Poncha, tascas, and the real bar scene
Madeira's real bar scene: three hours of traditional tascas in the neighbourhoods around Funchal, with a local guide who knows every counter.
Where the poncha is actually made
Our most-read guide is about how to make poncha. The obvious next step is to take you where it’s actually made. The Tasca Tour is a relaxed, guided exploration of traditional Madeiran tascas in and around the outskirts of Funchal: poncha at the counter, local food, and the small neighbourhood bars that tourists drive straight past.
Rather than staying in the city centre, this tour takes you into the local neighbourhoods where these places are part of everyday life. We handle the driving between stops, your guide curates the route, and at each tasca you choose what you’d like to eat or drink and pay directly. The focus is atmosphere, local culture, and finding the places you’d never find on your own.
Poncha at the source
Not the tourist version. Poncha mashed and poured the way it's done in the tascas where it belongs, with a guide who knows the good counters from the gimmicks.
The bars tourists never find
Small, authentic tascas in the everyday neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Funchal. We drive you between stops, so the guide can shape the route as the afternoon flows.
You choose, you pay as you go
No fixed menu. At each tasca you pick what you want to eat and drink and pay directly, so you try exactly as much or as little as you like.
What's included, what to bring
Included
- Local foodie guide
- Guided 3-hour tour of traditional tascas
- Transport between stops
- Pick-up at your Funchal accommodation
- Small-group experience, max 6 guests
- Insurance under Portuguese law (RNAAT 820/2020)
Bring
- Comfortable clothing
- Cash or card for food and drinks
- An appetite
- Any dietary requirements, told to us in advance
Questions we get asked
Are food and drinks included?
No. You choose what you'd like at each stop and pay directly. That keeps the experience flexible and personal instead of tied to a fixed menu. Your guide can advise on how much to budget along the way.
What's a tasca?
A tasca is a small, traditional Madeiran bar: the local, unpolished kind where poncha is made by hand and everybody knows each other. Exactly the places this tour is built around.
Is there a fixed route?
No. Stops and pacing vary depending on the group, opening times and local conditions. Your guide curates the route on the day, which is half the fun.
What time does it start?
Tours start at 1pm. We pick you up at your Funchal accommodation and have you back around three hours later.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes, this one is 15 and up. It's an eating and drinking tour built around bars, poncha and conversation, so it's more adult than our other tours. Travelling with younger kids? Our jeep tours welcome them.
Can dietary requirements be accommodated?
Some can, with advance notice. Please contact us before booking to confirm suitability. It's not recommended for guests with severe food allergies unless confirmed in advance.
How much walking is involved?
Light walking, plus getting in and out of the vehicle between stops. Nothing strenuous: the effort here is mostly lifting the glass.
Live availability
Eat and drink like a local, without doing any of the work
Check dates & book
Licensed & insured · RNAAT 820/2020 · Running since 2012