Fun and entertainment ÎLES AU VENT BARLAVENTO

The Terra Lodge has become something of an institution in Mindelo, thanks to its singular architecture and notorious ecological commitment. But if you haven't opted to sleep there, don't miss a visit to the bar. You'll be amazed by its decor and unique setting, but above all by the view over the city at sunset from the panoramic terrace. An ideal place to enjoy a cocktail in a chill-out atmosphere. You'll sometimes come across locals trying their hand at singing with their ukuleles.

The feet are right on the golden sand of Laginha, or almost, at Caravela you can enjoy a very pleasant terrace facing the superb bay of Mindelo, at the very end of the beach. Everyone agrees that it is the ideal place to have a drink while admiring the sunset, which explains why it is so popular in the early evening. It is one of the few places where you can eat until late at night, and it turns into a trendy disco where weekends are very lively: concerts, theme nights... summer atmosphere guaranteed.

This is Santa Maria's newest unusual and somewhat hidden address. As its name suggests, the Neshisha has an oriental air, with El Badia hookahs on every table, but you don't have to succumb to tobacco if you're not a fan. You can just as easily go there to sip a delicious caipirinha from the cocktail menu, or to listen to good music with friends, in all simplicity, in this very friendly place with exotic fragrances. And why not try a new experience?

It's THE place to be for tourists and locals alike, a very popular bar where live music is played almost every night. One of the best atmospheres in town and the ideal spot to sway to the rhythm of funana or kizomba. Large choice of beers, colorful cocktails and elaborate wine list, the opportunity to taste the famous wine of Fogo. The decoration is cleverly studied and the cards made with Cape Verdean license plates. A cheerful and involved team will seduce you for a memorable evening.

This address, which has reopened its doors with a new concept, is dedicated to music and morna in particular. It's a warm place, where the atmosphere is in full swing at weekends and sometimes during the week. The cuisine, meanwhile, is crafted from carefully selected products, such as grilled fish or golden-brown baked cod, a nod to Portugal. If you're lucky, you might even bump into Tito Paris, the former owner of the restaurant, who maintains a strong relationship with the establishment... For a gastronomic and musical experience.

A beautiful contemporary art gallery on the first floor and a curious wine bar upstairs. It's a very pleasant and unexpected place just a step away from the People's Palace. You can have a drink with tapas in a beautiful room with oriental decoration, where the cosy atmosphere and good music add to the experience. As far as events are concerned, we can mention various rather heterogeneous proposals: environmental cinema with the projection of author's films, discussions around a theme, in short, a lot of culture!

"The place to be, if you want to see and be seen. As a kind of busy beach hut, there's bound to be a pleasant spot to enjoy the day, with a table, hammock, deckchair, bar counter or simply on the sand in front. In terms of musical ambience and entertainment, there's something for everyone: music straight from Senegal, reggae, fire-eaters, sunset parties and, on Sundays, brunches with bare feet in the sand.

Take a little break in this tiny, very local bar, where an old Cape will show you old photos and tell you his youth. Open as it pleases!

There's no need to don a James Bond-style tuxedo to enter the Casino Royal, just come and enjoy its relaxed, entertaining atmosphere. Created to cater for everyone's gaming tastes, there are eleven tables for blackjack, roulette, poker, Texas Hold'em and the indispensable slot machines, also numerous and of the latest generation... A modern and relatively recent casino (opened in 2017) where you can spend a pleasant and atypical evening. And who knows, if you're lucky, you'll hit the jackpot!

A panoramic terrace overlooking the main street of Santa Maria, with a bar that plays mainly reggae music. Fans of this Jamaican musical expression will not be disappointed. Bands play regularly, and African music is in full swing at One Love, with the sound of drums and other percussion. However, if the enthusiasm is not there, it is better to pass, because the place is a little too roots, nothing abnormal considering the type of atmosphere. Let's get together and feel all right !

On the lively street opposite the church, this is one of Santa Maria's legendary bars. The show is everywhere, inside and out. Famous for its happy hour every evening, this pub is ideal for an early or late-night drink, to the sound of a variety of musical styles, from salsa to pop rock. The large outdoor terrace is pleasant, and the interior design is original, with sailboards hanging on the walls. The establishment closes early in the morning, but late at night the atmosphere can become peculiar due to its dubious patronage.

In the main pedestrian street where the downtown bars are located, the Chill Out Café, all in white, provides a chill and lounge atmosphere. You can sit on the pleasant terrace or choose to blend in with the highly designed interior. Perfect for an aperitif or a drink with friends until late at night or simply to calm a small hunger. A snack formula is on the menu (nachos, bocadillos) but vegetarians will be won over by the menu designed for them too.

One of the internet in the city. 

The beach bar of the Oasis Atlantico hotel is open to the public and is the trendiest bar on Laginha beach. Here, you can enjoy lunch, a cool drink or an alcoholic beverage, or spend the whole day here, as you can rent deckchairs right on the sand - the only establishment of its kind, by the way. On the menu are hearty local dishes (cachupa) and international dishes, as well as a menu of snacks for the hungry (pizza, nuggets and hamburgers). Avoid if you're looking for authenticity, as the clientele is predominantly foreign.

Run by two artists, producer Miriam Simas and her husband, dancer António Tavares, this alternative venue claims to be "an idea provocateur", and that's all we ask. The bar's design is unique, and the eye is drawn everywhere at once. As for the events, they stand out from those held anywhere else in Mindelo. From movie nights to conversations, hi hop evenings, poetry or open-air or street theater, you have to come here for an experience that's both original and authentically Cape Verdean.

A tiny restaurant with a handful of tables, where Cristina, the friendly cook and manager of the place, works behind her stove and welcomes you with open arms all day long. Enjoy a typical breakfast or a meal of grilled octopus at noon, while chatting with the regulars while it simmers. All this at very democratic prices. Not to mention the more festive bar atmosphere in the evening with concerts sometimes improvised in the blink of an eye. The kind of place where you really feel like you're somewhere else.

On Mindelo's busiest main street, this tiny bar is run by the cheerful Alberto, an ex-professional soccer player who was a member of the Portuguese national team in his youth as a stalwart of Benfica in Lisbon. Today he runs this small bar that attracts Mindelo's trendy clientele, painters, singers... It's the kind of place that Cesaria Evoria liked to frequent. Don't miss the chance to have a drink, the spirit is friendly and there is a good chance to meet musicians.

A rendezvous for lovers of culture and music, this eclectic venue not only acts as a bookshop, as its name suggests, but also organizes many concerts. Jam session musicians, reggae and rock musicians, guitarists and singers of all kinds perform here on Thursday and Friday evenings from sundown onwards. Drinks and snacks are also available on site. Check out their website or the cultural calendar to find out what's on and make sure you don't miss a thing. Positive vibes on the horizon!

A veritable institution on the island, this Mindelo jazz club was founded in 1997 and continues to grow thanks to Vou Monteiro, its dynamic owner and musical events organizer, who is well known in the industry. In a sort of cellar, between walls decorated with old black & white posters, and sometimes spilling out onto the street in summer, jam sessions and concerts are regularly programmed, to the delight of music lovers. A journey through the music so dear to the hearts of the locals, and a jazzy atmosphere guaranteed!

Above Café Lisboa, this is a local meeting place. Sea-bottom" decor, with fish in relief on the walls. Watch out for the shark and moray eel: the teeth are real! The owner's imagination is overflowing, to say the least, and his artistic sense unrivalled. A magnificent shark swims open-mouthed along the wall in the first basement room. Elsewhere, the walls are decorated with multicolored fish. An air-conditioned musical atmosphere, with video screens to watch and listen to the Mindelense community's favorite bands.