Sixty metres above the Atlantic, The Views Baía surveys Funchal from a privileged position. An adults-only hotel where city, mountains and sea remain present from the first coffee to the final drink.

Some hotels seek out a view; this one appears to have been designed around it. Set on a hillside above Funchal, The Views Baía looks across the harbour, the city’s tiled rooftops and the mountains rising behind them. In the morning, ships can be seen approaching the island; after dark, the bay glows below. The mood is contemporary and cosmopolitan, without unnecessary ceremony. Rooms favour light and landscape, facing either the Atlantic or Madeira’s green slopes. Its adults-only setting keeps the pace pleasingly calm, while the city remains close enough for dinner, museums or an unhurried morning at the market. The outdoor pool follows the line of the horizon. Inside, guests will find a heated pool, gym and spa with sauna, Turkish bath, jacuzzi and treatment rooms. Returning from the streets of Funchal, the climb back to the hotel brings a welcome change of register: less noise, cooler air and the city spread out below. At the top of the building, Desarma occupies the 11th floor. Chef Octávio Freitas draws on Madeira’s produce, memories and landscapes to create tasting menus that are precise, assured and firmly rooted in the island. The Michelin star offers recognition; the cooking supplies the argument. Elsewhere, Bay View serves meals against the panorama, while Woogie Boogie takes care of cocktails as the sun slips behind the mountains. The hotel’s character lies in this balance between Funchal’s urban energy and the measured distance of its hillside setting. Highlights

• Adults-only hotel
• Panoramic views across Funchal Bay
• Outdoor and heated indoor pools
• Spa, gym and padel court
• Central Funchal within easy reach
• Michelin-starred Desarma restaurant

Not to be missed: Dinner at Desarma, arriving before dusk to watch the changing light across the bay from the 11th floor.