Bar Hopping & Poncha Workshop

Poncha begins with a question. This 3.5-hour evening tour links Madeira wine, local bars, and Funchal’s old town in a small group of no more than 12 people. I like the mix of drinks and culture, especially the chance to see Blandy’s Wine Lodge, Mercado dos Lavradores, and the painted doors of Zona Velha in one outing. I also like that the route can include newer places such as Beer Lab alongside traditional Madeira drinks.

The main concern is important: the poncha workshop may not actually be hands-on. One booking party expected to make its own drink but instead sampled drinks on a bar tour. At $108.89 per person, that difference matters. If making poncha is your main reason for booking, confirm exactly what the activity includes before paying.

Key Points to Know Before Booking

• The tour starts at 4:00 pm, making it a useful way to shift from sightseeing into Funchal’s evening scene.
• Blandy’s Wine Lodge gets about 20 minutes, enough for a taste of Madeira’s wine culture but not a full winery visit.
• Mercado dos Lavradores also gets about 20 minutes, so expect a short look rather than a long market meal.
• Zona Velha takes about two hours, with narrow cobbled streets, old façades, painted doors, bars, and local character.
• Alcoholic drinks are included, but other food and drinks are not included unless specifically stated.
• The advertised poncha workshop needs clarification, since the actual format may be tastings rather than making poncha yourself.

What This Madeira Evening Tour Is Really About

This is best understood as a guided introduction to Funchal’s drinking culture, not simply a cocktail class. The route combines well-known cultural stops with places where you can sample Madeira wine, local white wine, craft beer, and poncha.

The timing works well. Starting at 4:00 pm gives you a late afternoon look at central Funchal before the tour settles into its evening bar route. The entire experience lasts about three and a half hours, so you still have time for dinner afterward, though you should not expect a full meal during the tour.

I like this structure because Madeira’s drinks make more sense when you see the city around them. Blandy’s introduces the island’s wine tradition. The market shows the produce and food culture behind local flavors. Zona Velha then gives the evening a social setting, with old streets, painted doors, and bars.

The small maximum group of 12 is another plus. You are less likely to feel lost in a crowd, and a guide can usually answer questions more easily. The tour is offered in English, and confirmation is provided at booking.

Starting at Blandy’s Wine Lodge

The first stop is Blandy’s Wine Lodge, one of Madeira’s best-known wine names. The planned visit lasts about 20 minutes, with no separate admission charge listed.

That short visit sets the tone rather than offering a full winery study. If you already know a great deal about Madeira wine, you may find the stop brief. If you are new to the island’s wine, it gives useful context before the evening tastings begin.

Madeira wine is not just another glass of Portuguese wine. It is closely tied to the island’s identity, and the name Blandy’s is one of the most recognizable names connected to that tradition. Even a short stop helps you understand why Madeira wine appears so often in Funchal’s bars and restaurants.

The practical point is to avoid arriving with expectations of a long cellar tour. The listed duration is 20 minutes. Think of this as an introduction and tasting-related stop within a broader evening route.

A Short Walk Through Mercado dos Lavradores

Next comes Mercado dos Lavradores, Funchal’s central market. You get about 20 minutes here, also without a separate admission charge.

The market is described as a living museum of Madeira’s flavors, with tropical produce and local products at the center. That description points to the market’s real value on this tour: it connects the drinks to the island’s food culture.

Twenty minutes is enough to get your bearings and notice the colorful produce, but it is not enough for a relaxed market visit. You may want to return later if you enjoy markets or hope to shop. Since other food is not included in the tour, do not assume you will have time for a meal here.

I see this stop as a useful contrast to the bars. It gives you a quick view of Madeira’s agricultural side before the route turns toward old streets and evening drinking. The visit also breaks up the alcohol-focused part of the experience, which is sensible on a tour built around several tastings.

Two Hours in Funchal’s Zona Velha

The longest section takes place in Zona Velha, Funchal’s old town. The planned time here is about two hours, far longer than the stops at Blandy’s and the market.

This is where the tour has room to breathe. The area developed around Funchal’s first settlement and is known for narrow cobbled streets, old house façades, and the Portas Pintadas project. Painted doors and façades turn parts of the neighborhood into an open-air art display.

You can expect the old town to provide the setting for much of the bar hopping. The route has included Madeira wine at an old-town venue, local white wine served at a traditional pharmacy, and a newer craft beer stop at Beer Lab. Those details make the evening more varied than a simple sequence of similar wine bars.

I especially like the contrast between old and new. A traditional pharmacy serving local white wine sounds unusual, while Beer Lab represents a newer side of Madeira’s drink scene. Together, they show that Funchal is not limited to its famous fortified wine and poncha.

The old town portion is also the most atmospheric part of the route, but it calls for sensible footwear. The tour involves walking through narrow cobbled streets, and the listed fitness level is moderate. You do not need an athletic background, but comfortable shoes are a smart choice.

Because two hours are assigned to Zona Velha, the guide has time to explain the streets and buildings instead of rushing you from one drink to another. Matt, one guide associated with the experience, received particular praise for his friendly approach and for sharing information about Madeira and its wine.

The Drink Selection, From Madeira Wine to Craft Beer

The strongest feature of this experience is variety. You are not asked to spend the whole evening drinking one style of beverage.

The drinks described across the route include:

• Madeira wine
• Local white wine
• Craft beer
• Poncha
• Other alcoholic tastings included as part of the experience

That range matters because Madeira’s drinking culture has several layers. Madeira wine is the classic reference point. Poncha is the island’s better-known mixed drink. Craft beer shows a more recent and less traditional side of Funchal.

The local white wine stop adds another change of pace. A visit to a traditional pharmacy for wine is also the kind of unusual venue that can make a short bar tour memorable. It is not merely a checklist of famous places.

Still, you should read the inclusions carefully. Alcoholic beverages are included, but food and any other drinks are not included unless the description specifically says so. If you need dinner, plan it before or after the tour. The experience is not presented as a food tour.

It is also worth pacing yourself. The tour lasts three and a half hours, and several drinks may be served. You can enjoy the variety more if you treat the event as a tasting route rather than an excuse to drink quickly.

The Poncha Workshop Question

The title promises a poncha workshop, and that is the point most likely to affect your decision.

Poncha is strongly associated with Madeira, so a hands-on lesson would make sense. Making the drink yourself could turn a normal bar tour into a more useful cultural experience. You would leave knowing not only what poncha tastes like, but also how it is prepared.

The problem is that the format has not been consistent. One party booked mainly to make poncha and found that no hands-on workshop took place. Instead, the experience functioned as a bar tour with drink tastings. The guide was described as friendly and helpful, but the missing workshop changed the value of the booking.

That is not a minor wording issue. At $108.89 per person, the price can be reasonable for a private-feeling guided route with several included alcoholic drinks, but it is harder to justify if you are paying mainly for a class that does not happen.

Before booking, ask a direct question: Will I mix the poncha myself, or will I only taste it? Also ask whether the class is offered on every departure. The supplied details do not clearly settle that point, so you should not assume the word workshop means a practical lesson.

Is $108.89 a Fair Price?

The price is $108.89 per person. Value depends heavily on what you want from the evening.

I can see the price making sense for someone who values a guide, a small group, several alcoholic tastings, and a planned route through central Funchal. You are paying for the organization as well as the drinks. The tour connects places that you could visit separately, and the guide adds context about Madeira’s wine and old town.

The price is less convincing if you want a simple pub crawl or if the poncha class is the main attraction. You could explore Zona Velha independently, and the short stops at Blandy’s and the market do not by themselves justify a high price.

The included drinks are an important part of the calculation. Since alcohol is included, you do not have to pay separately at every stop. But food is not included, and you may want a meal afterward. Add that to your budget.

The small group also helps the value. A maximum of 12 people is more personal than a large coach outing, even though the tour does not claim to be private. For an English-speaking visitor who wants a planned introduction to Funchal’s drinks, the package may be worthwhile. For an independent explorer, it may feel expensive.

Meeting Point, Walking, and Timing

The meeting point is Av. Arriaga 28 in Funchal, with a 4:00 pm start. The experience ends at Barreirinha Bar Café, Largo do Socorro 1, in Funchal’s old town area.

That start and end point make the tour useful if you want to finish near Zona Velha rather than return to your hotel. The route is near public transportation, but the provided details do not specify a hotel pickup or return transfer. Plan to reach the starting point yourself.

The tour includes walking through cobbled streets, so moderate physical fitness is required. Wear shoes that handle uneven paving. You should also be comfortable being on your feet for much of the evening.

The mobile ticket is convenient, and confirmation arrives at the time of booking. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour do not qualify for a refund.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most?

This experience suits you if you want an organized first taste of Funchal’s drink scene and prefer company to planning your own bar route. It is especially useful for people who want cultural context along with tastings.

You will probably enjoy it most if you like:

• Madeira wine and local drinks
• Small-group walking tours
• Old streets and painted urban art
• A mix of traditional and newer bars
• An English-speaking guide
• Evening sightseeing with alcohol included

It is less suitable if you want a full meal, a quiet winery visit, or a guaranteed hands-on cooking lesson. Families with children may also find the alcohol-centered format unsuitable, though no age policy is provided in the available details.

If your main goal is poncha preparation, confirm the class format first. If your main goal is to sample several drinks while seeing Zona Velha, the tour fits much better.

Should You Book the Bar Hopping and Poncha Workshop?

Book it if you want a guided evening that combines Madeira wine, local white wine, craft beer, poncha, the market, and Funchal’s old town. The varied venues and friendly guide style are the tour’s best features, and the maximum group size of 12 keeps the experience from feeling like a mass outing.

Pause before booking if the workshop is essential. The most serious weakness is the gap between a promised poncha-making activity and a tasting-focused bar tour. Ask the provider to confirm the hands-on element in writing.

For a visitor who values local drinks, unusual bars, and a little history while walking through Zona Velha, this can be a lively and useful introduction to Funchal. For anyone judging the price mainly by the workshop, the answer depends on that one clarification.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 4:00 pm.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Av. Arriaga 28, São Martinho, 9000-064 Funchal, Portugal.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at Barreirinha Bar Café, Largo do Socorro 1, 9060-305 Funchal, Portugal.

Are drinks included?

Alcoholic beverages are included. Other food and drinks are not included unless specifically stated.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.