Bar hopping & Poncha Workshop in Funchal

Madeira’s drinks tell the story of the island in small, tasty doses. This three-hour Funchal bar walk takes you through six stops, beginning with still white wine and ending with the island’s famous Poncha. Along the way, you’ll taste craft beer, Madeira wine, ginja in a chocolate cup, and the creamy Nikita cocktail.

I like the local variety here. You get more than a standard wine tasting, and each drink comes with an explanation of what makes it Madeiran. I also like the walking format, since moving between cafés, taverns, and wine shops gives the afternoon a more social feel than sitting in one tasting room.

The main catch is the Poncha workshop. You should expect a demonstration and tasting rather than a true hands-on class where you make your own drink. That distinction matters, especially since the tour title puts strong emphasis on the workshop.

Key points to know before booking

• Six drinks in central Funchal: The route includes white wine, three artisanal beers, ginja, Madeira wine, Nikita, and Poncha.
• The Poncha session may be a demonstration: You may learn how it is prepared without actually mixing your own glass.
• A good introduction to Madeiran drinking culture: The experience covers fortified wine, local liqueur, beer, cocktails, and the island’s signature rum drink.
• Friendly guides can shape the afternoon: Matt and Duarte have led particularly warm, personal tours, though your guide may be someone else.
• You meet at 3:45 p.m.: The tour begins at 4 p.m. outside Blandy’s Wine Lodges on Avenida Arriaga.
• The $106 price depends on your expectations: It can be fair for six tastings and a guided evening, but less attractive if you want a full meal or a hands-on class.

Six Funchal stops, six different ways to taste Madeira

The tour starts at Blandy’s Wine Lodges, a natural meeting point for a drink-focused walk through Funchal. You are asked to arrive at 3:45 p.m., fifteen minutes before the 4 p.m. start, at Avenida Arriaga 28.

From there, the route moves through central Funchal on foot. The exact bars and shops are not specified in advance, but the experience is built around six tasting stops. That gives the afternoon a clear rhythm: taste, hear the story behind the drink, walk a little, then try something completely different.

I like this format because Madeira can seem like a wine destination at first glance, yet its drinking culture is far broader. You will sample products made from grapes, cherries, beer, tropical fruit, and sugar cane spirit. It is a compact way to get an overview before deciding what you want to order again during the rest of your stay.

Stop one: a Madeiran white wine

Your first tasting is a locally produced still white wine at one of Madeira’s well-known wineries. This is a useful starting point because it separates ordinary table wine from the fortified Madeira wines that come later.

The still wine should appeal to you if you want something fresh and straightforward before the stronger drinks begin. The guide explains the drink as part of the island’s wine culture, giving you a frame of reference for the rest of the afternoon.

This stop is also practical. Starting with white wine makes the tasting feel measured rather than rushed into spirits and sweet cocktails. The inclusion is small, but it helps the experience cover more than Madeira’s best-known fortified style.

Stop two: three artisanal beers

Next comes a tasting of three local craft beers. Each is described as using local ingredients and offering a different flavor profile, so this is not simply one beer poured three times.

This stop gives the tour a welcome change of pace. After wine, beer clears the palate and shows another side of Madeira’s small-scale drinks scene. You can compare the three brews directly, which is more useful than ordering a single unknown bottle at a bar.

The beer tasting is also one of the parts that makes the route feel social. You are standing or sitting in a local bar while trying several drinks, rather than receiving a formal lecture. If you are not especially interested in beer, this may be less exciting than the Madeira wine or Poncha, but the three-sample format keeps it worthwhile.

Stop three: ginja in a chocolate cup

The ginja tasting is one of the most memorable details of the experience. Ginja, also called ginjinha, is a Portuguese sour-cherry liqueur made with cherries, alcohol, sugar, and other ingredients. Here, it is served in an edible chocolate cup.

The presentation gives this stop a playful edge, but the drink itself is worth understanding. Ginja is sweet, fruity, and stronger than its small serving can suggest. The chocolate cup adds another layer of sweetness, so this is best treated as a small after-dinner-style taste rather than a casual soft drink.

I like this stop because it introduces a Portuguese liqueur that you might otherwise overlook. It is also an easy souvenir idea: if the flavor works for you, you can look for ginja elsewhere in Portugal and compare how it is served.

Stop four: Madeira wine and its long finish

The Madeira wine tasting turns the focus back to the island’s most famous wine product. Madeira wine is fortified, complex, long-lasting, and made in styles that can range from dry to sweet. The experience promises a tasting designed to let you explore its different flavors.

The supplied details do not specify how many Madeira wines you will taste or which styles are poured, so you should not assume a full flight of bottles. Still, even one or more samples can help you understand why this wine is unlike ordinary table wine.

Pay attention to the contrast with the opening white wine. Madeira wine has more weight and intensity, and its fortified character makes it a natural match for slow sipping. If you enjoy wine, this may be the most educational stop. If you prefer light drinks, it can feel like a jump in strength before the sweeter cocktails arrive.

Stop five: the unusual Nikita cocktail

The Nikita is a classic Madeiran cocktail made with beer, ice cream, and tropical fruit. It sounds odd on paper, and that is part of its appeal. Expect something creamy, sweet, cool, and unlike the usual rum-based holiday drink.

This is the kind of local specialty that makes a regional bar tour worthwhile. You could spend your entire visit ordering familiar wine or beer, but the Nikita gives you a flavor tied directly to Madeira’s own drinking habits.

The cocktail is served in a cozy bar setting, according to the experience details. Since the drink combines beer and ice cream, you may find it more filling and sweet than expected. If you prefer dry wine or crisp beer, save room for it mentally as well as physically.

Stop six: Poncha, Madeira’s signature drink

The final stop centers on Poncha, Madeira’s famous traditional drink. Poncha is generally associated with sugar cane spirit, citrus, and sweetener, though the precise preparation can vary. The tour presents it as the finale, which makes sense: it is the drink most closely tied to the island’s local bar culture.

The experience promises a Poncha workshop and tasting, but you should read that carefully. The available details and direct tour feedback indicate that the session may involve watching the guide prepare or explain the drink, rather than making one yourself.

That does not make the stop useless. A demonstration can still show you the basic method, ingredients, and serving style. But if your main reason for booking is to mix your own Poncha, you may be disappointed. I would treat this as a Poncha lesson with a tasting, not a guaranteed practical class.

The finale is said to take place in a setting with a beautiful view. No exact viewpoint is given, so do not book expecting a named lookout or a particular panorama. Still, ending with Poncha and an open view gives the afternoon a pleasant finish.

What the guides add to the walk

This is an English-language tour, and the guide’s personality appears to matter as much as the drinks. Matt has been described as warm and easy to spend time with, creating the feel of walking around with a friend rather than following a formal lecturer.

Duarte has also led the experience, taking the group to places that felt local and away from the most obvious tourist circuit. Those names come from past tours, so they are not a promise that either guide will lead your departure.

The useful point is that the walk depends on human connection. You are not just handed six samples with a printed list. A good guide explains what you are drinking, adds local context, and keeps the group moving through the old streets of Funchal.

You should also expect a social activity rather than a private tasting. The available information does not state a group size, so you cannot assume an intimate small group. If you enjoy meeting people over drinks, that uncertainty is less important. If you want a quiet, private wine lesson, this may not be the right format.

Is $106 a fair price?

At $106 per person, this is not a cheap bar crawl. The price includes the English-speaking guide and the listed tastings: local artisanal beer, still white wine, ginja in a chocolate cup, Madeira wine, Nikita, and Poncha.

The value comes from the range and convenience. You do not have to choose six places yourself, work out what to order, or wonder which drinks are genuinely local. You also get explanations along the way and a guided walk through Funchal’s historic streets.

The value is weaker if you judge the tour as a full evening out. Food is not included, and extra drinks are not covered. You should plan to eat separately, either before the tour or afterward, since the tastings are not a substitute for dinner.

The price is also harder to defend if you booked mainly for the hands-on Poncha workshop and that turns out to be a demonstration. For a broad introduction to Madeiran drinks, $106 can make sense. For a single cocktail lesson, it does not.

Timing, walking, and practical details

The tour lasts three hours and begins at 4 p.m. That timing carries you from late afternoon toward the evening, when Funchal’s bars should feel more relaxed than during the busiest daytime hours.

You must arrange your own transport to and from the meeting point. The start is outside Blandy’s Wine Lodges at Avenida Arriaga 28, and attendance is required fifteen minutes early. Build in enough time to find the entrance rather than arriving at 4 p.m. and trying to catch up.

The route is a walking experience through central Funchal, but the information does not provide a distance or accessibility details. Wear comfortable shoes and assume you will move between several venues. The tour is about drinks and local culture, not a meal, museum visit, or scenic coach ride.

It is for adults only. Children under 18 are not permitted, and the experience is not considered suitable for pregnant women or people over 95 years old. Those restrictions are clearly stated, so check them before paying.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Madeira plans are still shifting.

Who will enjoy this Madeira drinks tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to first-time visitors who want a quick introduction to local drinks without spending days researching bars. It also suits couples and solo visitors who enjoy a guided social outing and want more context than a standard tasting room provides.

It is a good choice if you like variety. The move from white wine to craft beer, cherry liqueur, fortified wine, a creamy beer cocktail, and Poncha keeps the afternoon from becoming repetitive.

You may want to skip it if you do not drink alcohol, want a substantial meal, or dislike sweet cocktails. It is also not the best match if you expect a formal mixology class where you personally prepare every drink.

Should you book the Funchal bar-hopping experience?

Book it if you want six local drink experiences in one afternoon, plus a guided walk and plenty of explanation. The ginja chocolate cup, unusual Nikita, three-beer tasting, and Madeira wine provide more variety than a basic bar crawl.

Book with caution if the Poncha workshop is your main reason for going. Confirm before reserving whether your departure includes hands-on preparation or only a demonstration. For a broad, friendly introduction to Funchal’s drinking culture, I think the tour offers a useful and enjoyable evening. For a serious Poncha class or a value-focused night out, the $106 price may feel high.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet outside Blandy’s Wine Lodges at Avenida Arriaga 28, 9000-064 Funchal.

What time should I arrive?

Arrive at 3:45 p.m. The tour starts at 4 p.m., and attendance fifteen minutes early is required.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts three hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The tour is conducted in English with a live English-speaking guide.

How many stops are included?

The experience includes six stops through the historic streets of Funchal.

Which drinks are included?

The included tastings are local artisanal beer, still white Madeiran wine, ginja in a chocolate cup, Madeira wine, the Nikita cocktail, and Poncha.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks not specifically listed among the inclusions are not included.

Is the Poncha workshop hands-on?

The experience is advertised as a Poncha workshop and tasting, but the available details indicate that it may be a demonstration rather than a session where you make your own Poncha.

Are children allowed?

No. The activity is not suitable for children under 18.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.