Socalco Nature Restaurante — Restaurant in Calheta

I recently had the pleasure of celebrating New Year's Eve with my wife at Socalco, and once again, the experience left us thoroughly impressed. From start to finish, the evening was a culinary delight that showcased the restaurant's commitment to exceptional flavors and impeccable menu choices.

The carefully curated New Year's Eve menu was a testament to the culinary expertise of the chefs at Socalco. Each dish was a masterpiece, and the evening commenced with a heavenly serving of foie gras that literally melted in our mouths. The richness and decadence of this appetizer set the tone for what would be an extraordinary dining experience.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the perfectly cooked duck meat. The flavors were expertly balanced, and the texture was nothing short of perfection. It's evident that the chefs at Socalco take great pride in their craft, as the attention to detail in every aspect of the dish was truly commendable.

As the evening unfolded, we were treated to a delightful surprise at the end of our meal – a cheesecake that left us in awe. The dessert was a fitting conclusion to a fantastic dining experience, and its amazing taste lingered on our palates, making the entire evening even more memorable.

Beyond the exceptional cuisine, the ambiance and service at Socalco further enhanced our dining pleasure. The attentive staff and the inviting atmosphere contributed to a warm and welcoming environment, making us feel right at home as we welcomed the new year.

In conclusion, our New Year's Eve dinner at Socalco was a remarkable experience that exceeded our expectations. The well-chosen menu, exceptional flavors, and impeccable execution of each dish left a lasting impression on us. If you're seeking a dining experience that combines culinary excellence with a welcoming atmosphere, Socalco is undoubtedly the place to be. We look forward to returning for more memorable moments and delectable delights...

Why doesn’t Socalco Nature Hotel have an episode of ‘Chef’s Table’ of its own?! It surely deserves one, because this is not “a hotel (with a restaurant)”, it’s really a restaurant - A Razão - which grows its own vegetables and herbs on-site, the brainchild of Chef Octávio Freitas. And it has with rooms for guests.

The first thing that strikes you at your first meal in the set-menu Socalco restaurant is the freshness of all the ingredients. Balance, varied textures, novel flavour combinations, and an honest and simple respect for the ingredients are infused in every meal served. There isn’t really a menu here, merely “Would you like the 3-course menu, or the 4-course menu?”, and then “For the main meal, would you like fish or red meat?”. That’s it. Just roll with it, you won’t be disappointed.

Situated on a steep terraced hill characteristic of Madeira, the rooms, reception, and restaurant buildings are set on several levels of the hillside terraces, interleaved with the vegetable, herb, and other supporting gardens which ‘feed’ the restaurant, visible right outside the windows of most of the hotel’s rooms. Also visible from almost every room is panoramic views of the blue Atlantic, and the opposite side of the terraced valley, with homes and quinta sheds ranging from rustic to Rather.

Socalco is the best three day/night getaway, and among the best food I’ve enjoyed, I’ve experienced in a long...

This is a reasonable bed and breakfast type place trying to be an upmarket "organic" boutique hotel with expansive views. We had a special rate of around €130/night for a room in the main house in the off-season. Most of the rooms are in a constructed stone outer building, that have small gardens and large windows - I can't comment on those. However our room was very basic (no hooks in the bathroom for towels, no comfortable chair) and had a strong septic smell, emanating from the drains in the bathroom, probably due to the plumbing not being vented properly. Do not stay in #2. They said they are unaware of this odor, but it's so overpowering that I doubt this possibility. (Probably we got #2 due to having a cheaper rate?) The hotel hosts a gourmet "tasting" restaurant that you are encouraged to patronize, which we did. Food was tasty, and the breakfast is very good, but the 2 dish dinner plus dessert for two (+ small glass of wine, 1 beer) will set you back around €130, which is expensive for the size of the portions. The wait staff and chef are very friendly and service is generally good, excepting the condition of our room. Overall we found Socalco to be over-priced and a bit pretentious for the level of comfort. You are basically paying for the views and the ability to dine in an...