Last Updated on June 20, 2025
Grilled Sardines & Summer Joy: The Festas Come to London Bridge
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
If you’ve never experienced a Portuguese street party, Bar Douro is here to change that, with no Ryanair flight needed. Nestled beneath a brick railway arch in London Bridge’s Flat Iron Square, where the hum of passing trains mingles with the sizzle of sardines on the grill, something rather special is happening.
Fresh from a sleek refurbishment, with stunning azulejos-blue tiled walls, Bar Douro, London’s foremost hub for Portuguese culture, is throwing itself into the Festas dos Santos Populares. Every Sunday in June, its terrace erupts into a vibrant celebration of scents and sounds: smoky grilled peppers, the crisp bite of Portuguese wines, and the infectious buzz of people gathering simply to revel.
Expect joyful chaos: live music drifting through the afternoon air, the crackle of open flames, and the unmistakable spirit of community. Founder Max Graham calls it “sharing the joy,” but what he’s really done is bring Portugal’s most infectious tradition to SE1 – one festival at a time.
Set against the dramatic silhouette of The Shard and just a short stroll from London Bridge station, Bar Douro sits tucked beneath the railway arches in the buzzy Southwark Quarter – one of those rare finds that quickly earns a permanent place on your radar.
Since its 2016 founding, Bar Douro has been dedicated to delivering the essence of Portuguese food, wine, and culture to London. The Flat Iron Square original draws food lovers eager for soulful, smoky flavours – whether that’s tender octopus rice or a perfectly chilled Super Bock paired with crisp salt cod fritters on the terrace.
This passion is the vision of Max Graham, whose childhood in Porto was steeped in his family’s centuries-old Douro Valley wine business, Churchill’s. Inspired by Lisbon and Porto’s lively cervejarias and unpretentious tascas, Bar Douro champions honest, heartfelt food and characterful wines, celebrating the rich cultural tapestry of Portugal. Expanding in 2020 with Bar Douro City in Finsbury Avenue Square, and launching Festa in 202 – a dynamic food and wine festival – Graham has sparked fresh enthusiasm for Portugal’s vinous treasures with a dedicated import and retail platform.
Arriving on a sunny Sunday afternoon, under a canopy of bunting, we perched on high stools around one of the barrel tables scattered across the terrace. Greeted by wonderfully friendly and welcoming staff, we settled in with a glass of Herdade da Lisboa ‘Conves’, a delicious sparkling wine from Max’s vineyard, with fine bubbles and aromas of white fruit and citrus. Alongside came a generous spread of fresh sourdough and juicy olives, the perfect companions as the lively hum of the festa buzzed around us. We could well have been sitting in a sun-drenched corner of the Alfama.
The menu is designed for sharing, with small plates inspired by the gardens, land, and sea, alongside an enticing selection of cured meats, artisanal cheeses, and luscious desserts. The recommendation was to choose three dishes each.
Singer and guitarist João Menezes lifted the atmosphere, perfectly complementing the smoky aromas drifting from the barbecue nearby.
We didn’t need much persuading to dive into the daily specials: perfectly cooked sardines resting on a bed of juicy peppers and thick slices of sourdough toast, alongside crisp, golden rissóis stuffed with rich, smoky meats. Each bite set the tone for a feast brimming with bold Portuguese flavours.
From the sea, one of my favourite dishes was the Bacalhau à Brás – a salt cod hash folded with silky egg, salty olives, and sweet onions. I’d happily return just for this.
From the land came Secretos de Porco Preto: tender, charred slices of acorn-fed black pork served with peppers and onions, a smoky, succulent contrast that rounded out the meal beautifully.
Adding garden freshness to the mix, the grilled asparagus with wild garlic and homemade requeijão was vibrant and summery, perfectly paired alongside a colourful plate of heritage tomatoes dressed in a zesty white port vinaigrette, bringing just the right amount of zing to the table.
The wine list is irresistible – a fabulous selection that makes choosing a challenge. Being partial to wines from the Douro region, and keen to sip something from Max’s own vineyard, we opted for the Grafite Branco Douro 2020 from Churchill’s Estates. Elegant and refined, it offered bright citrus and stone fruit notes, a subtle touch of oak complexity, and a crisp, refreshing finish that complemented our meal perfectly.
We finished with a carefully curated selection of cheeses: Cerrado do Vale Barrado Reserva, a raw sheep’s milk cheese; Ilha São Miguel, a pasteurised cow’s milk cheese aged for nine months; and Queijo de Azeitão, a raw sheep’s milk cheese served with a sweet but tangy homemade jam and oat biscuits, a perfect balance of textures and flavours.
For dessert, eager to try something new, we went for the Abade de Priscos – a traditional egg yolk pudding with a gloriously deep yellow hue. Rich, velvety, and custard-like (almost reminiscent of a baked cheesecake), it was perfectly balanced by a tart, refreshing lemon sorbet that cut through the richness with a bright, zesty finish.
The afternoon drifted by beautifully – the buzz of the music, the fine wines, the effortlessly cool setting, and the lovely staff all coming together to create the perfect Sunday escape. We finished off with a flight of Churchill’s Ports: a Late Bottled Vintage, ruby red with notes of cherry; a Dry White, rich with honey and caramel; and a 10-Year-Old Tawny, bursting with deep, soft blackberries. Paired with a strong black coffee, Sunday Festa style was truly sorted.
Whether you’re dropping by to enjoy the Festa Sundays in June or visiting any other day of the week, Bar Douro is well worth a visit. Grab a White Port & Tonic, and bask in that unmistakable, grilled-sardine-scented joy of Portugal in full party mode.
Bar Douro
35B, Arch
85B Southwark Bridge Rd,
London SE1 0NQ
Phone: 020 7378 0524
KITCHEN OPENING HOURS
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Saturday: 12.00 – 22.00
Sunday: 12.00 – 21.00
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