OUR DREAM

Decanter

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Our delicious menu in english and portguese

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Wines

Delicious wines you'll want to never stop drinking

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A wine Bar In Madeira & Watching The World Go By

Our dream

Our dream is a story of the magic life can bring.  We decided on a vacation to Madeira after watching YouTube videos of the island.  One of those videos involved an American family who had moved to Madeira and created a wonderful and inspiring new life.  Over their first dinner together as new friends, the family told Sammy and Phil all about their new life and how they had made it come true. Sammy and Phil looked at each other and thought, “What if?”

Phil & Sam

A Lover Of Wine & The Other, A Lover Of History

Sammy is a sommelier and wanted to explore Madeira wines.  Phil loves history and knew that the founders of America loved Madeira wine (George Washington even had casks of Madeira delivered to him at Valley Forge!).

As a sommelier, Sammy’s dream was to have his own wine bar.  There, he would welcome guests as friends and share his deep love of wine and good food. Phil’s dream had always been to live in Europe where he could enjoy the relaxed life, meet fascinating people, and sit in a café with a glass of wine and watch the world go by.  Quite a change from their hectic lives as a hotel banquet manager and a lawyer in the United States!

Arrival In Madeira

When they arrived in Madeira and saw its striking beauty, peacefulness, warm people, and fresh air, they knew they had found the spot.  One morning over coffee on their balcony, they looked down at Funchal and said:  “This is the place.  Let’s go for it!”  And they did.  The result is “Decanter.” Our dream, however, is not just about us—it is about you.  It is about meeting and getting to know each of our new friends—our guests–and giving them a unique Madeira experience they will never forget.  Whether you are a visitor to Madeira for the first time, or a winemaker with a vineyard on the next hilltop, we hope you will come to say, “Decanter is my favorite spot in all of Madeira!”  Because of you, it certainly is ours.

Decanter Funchal

Our vision

At Decanter, we do not have guests we have friends. We believe in taking you on a culinary journey as if we were cooking for you at home. Candlelight, sparkling conversation, memorable food, the warmth of wine bringing smiles, and the bubbling laughter that always occurs when friends gather around the table together.

Meet The Team
Decanter Funchal

Our Expertise

We search all over the world for the wines we believe will make your night unforgettable. Sammy brings a unique twist to every dish he creates with his Middle Eastern heritage, years in Malaysia, and the hundreds of hours of “Master Chef” he has watched and studied! Phil brings his love for fun, his laughter, and his humor as a raconteur telling stories that charm and intrigue.

Our Commitment

Friends, Wine, & Fun

A warm welcome to you as our new friend, a smile, a delicious meal, outstanding and unique wines, and fun. We always work to make an “evening at Decanter” your favorite night in Madeira.

What Our Guests & Friends Say

Testimonials

★★★★★ 5/5
We were literally strolling the streets of Funchal talking about where to go for dinner when we came across Decanter. The warm lights showing through the windows, the laughter we could hear, and the sounds of fun and enjoyment drew us in. Thank goodness! My husband at first said, “It looks like they all know each other. It must be all locals.” Once we dined with you, we knew why. Thank you for giving us such a memorable evening—the incredible Portuguese wine, the grilled meats—but most of all, the warmth you shared with us. We will be back!
Roberta and John Arguello
Madison, Wisconsin
★★★★★ 5/5
As I planned my trip to Madeira, I found the website for “Decanter.” I am a barrister in London. My partner works at Claridge’s. When I saw there was a wine bar and restaurant being run by a trial lawyer and hotel manager, I said, “We have got to dine there while on our cruise.” The Universe works in strange ways. When we walked in and saw the smiles, happy faces, corks being popped, and amazing smells, I understood why Sammy and Phil said this was their dream come true! The two of you are an inspiration. To take a dream, hold it in your hands, and bring it to life is true magic. You have done it.
Martin Smithson and Ian Williams
London, England
★★★★★ 5/5
We decided to take a European cruise which included Madeira. Frankly, I knew nothing about Madeira. A woman sitting at the bar next to us on the ship was reading emails. She said, “My friend says there is this incredible place to dine in Madeira. It is called Decanter.” The friend had spent a magical evening with you when visiting Madeira last year. Thank goodness we had gin and tonics at the bar next to this lovely person. If it were not for her, we would never have experienced our FAVORITE evening in Madeira. The food, the wine, the laughter will stick with us. But most of all, your warm welcome which made us feel like we were at home dining with friends. I read the story of Decanter on your website. You have made your dream come true. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Maggie and Alex Berringer
Anchorage, Alaska
★★★★★ 5/5
I took my daughter on a college graduation trip to Madeira as a surprise. I did not tell her that two of my closest friends had moved there and had a wine bar. She knows both Sammy and Phil and thinks they are hilarious. We walked through the front door and everyone in the restaurant shouted, “Surprise!” There were signs which read “Happy Graduation” and “You are Fabulous!” (undoubtedly Phil’s choice). Then, they revealed a large table covered with champagne glasses. They brought champagne for everyone in the restaurant, Phil gave a speech honoring me and my daughter (which was quite good), and everyone, including the chefs and servers even sang when the cake came out! Can you imagine what this was like for a 21-year old? Or her mother? At the end she said to me, “That was the greatest graduation party you could ever have given me!” Thank you, Sammy and Phil. And Phil…I was always the smartest one of the 2 of us! Every teacher secretly told me so! Cathy,
Cathy and Grace Madigan
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
★★★★★ 5/5
Our new friends surprised us. We met some Americans while having lunch. They were sitting next to us at a café and had moved to Madeira for their retirement. (They looked about 40. Madeira must do something for people.) We began to talk and found we were from the same town and knew many of the same people. At the end of our chat, they invited us to dinner. They said, “We want to take you to our Funchal secret.” Of course, we agreed. It was Decanter. You made all 4 of us feel like we were at a State Dinner. Now I know why they call it their “secret.” We are sure Decanter won’t be a secret for long!
Margaret and Matt Callihan
Longboat Key, Florida
★★★★★ 5/5
Thank goodness we did not go back to the cruise ship early! We were tired from a long day of exploring Funchal. My travel partner said, “Let’s see if we can find a place to relax and just have a glass of wine.” We googled “Wine Bars Funchal.” There you were! What was supposed to be 1 hour turned into 3 with dinner and even cognac. Trust me, Decanter gives our luxury cruise ship a run for its money! Watch out Ritz Carlton Cruises!
Patricia Van Allan and Gina Reilly
Houston, Texas
★★★★★ 5/5
Foi perfeito!
Leslie, Alan, and Wolff
Your Madeira neighbors and friends

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