Commons Studio Bar
Commons Studio Bar is a laid-back venue on Rua das Laranjeiras that fills around midnight with local musicians playing forró, reggae, and rock. The space runs a small ground-floor room with a bar along one side, a stage area at the back, and limited seating that fills standing-room-only on busy nights. The crowd is heavy on Salvador-local alternative scene, music students from the conservatory, and visiting musicians. Sets often run until early morning, well past most Pelourinho closing times. Drinks pricing is moderate: beer R$10-15, caipirinhas R$18-25, no cover most nights but occasional R$15-25 for headliner sets.
Where to stay near Commons Studio Bar
Hotels close to Pelourinho, Salvador.
What to Expect
A small late-night music room with rotating local musicians playing forró, reggae, and rock. Sets run past most Pelourinho closing times; the crowd is alternative and local.
Late-night, alternative, local-focused. A different Pelourinho energy from the tourist-square bars.
Forró, reggae, rock, MPB, occasional electronic and Latin
Casual. Alternative-scene dress dominates.
Late-night music seekers, alternative scene, Portuguese-speaking visitors, musicians.
Cash strongly preferred
Price Range
Beer R$10-15, caipirinhas R$18-25, occasional cover R$15-25
Beer ~$2-3/€1.80-2.80, caipirinhas ~$3.60-5/€3.30-4.50
Hours
Wed-Sun 22:00 to 04:00 or later
Insider Tip
Show up after midnight; the venue runs late and quietest in the early hours. The crowd is local-focused; basic Portuguese helps significantly. Cash works much faster than cards.
Full Review
Commons Studio Bar sits on Rua das Laranjeiras in the colonial grid of Pelourinho, occupying a single ground-floor room with a bar along one wall, a stage area at the back, and limited seating that becomes standing-room-only after midnight. The interior runs minimal: exposed walls, low ceiling, and decoration limited to a few band posters and instrument cases stacked behind the stage.
The music programming is the venue's reason for being. Local musicians cycle through with sets covering forró, reggae, rock, MPB, and occasionally electronic. The sets often start late (10:30 PM or later) and run past the standard Pelourinho closing times, with bands playing into 3 or 4 AM on busy nights. The crowd is heavy on Salvador's alternative music scene, music students from the conservatory, visiting musicians, and Portuguese-speaking regulars.
Compared to Clube do Samba on the same street, Commons Studio Bar is later, looser, and more rock-leaning rather than samba-focused. Compared to Casa do Olodum, Commons is non-programmed and rotates musicians rather than running a single ensemble. Within Pelourinho's music scene, Commons fills the late-night niche that the more tourist-focused bars don't cover.
The local-focused crowd makes basic Portuguese useful; English-only visitors can navigate but the experience is richer with language. Drinks are reasonably priced and the bar pours generously. Cash speeds service significantly; card payments slow during peak. Walking back to accommodation after 2 AM requires Uber; the streets around Commons get unsafe fast after the venue's neighbors close.
The Neighborhood
Commons Studio Bar sits on Rua das Laranjeiras, in the colonial grid between Largo do Pelourinho and Terreiro de Jesus. Clube do Samba is on the same street; Quincas Berro d'Água is one minute uphill.
Getting There
Uber from Barra R$20-35 and 15 minutes. Walking from Largo do Pelourinho one minute uphill. From Rio Vermelho R$15-25 and 20 minutes.
Address
Rua das Laranjeiras, Pelourinho
Other Venues in Pelourinho
O Cravinho
Iconic Pelourinho bar specializing in cachaça infusions, operating since 1989. The signature drink (cravinho) combines cachaça with cloves, honey, and lemon. Four connected spaces give it room to breathe even on busy nights.
Sankofa African Bar
African-themed bar set in a colonial sobrado, decorated with maps and masks from across the continent. Reggae, salsa, and Afro-house nights with hammocks upstairs and a veranda overlooking the lane below.
Casa do Olodum
Home of the famous Bloco Afro Olodum, the percussion ensemble that defined Salvador's samba-reggae sound. Tuesday and Sunday rehearsals are open to the public with thunderous drumming and dancing crowds spilling into the street.
Largo da Tieta
Reinaugurated public square and event space with capacity for 1,500, hosting regular samba nights, axé concerts, and Carnival programming. Two access points connect Pelourinho proper with the Baixa dos Sapateiros.
Clube do Samba
Long-running samba club in the historic center with over two decades of programming. Live bands play traditional samba and pagode with a small dance floor and Bahian finger food.
Arté Bahia
Open-air bar with cheap drinks, affordable cover, and a Friday reggae night that draws a young mixed crowd of locals and backpackers. The terrace overlooks the colonial rooftops of the historic center.