AUDAX - Progressive Madeiran Cuisine

I’ve known and loved this restaurant since the day it opened. The photos I’m sharing were taken over several years, as they regularly change the menu. Dining here has always been a true chef’s experience — with creative, unexpected flavor combinations. They also offer an excellent wine selection and a team that’s passionate, knowledgeable, and genuinely good at what they do. The space is small and intimate, so it’s best to book a table in advance. Recently, the restaurant received a Michelin recommendation, and while that’s well-deserved, it has brought some changes: prices have doubled or even tripled, while portion sizes have shrunk significantly. I can no longer say it offers the same great value it once did. Earlier menus were better balanced — with dishes like risottos and hearty sides that made for a more satisfying meal. Still, it remains a unique spot for a special evening and a chance to explore bold, carefully crafted cuisine.

I went to a restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide; not yet starred, but clearly aspiring. The food was good, even thoughtful: each plate balanced and precise without feeling fussy. But what I’ll remember most wasn’t the food. It was the Michelin Man. A small statue of him sat right in front of us throughout dinner; a squat, beaming sentinel of white rubber rings. Up close, he looks less like a mascot and more like a relic from some ancient civilization that worshipped tires and torque. His form is hypnotic: dozens of concentric ridges stacked into a soft geometry of confidence. His smile is the calm grin of someone who’s seen a thousand steering wheels and lived to tell the tale. The longer he sat there, the more alive he seemed. Light rippled over his curved belly, giving the illusion of breath. He looked on approvingly as we lifted forks and glasses, as if silently evaluating both our meal and our manners. There’s something humbling about eating under the gaze of a creature who has become a global arbiter of taste; not through culinary mastery, but through tires. The food, yes, was quite good. But it’s the Michelin Man who lingered in my mind: serene, spherical, and strangely divine; the patron saint of dinner and the open road.

We stumbled across AUDAX on a walk about town and after a quick search decided to book in, and I'm so glad we did. An absolute highlight of the island and some of the best food I have ever eaten. I went for the 7 course menu and my girlfriend got the 5 course vegetarian offering, both with the wine. The food was utterly excpetional and bursting with flavour. The wine pairing was a true accompaniment to the meal, letting both the food and the wine shine together. Along with this the service was marvellous, with clearly passionate servers taking the time to really explain the meal and wine to you. Not to be missed.

My family went this place for the dinner of the last night in Madeira! We had 10 course meal with wine pairing. Just like as their restaurant name indicates, "Progressive Madeiran Cuisine" is just right description for their foods. They sourced out majority of ingredients like seafood from Madeira and cooked them just right with beautiful seasoning. All the staffs were very friendly and they have a layout of open kitchen so you will be able to see the chef's detailed attention for garnish and stuffs. Also our wine sommelier gives good explanation on wines in the words that are easy to understand. They're currently on Michelin Guide but I do believe they deserve a star not just in terms of foods but also in terms of their services and attention to details.

What a wonderful experience. From the friendly greeting at the door to the knowledgable chefs and the stunning food presentation. Thanks a lot to the whole team of Audax, we will surely remember this evening.

I enjoyed my evening! The food was delicious! So many fresh intense flavours. The service was great. They explained every dish. Highly recommended!

In between the many great individual hikes, we spent a day in Funchal and treated ourselves to lunch at AUDAX. The outstanding professionalism of the service paired with the incredibly delicious, progressive Madeiran food was simply indescribable. For €23, we got three courses including a bottle of water and a coffee per person. After a few conversations with the waiters, we found out that the 9-course menu in the evening was even more exceptional - they say that in passing! :-O Unfortunately, it was our last evening and the restaurant was fully booked. For me, the restaurant is a culinary highlight and 100% recommendable!

Outstanding Michelin star experience. We had the Executive 3 course at lunch for 23 euro. The service and food was Michelin star. I would come every day!