10 Best Porto Nightlife

From its hilltop perch on the south side of the Douro River, Esplanada do Teleférico has some of the best views in town. This restaurant and wine bar looks out over the city centre from its glass-walled dining room and open-air terrace. It’s worth spending an evening here just to witness the sunset over the bending river and the golden evening glow of historic Ribeira.

The menu has Portuguese favourites like sirloin steak sandwiches and Pasteis de Bacalhau, crispy codfish pastries. Two port wine cocktails lighten the classic drink with citrus and herbal accents. With its spectacular views, enthusiastic service and reasonable prices, you can’t go wrong spending an evening here.

What better way to explore a city so defined by the river running through it than a sunset cruise on the Douro? You’ll have a chance to admire the beauty of the city’s colourful classic architecture from a unique perspective, with that touch of twilight magic.

River cruises are such a popular activity that there is a variety to choose from. Party boats have live music and a bartender mixing drinks, while private tours offer a more relaxed and personal experience. Some guides even offer tours on wooden rabelos, small cargo boats that have been used to transport port wine along the river for centuries. Whichever you choose, you’re sure to be handed a drink when you board.

Restaurant O Fado brings together classic Portuguese cuisine and the soulful melodies of fado. A small, family-run establishment, it’s no wonder the reservations fill up far in advance: they are serving up an unforgettable experience.

In a narrow, low-lit room, a fado singer and string quartet serenade diners throughout the evening. Their melancholic performances are imbued with feeling, telling tales of loss, longing and fate. During the short increments when the musicians perform, diners give their full attention. In between, they turn to their meals: sopa de legumes, grilled bacalhau and house favourite polvo a lagareiro, tender octopus with garlic and oil.

Livraria Lello is one of the dreamiest bookstores in the world. Built in 1906, the store has an intricate neo-gothic facade and exquisite art nouveau interior. Pass between carved wooden columns to the centrepiece of the store, a lavish curving red staircase. Look up and you’ll see light pouring in through stained glass featuring the phrase decus in labore, ‘honour in work’.

Practically a religious site for book lovers, this magical bookstore is said to have inspired JK Rowling in her writing of Harry Potter. Be sure to leave with a book, as your entrance fee (yes, it’s that famous) will be deducted from the price of any purchase.

The Teatro Nacional São João hosts a range of performances, from opera and Shakespeare to modern dance. For the first 100 years of its operation, the theatre was dedicated almost entirely to Italian opera, which came to a halt when the building was destroyed in a 1908 fire. Decades later, it was rebuilt and operated as a cinema for many years before becoming the cultural hotspot it is today.

The small, elegant theatre is decorated with gold detailing and plush red velvet. There are performances in both English and Portuguese on the agenda, and the theatre frequently partners with cultural organisations and schools from the region to create a diverse programme.

The historic Ribeira central square along the riverfront is bordered by old houses standing shoulder to shoulder, painted shades of red, mustard yellow and azure. This enchanting district features medieval, gothic and neoclassical architecture and is a designated World Heritage site.

This area is packed with restaurants and bars and tends to be lively after sundown. For a break from all the activity, take a stroll by the riverside, where wooden rabelo boats bob along the banks and glowing lights reflect on the water.

The Casa da Música is avant-garde in both its architecture and its programming. The modernist monolith stands at the edge of the Rotunda da Boavista, west of the historic centre. The building cuts a striking, mysterious silhouette, like something out of a science fiction novel.

It houses the 1,300-seat Grand Auditorium, which features glass facades at each end that give the space an open-air quality. The venue’s diverse programming features classical, jazz, Portuguese fado and experimental music. Be sure to get some tickets to experience the wonder of a live performance.

Miguel Bombarda Street is a magnet for modern culture in Porto. Known for its art galleries, the street is also home to vintage clothing shops, innovative design stores and trendy restaurants. Most stores and galleries are open until 7 pm, so go early to explore and sit down to dinner when the shops close up.

There are about 10 art galleries on this little street. Ap’arte Galeria showcases works of contemporary art from emerging and established artists. Some galleries display artworks centred on social and political themes, while others feature playful pieces. If you’re an art fanatic, try to visit during the bi-monthly art openings, when all the galleries open their new exhibitions on the same night.

If you’re wondering where to party in Porto, look no further than Rua da Galeria de Paris. This narrow street strung with coloured flags and string lights is a hub for the city’s nightlife: restaurants, bars and clubs line it end to end. The party tends to spill out into the street, with locals and tourists filling up the bars from around 11 pm.

The namesake Galeria de Paris Bar is worth a visit. Candlelit and cosy while still lively, the bar is housed in a former fabric warehouse and is decorated with shelves full of old radios, musical instruments and unusual toy collections. La Boheme is another reliable spot that serves drinks and tapas until late.

Plano B is one of Porto’s most popular nightclubs. The venue has 2 dance floors featuring different musical styles plus an upstairs lounge. The club hosts both well-known Portuguese DJs and international guests, who play mostly house and electro-rock with a bit of funk and acid jazz. The lounge has a laid-back vibe and tends to play chill-out tunes.

The crowd is generally more locals than out-of-towners, and security is reputedly tight. But if you manage to get through the door, prepare to dance until dawn.