Restaurants, Nightlife and Shopping in Porto Santo island

Restaurants:

                             

As well as its world-renowned beaches, Porto Santo has a plethora of restaurants to choose from. With most located in Vila Baleira, visitors can sample anything from traditional cuisine in local eateries to exciting fusion dishes, served in the island’s biggest luxury hotels. Many of the larger restaurants also offer a free taxi service between your hotel and the restaurant, which is perfect for those wanting to over-indulge while on holiday!

Restaurant Pé na Água

Trendy retro design and funky fusion dishes from around the world. This restaurant’s table stretch right out onto the sandy beach. Perfect for snacks, drinks or watching the sunset. It also serves fantastic locally caught seafood.

Where: Pedras Pretas, Porto Santo Beach, 9400-075 Porto Santo island.
Telephone: +351 291 983 114

Restaurant Solar do Infante

The amazing terraces and window boxes of this restaurant offer unparalleled views over the port and the surrounding area. This place can get a little crowded as many people come here from Madeira island. It is renowned not only for its amazing seafood dishes, but also for its value for money.

Where: Av. Dr. Manuel Gregório Pestana Júnior  9400-171 Porto Santo island.
(Vila Baleira seafront, behind the Centro de Artesanato)
Telephone: +351 291 985 270

Restaurant O Calhetas

This amazing restaurant is located at the end of the coast road and provides absolutely stunning views of the islands. It serves fresh seafood, pasta and other international dishes. It also has an impressive cocktail list.

Where: Sítio Ponta, Ponto de Calheta, 9400-001 Porto Santo island.
Telephone: +351 291 984 380

Restaurant Mar e Sol

Located right on the beach, this fun and friendly family run restaurant serves fresh fish and traditional meat dishes.

Where: Estrada do Forno da Cal, Campo de Baixo, 9400-015 Porto Santo island.
Telephone: +351 291 982 269

Restaurant Adega das Levadas

Traditional meat dishes and rich stews are served here. Perfect for anyone wanting a true taste of Porto Santo. This restaurant bakes its own bread and is joined onto a vineyard whose wines are available with dinner or to take home.

Where: Estrada Comendador José de Castro Vasconcelos, 9400 Campo de Baixo, Porto Santo island.
(near Mirador das Flores)
Telephone: +351 291 982 721

Restaurant Baiana

Located in the main square of Vila Baleira. This restaurant is a big hit with the locals and can get a little crowded at times, but serves a variety of dishes to suite any palate.

Where: R Doutor Nuno S V Teixeira 7 (Largo do Pelhourinho), 9400-162 Porto Santo island.
Telephone: +351 291 984 649

Restaurant Teodorico

A little gem of a restaurant which is much frequented by local islanders. Located on the East of the island and serving traditional cuisine and fresh fish, the restaurant may be difficult to find (many of the restaurants on Porto Santo have no street addresses) but is worth checking out as it has been in the same family for many generations.

Where: Serra de Fora, 9400-105 Porto Santo island.
Telephone: +351 291 982 257

Restaurant Quinta do Serrado

A rural restaurant with beautiful exposed stone walls and a roaring fire. This serves amazing grilled octopus and traditional dishes such as grilled meats and stewed goat!

Where: Sítio do Pedregal, 9400-010 Porto Santo island.
Telephone: +351 291 980 270

Restaurant Hipicenter

Located near to the beach and overlooking a working horse stable, this homely little places serves light meals such as soups, breads and salads and also has an open fire.

Where: Sítio da Ponta (just of the beach), 9400-085 Porto Santo island.
Telephone: +351 291 983 258

Nightlife:

In the months before and after summer, Porto Santo can get extremely sleepy and sedated, with many tourists preferring to stay in their hotels instead of hitting the bars and clubs. But on summer weekends, the town is completely rammed with visitors from overseas as well as from the Madeira. Pinning down nightlife in Porto Santo is difficult as many of the streets do not have names, but most of the activity takes place in the Boca neighbourhood of Vila Baleira. There are several late-night clubs such as Taski and Cine-café which are located off of the main square in the cultural centre and projects old European movies onto the walls. Both places run from 5pm to midnight and neither has a phone! There are also several beach bars such as the hip Tia Maria where residents from Madeira go to party. The biggest nightclub in the area however is Challenger.

Challenger Night Club

Playing a heady mix of rock pop, RnB and House, Challenger is the biggest and trendiest club on Porto Santo and many big name DJs headline there. It’s the place to be for young residents and tourists, and the music goes on all night!

Where: Rua D Estevão de Alencastre, 9400-161 Porto Santo island.
Telephone: +351 962 879 177

For practical necessities as well as traditional souvenirs and modest shops, head towards Rua João Gonçalves Zarco in Vila Baleira for everything from sunscreen and shampoo to the latest independent fashion trends.

Shopping:

Zarco Shopping

This complex is located a little further down Rua João Gonçalves Zarco (towards the beach). As well as a fashionable shopping malls complex where visitors can walk through independent and high street fashion outlets, the complex also has a big supermarket for those who want to save a little money and cook for themselves every once in a while.

Where: Rua João Gonçalves Zarco, 9400-166 Porto Santo island.

Centro de Artesanato (Handicraft Centre)

Located near to the old pier in Vila Baleira, this fascinating centre provides visitors with ample opportunities to pick up traditional souvenirs. Here, you can see the multitude of crafts and goods that helped to establish Porto Santo as a trading centre. You can also watch craftsmen working with raw materials such as wool, metal and wicker as you wander through the centre.

Where: Av. Dr. Manuel Gregório Pestana Junior, 9400-171 Porto Santo island.