The Cliff Bay (PortoBay)

The Cliff Bay (PortoBay) is a five-star hotel on the Estrada Monumental in the Lido and São Martinho hotel zone of Funchal, on the island of Madeira, Portugal. It sits on a clifftop above the Atlantic roughly three kilometres west of the old town and the cathedral, and the main seafront promenade and bus routes into the centre are close by. The hotel is one of the best-known luxury addresses in the Funchal hotel zone, with a restrained, elegant style and terraced gardens that step down towards the sea. Rooms range from standard double or twin rooms to superior sea-view rooms, bay-view rooms, sea-view junior suites and suites, plus family rooms with ocean views. Dining is a major draw: the property is associated with a Michelin-starred restaurant, and a poolside bar and 24-hour room service complement the main breakfast and dinner options. Wellness facilities include a spa, a fitness centre, and both indoor and outdoor pools, with a separate children's pool. Tennis is also on site, and the hotel has a library for quieter hours. Service is polished and concierge-led, suited to couples, honeymooners and families who want a high-end resort stay with a short taxi ride to the old town. Published double-room rates start from about €285 per night, with sea-view categories and suites costing more, and prices rise in the New Year and summer peaks. Visitors who prefer a swim in the sea rather than the pool usually use the nearby lido complexes and ocean-access points in the hotel zone.