Restaurant Recommendations

Posted on by

We’ve always made it a habit to ask for recommendations from locals. We were chatting with the bartender on the rooftop at The Vine and he gave us these two restaurants to try. We haven’t had a chance to go yet, but definitely will.

A few other places given to us by Miguel when we asked for restaurant / good poncha places:

  • Bar À Quinta
    Rua Bispo Manuel J G Andrade, 21, 9300-265 Quinta Grande, Portugal (near Câmara de Lobos)
  • A Venda do André
    Estr. João Gonçalves Zarco, Quinta Grande, Portugal (near Câmara de Lobos)
  • Moinho
    Estrada Regional 222, Estrada Fajã da ovelha nº19, 9370-315 Maloeira – Calheta – Madeira, Portugal
  • 101 Bar
    ER101 39, 9270-013 Achadas da Cruz, Portugal

We stopped at 101 Bar while driving and it was, indeed, most excellent poncha and picado. The lady’s name was Luísa and I would definitely go back again — also because we didn’t yet try the teleférico in Achadas da Cruz yet.

360º Bar at the Vine Hotel

Posted on by

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iEukyYFP9sEYQrGM7

We stopped by this bar on a house hunting trip. We were there late afternoon on a grey day so no one was there. The view is amazing, a little bit back form the coast but still very nice. Our bartender was super helpful and gave us some restaurant recommendations for local food.

We had the usual ponchas. They were at the high end of the price scale, but that’s what you get at a nice hotel bar. Would definitely go back when the weather is nice.

We’ve picked a place…Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Posted on by

We’ve been all over…Cyprus, Sicily, Sardinia, Salento. We loved them all but each had a critical flaw. Global warming is making a lot of places too hot to bear in the summer. Enter Madeira. We went a long time ago for a very short break and for some reason kind of forgot about it. Then while researching places to retire, up it came. Not overly hot in summer, not cold at all in winter. Mountains, sea views, wonderful food.

So we went back, loved it and went back again.

Now we are Trying to buy a house. More on that later. Wish us luck.

Planning for the future

Posted on by

We’ve been planning to move somewhere warmer for some time. We have about 2 years to go, just waiting for Max to get out of school.

We were looking a Cyprus, but after going a few times I think we realised that it just isn’t for us. Love the tax situation and the people but simply too small a place.

The current focus is now on Southern Italy, probably Ortigia or Bari.

Talking to lawyers, getting ducks in a row, preparing for the joy that is immigration all over again.

I’m back, maybe

Posted on by

It seems that every 5 or 10 years I try my best to get organised and keep a blog. I always let it die in the end. We’ll see how it goes this time.

For those who know me, you will know that I am trying to retire. I had stopped working but had invested in a company that has now died, so now I am not working again. We are hoping to move to Italy to retire for good in 2026. The easiest way to move is on a retirement visa that doesn’t really let you work so that will certainly force retirement.

I’ve moved my recipes to the Food folder or you can use Recipes menu up top.