Quintinha São João Hotel & Spa

Perfect

Our fourth stay in Madeira but our first at this lovely hotel - and it hopefully won’t be the last! We loved everything about the place - the position away from the hustle and bustle, the size, our room, the gardens, the pools, the spa, the breakfast, the restaurant, the bar, the relaxed chilled atmosphere, and most of all, the people. Everybody was lovely and nothing was too much trouble. This hotel is family owned and run and it was evident that everyone was happy to be there and determined to ensure we enjoyed our stay. In the words of Arnold Swartzenegger - ‘we will be back!’

My husband and I returned yesterday after a lovely week at this fabulous hotel. It’s in a residential area approx 15 minute walk mostly down hill into the centre of Funchal. Obviously, the return walk is up mostly uphill but there are loads of taxis in town, €5-7 Euros approx. There is a free shuttle bus Mon-Fr but it only runs a couple of times a day. This spotless hotel is tranquil, has lovely gardens, 2 pools ( one ‘rooftop’, one outdoor) and a spar. There was a little road noise, but that can’t be helped due to its location. We had a beautiful standard double room with balcony overlooking the garden. We stayed b&b , the breakfast was fresh, varied and plentiful with freshly cooked hot food choices if wanted . We had a la carte on 2 nights- really nice. Light snacks are served during the day on a lovely patio area. There was a singer and a pianist a couple of nights, lovely when sitting relaxing with a drink. All the staff are exceptional, very helpful, polite and always have a cheery greeting for you . Rosie was great , booking tours and giving you information on buses, attractions etc. Our first time on the beautiful island of Maderia but we will certainly be back and to the Quintinha Sao João, we were very sad when our week was over. Thank you to everyone for making our holiday so memorable Lesley & Andy

Once again in our favourite holiday location and staying at our favourite hotel. Difficult to write something different from last year’s review. It’s in a good location for the centre of Funchal. 20 minutes walk into the middle of town. There is a shuttle bus as well. Plenty of facilities in the hotel. Food in the restaurant, all meals, excellent. But the best thing is the staff. It goes without saying that they are efficient. But more importantly, all staff, whether front desk, restaurant, room service, bars, are lovely. We will be back.

It’s hard to know where to start as everything and everyone about this special place deserves a mention. It is without doubt the best place we have stayed in. The hotel is in a great location, beautifully thought out and decorated with traditional art and antiques. Outside you will find stunning, well maintained gardens and grounds with an astounding array of plants of Madeira along with a lovely peaceful pool area with amazing views. There is a steepish hill walk down into Funchal centre (and of course back uphill on the way back!) which takes around 15 minutes but there is also a courtesy bus that runs twice a day. The rooms are super comfortable and very spacious, with a large bathroom and lots of space for belongings. Breakfast is excellent with a fabulous choice of fruit, breads, cereals, meats and cheeses, plus you can order from the kitchen if you want hot food, which is made to order. I would highly recommend dining in the hotel restaurant, A Morgadinha, as the food is delicious and provided us with the best meals we had during our stay in Funchal. The food is beautiful (try the rack of lamb, it is amazing!). The service is impeccable - the staff are friendly, courteous and professional with a personal touch. All the staff are wonderful - from reception staff, bar staff, restaurant staff and housekeeping, all took pride in their roles and gave exceptional service which made our stay extra special. Thank you to Felipe, Antonio, Bernardo and Marco (your wine knowledge is fascinating), and anyone else I may have forgotten. I would say that even though this hotel is indeed a beautiful place to stay, what really makes it extra special is the little personal touches and the obvious pride all the staff (and the manager!) take in making your experience the best it can be. We genuinely miss being there and hope to return as soon as we can. Thank you for making our holiday so special.