Plano B

Plano B is one of the best-known late-night venues in Porto's Baixa and a cornerstone of the Galerias de Paris nightlife area. It was created by the architects Bernardo Fonseca and Filipe Teixeira together with the artist and musician João Carlos as a multipurpose cultural venue, with the aim of being a hub for the city and especially for the Baixa district.

The programme reflects those ambitions. Plano B hosts exhibitions, workshops, theatre and film festivals as well as concerts across many musical genres, and it is best known for its club nights, when DJs play electronic music and other styles into the early hours. After a renovation, the venue reopened in early 2022 with an increased focus on live concerts, so it is worth checking the programme for bands as well as DJ nights.

The space is spread over different levels, with a bar area and a club room, so the experience changes as the night goes on. Expect the venue to come alive late: as in much of Porto, nights out start late, and the club is at its busiest well after midnight at the weekend. Entry charges and door policies vary according to the event, and some nights require tickets bought in advance. Dress is casual.

Plano B generally opens in the late evening from Tuesday to Saturday, with the latest closing on Fridays and Saturdays, and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Check the venue's website or social media for the current programme and times before setting out. It suits students, music fans and anyone who wants to experience Porto's club culture beyond the bars of the Ribeira. Those after a quieter drink should look elsewhere, as the volume rises quickly as the night goes on.

Rua de Cândido dos Reis runs through the heart of the Galerias de Paris area, where dozens of bars spill out onto the streets on weekend nights, so Plano B is easy to combine with a bar crawl. The venue is a short walk from Aliados metro station, the Clérigos Tower and Praça de Carlos Alberto, and taxis are easy to find in the area late at night.