Monte Palace Gardens are a very important visitor attraction and nearly everyone visiting Madeira will go there.
The Terrace Cafe at the bottom of the gardens lets them down badly, and I mean badly.
Visitors are encouraged to visit as the entry ticket includes a free glass of Madeira in the cafe. Don’t waste your time walking down to it….
The cafe is basic and service is incredibly slow. There is little seating inside the cafe and outside are cheap white plastic chairs or benches with trestle tables. The only offerings at lunch time were a few uninspiring rolls and sandwiches, slices of Madeira cake and pale, anaemic looking sponge cup cakes along with the usual ice creams, cold and hot drinks.
The sample of Madeira wine tasted cheap and not very good, Although the Madeira cake was dark in colour with a bit of fruit, there was little taste to it. It was very light and not very filling.
The toilets were also basic and not very pleasant.
There is another cafe near the entrance – hopefully that is better!
