Places to eat
Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo
Poncha and honey cake at 1761 metres, a 15-minute walk from Madeira's summit.
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The place
Reopened in 2019 after a refit, this mountain refuge sits just below Pico Ruivo and gives hikers coming off PR1, PR1.2, or PR1.3 somewhere to sit down that isn't a rock. It's a drinks-and-cake stop rather than a kitchen — poncha, Madeira wine, coffee, and honey cake are the point, not a hot dinner.
When to come
Midday, after the morning summit rush has thinned out and there's room to sit inside.
Worth knowing
- Drinks and snacks only — tea, coffee, poncha, homemade and honey cake, no hot meals
- On foot only, via PR1, PR1.1 (from Ilha), PR1.2, or PR1.3 — no road access
- A remote mountain refuge — confirm what payment methods work before assuming card is accepted
- Small souvenir corner and a book nook if weather closes in outside