Quinta da Casa Branca - Small Luxury Hotels of the World

We stayed in the QdCB for one week in June and really enjoyed our time here. We liked the stylish design of the hotel with its lovely and well maintained gardens. Although the road outside the hotel could be busy at certain times of the day, we were not aware of road noise in the hotel grounds. Our ground floor room in the garden block was spacious and had two reclining beds on the patio facing the garden. The beds in the room are very comfortable. The only minor criticism is that the bath/shower combination is very narrow and possibly in need of updating. Breakfast (either on the terrace or inside) was a highlight. Lots of fresh fruit, cakes and pastries, breads, cheeses and meats to choose from, plus hot food that could be ordered. The breakfast team were very helpful and friendly. It was lovely to sit outside looking over the grounds to the hills above Funchal. We made use of the small gym, sauna and jacuzzi which were empty most of the time we were there. Hotel staff are excellent and very helpful. From the reception team to those who maintained the rooms and gardens everyone did a great job. The hotel is on the west side of Funchal and uphill from the waterfront. We walked into Funchal several times and also ran down to the waterfront and along the pedestrianised areas. The hills make for a good workout. We would happily return for another stay…

Gorgeous hotel, set amid tropical gardens that are immaculately kept. Staff friendly and helpful and a good selection of breakfast items. Walkable to the centre and the other hotel area. The garden rooms looked a little dated. Downside for me was the mosquitoes, I am susceptible, but naively was unaware that Madeira had them. The grounds unsurprisingly were full of them and we kept finding them in our room, so had around 20 itchy bites by the time I left. Bring repellant and bite cream if you attract them. The cabin on the flight home was sprayed so I guess there is a problem!

We were happy to return to QCB , just as good as we remembered. Such a welcoming and relaxing place to stay. Every member of the team was helpful, friendly and made us feel welcome. Enjoyed a delicious meal in the Manor House, breakfast had something for everyone and a great way to start the day sat on the terrace. We hope to return next year.

This was our second time at the Quinta da casa Branca. The hotel has excellent service and we were pleasantly surprised by the foreign language skills at reception. If you are looking for a relaxed and quiet vacation in very well-kept surroundings, this is the place for you. Due to the higher average age of the guests, it is rather quiet here, which we really liked. The whole complex in the middle of a botanical garden is spacious and you rarely meet other guests. Quinta da Casa Branca is the opposite of the usual mass tourism. We had a really good rest here. Maylin und Markus Weber

What a beautiful hotel, a 5 star experience from start to finish. The staff truly can’t do enough for you and are so conscientious. We had our 18 month old toddler with us, and although this hotel isn’t child focused, everyone (guests included) were so kind and friendly with our son - I’m sure he felt like a celebrity all week. The grounds of the hotel are spectacular! It is very tranquil, it’s like its own little Oasis. Having breakfast in the garden was a joy each morning. Fresh orange juice, champagne, fresh fruit, bread and pastries each morning. And an array of meats and cheeses that change up everyday with tasty hot food available too. The manor restaurant is a beautiful setting with stunning food and service. The restaurant staff/chef would cook my toddler whatever we asked of them, nothing was too much trouble. Our twin room was spacious and kept very clean. The cot was good quality and comfy. It was nice to be able to step into the garden from the patio doors. We can’t thank QCB enough for making our stay unforgettable. We met some lovely people and made fabulous memories.

The hotel is set in beautiful and well maintained gardens but apart from that it has serious limitations for a five star hotel. The rooms in the main block are tired and out of date and sadly lacking in some modern facilities. Our room lacked a walk-in shower, only offering a shower over the bath, not really suitable for older guests. Room furniture, like bedside lockers, was cheap and dated. Most annoying is the scarcity of power sockets in the room and complete absence of any near the bedside lockers. Charging everyday items like phones and tablets is a challenge and a nightmare for guests with rechargeable hearing aids or watches. Room cleaning was careless at best. I was able to draw in the dust on the television stand and writing desk. There is serious discolouration on the timber panelled walls in the corridors and in the rooms. I suspect there have been water leakage problems as there are residual smells of stale water. Breakfast is provided in an outhouse in the garden which is accessed by a stone pathway which is a real slip hazard when wet. The building used for breakfast is too small for the purpose, especially on days when the outside terrace can't be used. The Breakfast Buffet is congested, poorly labelled, especially in regard to allergens, and not really fit for purpose. The problem could be solved in an instant simply by moving breakfast to the spacious Manor House. We made the bad mistake of buying the "3 dinners for €45 each". What you actually get is a very limited choice (especially if one has allergies) from an already limited menu. Although we stayed 8 nights we found it hard to find 3 nights on which there was anything suitable on the menu. There is much better fare on offer in the many outside restaurants nearby. My recommendation to anybody considering a visit to Quinta da Casa Branca is to wait until the hotel has had a makeover and modernisation.