Travessa Rego 10, Funchal, Portugal | (937) 315-4602
Ultra-chic boutique hotel located in central Funchal
Within walking distance of the waterfront, restaurants, and shops
Stunning rooftop pool and sundeck with ocean views
Lobby with authentic mid-century modern decor and vintage accents
Minimalist guest rooms with striking, wall-size 1960s photos
About half of the hotel's guest rooms have balconies
Stylish on-site restaurant with a shady outdoor garden terrace
Handsome lobby bar and billiards room
Free breakfast and free Wi-Fi throughout
Guest rooms are small and skimp on amenities
Units don't have air-conditioning, mini-fridges, or coffeemakers
Bathrooms lack toiletries
No on-site fitness center
Fee for parking
The three-and-a-half-pearl Hotel do Carmo is a stylish boutique property with a central Funchal location. Mid-century modern furniture and vintage details -- much of it authentic -- can be found here, although its 80 minimalist guest rooms don't have the same ambiance. They're small, and are missing considerable amenities, like AC, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and toiletries, but they do have flat-screen TVs, bathrooms with deep tubs, and more than half have balconies. The hotel's standout feature is a rooftop pool with panoramic ocean views, an attractive restaurant that offers free breakfast, and a lobby bar with a handsome billiards table. However, the hotel lacks a gym. For a more modern alternative in the heart of town, check out Hotel Madeira.
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Scene
Chic boutique hotel with authentic 1960s decor for couples and other leisure travelers
Fans of mid-century modern design will go gaga at Hotel do Carmo, which opened in 1968 and features decor that's authentic to the period. Wood ceilings and accent walls lend natural warmth to black-and-white checkerboard floors, and the boutique property is filled with original '60s furniture and some reproductions. Atmospheric details add to the hotel's throwback charm: The reception desk, illuminated by frosted globe lamps, is backed by an old, wooden mail sorter/room key hutch, with antique phones, radios, and cash registers. The hotel's design-savvy guests tend to be couples or friends on vacation who prefer a reserved atmosphere, away from families and the din of a beachfront resort. The property's gathering spots include the restaurant, with a fetching, emerald-green tile accent wall, and the chic rooftop pool and sundeck, where panoramic ocean views can be had.
Location
Quiet but central, within walking distance to restaurants, shops, and the waterfront
The hotel is located in central Funchal on a quaint, narrow side street that's relatively quiet. The town's numerous cafes, restaurants, bars, and shops are within a few blocks -- about an eight-minute walk -- and the popular street market, Mercado dos Lavadores, takes about six minutes on foot. The marina is roughly a 14-minute walk from the hotel, and Funchal's famous cable car is another couple of minutes from there. A few bus routes near the hotel can take tourists to the Lido Promenade in about 18 minutes, which in turn connects pedestrians to the pebbly Formosa Beach. Madeira Airport is a 25-minute drive.
Rooms
Minimalist decor accented with wall-size 1960s photographs, but few amenities
Guest rooms carry on the 1960s decor, though in a more minimal fashion, with wall-sized black-and-white photos depicting icons from the time period as main focal point. The walls are otherwise plain and white, with a few mid-century modern pieces of furniture, such as a wood valet, and a shelf-style desk and chair. All rooms feature flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, but lack amenities such as air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers. By contrast, the bathrooms are stuck somewhere in the '90s, with bidets and shower/tub combos that include rainfall showerheads and deep bathtubs, but there are no toiletries.
Units are on the small side, with slightly more than half gaining extra space with furnished balconies, each of which sports two mid-century metal folding chairs, and a table.
Features
Rooftop pool with ocean views, and restaurant with outdoor terrace, but no gym
This boutique hotel lacks a gym, but the features otherwise measure up to properties in its category -- and what is here feels much more high-end.
Topping the list is a fabulous rooftop that boasts unobstructed ocean views, with a modern pool and a sleek sundeck with loungers. Other highlights include a full-service restaurant, which offers free breakfast and has a garden terrace for alfresco dining, and a lobby bar and lounge, with a billiards table and a bookcase filled with reading material. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout, and there's on-site parking for a nominal fee.
