Pestana Vila Lido Madeira Ocean Hotel

Very good location, walking distance to Funchal, excelent spa, spatious room, very good breakfast

First of all, the full body Rebalance massage done by Leticia was one of the best massages that I've experienced recently. She's also a Reiki practitioner and has wonderful energy about her. ✨️💫🌟💚 I hope I'll get to experience the magic touch of her hands again. Highly recommended. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The location of this hotel is absolutely fantastic right on the ocean front with uninterrupted views (we stayed in the round hotel building on the 6th floor). Mind you, it was rather windy when we arrived so we could feel and hear the howling wind too. 🫣🤣

Our room was spacious, airy, light and cosy. It had a balcony facing west so perfect for watching sunsets. ☀️ Small bottles of mineral water and sparkling passion fruit soft drink are left each day in the room.

There was a wonderful "Welcome" hand written card and gifts waiting for us in our room upon arrival. 💚

The breakfast buffet was lovely too with plenty of choice, eg all types of eggs and even freshly to order made omelette, different meats, cheese, salad, fruits, bakery goods, good coffee and pastries too.

A wonderful experience overall and we would definitely return here. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💚

Wow what a fabulous place to stay. From the moment we arrived we were welcomed with a smile and very friendly staff on reception, at breakfast and in the restaurant. Our room was spotless and cleaned daily with replenishment of water and soft drinks in the fridge. The view from our balcony was amazing and listening to the sea at night was a lovely calm way to fall asleep in a comfortable bed. On my special birthday a cake was left in our room and a “towel “ cake creation which was left until we departed, a lovely touch. The location is perfect, about a 30 minute walk to Funchal centre or a bus at the top of the road. Reception staff were extremely helpful when we discovered that the cable cars weren’t working giving us advice on how to catch a bus, where to get it and a bus timetable. The pool area was clean and plenty of sun loungers to choose from. We can’t wait to return.

We really enjoyed our stay. The room was very good, everything clean and tidy. The staff was very nice and helpful. I highly recommend staying there 😊

We ended up here when our flight was cancelled.
We got a Superior Sea View room on the 8th floor which was fantastic. Large balcony with wonderful sea view.
Breakfast and food were taken in the buffet restaurant and were quite ok.
Very close to a large supermarket with a large selection of food and drinks.

The bad: Avoid dining at Vila Lido. The chef seemed to have followed a recipe but missed several crucial details, resulting in the worst meal I’ve ever had at any restaurant. The waitress was completely clueless about wines.

The Good: Had room at floor 1, it was ok nice and clean with ok view. Breakfast ar floor 5 was good had everything. Very friendly personell and very nice to kids.
We didn’t know that mosquitos has dengue at Madeira learned that on the plane home. Had some mosquitos at the room…

We have stayed at the Pestana Vila Lido hotel on 2 occasions now, once in February 2024 and December 2025 a 2 week stay each holiday
On the first visit we were upgraded by the Manager to a Side Sea View Suite Room 819 as there was a couple of minor issues with our initial Side Sea View Room, we thought at that time there was a strange odour in the Side sea view suite room, especially late evening, the odour can only be related to a sewage smell, something like a blocked stench pipe or similar, we didn't complain at the time as it wasn't too offensive, but is was evident.
This Hotel is branded as a 5 Star Hotel and it's unique architecture, grounds and position you would think it would warrant the 5 Star status, but sadly and more apparent on this holiday is that the odour is still present, but a lot stronger on this holiday, the room we stayed in was 820A a very expensive Side Sea View Suite, for which we had saved for the best part of the year, we arrived on the 30th November and on the 1st December after getting someone from reception to Investigate the smell, this was at 22.00hrs we were asked if we wanted to move rooms, initially to a lower floor and not the same specification side sea view room, but eventually we were offered the same specification room on the same level 8th floor, It was gone 23.00hrs by the time we got moved.
The new room was ok, the stench wasn't there but you could still smell it in the corridor at times, again mostly late evening, there is a definite sewage issue on the West side of the hotel, which the management team are very aware of but seem reluctant or can't do anything about it, our initial side sea view suite would be allocated to new arrivals the next day who would possibly go through the same routine as we did, what sort of 5 Star policy is this I ask myself, is this acceptable?
The other major issue with this Hotel is that it has no soul or atmosphere, the staff go about there work professionally but in the bar areas and restaurants there is no ambiance, guest artistes play to themselves mostly.
One or 3 other wrinkles which really bugged me personally is that we had to call reception to have our room cleaned which is not ideal when you venture out for a big part of the day and also in the Breakfast restaurant there was one rotating toaster, which unfortunately didn't rotate(we are waiting for parts, was the answer when the question was asked)with no warning notice in sight either, so people would pop in a couple of slices of toast and wander off to come back to their static burnt toast, this toaster was later changed to a non rotating open grill toaster, which took about 10mins to toast 2 slices of bread, with 14 to 16 Pestana Hotels and Residencies on the Island I would have thought there would have been a spare toaster to be had somewhere and thirdly, Be Aware, It is the Hotel Policy to add Service Charges on everything you purchase at the Hotel, say you go to the Pool Bar and order a coffee to take away - Service charge added, a beer at the Bar, Service Charge etc etc etc these add up, Tipping is optional on the Island of Madeira, we would like to make our own mind up on tipping for good service etc, the good news is is that the charges are not compulsory, it's optional so when you finalise your account you can get the charges removed, it's just another way the Pestana Group can claw every single cent out of you whilst on holiday, even the guy on reception said it wasn't right, whats that say about the company.
I'm not sure what else to say about this hotel really, we tried it for a 2nd time because it looks the part and is exactly what we want out of a holiday with the Pool and access to the sea to swim, but as the title of this review suggests(All is not as it seems)
We have stayed with the Pestana Group Hotels Madeira on 3 Occasions now 6 weeks in total, and each time for whatever reason we have had to change rooms.
The hotel for the duration of our stay wasn't very busy, and with storm warnings and flight cancellations on the 12th 13th December the Hotel was topped up with guests from cancelled flights, You could say that Pestana Vila Lido stepped up to the plate to accommodate these additional guests I would say to the expense of letting their guard down on room service etc for the normal guests as mentioned earlier, but with a Monetary gain to be had for the group, letting a few normal paying guests down doesn't seem to be an issue.
We won't be staying with Pestana Group Hotels again if we ever decide to visit Madeira in the future, It's possible that companies become that big that they lose themselves in what Holiday makers really want out of the experience.
The worrying part of this is that there are reviews of this Hotel on Trust Pilot stating more or less the same issues but nothing is ever done to rectify the Issues it seems.
Just Cut and Paste apologies from the Management.
This Hotel with its Uniqueness and enviable position should be one of the best on the Island but sadly it isn't only in our opinion of course, visitors will make up their own mind up I'm sure.

Ocean swimming, Beautiful surroundings, friendly and efficient staff! Really enjoyed our stay here. Also really enjoyed a massage at the spa with Leticia, so relaxing.

We spent 5 days at Vila Pestana Lido Hotel in Madeira.

The check-in staff was efficient and helpful. Christian the front desk steward explained everything we needed to know about the hotel, local tours and restaurants. Christian is certainly an asset to this hotel.

Our room was a balcony room on the 8th floor facing “sunrise” and on the ocean.
- The room and balcony were extremely spacious compared to most we’ve stayed in.
- Views were picturesque.
- The beds may be more firm than some prefer.
- The included breakfast in the “Flor do Mar” restaurant was just OK, however, the view was spectacular!
- One major issue was that there was a “rancid odor” in the bathroom that the maintenance staff could not remedy during our stay.
- “Housekeeping” was not great either. In hotel of this caliber we expect glasses and coffee cups to be replaced daily and all surfaces to be properly cleaned … this did not occur.

One evening we dined in the Pastana Lido’s “A La Carte” dining room. The menu, cuisine and service were all excellent!

The hotel is nice but not 5 star and feels a bit dated. Some services require tuning.

Our second holiday here this summer - me and my elderly mother. Perfect location for us with a lovely room. Breakfast was always delicious, the hotel very clean and all staff wonderful. Special thanks to José on reception who showed us some suites as we will be booking again for June 2026 and bringing my sister.

We have never stayed at this hotel, but have stayed nearby for over twenty years, and regularly used the bar here. Last year we were very disappointed as the bar was understaffed with one young lady struggling to cope. This year was much improved, and I must mention the staff member whose name is on my receipts - Abul Shafee. He was friendly, efficient and very professional. A staff member well worth keeping on.

Excellent venue and very friendly staff, especially Gaudino Viera and the bar staff.
The rooms are also well appointed and kept clean by friendly housekeepers

Lovely hotel, good sized room, breakfast plentiful. My only slight complaint is that they didn’t refresh the tea and coffee station with enough milk pots for the 2 of us which when you get in at 10 after a day out and you need a cuppa, we couldn’t have one!

We had a fabulous 7 nights at Pestana Palms. The hotel is neither too large to be impersonal nor too small to be lacking essentials.
Every member of staff at Reception was friendly and helpful and the Bistro food and staff were excellent. Christian, in particular, was patience and politeness personified on check in.
The room was large and comfortable with an amazing sea view.
We will definitely return

Aussicht und Geräusch der Meeresbrandung top.
Qualität, Frische und Abwechslung beim Buffet für die aufgerufene Hotelklasse naja. Pulvercappucino aus dem Automaten. Personal war größtenteils sehr bemüht. Zimmer im Gegensatz zum Besteck und den Gläsern sauber, Betten steinhart.

This was our first holiday in Madeira and we hope not our last. It was wonderful. The hotel made our stay excellent The location is spectacular-right on the coast and sitting on the balcony was like being on an anchored cruise ship. We thought our room was a very high standard, well furnished with a comfortable bed and large bathroom with an excellent shower
The pool area was spacious with plenty sun beds and umbrellas for guests and there was direct access to the sea but we didn’t venture down there as we’re not confident swimmers. All members of staff were excellent and very friendly and helpful from housekeeping to management The reception staff were particularly helpful with advice on transport and trips like the cable car and whale watching. We were on half board and found the breakfast to be really good with plenty variety including an egg station. Perhaps the evening buffet could be a little better if the food was hotter and that’s my only suggestion for improvement
We hope to be back

We stayed at another hotel 2 years ago and saw this one being renovated. We decided to stay here and so glad we did. The sea views from our balcony is amazing. We sleep with the slider door open and hear the waves it's magical. The hotel is clean easy to get too. Breakfast has everything one needs and is always replanished.There is a Pingo Doce Supermarket across the street. If there is one thing I noticed is that the workers especially at breakfast are very understaffed they work very had but can't keep up. It needs to be addressed by management. Another thing is not only Pestana but other hotels in Madeira need to play more Portuguese/Madeira music for evening entertainment.

We had an amazing and relaxing stay at this hotel in Madeira and couldn’t be more pleased with the experience. The amenities were top-notch, and the service was truly impeccable—staff were attentive, friendly, and always willing to help. A special mention to Lizbeth at the breakfast buffet, who greeted everyone by name each morning and even remembered birthdays to offer a warm “Happy Birthday.” The food selection at breakfast was excellent, with plenty of variety to start the day. The front desk staff were also very helpful, and the manager went above and beyond to assist us in resolving an issue with a tour company.

Our room was spotless throughout our stay, thanks to the excellent housekeeping team, and the balcony offered spectacular views that made every morning and evening feel special. The pool area was especially comfortable and clean, with plenty of loungers and umbrellas, making it easy to relax at any time of day. Being able to swim directly in the ocean by going down the stairs was another highlight that made the stay unforgettable.

Overall, everything about our time here was wonderful, and we would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Madeira.

Where do I start . The rooms are clean with very comfortable mattresses, the breakfast is excellent, the staff are exceptionally and will do anything for you . A first class experience. The hotel is round with every room having a balcony . If you stay on the pool side ( west) then you can hear the music at the weekends more but it all stops at 11pm . You due see the sun setting though . If you want allot quieter the East side would be better and you get the sun rising first thing in the mornings . The lifts are easy and not long to wait . There are always sun beds available. You get a lovely breeze as your close to the sea so also hear the waves as you lie there . The girls at the pool bar are lovely and the lunch is lovely and fresh . The steak and eggs are fabulous. The hotel reception staff are so helpful, Ryan helped me when I hurt my ankle and couldn’t make a booked trip . Bruno and all the reception staff are marvellous. You can book all your walks and trips at the reception around €45 each for allot of the hikes which are out of this world for scenic views . Just at the top of the hill 3 min walk at the side of spar shop is a bus stop . The number 1 or 2 or 4 are regular and €2 each will take you the old town and marina or you can walk it in 30 minutes. Across from the hotel are many bars and restaurants but a bigger choice is found in the old town . Opposite the hotel is the supermarket. Recommend buying your water there €1 or hotel is around €6 . We stayed in a suit room 714 a lovely but next to the lift but you can’t hear it . We will definitely return .

Just returned from a week spent at this hotel and we were delighted with our choice having been to Madeira several times and each time trying a new hotel. The location of the hotel is superb and the access to the sea was a plus for us. The pool area and all the staff that work in and around there are fabulous. The rooms are kept at a high standard of cleanliness so again great staff. Breakfast - the hotel caters for all nationality’s and the choice is a plentiful. They work had replenishing items and I assume it is the manager that is constantly wiping down and cleaning up to ensure all holiday makers get the best experience. We did not encounter anyone that was not welcoming or accommodating - well done to all the staff! The room had everything we needed, we had a couple of small issues which were reported and rectified promptly and yes there was a bit of paint peeling off in the bathroom but that was minor. The ceiling fan was a great addition to complement the air conditioning. Areas around the hotel were well maintained, rubbish bins had lids on - fantastic! Check in and out was simple and prompt, absolutely nothing negative to say only positives. We plan to return next year as for us it was everything we were looking for in beautiful Madeira. Well done to everyone in the team that contributes to guest experience.