Akua

We are very excited for this recommended micheline restaurant but we were all disappointed. We tried their tasting menu 5 services with dessert for 98€ for 2. Bread was good but I would love the bread to be a bit warmer instead of kinda cool. Tina tartare was good. Sardine was not that good, cod taco was a disaster from presentation to the taste it’s not good at all. And main course was mix seafood risotto with a small piece of white fish over cook was just ok. Dessert was very good. Very disappoint with quality of product and presentation. Service was very quick and not very professional. We tried also KAMPO of chef Julio not very good and so we tried Theo restaurant which is the best out his 3 restaurants . We love Theo about the service, food, ambiance and presentation. I have no idea how Akua got micheline recommendation:(

We were excited before coming to the restaurant. The restaurant is supposed to serve contemporary cuisine based on the products from Madeira. However we were disappointed. The way of cooking is old fashioned. Food is heavy. One of the main courses we had was the grilled fish with pasta. The pasta was a bomb as it’s filled with cream. The fish wasn’t grilled to It’s perfection. No juicy meat with crispy skin. Another main course was tuna rice. The rice was tasty but the tuna was chewy. Truly not worth the hype!

Everything about the food here screams that it deserves a Michelin Star. In fact, I think two. Really innovative food beautifully presented. Tuna cornettos with a touch of japanese flavour and the freshest fish. Perhaps inspired by the island’s famous scabbard fish and banana combination, the restaurant plays with a combination of slightly sweet flavours and deep rich fish flavours that are absolutely perfect. Before eating here, you’d never convince me that fish ice cream or rice pudding is possible (and no, they serve neither) but what i did eat, made me think that these people could make it work, if anyone can. There is a razor clam rice side dish with cured tuna shavings which looks alive and tastes like a bowl of grandma’s comforting bear hug. Nothing is over powering but everything is complex, fresh and highly creative. Meanwhile, the front of house service combines efficiency and friendliness with a gentle sense of humour that makes you feel welcome and at home. This was supplemented on the second time we were there with a young woman front of house with a wicked sense of humour whom we loved. Meanwhile, something that applies to all Pereira’s restaurants was that the seats were really comfortable. What set Akua apart, for me, and led me to believe it was the best of the four was the Chef. Apart from his attention to detail, he was totally in charge of the pass, and at the same time always warm and engaging with customers. We went away completely entranced by him.

We had such a great time at Akua! It was a really unique experience, and the food was something special. We decided to go with the set menu for two so we could try more dishes — and honestly, everything was delicious. • The homemade bread with olive and white butter was a perfect start. So simple but really tasty — we loved it. • The tuna tartar was super fresh and a little different, in a good way. • The sardine with eggplant and passion fruit surprised us — such a great combo. We’d definitely order that again. • The fried codfish tacos were unique and full of flavor. • The grouper with seafood rice was amazing — kind of like paella, but with its own twist and so many layers of flavor. • And to finish, the white chocolate, black olive and passion fruit dessert was just the right sweet ending — unusual but it totally worked. The service really stood out too. Everyone was friendly and explained each dish to us, which made the whole experience even better. Shoutout to Wiktor, who was super kind and could speak several languages — that really impressed us. Would totally recommend Akua if you’re up for trying something creative and delicious in a welcoming place.

This restaurant was recommended by our Polish food expert Mr. Makłowicz in one of his videos about Madeira. Our expectations were high as we knew the restaurant was supposed to be something out of the ordinary… We had a reservation so there was no problem with being seated. Our server thought wasn’t a genuinely friendly person… She was trying hard but she had this slightly patronizing attitude. We ordered two starters: tuna tartar (delicious) and cod fish tacos (very good). For main course we ordered market fish with seafood pasta and the second dish was: market fish with tomato migas. We waited a while for the food and when the dishes finally arrived they were lukewarm. The server asked if everything was all right and when we told her the dishes were too cold she immediately took all of them and informed us that we would get newly made dishes. We waited really long. The server offered us extra water and one more glass of od wine on the house (which was really considerate). Before the dishes arrived I started feeling unwell. When I began eating the newly prepared food (the temperature of which was correct) I felt worse and worse. With every mouthful I felt sicker. I didn’t finish the meal. I don’t have any allergies. I think the dish was too heavy and looked very unappetizing. A piece of rather dry fish was swimming in a greenish bland pulp… The lukewarm version has already done the damage to the whole experience. The other dish with tomatoes was ok but too salty and also swimming in a great amount of sauce too. All in all a very disappointing experience for only 150€. We do not recommend!

Staying in Madeira for a few days and visited Funchal for the day. Hadn’t booked anywhere for dinner and my husband happened to find Akua. It was fully booked online so we just walked past. The amazing front of staff said all they had was sat up at the kitchen bar….i mean just perfect!!! The service was exceptional and the food totally devine. Oysters were some of the best I’ve ever eaten. Sitting watching the team orchestrate the food was incredible. Such a friendly team and truly stunning food. If you are going to visit make sure you’re sitting downstairs. Upstairs didn’t feel as warm and friendly. Would absolutely visit again. Thank you for making our day in Funchal.

My boyfriend and I ate at Akua twice during our 6-day trip to Madeira. Chef and his team are so talented. The food is so so incredible, and by far the best food we tasted on the island. Every plate is so well thought out, fresh, light and yet filling. The service team are all so kind and welcoming, explaining each dish and its components. We recommend the braised tuna with razor clam rice and the tuna tartar as must try’s. Thank you for hosting us Akua team - keeping all our fingers crossed for your Michelin! We hope to return soon.

I’ve been to Akua more than once, with years between both visits, and let me tell you, these guys not only know how to stay on brand with their amazing dishes, but they actually improve with time. If you come here, come ready to experience a true mouthful of art. This is no ordinary food, it’s a symphony on a plate, a journey of discovery through new ingredients and unexpected combinations. Simply amazing. Just make sure to book a table in advance because they are always full. The service is great and the atmosphere is fantastic. I just wish I had booked ahead this time, so I could have gotten a better spot!

food: best meal I've had in Portugal as a whole, love how the chef seems to have found a good balance between authentic & fine dining. Standout dishes: tuna tartare, seafood pasta I recommend getting the set menu for first time trying Service: all the staff was super nice, which is a breath of fresh air in Portugal, not everyone here is welcoming to foreigners Ambiance: pretty small interior so be ready for a packed room, it's nice seeing everyone's reactions to the dishes, I also enjoyed watching the staff work in the kitchen

If you're looking for a fine dining experience in Madeira or even just a tasty dinner, this is not it. I recommend going elsewhere. We ordered the set menu and were sorely disappointed in basically all of the dishes. Started off with the bread, which may have been the best thing we had. There was really nothing too special about it though, just a large loaf of sourdough bread with some butter and extremely lemony olives. The tuna tartare wasn't also just okay. A mix of small tuna chunks with soy sauce and some seaweed in a fried cone. Basically just tasted like a lot of soy sauce. The sardines came with eggplant, pepper, passion fruit sauce, and tomato sauce and it was a very odd and not very tasty combo. Basically just tasted each thing separately without the flavors blending together at all. Also just a very mushy dish without any crunch or difference in texture. The tacos were my least favorite thing though. Maybe I'm not a huge fan of bacalhau but also, the sauce was just too cloyingly sweet for my taste and I honestly couldn't even finish it. The seafood rice was extremely salty and very fishy, but at least they gave you a decent number of shrimp and clams. The grouper was just okay, minus the couple of bones still in the filet. Dessert was decent, although again kind of a weird mix-up of flavors and textures. Overall, this just felt like a dining experience that was trying too hard to be something it's not. The redeeming quality was at least all the wait staff and chefs were very nice and pleasant!

I had been excited to try Akua by Chef Júlio Perreira. The restaurant was small and had a pleasant ambience, I loved sitting at the pass to watch all the food prep and plating/styling. I am lactose intolerant and felt disappointed that there was no alternative for the crunchy cone for the tuna tartare nor the tacos, but the servers were helpful when I asked them for advice on what I should avoid on the menu. I felt that the staff could have been a little more attentive, but overall a great experience even for solo dining. A lot of Chef Perreira's restaurants are meant for 2 person dining, so the "half" pricing and portions can be a little uneven. I'd highly recommend to go in a group so that you can try the larger plates. The sardine starter is iconic, and it's fun to watch the chefs torch and plate this dish. I enjoyed the tuna tartare, and the ceviche was unique and textural. I'd come back to try the rice and beef plates, and enjoyed watching the couples next to me try the tasting menu. Lovely experience!

Amazing tapas . Fun atmosphere bar seating where you can watch chef prepare meal. Nice wine list

This will go down as one of the best meals I've had period. All of the dishes were so delicately crafted and clearly a lot of thought and passion went into creating them. The muscles with a Thai style curry sauce were delightful. You could drink the sauce! Recommend having it with some bread! The bread and butter with seaweed flakes was delicious. I could eat it all night. The staff really cares about you having a great experience and they take their time to explain the menu items to you and help you make good decisions on what to order. Hospitality is some of the best I've seen.

Exceptional experience! Everything we tried was incredible and one of the best servers I've ever had. Absolutely must go! Would give 6 stars.

Michelin quality in every respect. Menu primarily of fish is absolutely outstanding. We had the tasting menu which was superb in quality and quantity. Restaurant property was simply elegant. Service provided by Victor was flawless.

Absolutely delicious food, pleasant staff and wonderful overall experience. Highly recommend trying while visiting the island.