Summerplace Guesthouse

Sociable guesthouse with quirky design touches in the unspoilt southwest - walkers, talkers and lovers of good food will adore it

Good things come to those who wait. Once you've negotiated Madeira’s pot-holed roads to reach the lush eucalyptus and bananas groves of the tropical southwest, stop here a while and relax in style.

This 5-room guesthouse is warmly hospitable thanks to Johannes and Barry, who are experts at making guests feel at home. Bedrooms are comfortable, light and airy, with a clever use of mirrors and sensational sea views. Beyond the rooms: a small library with internet access and a convivial living area eccentrically furnished with a Venetian chandelier, a wood-burning stove, a self-playing grand piano and delightful trinkets collected from around the world, including a basket of ostrich eggs and wall-hangings from Burma. This room leads to a decked area and an infinity pool. This is not the classic Madeiran hotel for the G&T crowd, but a generous, intimate and sociable place from which to discover the island’s verdant hinterland, unspoilt villages and dramatic coastline.

Highs

• The service is spot on and you get plenty of personal attention - you’re anything but a room number here
• Johannes’s food knocks spots off the rural restaurants in the area
• It’s a sociable place - life-long friendships have been formed around the dining room table
• The interior design is eclectic, extrovert and fun – cow’s head sculptures from India, antique silver tea sets, contemporary sculptures
• Superb attention to detail

Lows

• If you want anonymity, this isn't for you!
• They don’t do lunch but there are plenty of rustic restaurants nearby
• No children or young people under 16 are allowed - unless you book the whole place
• It’s an hour's drive from the airport and you'll need a car when you’re here