Dinner at a Local Home

Have a great dining experience in Madeira island, from vineyard to the table.

Highlights:

• Have the chance to experience the Madeira Island lifestyle by visiting our private home
  
• Learn how to do the typical Madeiran espetada
  
• Enjoy the magnificent landscape in a relaxing atmosphere in the garden of an Madeiran family
  

Includes:

• Traditional dinner: espetada (beef on skewer), marinated with bay leaves and garlic, served with bolo do caco, fried maize, potatoes and fresh salad
• Certified guide
• Soft drinks and Wine
• Desert

• Pick-up and drop-off from other areas
• Personal Expenses

A minimum of six people is required for this tour.

You have the chance to experience the Madeira Island lifestyle by visiting our private home where you will be hosted by the wonderful Ferraz family, one of the top wine producers in Madeira, that will have the pleasure of presenting their wines for dinner. You will learn how to do the typical Madeiran espetada and learn about their wines. Espetada consists on beef on the skewer seasoned with local herbs such as bay laurel and garlic served with bolo do caco homemade bread, fried corn, potatos boiled in fresh herbs and salad.

The products used in our activities are preferably of organic origin from the season, whenever possible, and from their own farm, like potatos, salad or fresh fruit for dessert, including other local specialities . You learn the recipes step by step and participate if you wish as well.

Enjoy the magnificent landscape in a relaxing atmosphere in the garden of an Madeiran family, try several different wines produced by Ferraz family ,accompanied by appetizing tastings including starters, main course and desserts all paired with different wines produced in a volcanic terroir.

From Vineyard to Table Traditional Madeira Dining Experience

This immersive food tour in Madeira invites travelers to step inside a private Madeiran home and experience traditional Madeira food exactly where it belongs, at the family table. Instead of a restaurant setting, this experience unfolds in the garden of a local wine producing family, where guests learn, cook, and eat together. Guided by a certified tour guide and your hosts, you discover how a traditional Madeiran dish is prepared from scratch, including the iconic espetada grilled over open fire and served with bolo do caco, fried maize, and fresh salad. The evening blends cooking, storytelling, and tasting, paired with Madeira wine produced on volcanic soil. It feels less like a formal tour and more like being welcomed into someones home, offering a rare chance to eat, try, and truly understand Madeiran cuisine through real human connection.

Practical Tips Before You Join the Experience

Before you book this food tour in Madeira, a few practical details help set expectations and ensure comfort.

• Wear comfortable clothes suitable for a relaxed garden setting
• Bring a light jacket, evenings can cool down in rural Madeira
• This is a slow paced experience with standing and light participation
• Come hungry, the dinner is generous and filling
• Inform the guide in advance about dietary restrictions
• Wine tasting is part of the evening, plan transport accordingly

Overall, this experience is easygoing and social, ideal for travelers who enjoy food, conversation, and local culture.

More Facts About This Experience

Madeiras rural homes and vineyards have quietly entered pop culture over the years. The island was featured in the film Night Train to Lisbon starring Jeremy Irons, with scenes filmed in traditional villages and vineyard landscapes similar to those hosting this dinner. Cristiano Ronaldo, born in Funchal, has often mentioned traditional food in Madeira such as espetada and homemade bread as part of his childhood family life. Madeiran cuisine itself is celebrated in international food media for its use of fire cooking, bay laurel skewers, and volcanic soil agriculture. Dishes like tomato and onion soup, lapas, picado, and poncha reflect a food culture shaped by island life, trade routes, and Atlantic weather, making meals deeply rooted in place and history.

Other Experiences That Pair Well With This Dinner

This traditional dining experience fits perfectly into a broader Madeira travel plan. Earlier in the day, many travelers enjoy a Nuns Valley Half day Tour to explore dramatic mountain scenery and small villages before heading to dinner. Others combine the evening with ocean adventures such as My First Scuba Dive in the Ocean from Madeira or Scuba Dive Madeira the Safe Port of the Atlantic, creating a balance between land based culture and sea exploration. Together, these experiences offer a complete picture of Madeira, from volcanic cliffs and underwater life to family tables and homemade dishes shared at sunset.

Who Will Enjoy This Experience Most

This experience suits couples, solo travelers, and small groups looking for something personal rather than touristy. Food lovers, wine enthusiasts, and travelers interested in local traditions will appreciate the hands on approach. It is less suitable for large families with young children, but ideal for adults who enjoy conversation, cultural exchange, and discovering what to eat, try, and must try when visiting Madeira.