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Why The Portuguese Snack Bar Is the Third Space We All Need

If something similar exists near you, may I suggest you make use of it

Charlie Brown
Rooted
6 min readJan 15, 2025

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Image courtesy of author. Snack bar Gazela in Porto

The journey from Porto airport to my apartment passes through those suburbs every European city seems to possess. Big apartment blocks. Faceless roads. Small stores that look like they were last renovated well before you were born.

It can be a bit dreary, especially if Porto is rain-dumping as it does so often.

That is, until you pass the snack bars. Portuguese third spaces — institutions outside the home or work that garner community— open all day, always ready with a coffee, beer, or, indeed, a snack.

You’ll normally find a snack bar on every Portuguese city block. I find their presence incredibly comforting because they are comforting. Comforting in food, atmosphere, and how much my local community relies on them.

I don’t take snack bars for granted. I’m from the UK where third spaces have quietly been dismantled over the years. We are losing our pubs at a rate of 50 a month.

But here in Portugal, it’s different. The snack bar is the working horse of the neighbourhood. A place accessible to anyone with a handful of Euros in their pocket.

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Rooted
Rooted

Published in Rooted

Deep journeys through food and drink culture. A boostable publication

Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown

Written by Charlie Brown

Food, wine & culture writer. 12+ years in hospitality. Editor of Rooted, a Medium food & drink pub. thesaucemag.substack.com

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