Matt's Bar
Matt's Bar is one of the Strip's longest-running venues and consistently one of the busiest. The formula is simple: cheap drinks, loud music, and a packed dance floor that spills onto the terrace. Promoters work the street outside offering drink deals to pull people in, and it works. Inside, the bar runs along one wall with the dance floor taking up most of the space. DJs play a mix of chart hits, dancehall, and party anthems. Drink prices sit lower than the clubs, with beers around EUR 3-5 and shots from EUR 2. Cocktail pitchers are the move for groups. The terrace fills early in the evening as people use it for pre-drinks before the clubs open, then the inside takes over after midnight. Matt's runs seven nights a week during summer and the crowd is a mix of ages and nationalities, though British and Irish tourists form the core. The atmosphere is rowdy but friendly, and the staff handle the chaos with practiced efficiency.
What to Expect
Loud music hits you from the street. The terrace crowd is drinking and socializing, while inside the dance floor is packed with people moving to chart hits. Drinks come fast, the energy is high, and strangers start conversations easily.
High-energy party bar. Loud, social, and unpretentious.
Chart hits, dancehall, pop remixes, party anthems
Very casual. Shorts and t-shirts are fine. This is a beach town bar.
Pre-club drinks, groups looking for a lively atmosphere, solo travelers wanting to meet people.
Cash and cards accepted
Price Range
Beers EUR 3-5, shots EUR 2-4, cocktail pitchers EUR 12-18
≈ $3-5 beers, $2-4 shots, $13-20 pitchers
Hours
Daily 9 PM to 4 AM (peak season), reduced hours off-season
Insider Tip
Grab a terrace spot early if you want outdoor seating. Promoters outside offer deals that are genuinely cheaper than walking in cold. The dance floor peaks around 1 AM.
Full Review
Matt's doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is: a party bar on a party street. The setup is straightforward, with a long bar, a dance floor, and a terrace that functions as the social hub early in the evening. DJs rotate through a playlist heavy on current chart hits and throwback party tracks. The sound system is loud enough to fill the room without being painful.
Drink prices are competitive for the Strip, and the promoters outside offer legitimate deals that save a few euros. Service at the bar is fast considering the volume of people. The cocktail pitchers represent the best value if you're in a group. Quality isn't going to win any mixology awards, but nobody here is ordering a Negroni.
The crowd at Matt's trends younger than some Strip bars, with a lot of 18-25 year olds on their first or second Algarve holiday. The vibe is friendly and it's easy to fall into conversation with strangers, particularly on the terrace. Inside gets sweaty and loud after midnight, which is either the appeal or the signal to move on depending on your tolerance.
Matt's works best as part of a Strip bar crawl rather than a destination in itself. Start here, have a pitcher, use the terrace to figure out your group's plan for the night, then move on to the clubs when they open.
The Neighborhood
Matt's occupies a prime spot on Rua Sao Goncalo de Lagos, surrounded by competing bars all fighting for the same crowd. It's one of the first bars you'll hit walking down the Strip from the top, making it a natural starting point.
Getting There
Same access as the rest of the Strip. Walk down from the bus station area or up from the Old Town. Taxis drop at the top of the Strip. The bar is impossible to miss with its promoters and outdoor crowd.
Address
Rua Sao Goncalo de Lagos, Albufeira
Other Venues in Albufeira Strip
Kiss Nightclub
The Strip's flagship club with a large main room, international DJs during peak season, and themed party nights. Capacity tops 1,000 and the queue builds fast after midnight on weekends.
Liberto's Bar
Cocktail-focused bar with a terrace overlooking the Strip. Serves better-quality mixed drinks than most neighbors, and the pace is slightly calmer. Good spot to start the evening before things escalate.
The Sportsman
Sports bar showing Premier League, Champions League, and major events on multiple screens. Draws a loyal crowd of British expats and tourists year-round, making it one of the few venues that stays open outside peak season.
Vida Nightclub
Second major club on the Strip with foam parties and themed nights through the summer. Younger crowd than Kiss, with entry prices slightly lower and an open-air section that gets packed on warm nights.