PortoBay wins five awards at the Michelin Gala

The awards were announced on the night of 27 February in the Algarve, at what was the first Michelin Guide gala in Portugal. The Il Gallo d'Oro restaurant, belonging to the PortoBay group’s 5-star hotel The Cliff Bay, saw its 2 Michelin stars and Green Star renewed at the event; but the big news of the night was the presentation of the 2024 Sommelier Award to Leonel Nunes, sommelier at Il Gallo d'Oro since May 2022.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Avista restaurant at the 5-star hotel Les Suites at The Cliff Bay in Funchal, once again gained recognition from the Michelin Guide by winning a Bib Gourmand. This restaurant has been included in the prestigious guide since it opened.

The Horta restaurant at the 4-star resort Vila Porto Mare (Funchal), which has been in business less than a year, also sees its work recognised as one of the restaurants recommended by the Michelin Guide. The restaurant is located on the pleasant Lido promenade and brings the concept of healthy eating and comfort food to Funchal, with a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients, most of which come from the PortoBay vegetable garden.

Leonel Nunes, winner of the Michelin Guide Portugal Sommelier Award 2024 stresses that “this award highlights all the work carried out daily with Chef Benoît and the indispensable help of the dining room and kitchen team. We will continue to create unique gastronomic experiences for all our customers, using the best produce that Portugal has to offer.”

“Winning the Bib Gourmand for the fourth consecutive time means recognition, prestige and consistency in the work carried out by the teams throughout the year”, says Chef João Luz of the Avista restaurant.

Chef Santiago Anolles recognises that this is “very good news, especially since we have been open for such a short time and are already recognised by the Michelin Guide”. He adds: “it’s recognition of our work and effort. It’s an award for the whole team; without them it wouldn’t be possible!”

It is worth noting that both the Avista and Horta restaurant menus are supervised by Chef Benoît Sinthon, who leads the team at Il Gallo d’Oro, a restaurant with 2 Michelin stars and a Green Star.