Pau de Lume restaurant

October 2, 2025

A very lovely place in the Savoy Palace building. The food was incredibly tasty with a pretty presentation. You can choose between a brunch menu and regular meals, which was great as well. Loved especially the huge variety of starters and the peaceful and pretty location. The staff was very friendly and fast as well. However the food was a little bit pricey.

July 29, 2025

We chose this restaurant to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary because I had celebrated my birthday here a few months earlier and had such a lovely experience. Naturally, I expected the same level of service — but unfortunately, this time it didn’t quite meet our expectations. What didn’t quite work for us: 1. On my birthday, the staff surprised us with champagne, a dessert with a candle, and warm wishes — such a thoughtful gesture that made the evening feel special. But during our anniversary dinner (which we mentioned clearly when booking), there was absolutely no acknowledgment — not even a simple “congratulations.” I don’t want to sound entitled, but in every country and restaurant where we’ve celebrated special occasions, there’s always been some kind of gesture. It felt disappointing in contrast to my previous visit. 2. We didn’t order much food because we weren’t very hungry — just the octopus, calamari, and fries. The waiter seemed visibly surprised and kept insisting we order more, which felt a bit uncomfortable and out of place. 3. It’s nearly impossible to get a table without a reservation — though that’s understandable, since the restaurant is part of a five-star hotel. What we loved: 1. The setting is absolutely beautiful — calm, quiet, and with a stunning view of the hotel garden. Very romantic and relaxing. 2. The octopus was exceptional — incredibly tender, flavorful, and beautifully plated. One of the best I’ve had! The only thing I’d change is the spicy sauce — it was a bit too hot for me, so I’d prefer it served on the side next time. 3. Based on my previous visit, I know this place can offer excellent service and attention to detail. I believe what happened this time was just a matter of human error or bad luck. I’d still return — but probably not for a special occasion again.

August 1, 2025

It's been a while since our visit, but it was so good that I still wanted to leave a review. The restaurant is located a bit outside the center of Funchal, and reservations are recommended. The food is fantastic and super fresh. The flavor combinations are well-thought-out, and the atmosphere is very pleasant. Definitely recommended.

August 16, 2025

We went here on our last night in Funchal and wish we'd discovered it before! Lovely atmosphere inside. We had the grilled squid, and vegetable aubergine rice with sweet potato fries. Would definitely recommend!

January 5, 2024

We had a dinner for two here. We booked a few days in advance, the lady on the telephone asked if there are any allergies or other preferences. I told her we’re both vegan, so we were pretty surprised when we got served the marinated octopus with our bread and olives. Unfortunately, the only vegan starter was out. The Thai salad for main course was very good, the combination of flavors a match. Too sad, the seitan was a bit burned and dry. The rice pan was nothing to write home about and a little bit too salty. There is no vegan dessert except fruits. The Smoked Lemonade cocktail I had was refreshing and tasty. Service was very good in the beginning, after the main course it wasn’t existent any more and we had to wait very long until someone realized we wanted to pay. The portions are big (definitely more than fine dining, to be fair, I rate this restaurant as 'casual') and the prices very low. I give four points, but it was more like a 3.5 for me, because of some issues I didn’t expect to happen under the roof of Savoy.