Beaches Eating Out Nightlife Shopping/Money People & Language Children's Holidays Climate Watersports

Nightlife in Cape Verde

Nightlife in Cape Verde generally stems from live music, a mixture of African, Brazilian and Cape Verdean.

Some islands are livelier than others. Mindelo and Santa Maria are the liveliest towns with a vibrant buzz of music and local dancers. Boa Vista is the quietest of the four main islands with little nightlife outside the hotels.

The local philosophy is ‘the more the merrier’ so whether you join them shimmying to live music at a bustling bar or sip ponche, firewater laced with honey, at a lively cafe, their energy and love of life is contagious. Infact, the more locals you talk you, the more invitations come flooding your way.

Whatever you do, don’t leave without experiencing what has often been dubbed the most beautiful music on earth. The unique Cape Verdian morna music unravels seductive, upbeat Latin rhythms that will have your toes tapping and heels clicking in no time. In Santa Maria, you’ll find a serene beach bar or two where you can sit listening to the waves crash in, a good handful of vibrant pubs filled with animated tourists and locals alike or if you want to be where it’s at, head for local night hotspot ‘The Pirata’.

Boavista nightlife on the other hand is all about socialising in the main squares, where the locals meet and chat before dancing the night away at a party. Sal Rei is a particularly lively corner of the island with a dance-till-dawn disco for the energetic late nights revellers.

Festivals

The traditional festivals throughout the archipelago are usually celebrated on Saint’s days. They usually include a church service, processions, drumming and music, followed by public get-togethers to eat specially prepared foods. Some festivals have their own traditions that vary from one island to another.

The carnival is held in February or March around Ash Wednesday, and is celebrated on all islands, though more so, on Sao Vicente and Sao Nicolau. In April the festival of Bandeira de Sao Filipe is held on the island of Fogo. In June the Tabanka, the feast day preceding St John’s day is held on Santiago and Maio.

In May and June there are the traditional festivals of St John and St Anthony on the islands of Brava, Santo Antao and Sao Nicolau.

And finally, August brings the lively music festival of Baia das Gatas on the island of Sao Vicente; a weekend of music, dancing and eating.