Pestana CR7 Funchal

Pestana CR7 Funchal is a four-star lifestyle hotel on the waterfront at Avenida Sá Carneiro and Praça do Mar, in central Funchal, Madeira. It is a collaboration between the Pestana group and the footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who was born on the island, and it stands close to the marina, the Zona Velha and the waterfront promenade. The Museu CR7, dedicated to the player's career, is in the same area and is a common stop for visitors. Funchal's airport is about 20 kilometres to the east, and the old town, the cathedral and the Mercado dos Lavradores are within walking distance. The hotel is aimed at design-conscious travellers and sports fans, with a modern, urban character rather than a traditional resort feel. Its rating of about 4.5 in the data held for this guide is high for the mid-range category. Rooms are offered as standard, double and superior rooms with air conditioning. Facilities include a rooftop pool, a sauna, an open-air jacuzzi and an open-air gym, giving guests views over the harbour from the upper level. A restaurant serves meals on site, a 24-hour front desk handles arrivals at any hour, and room service is available. There is no large spa or children's programme, so the property suits couples, friends and city-break visitors more than families seeking resort amenities. Dining beyond the hotel is easy to find along the waterfront and in the old town, where Madeiran dishes such as espada, espetada and bolo do caco are widely served. Service is urban and informal, and staff can help with excursions such as whale and dolphin watching from the marina, cable car trips to Monte and day tours to the island's north coast. The central position means that many sights can be reached on foot, though the streets rise steeply behind the waterfront.