Restaurante Desarma

Fine dining restaurant · Funchal

Restaurante Desarma

Fine dining restaurant · Funchal

The Views Baía, R. das Maravilhas 74, 9000-177 Funchal, Portugal

Highlights

Michelin-starred dining: creative dishes, local ingredients, wine pairings

The Views Baía, R. das Maravilhas 74, 9000-177 Funchal, Portugal Get directions

desarma.pt

@restaurantedesarma

€50+

Reserve

@michelinguide

"Chef Octávio Freitas has shown that it is possible to turn your dreams into reality here on the terrace of The Views Baía hotel, where the dining experience is matched by truly superb views, particularly from the sofas on the patio and once night starts to fall.In this attractive space, featuring an impressive open kitchen and an original interior design that is inspired by a banana plant, the cuisine has a strong local DNA showcased via typical “petiscos” from the island prepared with a contemporary touch. These are complemented by a whole host of accompaniments that, wherever possible, are prepared in-house (cured and matured fish, bread made with local flour, cheese, butter, maritime-inspired “enchidos”). These are highlighted on three tasting menus (Armed with Senses, The Chef’s Battle and The Chef's Bench) the first two sub-divided into different moments: Encounter, Offensive, Attack and Surrender. Desarma’s wine cellar houses one of the world’s best selections of Madeira wines." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/ilha-da-madeira/funchal/restaurant/desarma

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@michelinguide

A new Two Star restaurant is highlighted in the selection of the MICHELIN Guide Portugal 2024

"On the rooftop of The Views Baía hotel in Funchal is a restaurant with magnificent views of the coastline that exudes originality from every pore. Chef Octávio Freitas' proposal reimagines the culinary experience as an imaginary battle between the senses and each flavour, always exalting the splendid larder of the Madeira archipelago." - Guía MICHELIN

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/news-and-views/a-new-two-star-restaurant-is-highlighted-in-the-selection-of-the-michelin-guide-portugal-2024

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@eater

Madeira, Portugal, Dining Guide to the Food & Drink Scene | Eater

"A provocative, highly creative restaurant that takes iconic island ingredients and reimagines them in unexpected ways—playful presentations (for example, bananas transformed into sculptural elements) and bold twists on tradition are matched by careful beverage pairings guided by an adventurous sommelier." - Austin Bush

https://www.eater.com/23816118/madeira-portugal-dining-guide

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Cherrie Sun

Google

TLDR; This was, beyond a doubt, the best fine dining experience I’ve ever had, and if you’re looking at reviews to make your decision - just book this place. My partner and I always seek to try at least one fine dining establishment in every place we travel to. Unlike all the places we’ve been, which were fantastic in their own right, Desarma combines warm and friendly service with amazing food that featured Madeira flavors. I know, I know…all fine dining places are supposed to have good service, and they usually do. But I can’t stress enough how nice and kind the front of staff were at Desarma. Besides the service, you can look forward to good food that is often paired with unique and tasty sauces. Everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection, and it’s difficult to decide which was my favorite dish of the night. I was so full towards the end yet I managed to finish the last meat main because of how easy (and tasty) it was to eat it. This was truly an unexpected and unforgettable experience. If you’re on the island and looking for fine dining, this place should definitely not be missed.

Google

Great experience, we really enjoyed everything. Top wine pairings, amazing sauces (green sauce with seafood is our favourite), beautiful seafood dishes and rich meat dishes. Nice atmosphere and design. We took a menu of 9 servings. I enjoyed seafood servings a lot, and my husband liked pig and beef. By the end of the journey we had a chance to see kitchen and talk to chefs. As a present before we left we got 2 sets of their handmade chocolates and a piece of handmade cured butter that we liked. I would definitely come back again.

Jonathan Ankney

Google

An all-timer exceptional meal celebrating the local history and bounty of Madeira! We had the joy, privilege, and pleasure of savoring the 12 course tasting menu with Portuguese wine pairings at the Chef’s Table (counter surrounding the kitchen) and had a close view of the chefs in harmonious action. The front of house staff (Eduardo), chefs (shout out pastry chef and king of sourdough bread Bruno), and sommelier (Joao - laser focused and intent on making every pairing better than the last, traditional rules and stodgy thinking need not apply here) were so friendly, approachable, enthusiastic, and willing to share their knowledge that they massively enhanced our experience and made this a night we will never forget. Cannot recommend highly enough… mastery of technique, craft, flavor, presentation, and service on display.

Ana Grilo

Google

If you’re in Funchal and want a truly unforgettable dining experience, Desarma is an absolute must. We went for The Chef’s Battle – 9 Moments Menu with the wine pairing, and wow… what a ride! Every dish felt like a little love letter to the ingredients — familiar, organic flavors taken to a whole new level of creativity. You can tell that every single element on the plate is honored and celebrated, not just thrown in for show. It’s the kind of food that makes you close your eyes and wish you could hit “replay” after every bite. The wine pairing? Bold, daring, and spot on — surprising in the best way. It didn’t just complement the dishes; it told its own little story alongside them, pushing the experience even further. And then there’s the vibe: a beautiful, open kitchen where you can see the magic happening, chic decoration with just the right amount of cool, and a terrace view that’s so stunning it feels like a movie set. Add to that a team that’s warm, professional, and genuinely passionate about what they do, and you’ve got a night that feels both relaxed and absolutely special.

Svetlana “Kamui” Quindt

Google

We had an amazing evening here! Absolutely loved the taste, quality and creativity of every single course! Everything was just delicious, pretty and so well designed. My favorite were clearly the beaches of Madeira and Porto Santo. The service was as well outstanding and we enjoyed the view into the kitchen. This restaurant absolutely deserves it’s Michelin star and we cannot wait to come back! Just would love if the Chef’s Battle menu in front of the kitchen would be also available with a pescatarian menu.

Robin Keil

Google

I cannot get over the wonderful experience we had at désarma. We came for our 10th wedding anniversary and from the moment we arrived we had nothing but exceptional service. The front host was absolutely wonderful, and the server was so welcoming despite it being our first Michelin star restaurant dining experience and feeling like fish out of water. The food is out of this world. A true dining experience. I have never had so many beautifully played dishes with such intricate flavors put together. The entire atmosphere of the restaurant is relaxed and quiet, the service and explanation of this dishes was impeccable, and the parting gift at the end was so thoughtful (I will leave this as a surprise for future guests). Désarmas blew me away and I would recommend this place a thousand times over for anybody that wants to try fine dining with authentic Portuguese food with a twist. Thank you everyone at désarmas for a truly special 10th anniversary to remember

Stefan Kim

Google

We enjoyed an amazing chef’s table experience at Desarma earlier this week. Great tasting menu with a focus on local produce, and a wine pairing with only Portuguese wines. Pretty certain Desarma are in line for a second Michelin star soon. ⭐️

A. F.

Google

The food, service and location . Just the best of the 8 named Michelin mentioned restaurants on Madeira. Amazing sommelierchoices..