Bar Douro London Bridge to reopen with month-long Portuguese street festival celebrations

Bar Douro London Bridge will reopen on Tuesday, 20^th May, following a period of refurbishment. The venue will mark its return with a series of open-air festivities throughout June, celebrating Festas dos Santos Populares—traditional street festivals held annually in Portuguese cities such as Lisbon and Porto. The events aim to bring together the local community and visitors with food, live music, and Portuguese drinks on the restaurant’s terrace.

The month-long programme at Bar Douro will take place every Sunday in June, running from 12 pm to 8 pm. The celebrations are inspired by Festas dos Santos Populares, which honour three saints—Santo António, São João, and São Pedro—whose feast days are a central part of Portuguese summer culture. The restaurant will recreate elements of these festivals, including the grilling of sardines and peppers, the serving of broa (corn bread), and live traditional Portuguese music. The festivities will also feature the Portuguese drink Super Bock beer and Portuguese wine Vinho Verde.

Live music is scheduled from 2 pm to 4 pm, with the opening event on the 1^st of June featuring singer and guitarist João Menezes. The terrace will serve as the main setting for these gatherings, aiming to evoke the communal atmosphere typical of the street parties found in Portugal during this time of the year.

Max Graham, founder of Bar Douro, said: “We are incredibly excited to re-open Bar Douro London Bridge and share the joy of the Festas dos Santos Populares with our guests.”

Bar Douro was established in 2016 by Graham, who grew up in Porto, Portugal, where his family’s business, Churchill’s, has produced wine in the Douro Valley for over two centuries. The restaurant, originally located in the arches of Flat Iron Square, London Bridge, has been recognised for its wine list by industry publications. In 2020, Bar Douro expanded with a second site in Finsbury Avenue Square. 

The Festas at Bar Douro London Bridge are open to the public and provide an opportunity for Londoners to experience Portuguese food, music, and culture in a communal setting. 

Food Desk

For further information, visit Bar Douro’s website here.