Sé Boutique Hotel

Breakfast had plenty of choices, and the rooftop bar was a highlight, with a great atmosphere and lovely city views. Sé Boutique Hotel is well placed for exploring, and we really enjoyed our stay. The hotel parking spot was about a five-minute walk away, which suited us and made it easy to have the car handy for trips out of town. Our room felt a bit small for two, though that’s understandable in a historic building downtown. The shower and toilet area was all glass, so privacy was limited when sharing, and the doors jammed if you tried to close them fully while showering. Even with those design quirks, the location, breakfast, and bar made for a very good stay.

The hotel is in a great location, with comfortable beds, good restaurants nearby, and nice staff. But I wouldn’t stay again. The standard and superior rooms have interior windows, and the first superior room we were given looked onto a corridor where passersby could see straight in. We asked to change rooms right away, but had to involve the travel agency before we were offered two alternatives. Both overlooked an internal ventilation courtyard, though their windows could be left open. I’m not sure why those rooms weren’t offered first. There were persistent smells from the ensuite shower drains, ranging from cooking smells to stale odours. I suppose that comes with an old property in central Funchal. The roof bar was lovely and had great views, though one side looked over a neighbouring roof with ventilation equipment, water storage, and solar panels. If you’re hoping to relax by a pool after a day’s walking, this isn’t the hotel for that. The pool is in the basement and has to be booked. There are no sunbeds on the roof, just a pleasant bar and a couple of sofas to lounge on.

The hotel is small and a little quirky and eccentric, in the best way. It’s near lots of lovely restaurants and sits on only the gentlest slope, not the steep hill I’d worried about. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and all the staff were friendly and helpful. Breakfast in the green room was consistently very good, and the rooftop bar is a lovely place to take in the views. It’s honestly one of my favourite hotels I’ve stayed in. Can’t wait to come back.

Sé Boutique Hotel made us feel very welcome during our five nights in Madeira. The room was spotless and spacious, and the service was excellent. We also really enjoyed the buffet continental breakfast. The hotel is centrally located near the cathedral and other local attractions, and the beautiful rooftop bar has stunning views. Thanks to the team!