If people say that there is not much nightlife in Madeira, we have to admit that this is partly true during the week as – and that is the good thing about Madeira – daily life on the island hasn’t submitted yet to the rhythm of a tourist life. The ratio of tourists to locals – who live and work here all year round – is very low, so it is quite understandable that the working and studying population lives their climax of a ‘normal’ week on the weekends and then there are lots of things to do on an enjoyable night out until dawn!

To make your evening a success, here are a few suggestions where to go in Funchal… depending on your mood, preferences or special occasions you might want to celebrate on your holidays in Madeira.

Café-Bars & Pubs
Café Fora d’oras, White House Pub (both in Rua da Casa Branca – Lido area), Number 2 (opposite the Madeira Carlton), Prince Albert Pub and Joe’s Bar (both in Rua da Imperatriz Dona Amélia – street passing behind Hotel Savoy), Café Teatro (next to Municipal Theatre), Bar do Muséu (city centre – at the Municipal Square)

Bars and Night Clubs
If you enjoy live music, dancing and a drink ‘al fresco’ on a nice esplanade, you can try the Irish Pub (Lido area), Gloria Latina (in street behind the Savoy), FX bar (behind Municipal Theatre – harbour side)

The nightclub Fugitivo (near Casino Park Hotel) is known for its colourful Samba shows performed by Brazilian dancers.

Discotheques
There are several discotheques for all age groups located in the centre of Funchal and within or nearby long established 5 star hotels. Let’s start with the ‘O Farol’ in the Madeira Carlton Hotel (Fridays & Saturdays from 23.30 to 04.00 h). Opposite the Number 2 pub night owls will find ‘Formula 1’ (open all week until late into the morning), where also snooker, table football and other gambling machines are provided on the top floor. The youngster disco ‘Chameleon’ (open everyday from 19.00 to 04.00 h) is located a bit further down from the Madeira Carlton on the left side of the street leading to the harbour. On the basement of the Casino you will find the ‘Copacabana’, a discotheque with a big dance floor in the middle and a spacious stage, where very often also fashion and aerobic shows take place and bands perform live until 01.00 h before the ‘disco night’ starts (open Wednesdays to Saturdays and on nights before public holidays from 23.00 to 04.00 h).

Further downtown, opposite the freight harbour, you’ll find ‘Marginal’ and ‘Jam’ (both open from Wednesday to Sunday and on nights before public holidays from 24.00 to 06.00 h), two small discotheques with nice dance music for all age groups. ‘Vespas’ (open from Wednesday to Sunday and on nights before public holidays from 24.00 to 06.00 h) is the last one in that row, but it is also Madeira’s biggest disco. On weekends this place is very popular with the younger locals, but it also serves as last ‘pit stop’ for all those who just don’t want to go home yet!

Located on the liners’ pier on top of the remains of an old fort, ‘O Molhe’ provides a disco, enclosed by glass so that you can enjoy beautiful views while dancing, as well as a bar with a big esplanade, where you can sip your drink ‘open air’ and listen to the music at the same time (Fridays & Saturdays from 24.00 to 06.00 h).

Dinner Shows & Themed Entertainment Evenings
Many hotels offer weekly programs with various themed evenings open to the public (such as Hotel Monumental Lido). Madeira Folklore evenings – combined with a typical dinner – usually take place every day in ‘A Parreira’ and ‘A Seta’. ‘Fado’ can be heard at ‘Arsénio’s’ and ‘Marcelino’ in the Old Town.

Long established and very popular with tourists as well as locals are the dinner shows run by the Casino Park Hotel, taking place in the Casino and the hotel itself on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings every week.

Casino
Believe it or not…but Madeira also has a Casino to offer for all those who want to try their luck with gambling! Opening times for the slot machines are from Sunday to Thursday from 15.00 to 03.00 h – Fridays & Saturdays from 16.00 to 04.00 h. The Games Rooms (with 7 French Roulette and 4 Black Jack tables) are open from Sunday to Thursday from 20.00 to 03.00 h – Fridays & Saturdays from 20.00 to 04.00 h. Entrance fee € 4,00; identification document needed (sports clothes not permitted).