1905 Zino's Palace, Madeira

• 1905 Zino's Palace is a real find if you love character hotels—this restored historic palace has just nine rooms, so it feels intimate and special.
• From the hotel's perch over Ponta do Sol, you'll have access to some of the best sunsets on the island.
• Expect thoughtful touches: welcome drinks, local snacks, fruit, tea, and coffee in the room, with slippers and bathrobes in the en-suites.
• Service is consistently a highlight. 
• Breakfast on the terrace with those morning ocean views makes for a strong start to the day.
• The pool area is small but lovely, with sea views that are worth carving out time to relax.
• Ponta do Sol is a great base for exploring both the coast and the mountains, with easier access to western Madeira (than if you were staying in Funchal).

• A car is strongly recommended here. You can stay without one, but it's not the easiest place to access for travelers who rely on taxis or walking everywhere.
• The access road is steep and narrow, and can feel intimidating if you're not confident driving on tight, sometimes single-lane hillside roads.

Authenticity

This pink 19th-century palace began as the summer residence of the noble Zino family, then served as an agricultural school and a primary school, before being abandoned in 1976. After a full restoration by Madeira's regional government in 2002, many of its romantic architectural details and period character were preserved, while interiors blend antique elegance with modern comfort. With just nine rooms, it feels more like staying in a grand private home than a conventional hotel.

Location

Set on a hillside in the laidback municipality of Ponta do Sol on Madeira's sunnier south coast, 1905 Zino's Palace enjoys sweeping Atlantic views framed by banana plantations and dramatic green mountains. Funchal is around a 20-minute drive away, and the airport is roughly a 30-40 minute drive, so day trips across the island are easy. Note that the road up to the palace is steep and narrow, and as it's in a quieter residential area, you'll want to have a rental car or hail a taxi to access restaurants and other amenities down the hill. If you decide to hoof it, it's a 5-10 minute walk downhill to a few restaurants, bars, a Banana Museum, and the small Lugar de Baixo lagoon.

Rooms & Bathrooms

The nine guestrooms and suites pair contemporary comforts with a hint of old-world glamour, using a palette of soft pastels, wooden floors, and elegant or understated furnishings that echo the palace's turn-of-the-century start. Views vary between the Atlantic Ocean and terraced banana groves, while top-tier rooms add bay windows, private terraces, or separate living spaces. Bathrooms are modern and polished, typically with walk-in showers, robes, slippers, and upscale toiletries. Families or small groups should look at the two-room Friends Suite Ocean View, while couples may prefer an ocean-facing suite with a private terrace. There's a single accessible option on the ground floor.

Amenities

The terrace is the social centerpiece here, with panoramic ocean views that make breakfast, afternoon tea, and sunset drinks particularly special. Breakfast is served leisurely until noon, a welcome perk for slow holiday mornings, and dinner is available nightly in the restaurant's contemporary dining space. There's also a small pool flanked with loungers, plus a pebbled shore below the property for a quick seaside dip. Staff can help arrange nearby experiences such as wine tastings and culinary workshops, and point you in the right direction for a trail to pick up and walk.

Family-Friendliness

Despite its romantic setting, 1905 Zino's Palace welcomes guests of all ages. Families will find the Friends Suite Ocean View especially practical thanks to its two queen beds in separate sleeping areas, extra space, and private terrace. The Suite Ocean View sleeps two adults and a child under 13 (kids over 12 years are charged as adults). All other rooms sleep two adults.