather than uniform, with the Churchill suite keeping its Portuguese tiles and handpainted wallpaper. This suits travellers who want gravitas with their comfort, who would rather read on a garden terrace than lie by a rooftop bar, and who don't mind that some rates require a gala dinner. It is less suited to anyone chasing minimalist design or a low-key, come-as-you-are stay. Small dogs under five kilos can come along for a fee, and check-in runs from 3pm with checkout by noon. What lingers afterwards is not the pool or the spa but the sense of staying somewhere people have been returning to since before the First World War. Reid's Palace has stood on this Funchal clifftop since 1891, when William Reid built the hotel that hosted Empress Sissi and Winston Churchill. Its William Restaurant earned Madeira's first Michelin star. It suits travellers who want old-world formality, not barefoot casual luxury.