Ocean Gardens Hotel — Hotel in Funchal

Ocean Gardens (OG). First impressions when I saw the name…sounds like a Chinese takeaway.

OG is on the east of Madeira’s capital city Funchal. The hotel is on the top of a cliff and looks out onto the vast Atlantic ocean and the bay of Funchal. The cliff face full of colourful flowers. All of this making the hotel name entirely appropriate.

Pros:

15 minutes taxi from the airport (30€) A short bus journey to the centre of town with the bus stop right outside the hotel and regular services. A week ticket made getting in and out of town a cinch. Superb position of hotel provided sea and bay views which would be unrivalled by most other hotels in the area (and those in the centre) Our ‘Bay view room’ had a modern feel with an actual bay and mountain view from the balcony (see pictures😍). Lots of lighting options in the room with the added bonus of at least 6 USB charging points which was very useful for all of the gadgets we’d brought. Lovely and helpful staff. Shout out to Paul in the restaurant who gave us wine recommendations on our first night. Also Thelma who arranged for a bottle of Champaign to be brought to our room, to celebrate our engagement news. Big restaurant area which also has sea and bay views A swimming pool on the roof which unfortunately we didn’t get to use because of it being April. There’s a Sauna next to it also. Delicious evening meals with the local speciality Bolo do Caco (like garlic bread) being hands down the best we’d eaten…and we’d eaten a lot of it! Fantastic value (we went at the start of April 2022) Gift shop for Madeira wine is a nice touch.

MINOR CONS: Our bay view room could have done with a bath in addition to the shower. Though, it may be that we had an accessible room so worth asking when you book. Buffet breakfast was basic Lack of vegetarian/vegan options . Though this is the same across most of Madeira. If you are VE/VG don’t let it stop you though, we did find good food to eat.

All in all, OG was a 5 star experience in my heart and I only give it 4 because there are some amendments which could make it absolutely perfect. My partner and I loved our time at OG and will be going back for a number of years to...

Returned from spending Christmas 2024/New Year 2025. The hotel listed as 4 star yet simple little things have you wonder the rating. There was no hospitality tray so more or less after breakfast there's nothing. Breakfast tables not laid out and tables not cleared until you leave. Breakfast a good variety but always warm/cold. No Christmas feel to the hotel at all, seperate dining area was lovely laid out but in no way for residents outside guests only. There was also a bar within this part of the hotel but was never once opened for residents. Never used the onsite restaurant but from others heard not up to scratch. There was a tiny bar within there but closed at 10.30 if not before and actually put all lights on while we were sitting with another couple!. New Year, disappointing again seemed to cater for outside guests or if we were willing to pay well over the odds to be part of this over and above the expense of going there in the first place. Just before midnight those from this event went up to pool area. Where we had gone no alternative bar in restaurant reluctant to serve us and when they did price was doubled. The only positive thing was the beautiful view from the pool area (never had the pleasure of using as water freezing and no cleaning of the pool was ever done, bar there was also closed the whole time, even though in brochure it give bar opening times summer/winter). The fireworks display was amazing and I can see how they have won awards (the town itself, not the hotel). The hotel very much out the way albeit they say shops/restaurants within walking distance! Courtesy bus to town mon-fri book day before only ever used once. Local bus 39 at a cost of 2 euros or buy weekly ticket. Only thing the last one left Central at 9.30pm. There was other buses that if you held hand out would stop but I believe you not able to use weekly ticket. The town funchal itself has a lot of lovely restaurants and the things they had on for Christmas were amazing. We done a few trips and the cable car. We have for the last 4 years gone away for this period but sadly will not return...

Arrived here 23rd December 2024 until 6th January 2025. First of all no sure how rated 4 star hotel, there is no hospitality tray, no water when arriving unless you want to pay 6 euros. No information about things to do. Breakfast not set tables see to yourself and table only cleared once youve left, one thing buffet breakfast had a good selection but was always warm/cold. The information about nearest place for eats/drinks is way further than they say and I would say for most level of fitness a long winding road. There is a bus 39 but very limited and stops from main Funchal at 9.30 pm. There is a hotel courtesy bus 3 times a day but book day before and not on at the weekend or holidays! The pool the area would be nice if they maintained the area, the water freezing so whole fortnight holiday no swimming. In fact never saw any clean up or maintenence of the area. As for Christmas total let down unless you had pre booked for a rather pricey meal, however no information was offered or explained to us. We're told buses and taxi would be running but that wasn't the case. A nice couple who had hired a car took us into town. New Year was same as Christmas nothing for residents who had paid a good price to be here. Was very difficult on our return from the city to even order a drink because we were not part of the gala package! The bar within the restaurant closed every night at 10.30. There was another bar within the hotel that was never open neither was the pool bar although the leaflet said summer hours winter hours so what were we. We had purchased drinks before new year but on that night double the price. The doorman was very abrupt at times. They brought up champagne for those that had paid so we took our own up.The one amazing thing was the view and the firework display was amazing 👏 The cleaners were amazing and looked after your rooms well. I think most that come here are quite content with the lack of facilities. Probably best hire a car but it's like whacky races. We did do some lovely trips. Sorry first time Maderia but won't return well at least...