Sé Boutique Hotel, Funchal, Madeira

You're at the very heart of Funchal, steps away from the Sé, the city's solid, basalt-stone cathedral dating from 1485. Most of what you'll want to see is within walking distance, including the seafront, abundant bars and restaurants and the most interesting shops and museums. Discounted parking is available a ten-minute walk away and transfers to the airport take 30 minutes. Nearby, you'll find the elegant Praça do Municipio with its black-and-white calçada pavements and star sights such as the Museu de Arte Sacra, Blandy's Wine Lodge and the exceptional Museu Photographia Vicente.

By plane: there are direct flights to Madeira from London and Manchester (4 hours). The hotel is a 25-minute drive from the airport. Book flights to Madeira.

The hotel is an eccentric jumble of styles that includes a ground-floor shop selling showy furniture, homewares and Madeiran souvenirs, a bright green breakfast room and a glamorous indoor pool used for parties and photoshoots. The building is on a street corner and rises to six floors.

The lower ground floor has a spacious lounge with a curtain screening and a heated indoor pool more suited to soaking than swimming. Gilt mirrors and chandeliers add a glamorous mood and spa treatments are available in an adjacent room if booked in advance.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Roof terrace
• Indoor pool
• Spa
• Free Wi-Fi

Interiors are calm and contemporary with a white, black and grey colour scheme enlivened by reproductions of painted tiles from the cathedral. None of the rooms has much of a view, and some face an inner courtyard. Amenities increase with the room category with the deluxe ones including a safe, kettle, robes, minibar and Damana toiletries.

Room types: Standard Single, Standard Double, Standard Plus, Deluxe, Junior Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom, TV, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi

The O Calhau restaurant, with outdoor tables in a cobbled, car-free street, is a delightful spot to catch your breath while tucking into an all-day Mediterranean menu that ranges from veal carpaccio to octopus with chickpea purée. Breakfast is an unexceptional buffet served in the brightly-painted ground floor Cozzi Scozzi restaurant.

O Calhau: Mediterranean and Portuguese cuisine. Mains include veal carpaccio and octopus with chickpea purée. Open daily 11am-11pm.

Cosi Scoozi: buffet breakfasts, pizza and pasta.