Lisbon●●●●

Hotel The Cliff Bay

★★★★½4.8 out of 5 · 6,951 reviews

5★

Photo: © TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

Hotel The Cliff Bay is a 5-star hotel in Lisbon with 100 rooms rated 4.8/5 by 6,951 TripAdvisor reviewers; typical rates from about $785 a night; direct beach access.

About

Hotel The Cliff Bay perches on a basalt outcrop west of central Funchal, on Madeira's south coast. The 4.8 rating across nearly 7,000 reviews is backed by consistent subratings — location and cleanliness both at 4.9, service and rooms at 4.8. The clifftop setting means seawater pools cut into the rock, direct ocean access, and no beach crowds. The staff ratios and turnover standards show up in the service score. The value rating at 4.7 suggests pricing sits higher than most Madeira properties, but the sleep quality and room scores match that tier. The location score reflects proximity to Funchal's Lido area without being in the harbor scrum — you're a short taxi or bus ride from the old town, but the hotel itself faces open Atlantic. If you're comparing Madeira bases, this is the upscale pick for travelers who want a resort enclave with ocean access rather than a beachfront or town-center hotel. The review volume says it's been holding these numbers for a while.

At a glance

Area: Lisbon
Star rating: ★★★★★
Typical nightly: $785
Beach access: direct
Kid-friendly: ●●●○○
Party score: ●○○○○
Walkability: ●●●○○
Rooms: 100
Casino: –
Swim-up: –
Kids' club: –
All inclusive: –
Vibe: luxury
quiet
romantic
wellness
intimate

Sargassum: not a factor

Not a sargassum coast.

Photos

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Recent Pulse

What travelers are saying.

Cooling

High confidence

Travelers say The Cliff Bay delivers consistent five-star execution through staff who remember repeat guests and culinary experiences across five distinct restaurants. You'll find seawater pools carved into the clifftop with direct ocean access, a 25-minute walk downhill to Funchal (10-euro taxi back), and ample sunbeds that never require a morning scramble. The high proportion of return visitors—some on their 13th stay—reflects stability in service standards and room upkeep that justify the premium over other Madeira properties.

Standing out

Staff recognize repeat guests by name and coordinate tours, taxis, and special requests proactively
18 mentions
“Door staff moved our luggage seamlessly; we never saw it until we reached the room”
Five on-site restaurants span pool-side casual (Blue Lagoon) to two-Michelin-star Il Gallo d'Oro, with Avista terrace meals highlighted
12 mentions
“Rose Garden offers three-course dinners with live piano that exceeded our expectations nightly”
Seawater pool and direct ocean access from clifftop with no beach crowds or sunbed competition
9 mentions
“You can stay in the heated seawater pool all day; it's that relaxing”
Rooms feature rainfall showers, spacious storage, and balconies with unobstructed bay or ocean views
8 mentions
“First-floor Funchal view was superb; modern, very clean, plenty of wardrobe space”
Return-guest rate is visible in the guest mix, with some travelers on their tenth-plus visit
6 mentions
“Eighty percent of people we spoke to had been there multiple times”

Watch-outs

Il Gallo d'Oro two-Michelin-star restaurant disappointed one couple who found better value at independent Funchal restaurants
2 mentions
“We were extremely disappointed with our meal there; so many incredible restaurants nearby instead”
Service efficiency lagged in certain areas at certain times, though specifics were not detailed
1 mention
“Service was more efficient at times in some areas would have made it excellent”

Tips from travelers

Walk the 25 minutes downhill to Funchal old town, then taxi back uphill for around 10 euros
Book Avista restaurant early for lunch or dinner; it fills quickly with guests
If driving to explore Madeira, budget extra time for winding hilly roads and parking challenges
Skip expensive hotel bar drinks and snacks; eating out in Funchal costs significantly less

Maybe skip if: Travelers seeking a true beach resort or those who want to stay immersed in Funchal's harbor and old-town energy without shuttling back to a clifftop enclave should look elsewhere.

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Lisbon●●●○© TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

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Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.