Perched on Salto do Cavalo, a rocky promontory near Madeira's capital Funchal, Reid’s Palace has been a success story for over a century and is one of the icons of the “island of eternal spring”. From the moment you step into the black and white, palm-filled marble hallway, you are transported to an age of elegance interwoven with Mediterranean glamour and a tropical twist. The picture windows showcase vistas of the wild Atlantic Ocean and the colourful gardens burst with exotic palms, bougainvillea, bird of paradise blooms and orchids.
The hotel was named after William Reid, a Scotsman whose love of wine brought him to Madeira where he tirelessly worked on the hotel until the end of his days. Although he died before the hotel was finished, his sons opened the property in 1891 in his honour.It has been a well-loved retreat by many in the public eye and famously hosted Sir Winston Churchill as he wrote his wartime memoirs before becoming Britain’s Prime Minister for the second time. In 1996 Reid’s Palace joined the Belmond family and over the years has been modernised without ever losing sight of its origins.
