Art cafe Sardinha — Restaurant in Porto Moniz

A Hidden Gem Full of Heart – A Truly Special Café Experience

During our visit to Madeira, we stumbled upon this small, charming café tucked away from the busier streets — and what an incredible find it turned out to be. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted not just with a smile, but with genuine warmth. The atmosphere was immediately welcoming, cozy, and unlike any typical café. It felt more like stepping into someone’s beautifully curated living room than a business.

We ordered a slice of banana cake and a small, homemade tuna-based snack — both prepared with such care and love that you could taste it in every bite. The banana cake was moist, just the right level of sweetness, and clearly baked from scratch. It had that nostalgic, comforting flavor that reminded us of homemade cakes from childhood. The tuna snack, though simple in description, was anything but plain. It was layered with flavor, thoughtfully presented, and had a freshness that showed it had just been made — not something pulled from a fridge or reheated.

What truly made this place unforgettable, however, was the lovely owner. She was warm, full of life, and incredibly engaging. She didn’t just take our order — she took time to talk to us, tell us her story, and share insights about the food, her philosophy, and how the café came to life. Her passion for what she does radiated from every word and every detail of the place. You could tell this wasn’t just a job or a business — it was her heart project, and that made all the difference.

The décor reflected that same warmth. The café was surprisingly lovingly decorated — nothing felt generic or mass-produced. Every little touch, from the plants to the artwork to the small handwritten signs, had personality and intention behind it. It’s rare to find a place that feels this personal, and yet still inviting to everyone.

We sat and stayed longer than we planned, simply because it felt so good to be there. The ambiance, the food, the conversations — everything combined into a truly special moment. It’s not just a place to grab a bite; it’s a space to feel connected, to slow down, and to appreciate the little things done with a lot of love.

Price-wise, everything was absolutely fair. In fact, considering the quality of the ingredients, the effort put into presentation, and the overall experience, we felt the prices were more than reasonable. You often pay much more for food that feels much less meaningful — here, the value went far beyond the plate.

If you’re in Madeira and want to experience something real, something heartfelt — not touristy, not trendy, but deeply authentic — then do yourself a favor and stop by this café. It’s rare to find places like this anymore: where hospitality isn’t just a word, but a way of being. We left with full stomachs, happy hearts, and a memory that will stay with us long after the trip ends.

Highly...

Avoid this cafe at all costs for your own safety. If you read some of the other reviews, you’ll notice a pattern of the owner (man) being verbally abusive, throwing temper tantrums, and yelling at his customers. This unfortunately happened to us all because we asked if it was possible to pay with card. He walked up to me, took the menu, slammed it down in front of me and pointed to where it was hand written that only cash is accepted. I apologized and said I had no issue paying with cash, but there was no need to treat me this way. He then escalated the issue and started yelling in Portuguese to the point where his wife had to come over and calm him down. Protect your peace and take your...

Very strange experience. The owner couple did not seem very interested in serving us or anyone else that afternoon we were there. The owner even told me there would not be cappuccino served anymore in the afternoon only to take it back, a couple minutes after I checked with my partner what else she wanted, saying 'he was only joking'. Then went to discuss if I could pay by card even though the total of our drinks was €6.10 and the minimum for card payments said €5... The owners later went on a full argue, shouting at each other almost throwing chairs around while closing the café for the day... Maybe they had a bad day, but it did not feel welcoming at all. Only positive thing was the cute...