ALGARVE HOT SPOTS

GETTING TO THE ALGARVE

The entry/exit point for visitors to the Algarve by plane is Faro International Airport. TAP Air Portugal and the domestic airline Portugalia operate daily scheduled services between Faro and Lisbon and Oporto. There are also many international flights directly out of Lisbon.

The airport is located 6 km (3 miles) outside of the town, but airline ticket holders can use the free Aerobus shuttle into Faro. The bus runs between mid-May and November and has its own parking bay outside the Arrivals Hall. All the major car hire companies also have offices at the airport.

A tolled motorway (A2) links the Portuguese capital, Lisbon with the Algarve. The journey normally takes around 3 hours, but in the summer there are often long queues that form at the toll booths. An alternative route is the toll-free IC1, which runs parallel to the IP1 and the IP2.

There are excellent express coach services to Faro from towns and cities all across Portugal. The two main coach companies are EVA Transportes SA and Renex. It is recommended that you pre-book tickets from the main bus stations.

The Algarve is served by two aerodromes at Alvor, near Portimão and Lagos. Private jets and light aircraft also fly in and out of Faro. Alvor and Lagos aerodromes operate sightseeing tours and flight instruction.

The marinas at Lagos, Vilamoura and Albufeira serve the international yachting community, but those without a boat, there is also a ferry service that connects Vila Real de Santo António in the Algarve with the Spanish town of Ayamonte, Alcoutim and Sanlúcar.

Faro, the Algarve’s capital is very often just passed through or rushed through to charge to the many beautiful beaches of the Algarve, but it has many charms of its own. It has many historical sites and a walled old-town centre which spreads out from a very picturesque marina. A lot of people come just for an afternoon to see the sights and maybe browse around the many shops. However, it is an important centre for tourism, trade and commerce. Its historic quarter overlooks a very pretty marina and the Ria Formosa. With its own international airport, very impressive shopping centre and its many high-rise apartment buildings, it has a city feel to it. However, the centre of Faro boasts attractive mosaic-paved pedestrian streets and harbourside gardens.

You enter through the 18^th Century neo-classical town gate, Arco da Vila, which leads up to the Sé, the 13^th Century cathedral, which is a mixture Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque, styles and was heavily remodelled after the 1755 earthquake. However, there is some particularly splendid 18^th Century azulejo tiling inside and a great view from the bell tower over the old town and the mud flats beyond.

South of the Old Town is an impressive fountain, Largo de São Francisco, which is used mainly as a car park for most of the year, except when it is cleared in late October for the Feira de Santa Iria, an enormous market/fairground with live entertainment performing over the week. The square itself is overlooked by the Ingreja da Ordeu Terceira de São Francisco, which was rebuilt in the 18^th Century and its interior contains Baroque tiles and some really beautiful Rococo woodwork.

Situated 30km east of Faro, Tavira is one of the most beautiful and charming towns within the Algarve. This elegant riverside town, sited on both sides by the Rio Gilão, is one of the most picturesque towns of the Algarve. It is known for its abundance of churches (there are almost 40 in all) and for its history. It continues to make its living as a fishing port and has many fine seafood restaurants along its palm-lined river. There is also the superb unspoilt island beach of Ilha de Tavira, which is in easy reach and just a short ferry ride away as well as the excellent little fishing village of Santa Luzia.

The townsfolk are very proud of their 16^th Century church, Igreja da Misericόrdia, which is considered one of the Algarve’s most important Renaissance monuments. It has a striking arched portal and is surrounded by statues of saints. There is also the old ruins of the castelo, whose landscaped gardens are half hidden on a low hill in the centre of the town. From its walls you can look down over the town’s terracotta rooftops and numerous church spires. Next to the castle is the very impressive, Santa Maria do Castelo, which contains the tomb of Dom Paio Peres Correia who reconquered much of the Algarve including Tavira in the 13^th Century from the Moors.

Silves rises up above the Rio Arade and has a splendid red-stoned castle that you can view as you approach the town. This historical medieval town was once the capital of the Moorish kings and definitely merits a little detour. It has a relaxed atmosphere that is steeped in history and is a lovely place just to wander around or relax at one of the many surrounding cafes. 

The russet coloured castelo has fantastic views all over the town and surrounding countryside and is one of the grandest monuments to Islamic rule in the Algarve. Built on the site of 4^th Century Roman fortifications, it was restored in 1835.  The walls enclose a garden and archaeological digs that reveal its Roman past. Just below the castle is the Sé, a cathedral built in 1189 on the site of an earlier mosque. There are several fine tombs here, one of which is purported to be Joao do Rego, who helped to settle Madeira. Just below the cathedral is the very well laid out and impressive Museu de Arqueologia. It its centre is a well preserved 18m deep Moorish well surrounded by a spiral staircase, which was discovered during building works. The discovery of this and many other archaeological finds within the area, led to the museum being established and it holds many Roman and Moorish antiquities.

 

This charming and engaging little market town set up in the Serra da Monchique, the Algarve’s mountain range 24km north of Portimão and 6km north of Caldas de Monchique, sits within a beautifully wooded setting of eucalyptus, chestnut, pine and cork trees.

With its crisp mountain air, it is great for cycling, walking or horse riding. If you just want to relax there’s a fabulous spa hidden away in the woodland and a wonderful private zoo. According to legend, if you take a sip from Monchique’s spa from the fountain of love, you’ll fall in love with life. The waters are meant to cure a whole range of illnesses and disorders. Today’s visitors are offered a range of water based therapies, using vapours, water jets, hydromassage, steam and hot algae.

One of the most impressive buildings in town is the Igreja Matriz up a steep cobbled street from the main square. A fascinating Manueline star-shaped doorway decorated with twisted columns that looks like lengths of rope greets visitors to Monchique’s 16^th Century parish church. If you keep climbing, you’ll eventually find the ruined Franciscan monastery of Nossa Senhora do Destorro, which was severely damaged in the 1755 earthquake, here you will find a wonderful position to overlook the town which blends the influence of the Renaissance and Moorish periods.

18km inland from Faro, Loulé is a pleasant market town and has become renowned from its traditional handicrafts and splendid market. Although a fair size, it doesn’t take too long to look around and its most interesting streets are the whitewashed cobbled lanes which lie between what was once a Moorish castle and the 13^th Century Igreja Matriz with palms lining its front. Here you will find the traditional craftsmen producing the copper cataplanas (which are cooking pots) and some leatherwork for the area’s restaurants and souvenir shops. Very traditionally a handicrafts centre, the town’s many small shops sell lace, leather goods and some fine ceramics. 

The remains of Loulé’s castle which underwent restoration in the 19^th Century, now houses a museum and tourist office. The Museu Arqueológico houses a whole range of Roman, Moorish and very early Portuguese finds from the surrounding areas. 

Lagos is one of the Algarve’s most vibrant, attractive and historic towns with its centre enclosed within 14^th Century walls. Though steeped in history, Lagos oozes life with its pretty cobbled streets, restaurants, cafes and bars. It attracts all types of visitors; backpackers, surfers and families too, which makes for an interesting and entertaining mix. Lagos had actually gone into a big decline until tourism revived this back in the 1960’s and has since developed into a major holiday resort. Despite this, it remains a market centre and a local fishing port. As well as its enticing nightlife, there is the attraction of its close proximity to some of the very best beaches and spectacular cliffs in the Algarve. Though very cosmopolitan, it is steeped in history which is a source of great pride to the local population.

Among the sites to see is the Igreja de Santo Maria which dates back to the 15^th and 16^th Centuries. It still retains its 16^th Century entrance but the rest largely dates back to the mid 19^th Century when it was restored after fire. 

 

Protruding south from Lagos, is the Ponta da Piedade (Point of Pity) which is a absolutely dramatic wedge of headland. The point is well worth a visit for its polychrome sandstone cliffs, towers and lighthouse. On a clear day you can see east to Carvoeiro and west to Sagres.

The Parque Natural da Ria Formosa comprises an extensive lagoon area that follows 60 km (37 miles) of coastline between Manta Rota and Vale do Lobo. Made up of sand dune islands, marshland, saltpans and shimmering fresh water lakes, the habitat is a sanctuary for an astonishing assortment of flora and fauna, including rare birds such as the purple gallinale. The park’s headquarters are at Quinta de Marim 3 km (1.5 miles) east of Olhão and has a first class visitor centre.

Other highlights of the reserve include the Portuguese Water Dog Kennels which allow the visitors to see and learn about the unique, web-footed Portuguese water dog, which was bred back from near extinction here. There is also the Roman Salting Tanks which can be explored near the freshwater lagoons. Dating back to the 2^nd Century AD, they were once used for salting fish prior to its distribution all over the Roman Empire. Another piece of history is the 13^th Century invention of tide mills, once very common in the lagoon and river estuaries long the Portuguese coastline. Power was obtained by utilising the change in water levels associated with shifting tides. The example left on the Ria Formosa is said to be the last of 30 that used to operate.

If you wanted to spend more time at the Ria Formosa and help with all the good work to preserve it for future generations, then the Centro de Educação Ambiental de Marim (Marim Environmental Educational Centre – CEAM) works to protect the environment to promote a balanced and sustainable development of the park’s natural resources. It continually runs a number of conservation projects which are manned by enthusiastic volunteers and members of the public are welcome to join in. You only have to call in to the CEAM’s offices in Quinta de Marim for more details if you want to get involved in the coastal clean-ups, irrigation work, weeding and pruning and maintenance of the kennels, aquariums and veterinary hospital. Volunteers get free accommodation at the centre.

Sagres and its wild and windswept cape was considered as the far limit of the world by the Portuguese. It was here in the 15^th Century that Prince Henry the Navigator made his residence and it was also here that he set up his school of navigation known as the Vila do Infante which specialised in cartography, astronomy and ship design. At least this is according to history and myth. Henry was also, among other things, governor of the Algarve and had a residence in the primary port town of Lagos from where most of the expeditions set sail from. He oversaw and sponsored many perilous expeditions and his vision and dedication steered Portugal on towards the Age of Discoveries.

Nearby lies the Cabo de São Vicente, an austere landscape with dramatic limestone cliffs and a restless and unforgiving sea. The Greek chroniclers described this windswept cape as the end of the earth. Whilst the Romans, referred to it as the Promontorium Sacrum, a place where the setting sun hissed in its dying embers as the ocean swallowed it up. It retains its mystical air and the cape’s red lighthouse remains an important navigation reference point looming over a former convent building. Henry the Navigator is said to have had a house in the small castle to the right of the tower.

The ominous, hulking and prison like and in its time virtually impregnable Fortaleza de Sagres has a forbidding front wall balanced by two solid mighty bastions. These 18^th Century features of the fort remain impressive, although little else resembles a defensive structure today. Once you enter inside, it is little more than a wasteland dotted with a few buildings, but is worth a visit just to peer over the stunningly sheer edges and see the vast views along the coast and the cape. Inside the gate of the fort, you can also see the Rosa dos Ventos, a curious huge wind stone, used as a device for measuring the direction of the wind, believed to have been built for Prince Henry. An impressive 43m (141 ft) in diameter, the outline of this intriguing circle and its radiating points have been marked by pebbles.

Albufeira remains possibly one of Portugal’s most popular holiday destinations and is the largest resort in the Algarve. Albufeira meaning ‘castle on the sea’ was once a small scenic fishing village. The old centre of the town remains a unusually pretty village with narrow twisting hilly streets and lanes crisscrossing whitewashed houses above beautiful balmy beaches. It is crammed full of tourist facilities, activities and now also boasts a new marina. The town gets extremely busy in the summer months and comes into its own in the evenings, with its carnival atmosphere, mixture of stalls, buskers and live music. If you’re are looking for the real ‘unspoiled’ Portugal then this really isn’t it. It is however, undeniably, a fun resort teeming with energy and attracts a varied mixture of holidaymakers and tourists.

 

The original fishing village of Vila Real de Santo António was originally wiped out at the beginning of the 17^th Century a momentous tidal surge and it wasn’t until 1773 that the town regained its place on the map. This border town and harbour used to be the main crossing point into Spain, but this has now declined due to the opening of the bridge over Rio Guadiana. The town’s reconstruction was overseen by the Marquês de Pombal (1699-1782) and the new town was built making use of a unique grid system, which he had already pioneered in the Baixa quarter of Lisbon. The project took five months to complete.

The nearby sleepy pretty village of Castro Marim, 5km north of Vila Real, is a brooding frontier stronghold that consists of two castles. The inner part, built by Dom Alfonso III in the 13^th Century, became the headquarters of the Order of Christ and Dom João IV added the heavier outer ramparts in the 17^th Century. Fabulous views sweep across salt pans, the bridge to Spain and the fens and marshes of the Reserva Natural do Sapal, which is an important breeding ground for plovers, avocents, little terns and black-winged stilts. You can also see pink flamingos feeding here.

 

BEACHES

There are so many lovely and interesting beaches in the Algarve, that you will without doubt find a good selection wherever you are staying on which to enjoy your holiday. Everyone has their own personal favourites and there are many that are often hidden away from the more popular ones.

 

The beaches can really vary from very small sheltered coves to broad endless stretches of golden sand. Equally, the sea bed near to the beach can vary from a very comfortable shallow shelve to a much more sudden and deeper drop! Generally, the rule is that as you travel from the east to the west along the coast, the beaches become more subject to the seasonal currents of the sea.

 

All main beaches have in season, lifeguards on safety patrol. Many beaches offer all the usual watersports facilities along with fine restaurant foods and snacks. Here are a few out of the many beaches to discover and explore…

 

Praia da Dona Ana, Lagos

 

A very beautiful and intimate beach with clear waters and flanked by huge outcrops of mustard-red sandstone. Very easily reached by public transport and car and about a 25 minutes walk from the centre of Lagos. There are coves and hidden grottoes nearby for exploring by boat.

 

Praia da Ilha de Tavira, Tavira

 

Ilha de Tavira is a veritable magnet for watersports enthusiasts. Positioned opposite Tavira, this sheltered beach skirts a campsite and a whole string of cafes and excellent seafood restaurants. To reach it, there are two access points, from Pedras del Rei you can walk across the causeway or catch a ride on the miniature railway. Alternatively, you can pick up one of the ferry boats that leave at regular intervals from the jetty at Quatro Águas.

 

Praia dos Barcos, Albufeira

 

This hugely popular beach is characterised by the colourful fishing boats that are stationed at one end of it. Praia dos Barcos, known as “Fishermen’s Beach” is situated right at the front of the town’s old quarter and is reached through a long tunnel next to the tourist information office.

 

Praia do Armado, Carrapateira

 

With its fantastic Atlantic swells, Armado is one of Portugal’s premier surfing venues and its surf school enjoys international patronage. Sitting quite off the beaten track, this west coast beach also attracts families and the rock pools at low tide are teeming with hoards of inquisitive children.

 

Praia da Rocha, Portimão

 

One of Algarve’s, most famous and impressive beaches. Praia da Rocha is a vast blanket of golden sand set against a vast backdrop of cinnamon coloured cliffs. It can get very busy in the summer months, however a tunnel at the western end of the beach allows you access to more narrower stretches of sand.

 

Praia da São Rafael, Albufeira

 

Praia da São Rafael can fill up quickly due to its shallow waters and soft white sand, it is an extraordinarily pretty and intimate bay, framed by some really extraordinary rock formations and has caves lined all around just waiting to be explored. It is ideal snorkelling territory and a popular family favourite.

 

Praia de Odeceixe

 

This beach has to be one of the Algarve’s best kept secrets. Within a spectacular setting, up in the northwest corner of the Algarve, its sheltered and crescent shaped beach, is just a short drive from the quaint village of Odeceixe. Even at the height of the summer months, the beach remains wonderfully uncrowded.

 

Praia da Marinha, Benagil

 

With extremely steep steps cut into the rock that lead down to two very compact and secluded beaches, Praia da Marinha is tucked below two soaring cliffs. It is a real treat for snorkellers.

 

Praia de Figueira, Salema

 

This very select beach is a favourite for youngsters and windsurfers. There are also some really excellent nearby dive sites, such as Boco do Rio to the east, where the wreck of the Ocean, an 18^th Century French man-of-war, lies in shallow waters. Praia de Figueira lies right in front of the village of Salema. Get there early though to find parking spaces.

 

Meia Praia, Lagos

 

With its giant curve of sand measuring some 4 km (2 miles), this is the longest beach in the Algarve. There’s plenty of space for waterski-ing, windsurfing and jet-skiing and still space left over for those just seeking a little peace and quiet and an opportunity to soak up the sun and the sea. This is one of the Algarve’s most well-known beaches and is ideal for families with children as there is so much to keep the younger generation occupied.



RESORT TOWNS

 

Lagos, attracts a whole mixture of visitors, from backpackers, package tourists and wealthy expats. Its appeal lies largely in its lively and very inviting atmosphere. Modern amenities blend with historical sights which gives it an appealing mixture of old and new and the nearby coves framed by red and mustard rocky outcrops are some of the most spectacular in the Algave.

 

Albufeira, is a much more brighter, busier and extrovert resort town and positively buzzes all the way through the summer season. With its wide sweeping beaches, excellent watersports facilities and a multitude of bars, bistros, restaurants and nightclubs give this resort a non-stop party atmosphere. Although its old town quarter still manages to retain its mellow and quaint charm.

 

Praia da Rocha, This vibrant and engaging resort is famed for its outstanding golden beach. Another lively resort where by night, the revellers dance the night away until dawn in the many clubs and bars that surround its famous beach.

 

Vilamoura, Spectacularly designed around a fabulous marina of international repute, this very upmarket resort has championship golf courses, a very stylish casino, luxury five star hotels and some excellent villas. You can also pick up some amazingly stylish cruises that regularly depart from the marina.

 

Alvor, Nestled within a sheltered bay halfway between Portimão and Lagos, Alvor is a very unusual mixture of subtle charm and modern flickering neon. The old quarter here is a real delight to walk through with its 16^th Century Manueline church and the village restaurants serve up some of the tastiest food in the whole region.

 

Armação de Pêra, Here you will find one of the longest beaches in the Algarve which is fronted by a huge commercial hub of apartment blocks, seafront hotels and rows and rows of cafes and restaurants. If this doesn’t grab you, then head towards the livelier and interesting old part of town, which is spread around the site of a small fortress.

 

Carvoeiro, This friendly and very alluring little fishing town makes it an ideal setting for families. It is one of the Algarve’s biggest self catering areas and the hilltops and cliffs that flank the pocket sized cove and beach are awash with apartments and villas. It has a real old worldly friendly quaintness and charm and is a firm favourite. On the other side of the promontory is the snorkelling territory of the Algar Seco rock formation.

 

Monte Gordo, With its very generous beach and a casino (very popular with the big spenders from Spain), these twin targets attract many visitors to what is Algarve’s closest beach resort to the Spanish border.

 

Sagres, Although this isn’t really strictly a resort town due to its isolated position, it still offers access to some of the most beautiful and unspoilt beaches of the Algarve.

 

Quarteira, This tourist hub is home to an assortment of holiday apartments.  The fishing harbour here is a hive of activity in the early mornings, when the boats return and deposit their fresh glistening catches on to the quayside.

 

 

SHOPPING MALLS AND MARKETS

 

Forum Algarve, Faro

 

This fantastic mall is the biggest mall of its kind in the region and was designed with much more than shopping in mind. It attracts huge amounts of both visitors and residents alike. With over 200 shops, boutiques and department stores as well as an enormous hypermarket and family entertainment centre it has been imaginatively designed and lies close to Faro’s historic city centre.

 

Open: 9am – 10pm daily

 

Algarve Shopping, Guia

 

The exterior of this mall is striking in its colour scheme and follows a pattern of traditional Algarve architecture. The mall boasts more than 130 stores, 45 fashion boutiques, a hypermarket and a food hall.

 

Open: 9am – 10pm daily

 

Quinta Shopping, Quinta do Lago

 

This elegant mall with its open-air terraces and wide esplanades is situated within the exclusive Quinta do Lago estate. Well known fashion houses showcase their latest designs, with top-range jewellery, costmetics and perfumes.

 

Open: 9am – 10pm daily

 

Loulé Market

 

On Saturday mornings, this market bursts into life with the freshest of produce from the ocean and the land. Delicate sprigs of herbs and spices hang over pots of honey and jam. Cakes made from fig and almond, together with smoked sausage, fresh fish and everywhere blooms of fresh brightly coloured flowers.

 

Open: 9am – 2pm Saturdays

 

Centro Comercial de Portimão

 

Although quite modest in size compared to the other larger malls in the Algarve, Portimão still offers plenty to tempt shoppers with its 62 stores selling a wide range of goods from microwaves to bikinis.

 

Open: 9am – 10pm daily (closed Sundays)

 

Apolónia Supermarket, Almancil

 

Shoppers that know about this place travel from the length and breadth of the region to shop here. Here you can find foreign produce such as Argentinian beef, macaroni pasta and spicy tandoori curry powder. There is also a nicely cosmopolitan wine selection from California, Chile and Australia.

 

Open: 8am – 8pm Monday – Saturday

          9am – 1pm Sunday

 

Quarteira Fish Market

 

This is easily the best loved fish market in the Algarve with much bartering taking place at dawn by the quayside. The most haggling takes place over the region’s famous Quarteira prawns.

 

Rua Cãndido dos Reis / Rua 25 de Abril, Lagos

 

This is one of the busiest streets in town where shoppers can browse in the rows and rows of stores, boutiques and shop for jewellery, handicrafts and fashion.

 

Lagos Surf Centre

 

This is an outlet for O’Neill, Ripcurl, Billabong and Quicksilver and you will find everything you need here to surf. There is also an awesome selection of boards and attractive beachwear. The staff here are also very helpful and can arrange surf schools, safaris and other watersports.

 

Alijezur Gypsy Market

 

A lively band of gypsies arrive into Alijezur on the third Monday of each month and sell an extraordinary array of clothing, household items and all sorts of foodstuffs at knock down bargain prices.

 

Porches Pottery

 

This was one of the first commercial outlets for ceramics in the Algarve. Here you can find a vast selection of glazed pottery and earthenware all manufactured in house and at fantastic prices.

 

Planet Golf

 

This is the biggest chain in Portugal selling golf equipment and sports fashion items and you will also find the staff here very helpful and knowledgeable about all aspects of the game. Located on Avenida 5 de Outubro in Almancil.

 

 

CLUBS AND LATE-NIGHT BARS

 

Kiss, Albufeira

 

Without doubt, the most famous of all of the Algarve’s nightclubs. It is known for its many memorable party nights and zany theme festivals. Three dance floors vibrate to the cutting-edge sounds of house, techno and hip-hop and it attracts seasoned clubbers from all over the continent. It only starts to smoulder at around 3 am and is positively sizzling by dawn.

 

Open: Midnight – dawn daily in the summer

 

Kadoc, Vilamoura

 

This sprawling venue can house up to 7,000 party goers and clubbers over five dance floors illuminated by a spectacular tri-colour laser system. The clientele is usually young and very energetic. There is a landscaped open-air terrace which is set in tropical gardens and offers a great chill-out spot after a bout of enthusiastic clubbing and dancing. For the real die-hard clubbers, this place only starts to wind down at about 7 am.

Bar Capicua, Portimão

 

Even though its neighbouring Praia da Rocha remains one of the Algarve’s hottest nightclub spots, Portimão’s marina offers some wonderful bars which includes this one. The first floor terrace is perfect on those hot summer evenings when you would rather sit and chat quietly over a long cool drink rather than join the throng on the dance floor, where the mood is more than hot!

 

Open: 3pm – 4am daily in summer

 

Liberto’s, Albufeira

 

This has to be one of the must-see nightclubs, which rivals Kiss in popularity and TV stars number amongst its summer clientele. The esplanade which is a favourite for fashion shows, is complete with swimming pool, palm trees and inside lies a giant screen relaying 24 hour cable TV broadcasts. However, by midnight the DJ takes centre stage and the whole place shudders with sound.

 

Open: 8pm – 4pm daily in summer

 

Locomia, Albufeira

 

This place has been dubbed “Music Heaven” by the seasoned clubbers. Locomia rules near Santa Eulália beach and rivals the very best of them for sheer sound and a great atmosphere. It boasts two giant dance floors and clubbers revel to the cult DJ mixes. Friday night is Techno night whilst Saturday is dedicated to House.

 

Open: Midnight – 6am daily in summer

 

Round Up Saloon, Carvoeiro

 

The Round Up looks and feels like a real Wild West Texas saloon where the “outlaws” are locked up in jail on the whim of Big Will, the bartender and are only freed on the promise of a beer. Live rock music is on most nights and budding up and coming musicians are welcomed and encouraged to lively jam sessions. 

 

Open: 8pm – 2am daily

Closed: mid-January – mid February

 

Discoteca Ubi and Bar Bubi, Tavira

 

The clubbers who fall out of Discoteca Ubi at 6 am on a Sunday morning swear that it’s the best time they’ve ever had in their lives! It’s not just the music that packs these clubbers in, it’s the fantastic theme nights they arrange, including the mad and manic foam parties!

 

Stevie Ray’s Blues Jazz Bar, Lagoa

 

Here you will find toe-tapping jazz on Saturday nights that rises and lifts this already excellent late-night bar to extraordinary heights. The atmosphere is pure Dixie/Casual.

 

Open: 8.30pm – 2am Tuesday – Saturday

Closed: Sunday and Monday

 

Bar Amuras, Lagos

 

This popular lunchtime haunt positively buzzes at night with a mixture of smooth soul and sexy jazz funk on their modest dance floor. They hold live music every Friday night which usually comes with a blend of Latin twist.

 

Open: 10am – 4am daily

 

Katedral, Praia da Rocha

 

This bright red neon announces this temple of sound, dedicated to playing whatever’s current. It’s three bars flank a central dance floor that is never quite big enough to accommodate the huge throng of people just wanting to party! Their sprawling terrace bar at the back has great views of the beach and is an ideal chill-out with its lovely cool sea breezes.