If you are heading into the heart of Madeira to visit the legendary Curral das Freiras (Nun’s Valley), making a stop at Sabores do Curral is an absolute must. Perched high on the mountain slopes overlooking the village, this fantastic restaurant features a spacious outdoor terrace with some of the most jaw-dropping, dramatic views of the towering peaks and the deep valley below. It is the perfect, relaxed spot to sit back and soak in the scenery over an authentic meal.
The restaurant is famous for taking Madeira's local culinary traditions and putting a beautiful, modern twist on them-with a massive focus on the valley's most famous harvest: chestnuts!
What to Order: The Chestnut Specialties 🌰🥩
Nun's Valley is world-renowned for its sweet chestnuts, and the kitchen here knows exactly how to showcase them across the entire menu:
🥣 The Chestnut Soup: Start your meal with a warm, velvety bowl of their signature chestnut soup. It is incredibly rich, comforting, and the ultimate way to fuel up after a morning of exploring the mountain viewpoints.
🥩 The Mains: They serve up phenomenal traditional meats, including a brilliant Picado and perfectly seasoned pork dishes infused with local herbs and chestnut flavors.
🍰 Save Room for Dessert: You cannot leave without trying their homemade chestnut cake or chestnut pudding, paired perfectly with a smooth cup of coffee or a local liqueur.
💡 Inside Tips for Your Visit:
📸 Snag a Terrace Table: The indoor seating is lovely and rustic, but the outdoor terrace is where the real magic happens. Try to arrive just before the main lunch rush to guarantee a front-row seat to those mountain views!
🚗 The Perfect Stopover: It is ideally located right near the main village center, making it the ultimate lunch stop after you’ve taken in the views from the famous Eira do Serrado viewpoint above.
🚌 Bus Info:
Getting up into the valley without a car is an absolute breeze and saves you dealing with the steep, winding mountain roads:
Just hop on the SIGA Bus 81 (Route 812) right from central Funchal.
The bus heads straight up through the mountains and drops you off right in the village, putting you just a short stroll away from the restaurant's front door!
It’s an absolute classic Madeiran dining experience that perfectly pairs incredible, comforting food with a view you will never forget! 🏔️👌
