Barceló Funchal Oldtown

A new Barceló has been planted in the heart of Funchal’s historic centre, with renovated walls reflecting the local culture. The proposition includes a restaurant that is open all day, a heated rooftop pool and hundreds of rooms. With a cultural touch to everything it comprises, the Hotel Barceló Funchal Oldtown spans a bridge between the past and the present of the island of Madeira. 
Once on Madeiran soil, after a peaceful landing on good winds, we are driven to Caniçal. A boat awaits us at the quayside, with friendly faces and a table with everything a Madeiran breakfast is supposed to have. On one side, the endless Atlantic, on the other the silhouette of the beautiful Madeiran island. Every square centimetre is used, if not for the picturesque houses with their orange rooftops, then at least for planting bananas. Back on dry land, it takes no time at all to get to the hotel and before we know it, the Madeiran spirit has taken hold of us. We soon become aware of the Barceló Funchal Oldtown, the only five-star hotel in Funchal’s historic centre after all, built from wood and centuries-old stones. 

A cultural touch to everything it comprises

At the entrance we are welcomed by laid-back luxury, imbued with details that remind us of the island. An example of this is the Laurissilva Forest, represented in the lobby’s designs and decoration and recreated in miniature size in a glassed-in space, visible when going up and down in the lift. Few will realise that behind the building is a restoration project that brought together six 17th-century buildings. The original façades have been kept, along with the interior slabs, in memory of what it once was – the headquarters of the Bordados Oliveiras factory, the Blandy’s family home and also a shoemaker’s and barber’s house. During the excavation process, more than a thousand ceramic pieces from the colonial period were found, as well as many artefacts that have been integrated into the hotel’s décor, allowing each and every guest to immerse themselves in the city’s legacy, from local handicrafts to Madeiran embroidery.  
The choice of food in the Noz Café restaurant is à la carte, with the option of eating on the outdoor terrace, well connected to the historic centre. A treat for all palates, the options cover various gastronomic styles under an all-day dining concept. If you’re planning to go up to the heavens, the B-Heaven bar on the top floor will do the trick with its panoply of cocktails, next to the heated pool, which causes our eyes to widen. Here you can see the sun rising and setting on the horizon, embellished with tropical colours and moods. 

Here you can see the sun rising and setting on the horizon

In a combination of beauty and mysticism, the 111 rooms present us with monochrome frames that delve into an ancient Madeira that was traced by an entirely rural people. This is a successful contrast, with contemporary details and amenities that live up to the comforts of a five-star hotel. In addition to the above, the hotel complex has three fully soundproofed meeting rooms, a gym and multiple spaces for leisurely contemplation. 
Strengthening the ties with the island is also part of the hotel’s mission, which is why it has forged partnerships with local experiences and businesses that have allowed us to explore the levadas and visit Bordalo and Blandy’s Madeira winery. Details that transcend our stay and certainly make all the difference.
On the desk in our room, when we are leaving, an elegant box has been left for us, offering the island’s flavours in every bite of a bonbon and the gift of a cloth embroidered by Bordados da Madeira (Bordal). This was yet another gesture of hospitality provided by the hotel, something that was inherent in all its service.
This is the Barceló Funchal Oldtown, a genuine landmark that gives you access to the splendours of the island of four seasons.