Top 10 Best Bars in Porto (with a Free Bar Itinerary)

Last updated: November 2026

Porto has one of the most characterful bar scenes in Portugal, and the best bars in Porto are the ones with a story: a former bookshop, a converted chapel, a hidden cocktail room or a riverside terrace over the port cellars. The city is compact, the drinks are good value and many of the best rooms sit within a short walk of each other.

This guide covers ten bars across the Baixa, Cedofeita, the Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia, with a practical box for each. Further down you will find the drinks to look out for, a free printable 3-day Porto bar itinerary, getting around, where to stay and how to plan a night out. If you are planning daytime sightseeing too, our guide to the top 10 things to do in Porto covers the Ribeira, the port cellars and Livraria Lello. The official Visit Porto site is a useful place to check events and listings.

Bars change hours and owners faster than restaurants, and many keep different hours at weekends. Where details were hard to confirm, this guide says “check before you go”.

Quick answer: What are the best bars in Porto? For atmosphere, start at Casa do Livro or Café Candelabro, two bars that began life as bookshops. For cocktails, book Apotecário or The Royal Cocktail Club. For wine and views, go to Wine Quay Bar or the Terrace Lounge 360º. Add Capela Incomum for a quiet glass in a chapel, Maus Hábitos for live music, Letraria for craft beer and Café Piolho for student-café history.

Quick comparison: the best bars in Porto

1. Casa do Livro

Casa do Livro is the bar that sums up Porto nightlife, a bookish room on Rua da Galeria de Paris that fills up late. It sits at number 85 on the street that has become the city’s main bar strip, and it began life as a bookshop before turning into a café-bar in 2007, according to Portugal Confidential, keeping its name and book-lined décor.

Fodor’s describes it as a speakeasy-style bar in a former bookstore, with live music that ranges from jazz piano to fado, and DJ sets on busy nights. A grand piano is the centrepiece in some descriptions, and books still line the walls. Time Out also lists it as one of the city’s bars with the best atmosphere.

The drinks list covers cocktails, Douro wines and the usual beers and spirits. It works best as a mid-evening or late-night stop, since listings show it opening in the evening and closing in the small hours. The Visit Porto listing gives the address and a phone number, though hours vary between sources.

Galeria de Paris is the street where many Porto nights begin or end, so the bar is easy to combine with others nearby. One guide suggests treating the street as the first stop of the evening rather than the destination, and Casa do Livro suits that approach well.

• How to get there: On foot from Aliados or the Clérigos area; it is a short walk from the Livraria Lello.
• How long to spend: One to two hours.
• Best time to go: After dinner, when the room is lively but before the very late crowd.
• Tip: Check the programme on the day, because live music nights fill quickly.

2. Café Candelabro

Café Candelabro is the best bar in Porto if you like your drinks with books, art and a slow pace. It sits at Rua da Conceição 3, in the Baixa, and is described as a bookshop, café and wine bar. Its shelves are mostly about cinema and photography, and you can browse them with a drink in hand.

The room is cosy and arty, and one guide says the design crowd likes it. The drinks list leans on Douro reds and port tonics, which makes it a good place to try the city’s signature aperitif. One guide says the business now focuses mainly on the café and bar side, though it still sells some second-hand books.

There is outdoor seating, which can become crowded in the evening, so arriving early helps. Listings disagree on the opening hours, with one showing weekday opening from morning, another showing afternoon to late night from Thursday to Sunday, and the Visit Porto listing showing a closed day. Check before you go.

It makes a good first stop, a quiet place to meet friends before the busier bars, or a late afternoon break during a day of sightseeing. Prices are friendly, and nobody will rush you.

• How to get there: On foot from São Bento station or Clérigos, a few minutes uphill.
• How long to spend: An hour or so.
• Best time to go: Late afternoon or early evening, to get a seat outside.
• Tip: Ask for a port tonic if you want a long, light drink to start the evening.

3. The Royal Cocktail Club

The Royal Cocktail Club is the cocktail bar most often named when people ask where to drink well in Porto. It sits at Rua da Fábrica 105 in the Baixa, in a building that Time Out says is more than 100 years old. Portugal Confidential describes the entrance as a former bankers’ union building on the corner with Rua Cândido dos Reis.

The room is dimly lit and dark-wooded, with a menu that leans on Portuguese spirits and a mix of classic and signature cocktails. One example in a guide is a Negroni made with a Portuguese gin. The bar has been listed in the World’s 50 Best Bars Top 500, and Falstaff has scored it highly, though rankings change from year to year.

Prices sit at the higher end for Porto, but fair compared with other European cocktail bars. Service is considered and the drinks are made with care, so this is a place to sit down and talk rather than drink fast. A quiet weeknight is the best time for a conversation.

One source mentions a small deposit when booking, and another says weekday visits often work without a reservation but busy nights fill up. Hours and booking rules can change, so check the bar’s own channels before you go. Some listing sites call it a speakeasy, though that label comes from third parties rather than the bar itself.

• How to get there: On foot from Aliados or São Bento, about ten minutes.
• How long to spend: One to two hours.
• Best time to go: A weeknight, or early on a weekend evening.
• Tip: Book ahead for Friday and Saturday, and ask the bartender for a Portuguese-spirit cocktail.

4. Apotecário

Apotecário is a hidden speakeasy where the address is shared only after you book. Time Out says reservations are made through the bar’s page, which then sends the location. Guides place it near the Baixa, within walking distance of Cedofeita, Aliados and Trindade.

The format is unusual. The bar is run by bartender Pedro Duarte, and the cocktails are created for each guest rather than chosen from a long menu. Time Out reports that guests can stay for a maximum of two hours, which keeps the room calm and means everyone gets a proper turn.

That makes it a great choice for a special evening or a date, and a poor choice for a casual drop-in. You need to plan ahead and arrive on time. Tell the bartender what flavours you like and let them build the drinks around you.

Sources disagree on opening days, with one saying it opens every day except Tuesday and another saying generally Tuesday to Saturday evenings. Check the days and times when you book. The details of the cocktails change, so do not expect the same drinks on your second visit.

If you want a lively, loud night, choose another bar on this list. Apotecário is for conversation, curiosity and a small group of friends.

• How to get there: The address is sent after you book; it is within walking distance of the centre.
• How long to spend: Up to two hours, which is the stay limit reported by Time Out.
• Best time to go: An early evening slot, so the rest of the night stays free.
• Tip: Book several days ahead and tell the bartender about any allergies when you reserve.

5. Maus Hábitos

Maus Hábitos is the cultural venue that doubles as one of Porto’s best late-night bars. It is at Rua de Passos Manuel 178 on the fourth floor, and you reach it through the garage and up in a lift, which feels like a secret before you arrive. The venue has been running for more than two decades, and its own website describes a mix of concerts, exhibitions and a bar.

The programme is the reason to come. The venue’s site lists live gigs from Portuguese and international artists across different genres every week, and its arts programme is run by the cultural association Saco Azul. The bar and kitchen keep going into the evening, with food service daily and a late bar at weekends, though hours change.

The crowd is young, creative and mixed, and the atmosphere feels more like a club than a polished bar. The drinks list is straightforward, with beer, wine and simple cocktails at friendly prices. Tickets for concerts are usually sold online, so check the events page before you travel.

Hours are not fixed, and the closing time depends on the event. Older snapshots show the venue closed on Sundays and open very late on Fridays and Saturdays, but check the official Maus Hábitos site for the current schedule.

If you want a cultural evening that ends with a drink and a dance, this is the best bet in the city centre.

• How to get there: On foot from Aliados or Trindade; the entrance is through the garage on Rua de Passos Manuel.
• How long to spend: An evening.
• Best time to go: A concert night; check the events page.
• Tip: Eat early in the evening if you plan to stay for the music.

6. Capela Incomum

Capela Incomum is a wine bar in a former 19th-century chapel, and it is the quietest and most unusual stop on this list. It sits in Cedofeita at Travessa do Carregal 77 to 81, a short walk from the Rua de Cedofeita shopping street. The former chapel has been turned into a space for Portuguese wine, with a focus on port and Madeira.

The room is small and calm, with a glass of wine and a few snacks the usual order. It suits a slow evening, a quiet catch-up or a break from the busier streets around Clérigos. Ask the staff about the by-the-glass list if you are new to Douro wines.

Because the space is small, Falstaff advises booking a table. Opening hours conflict between sources, with one showing weekday evening opening and a closed Sunday, and another showing Sunday afternoon opening. Check the venue’s own channels before you go.

Pair a glass of tawny port with a small plate of cheese or cured meat, and take your time. It is a good place to learn the difference between ruby, tawny and white port without the crowds of the cellars across the river.

The setting is the star here, so go with an unhurried plan and no big agenda.

• How to get there: On foot from Clérigos or Carmo; allow ten minutes through Cedofeita.
• How long to spend: One to two hours.
• Best time to go: Early evening, when the room is quiet.
• Tip: Book a table, and ask for a flight of ports if you want to compare styles.

7. Café Piolho

Café Piolho is the old student café of Porto, and a good place for a cheap drink with a lot of history. Its proper name is Café Âncora d’Ouro, and it sits on Praça de Parada Leitão, beside the University of Porto. Most sources give 1909 as its opening year, though one gives 1883, so treat the date with care.

The café has long been a meeting place for students and academics, and it has hosted political debates over the years. The nickname Piolho, which means louse, has several explanations, and sources do not agree on which is right. A local guide claims it was the first café in Porto to have electricity and television, but we could not confirm this.

Inside, the room is simple and busy, with students nursing coffees and beers. It is not a cocktail bar and does not try to be one. That is its charm: you can have a coffee at lunch, a beer in the afternoon and a late snack in the evening, for very little money.

The address appears as number 41, 43 to 57 or 45 in different listings, so look for the prominent café on the square. Opening hours vary, so check before you go. It is best treated as a starter or a late-afternoon stop rather than the main event of an evening.

• How to get there: On foot from Clérigos, a few minutes away.
• How long to spend: Thirty minutes to an hour.
• Best time to go: Late afternoon, when students gather after classes.
• Tip: Sit outside on the square on a warm day.

8. Letraria

Letraria is the craft beer garden to choose when you want something other than wine. It is a taproom for Letra brewery, and guides describe a garden at its original site and a long list of taps and bottles. Sources give different counts of beers, so do not rely on a number.

The address has changed. Older listings give Rua da Alegria 101, but Time Out Portugal reports that Letraria moved in 2024 to the Baixa, on Rua dos Mártires da Liberdade, at number 108 according to Porto’s tourism site, which also mentions a small outdoor space there. Check the official channels or a current map before you go.

Beer lovers will find a rotating range of Portuguese craft beers, including the brewery’s own, and a relaxed crowd that includes locals and visitors. The atmosphere is informal and unfussy, with the focus on the beer and the company.

The terrace is a big part of the appeal in warm weather, but check what the new site offers outdoors. Opening hours in older listings show afternoon to late evening, with later closing at weekends, but they may be out of date.

This is a good option for a group with mixed tastes, since it offers an alternative to port and cocktails. It also pairs well with a snack, although the food offer is simple.

• How to get there: On foot from Aliados or São Bento; check the current address first.
• How long to spend: One to two hours.
• Best time to go: Early evening, or a warm afternoon.
• Tip: Ask for a tasting of two or three beers before you pick a full glass.

9. Wine Quay Bar

Wine Quay Bar is the place for port wine and river views in the Ribeira. It sits on Cais da Estiva, on the quay, in a historic building. The owners opened it in 2012 in a property that had belonged to one family for over a century, and a sister shop next door sells the products tasted at the bar.

Listings describe around 150 bottles with about 60 by the glass, which makes it a good place to try several Douro wines and ports. Food is traditional Portuguese tapas, and some descriptions mention cheese and chocolate pairings.

The location is the main draw. You sit by the Douro with the Dom Luís I Bridge in view and the port lodges of Gaia across the water. It is busy in summer, so arrive early for a table outside.

Hours differ between sources, with one showing weekday opening from mid-afternoon and another showing Monday to Saturday from late afternoon, closed on Sunday. Check before you go. It is a mid-range spot, but prices reflect the view.

Try a flight that compares white, tawny and ruby port, and ask the staff which wines are drunk locally. Combine the visit with a walk along the Ribeira, then move on to a livelier bar later.

• How to get there: On foot along the Ribeira riverfront from São Bento, about ten minutes.
• How long to spend: One to two hours.
• Best time to go: An hour before sunset.
• Tip: Ask for a tasting flight and a small cheese plate.

10. Terrace Lounge 360º

Terrace Lounge 360º is the rooftop bar at Espaço Porto Cruz, with a wide view over the river and the city. It is on the top floor of a building dedicated to port wine at Largo Miguel Bombarda 23 in Vila Nova de Gaia, across the bridge from the Ribeira. Time Out Portugal says the snack menu is signed by chef Miguel Castro e Silva.

The terrace looks across the Douro to the Ribeira, and in the other direction you can see the cellars and rooftops of Gaia. It is a good place for a sunset drink, particularly after a visit to the port lodges. The drinks list includes port, wine and cocktails.

Time Out’s English listing gives opening from late morning to around midnight from Tuesday to Friday, later on Saturday and shorter hours on Sunday, with no Monday opening listed, but hours may have changed. Check the venue’s own channels, particularly in winter and on windy days.

Crossing the Dom Luís I Bridge on foot is part of the pleasure. The upper deck gives the best view, but it is exposed and busy, so take care with children and in bad weather. The lower deck is calmer.

Prices are mid-range, a little higher than the average bar, and the terrace can be busy at sunset. Come early for a table by the edge.

• How to get there: Walk over the lower deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge to the Gaia quay; the building is close to the waterfront.
• How long to spend: One to two hours.
• Best time to go: An hour before sunset on a clear day.
• Tip: Combine it with a port lodge visit earlier in the afternoon.

Drinks to look out for in Porto

• Port: The fortified wine named after the city, made in the Douro and aged in the lodges of Gaia. Look for white, ruby and tawny styles.
• Port tonic: A long drink made with white port and tonic water, popular as an aperitif.
• Douro reds and whites: Still wines from the same valley, often excellent value by the glass.
• Vinho verde: A young, lightly sparkling wine from the north of Portugal, especially good in summer.
• Super Bock and Sagres: The two best-known Portuguese lagers, easy to find on tap.
• Portuguese spirits: Gins and brandies made in Portugal, which cocktail bars such as The Royal Cocktail Club like to showcase.

How Many Days Do You Need? A 3-Day Porto Bar Itinerary

Three evenings give you time to enjoy the best bars in Porto without rushing. The plan below groups bars by area, so you spend your evenings drinking rather than travelling. It is also available as a free printable PDF.

Day 1: Bookshop bars and the Galeria de Paris

Start with a port tonic at Café Candelabro in the late afternoon, then walk to Café Piolho for a quick, cheap drink if you want some student-café history. After dinner, move to Casa do Livro and stay for the music. Everything is within a short walk of Clérigos.

Day 2: Cocktails and a hidden room

Book Apotecário for an early evening slot, so your night stays flexible. Afterwards, walk to The Royal Cocktail Club for a second, more social round of cocktails. If you want a beer afterwards, try Letraria after checking its address.

Day 3: Wine, views and live music

Spend the late afternoon at Wine Quay Bar in the Ribeira, then cross the river to Terrace Lounge 360º for the sunset. Return for dinner, then choose between Capela Incomum for a quiet glass in Cedofeita or Maus Hábitos for a concert and a late finish.

Getting around Porto

The centre is compact, but steep. Most bars on this list are within a short walk of Clérigos, Aliados and São Bento. Wear comfortable shoes, because the cobbled streets are slippery after rain.

The Metro do Porto connects the centre with the airport, and the Andante card is the standard ticket system. For late nights, check the last metro time and plan a taxi or ride-hailing service for the journey back, particularly from Gaia. Tourist passes and the Porto.CARD options have changed recently, so check current products before you buy.

How much does a night out in Porto cost?

Porto is generally good value compared with many western European cities. Use these tiers as a guide:

• Cheap: Coffee, beer or wine at Café Piolho or Café Candelabro, and a beer at Letraria.
• Mid-range: A glass of wine or port at Capela Incomum or Wine Quay Bar, and a cocktail at Casa do Livro.
• Comfortable: Cocktails at Apotecário or The Royal Cocktail Club, and a drink with a view at Terrace Lounge 360º.

To keep costs down, share a tasting flight, have a snack with your first round and drink house wine by the glass. Cocktail bars charge more than wine bars.

Where should you stay in Porto?

• Baixa and Aliados: The best base for bar-hopping, with most of the bars on this list within walking distance.
• Clérigos and Galeria de Paris: Central and lively, but noisy at night.
• Cedofeita: A quieter, more local area with galleries, cafés and wine bars.
• Ribeira: Atmospheric and by the river, but crowded and hilly.
• Vila Nova de Gaia: Close to the port cellars and views, with an easy walk back across the bridge.

What should you know before a night out in Porto?

• Booking: Book Apotecário, Capela Incomum and The Royal Cocktail Club, especially at weekends.
• Late nights: Many bars stay open into the small hours at weekends, and the best nights start late.
• Hours: Bars change hours often; check before you go.
• Tipping: Tipping is modest in Portugal; rounding up is normal.
• Safety: Keep an eye on your belongings in busy streets, and take care on the steep, wet cobbles after dark.

Discover Porto

Porto pairs well with Lisbon for a longer Portugal trip. If you are heading south next, see our guide to the best bars in Lisbon and our pick of the best wine bars in Lisbon, or compare the views with the best rooftop bars in Lisbon.

Featured image: Photo by Sergei Gussev, CC BY 2.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons