Few things feel as manly as a good-old authentic, fresh made shave! Whether you boast a bad-ass lumberjack beard or a humiliating form of facial hair that can easily be mistaken for peach fuzz such as me (thanks a lot genetics), one can’t deny how good it is to step out of a barbershop and feel the cold breeze on your brand new hairstyle and on your freshly shaved face. Thankfully, there are several quality barbershops in Porto for you to try, which means you may now leave your facial grooming in the hands of experts before venturing into the city while looking like a million dollars.
HERE ARE 5 AUTHENTIC VINTAGE BARBERSHOPS IN PORTO
BARBEARIA PORTO
Photo courtesy of: Barbearia Porto
Located just a short detour away from the iconic Avenida dos Aliados, Barbearia Porto is the phoenix of barbershops! Inaugurated in 1946, the original place – which bore the same name – was once a staple in the local barbershop scene, but as years progressed and people started abandoning the city centre, it eventually went out of business. Luckily, the tourism boom brought life back to the area, and current owners did the exact same thing with this beloved barbershop. Nowadays, it’s one of the hippest and coolest establishments of its kind, and a great place for men to get their beards done, have a beer (which is included in the shave/haircut price), listen to some music, and even maybe get a tattoo in its basement. Just make sure to have that beer only after the tattoo gets done! Barbearia Porto is open from Monday to Saturday between 10h30am and 8pm.
MARCO BALTAZAR
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
If it’s good enough for local celebrities and football players, then you ought to give it a try! With its first business venture starting over a decade ago in Matosinhos, Marco Baltazar has since become a pretty popular name in the industry and has finally opened its third barber shop – this time in the city centre. Although you probably won’t find the actual guy in there, this barber shop is still quite popular for its talented staff, laid-back vibe and quirky decorative details. If you ever wondered where you could find a blue Volkswagen nailed to a wall, this is the place! Marco Baltazar Barber Shop is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10am and 8pm.
Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, 258 and Rua de Fernandes Tomás 955
LE BEARD
Photo courtesy of: Le Beard
The ultimate man cave for those who want to rock a glorious beard! After all, there aren’t many places in the city where you can enjoy a beer, sink on a leather couch and admire a classic Triumph Motorcycle before getting a haircut or a beard trim. Better yet, if you enjoy their vintage shaving methods (and trust me – you will!) and wish to recreate them back at home, you can take a look at their in-site shop (also available online) and buy some of their best products, such as shaving oils, perfumes and even shaving scissors and razors…well, just make sure not to freak everyone out when showing these in the airport security check. Le Beard barbershop is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 10am and 7pm, closing during lunch times (1pm-3pm).
BARBEARIA ORLANDO
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
At Barbearia Orlando, male facial hair is treated as the stylish commodity that it truly is! Despite being a small family-owned business, this barbershop gets a lot of attention from tourists. Feel free to dare them, as the staff will be able to hit any curve ball you throw at them! Want a five-o’clock shadow? Maybe a three-day stubble? A goatee? Bring it on, it’s all good as long as you don’t ask for a ridiculous soul patch, otherwise they might release their inner Sweeney Todd. Barbearia Orlando is open from Monday to Saturday between 9am and 7h30pm, closing during lunch times (1pm-2h30pm).
Rua de Álvaro de Castelões, 222
LAB61 BARBER SHOP
Located side by side with its twin hair-salon – appropriately called Lab SixtyOne – the first barber shop on our list seems to have been taken straight out of a sci-fi movie set! With tons of silver elements spread across the room or hanging from walls, the space looks so futuristic you’d be excused to think R2D2 could pop out of nowhere and give you a brand new haircut. Luckily, it will be the talented barber António Rodrigues that will be in charge of your new image, so you can relax and rest assured you’ll be leaving LAB61 feeling good as new. LAB61 Barber Shop is open from Monday to Saturday between 10:30am and 8pm.
Bet you’re already planning on growing a beard so that you can trim it when you’re here! But which one will you be trying? Let us know on the comments section!
