Raising the bar in Madeira
Madeira is one of the most underrated of holiday destinations.
It doesn’t compete with the sandy resorts of the Mediterranean or the coast of mainland Portugal, it is a gentler, more reserved island.
The island once had a reputation for being best suited to retirement couples or perhaps for those on honeymoon; someone famously said that those who go to Madeira are either ‘newlywed or nearly-dead’!
Twenty years ago, that may have been the case, but things are changing; Madeira has become more cosmopolitan and is gaining a wider appeal.
The island enjoys a near tropical climate and a pace of life akin to that of southern Italy or the French Riviera where, for visitors, nothing is rushed.
It offers a range of popular leisure activities which include sailing, whale-watching, golf, wine tasting, dining out, and walking.
In fact, the walks are the principal reason that most people have gone to Madeira in the past.
It’s one of the world’s most beautiful islands and it’s possible, thanks to a network of connecting paths cut into the landscape, to walk around it or through it several times over.
These paths, or Levada’s as they are known locally, are everywhere.
They were built in the early twentieth century as narrow watering canals used for irrigation and as such, they navigate the hills and mountains at various levels.
The adjoining paths were built to provide access for maintenance but are now more commonly used by tourists to discover the island.
Some of the walks are precipitous; the paths cling precariously to the sides of mountains, but the views are magnificent, and the variety of dense flora and fauna provide more than enough reason to brave the heights.
Savoy Palace
The choice of quality luxury hotels, most of which are in Funchal, Madeira’s principal town, is impressive.
Amongst these is the Savoy Palace, a modern, architectural anomaly located to the western side of the town and overlooking the port.
The hotel is the most striking of all Madeira’s modern buildings, and is in complete contrast to the traditional Portuguese colonial properties surrounding it.
The hotel has 309 rooms and suites, eight restaurants and bars, a massive subterranean spa (one of the largest in Europe), and is clad in curved glass, steel and concrete to resemble a vast waving curtain.
A garden paradise
Built into the external scheme are voids and ledges containing planters for soft landscaping. Hanging plants and flowers now decorate the entire hotel, cascading from every level to create a tropical oasis.
The floral theme, which honours Madeira’s reputation as the ‘Floating Garden of the Atlantic’, continues into the hotel’s gardens, where native palms, cypresses, lilies, geraniums, nasturtiums and bougainvillaea are planted alongside orchids, strelitzia and agapanthus and surround the curved, lake-like pool.
Restaurants and Bars
Two of the hotel’s restaurants are located within the grounds; Alameda is a classy poolside restaurant and bar, and Terreiro (shown above), which is reached through a gated walkway, is housed within a charming traditional residence with covered verandas that overlook a small private garden.
Terreiro is a delightful discovery.
The wine list, in keeping with the rest of the hotel, is excellent and the menu favours local, seasonal produce.
On our visit the freshly caught seabass was delicious and cooked to perfection.
Other restaurants of note in the Savoy Palace include Pau de Lume on the ground floor and the excellent Galáxia Skyfood restaurant, which sits atop the eastern end of the hotel.
Alongside Galáxia Skyfood is the rooftop Skybar.
This space is proving to be Funchal’s hottest ticket.
It’s a high-class cocktail bar with spectacular views over the town and harbour.
At night, especially, it’s a magical scene.
The Reserve
In recent months, a new and exclusive hotel has been added to the upper floors of the Savoy Palace.
40 new hotel suites, known as The Reserve, have opened.
They are served by their own ground floor entrance and lobby, a separate lift, and access to private infinity pools, lounging areas and bars.
These have been designed for the most discerning guests and for each suite a Guest Experience Personal Assistant (GEPA) is appointed to ensure that every detail and need is catered for.
GEPA’s will arrange and organise a full range of events and experiences on and around the island, from golf – at either of Madeira’s two impressive courses – to vineyard wine tastings, sunrise boat trips, museum visits, chauffeur driven tours, or simple picnics in the mountains.
This level of service, which includes fast-tracked airport transfers, is second to none and sets The Reserve apart from other hotels in Funchal.
Savoy Signature Hotels, the owners of the hotel, appointed RH+ Arquitectos to take on the task of creating The Reserve.
It was not a part of the original scheme, and a number of structural modifications were required.
Chief architect and practice co-founder, Roberto Castro, explains: “In the case of the architectural project, the intervention began in the outdoor area dedicated to The Reserve, ensuring that every detail was perfectly adapted.
“The main challenge for this project was to reach an even higher level than the already very special Savoy Palace.
“For this goal, the fusion between the services offered and the architectural project was fundamental in achieving the objectives we set out to reach.
“Our purpose was to create, from the moment of the arrival at the hotel, through the exclusive reception dedicated to The Reserve and the subsequent connection to the rooms, a continuous and growing experience for the guest.
“Of course, sharing the same ‘mother’ building as the incumbent Savoy Palace, it was our responsibility to integrate The Reserve without compromising all the work that was already carried out in the first project.”
Castro says that this rather unusual scenario created its own, unique challenges.
“During the design and construction of The Savoy Palace in 2019, the concept of The Reserve was not yet part of our plans.
“It was later developed to enhance the guests’ luxury offerings and personalised experiences.
“There are no added floors; the 16th floor is exclusively for The Reserve up until the Galáxia Skyfood, also located on the 16th floor.”
“The main objective is to exceed expectations. These characteristics epitomize the distinctive essence of The Reserve and set it apart in refined ambience of the Savoy Palace.”
Roberto Castro, Architect & Designer
“As The Reserve has 40 rooms, some rooms were picked exclusively from the 8th floor upwards to be a part of the new concept, so they are duly identified throughout the floors” says Castro.
It’s not difficult to see why these lower floor rooms were chosen to be a part of the new hotel.
They are all spacious and beautifully designed.
They are further defined by a new interior colour scheme, which corresponds with the natural beauty of the island.
“Each colour palette, meticulously curated with four distinct shades, represents the diverse facets of Madeira’s natural beauty and cultural richness.” states Castro.
“From the lush greens of its landscapes to the deep blues of its surrounding waters, we aimed to infuse each suite with a sophisticated luxury that harmonises with the island’s unique ambience.
“So, the rooms work under a four-colour scheme: blue to represent the Atlantic Ocean surrounding the island, green and brown for Madeira’s rich nature and grey that so well represents the particularity of Madeira’s beaches, made up mostly of pebbles.”
In addition to the newly created suites, The Reserve offers two new restaurants on the 16th floor: the ocean facing Jacaranda, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Nikkei restaurant, which offers high-end Japanese cuisine.
Nikkei is north facing with views that take in the steep slopes of Funchal that form the beginning of the inland mountains.
Most of Funchal’s resident population live in the houses and properties that occupy the lower slopes, these distinctive orange-roof buildings appear to flow down the hills like rivers until they merge into the density of the town’s centre.
Funchal really is a unique and beautiful town.
As one would expect, the service, cuisine and presentation in both restaurants is of the highest order, elevated further by the magnificent views.
Service beyond compare
Things are certainly beginning to change on the island of Madeira.
That cosmopolitan edge is already showing, and Madeira is starting to attract a new, more demanding customer.
As ever, it’s those who recognise and prepare for change who will benefit the most, and, judging by the sheer luxury and service on offer at The Reserve, Savoy Signature Hotels are well and truly prepared.
As Roberto Castro explains “The briefing presented by the hotelier for The Reserve project aimed to create an elevated experience, focused on personalized guest engagement, meticulously curated even before arrival at the Hotel.
“The main objective is to exceed expectations.
“These characteristics epitomize the distinctive essence of The Reserve and set it apart in the refined ambience of the Savoy Palace.”