La Vaca Negra

Someone from this business manages this listing.

2,483 reviews

#4 of 808 Restaurants in Funchal££ - £££, Gluten free options

+351 291 764 491+ Add website

Hours

Sun

18:00 - 0:00

Tue

18:00 - 0:00

Wed

18:00 - 0:00

Thu

18:00 - 0:00

Fri

18:00 - 0:00

Sat

18:00 - 0:00

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What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

5.0

2,483 reviews

#4 of 808 Restaurants in Funchal

Travellers' Choice 2024

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

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Special Diets

Gluten free options

Meals

Dinner

FEATURES

Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

Location and contact

Rua Velha Ajuda 12, Funchal, Madeira 9000-115 Portugal

+351 291 764 491

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Details

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About

We inform our clients that we not open for lunch, and kitchen close at 22:30..

Special Diets

Gluten free options

Meals

Dinner

FEATURES

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5.0

2,483 reviews

Excellent

2,044

Very good

332

Average

Poor

Terrible

Fission_Chips

Portsmouth442 contributions

We had a lovely steak meal

Dec 2019 • couples

We had a lovely steak meal at La Vaca Negra. It was our first visit but one I had meant to do on many occasions but others got in the way or it was closed. We both had Enpanadas for starters and Marco (owner?) explained all about them. We both enjoyed them and could have eaten more. I had the T-Bone and my wife chose a fillet steak for our mains, both coked medium-accompanied by Baked potato and a salad to share. Slight problem with my wife’s fillet as it was more towards medium/rare but Marco sorted that out immediately. I chose a good Argentinian Red Wine which was excellent although I noted later in the week that the price for that bottle was a tad over price wise. However, we were on holiday, our first visit to La Vaca Negra and it was a great evening. Staff were very busy but still friendly and there was a ‘lively’ atmosphere going on. Not a restaurant for a quite romantic evening! You must book to avoid a disappointment.

Written 2 January 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lyn B

Hampshire55 contributions

Fabulous

Jan 2020 • none

What a find! We chose empanadas for starters which were delicious. We ordered a ribeye and sirloin steak which came with jacket potatoes/chips and added a salad to share. Steaks were so tender and a good size. We each had two glasses of wine and the bill with tip was 72 euros. The restaurant is small so book ahead to ensure you get a table. Highly recommended,

Written 19 January 2020

LARGOBAY

Lower Largo196 contributions

Very Special Steak Restaurant.

Nov 2020 • couples

Vaca Negra is easily the best place in Funchal in which to eat steak . Yes, of course the steaks are huge but it is the fabulous quality and flavour of the Argentinian meat that makes Marco’s restaurant the favourite venue of so many regular clients. There were eight different cuts including fillet, rump, tomahawk and sirloin but we settled on ribeyes, perfectly chargrilled as ordered and served with herby chips and a really fresh mixed salad including the most flavourful beef tomatoes we have ever eaten. You can dine outside or in the buzzy atmosphere indoors. Wine list is sensibly priced and all staff are keen to please but Marco and his lovely wife are the stars ⭐️ ⭐️ of the show. If you like great steaks Vaca Negra is a MUST VISIT. A great night out with top quality food and really caring service.... we will never come to Madeira without eating here on a regular basis. Highly recommended.

Written 8 November 2020

Mark W

Espoo38 contributions

Deservedly popular...great steaks

Jan 2020 • none

Lived up to its previous reviews. A relatively small, but great steak restaurant. Great service. The meat is cooked to perfection and is tasty! If you want a table, make advance reservations—the restaurant is deservedly popular. We ate early and they squeezed us in just before the reservations—they turned away several guests just after seating us. If you are after a good steak dinner, don’t pass this one by!

Written 3 January 2020

MrMadMagpie

Ipswich2169 contributions

Brilliant atmosphere and excellent food

Jan 2020 • none

This is another restaurant off the beaten track that is so worthwhile searching out. A real culinary experience all round with great staff. My wife is a connoisseur of fillet steak and she thought the mahhoosive one she was served was one of the best ever. I had a standard T-bone which was excellent too. Not expensive either. Just go there.

Written 19 January 2020

SteveCroweEngland

Clitheroe134 contributions

Amazing steak

Dec 2019 • none

I love a fillet steak and have eaten in many restaurants, but this was without doubt the most succulent, perfectly cooked tender steak that i have eaten to date. We preceded the main course with a selection of empanadas which were freshly cooked and tasty. The choice of cuts of beef is plentiful and enough to satisfy the biggest appetite for sure!

Written 13 February 2020

Jane M

Sutton32 contributions

Wonderful!

Feb 2020 • couples

We had pre-booked and were greeted by the owner who welcomed us in. We were given a small glass of Madeira wine (on the house) while we chose our food. All the steaks are huge compared to UK portions, but so beautifully cooked that it wasn't too difficult to finish! The hand-cut chips were great, we ordered a mixed salad to share. They provide a selection of dips/sauces to accompany the meal. The noise levels were okay as it's not too big a place. The service from all of the staff was attentive and friendly. I can highly recommend a visit here.

Written 14 February 2020

DavidJCrawford

Cholsey14 contributions

Good food, service a little rushed

Dec 2019 • couples

We remembered to book ahead this time. We had the chorizo to start which came with a variety of soft and firm sausage along with black pudding. We weren’t a big fan of this course. The fillet steak was the best dish of the night. Good quality and cooked to perfection. The 22 day aged cutlet was about €10 more than the fillet but not as good value. It was very fatty which I don’t like. I should have asked the very helpful staff about it before I ordered. I would have probably changed my order if I knew it was a fatty cut before hand. The staff work very hard at a fast pace which I found a bit manic ... Recommended! Again this is just a small restaurant so book ahead.

Written 1 January 2020

Lmus2013

Stockton-on-Tees25 contributions

Excellent value, huge portion size, hit and miss service style.

Aug 2021 • none

Excellent value, huge portion size, hit and miss service style. A bit of a mixed experience here. On arrival I didn’t feel particularly welcome as a lone diner without a reservation and Initially I felt as though I was a problem for them and dismissively told I could have a table by the door or nothing. I took the table as I was hungry but was not provided with a menu and after about 5 mins a waiter arrived asking what I wanted. I asked to see a wine list but was told the one I chose was not available in a rather abrupt manner with no apology or other recommendation. I ordered another but the waiter seemed confused by my choice but eventually ordered. The service did get a little better and friendlier later but the first interaction was just not welcoming. The sirloin steak could not be faulted for flavour and how I wanted it cooked but the portion size is extremely large and way too much for me so had to leave about half of it. It was about 2.5 times larger than what you would get in the UK for the same price so I would recommend you arrive very hungry and probably avoid any starters. I did joke about this with the waiter saying it was too big but he said people go there because of this. Overall it was an above average experience which could be better if the service was a bit more customer friendly and helpful rather than the clinical abruptness I was greeted with. Definitely recommend the food, hopefully the staff become better at customer care.

Written 30 August 2021

Roger C

2 contributions

Comparable to steaks served to me in the Americas

Jun 2022 • none

This was the best serving of steak I have had since 1976 in Mobile, Alabama, USA. The dining reminded me of my time frequenting steak houses during my time in the Southern States of the USA, where steak is taken very seriously indeed. My wife's was the sirloin and mine was the T-bone. They were prepared and cooked to perfection and to order. Those who may complain about the cost have to realise that the thickness and size of the steak are bigger that those experienced in the UK. The waiters (and the chef) were attentive, good humoured and respectful. The environment was unassuming, simple, clean, well appointed and all the cooking was in view, together with the smell of steak cooking. It is a must for carnivores on holiday. You won't forget it I assure you.

Written 15 June 2022

MMOMOR

36 contributions

Excellent fillet steak,and staff. One of only two places that I thought merited special reviews from our trip to Funchal

Mar 2020 • couples

Akua for seafood. And here for steak. It's as simple as that. Ok. They want more words. Delicious steaks, cooked as you ask, great staff, and the chef ensured that everything was to our liking. So good we went back again. This is my suggestion if you are looking for a meat feast. Open fire wood grilled steaks.

Written 16 March 2020

LARGOBAY

Lower Largo196 contributions

Superb Steakhouse & Delightful Owners.

Sept 2021 • friends

Marco & his wife Andrea run a top quality steak restaurant with care, charm and courtesy. This is the BEST place in Funchal if you want to eat carefully sourced well hung steaks cooked on the open fire grill. These range from sirloin, ribeye, fillet, tomahawk etc. and are served with potato wedges sprinkled with herbs and three sauces. Portions are HUGE and flavour is superb. There is a good wine list at very fair prices and the option to dine inside or on the outdoor terrace. Marco has a good sense of humour and is always concerned to make sure that his customers old and new have a first class experience. This is a restaurant which does everything with INTEGRITY and is strongly recommended. You will certainly never leave hungry !!!

Written 16 September 2021

LARGOBAY

Lower Largo196 contributions

Superb Sizzling Steaks and Splendid Service.

Sept 2020 • none

First visit to Vaca Negra. This is a restaurant where TOP QUALITY prevails and staff really care for their customers. A wide range of Argentinian beef includes ribeye steaks ( our choice) , fillet., beef cutlet, tomahawk steak etc. Cooked on a charcoal and wood grill exactly as ordered. Huge portions of very tasty ribeye served with home made chips sprinkled with herbs, mixed salad which was zingingly fresh and three separately presented sauces including an imaginative lime and garlic mayo. Good wine list fairly priced. This was a completely satisfactory visit and we have no criticisms whatsoever. We are already booked to return....a sure sign of satisfaction !

Written 3 September 2020

Brian R

Kirkintilloch20 contributions

Superb fillet steak, great restaurant

Oct 2020 • none

Best restaurant we went to on our 2 weeks stay and we visited some very good ones. We went 4 times as it was so good. Good variety of mainly steak/meat dishes. It is busy which is no surprise as the locals seem to go there as the food is so good so best to book. The fillet steak was large and superb quality and taste and cooked perfectly (rare for my wife and medium for me). Service was great and very helpful in selecting good Portuguese red wines (15 euros a bottle) to go with the steaks. The chef came out to check everything was ok and was buzzing about adding to the good atmosphere. Covid distancing and masks were followed and gel on the tables as well. Can’t wait to go back when we return to Madeira.

Written 18 November 2020

Petrus R

Helsinki165 contributions

Great steak

Mar 2020 • none

This steak was one of the only meat meals I had Madeira, since I mainly had vegetarian and or fish dishes. We went for the Tomahawk steak, which did seem a little pricy compared to many other places (to be shared), but it was well worth it. Also had some desserts, pancakes and some cheesecake. Great restaurant, nothing fancy, just plain good steak! Gracias!