The Old City Pub

A pub that turns club on Saturdays

The Old City Pub sits near the entrance to Rua de Santa Maria, the main bar strip in Funchal’s Zona Velha. Most of the week it’s a casual, well-rated pub — 4.4 out of 5 across more than a thousand reviews — with a German and Belgian beer selection and pub food. On Saturday nights it shifts gear, the DJ takes over, and the room takes on a genuine club atmosphere with people dancing.

Who you’ll find here

The crowd is a friendly mix of locals and tourists, drawn by the beer list, the reviews and the easy Old Town location. Guides describe it as one of the social, easy-to-mingle spots on Rua de Santa Maria — lively and welcoming rather than a designated pickup bar. That’s the honest read: the explicit singles framing is thin, but as a sociable, mixing pub that gets a proper dancefloor going on weekends, it earns its place.

Drinks, music and hours

There’s no cover and pricing runs budget-to-moderate. The imported German and Belgian beers are a genuine draw, backed by straightforward pub food. On Saturdays the DJ takes requests and the pub becomes a dancefloor into the early hours; other nights it’s a relaxed drinking spot. It opens evenings and runs late on weekends, so time your visit to the night you’re after.

Practical notes

There’s no verified official website, so check its Facebook and review listings for opening details and event nights. It’s right at the mouth of Rua de Santa Maria, so it’s easy to combine with the rest of the Old Town strip on a single crawl. English is widely spoken. Come midweek for a relaxed beer, or Saturday for the DJ, the requests and the dancing — that’s when it’s at its liveliest.