Best Burgers in Funchal, Madeira: Zona Velha

The best burgers in Funchal, the capital of Madeira, are found in the Zona Velha, the old town of painted doors around Rua de Santa Maria, in the city centre near the cathedral and the Mercado dos Lavradores, and in the Lido hotel district to the west along Estrada Monumental. Look for burgers served in bolo do caco, the island’s own bread.

Madeira has a meat-in-bread tradition that predates the burger. The bolo do caco is a round flatbread made with sweet potato and traditionally cooked on a hot basalt slab, the caco. Split and brushed with garlic butter, it holds the prego, a thin beef steak, and it is the obvious local substitute for a brioche bun. Espetada, beef chunks grilled on a bay laurel skewer, is the island’s other signature meat dish.

Burgers in Funchal: key facts

• Neighbourhoods to explore: Zona Velha, the Sé area, the Mercado dos Lavradores, São Martinho and the Lido.
• Local bread: bolo do caco, a sweet potato flatbread served with garlic butter.
• Island classic: the prego no bolo do caco, steak in that flatbread.
• Signature meat: espetada, beef grilled on a bay laurel skewer.
• Getting around: the city climbs steeply from the seafront, so allow for hills or take a bus.
• Currency: euro (EUR).

Every guide we publish on Funchal is dated and lists only venues, addresses, prices and ratings we could verify. For mainland Portugal and other cities, browse our burger restaurant guides.