BARS

PoA has a distinct class structure which can be clearly seen in the types of bar and the areas where these bars are.
Your "working class" bars, known as botecos can be found all over the city but not in most of the higher class residential areas. They are frequented by the locals of the neighbourhood, those being normally the working class. Understand that by "working class" in Brazil is a lot poorer than the "working class" standard of Britain. These people cannot afford "luxuries" that we normally take for granted. Some of the better botecos can be found in the city centre, they have a longer tradition and are frequented by the office workers at happy hour. These botecos normally serve a good choppe, but are not recommended to hang around later at night.
NIGHT LIFE bars are spread around three main areas: Avenida Goethe, Moinhos de Vento and Cidade Baixa.
Avenida Goethe a mile long stretch from Parcão to almost Avenida Ipiranga, has lots of bars and a few dance clubs. Goethe was really in fashion around 10 years ago but now has lost most of its appeal though it still attracts mostly the younger people on the "hunt", i.e. it's a great place for the young to find partners or just to have fun.
Moinhos de Vento is an upper class neighbourhood and this can clearly be seen in the bars and restaurants, mostly concentrated in Ruas Fernando Gomes and Padre Chagas, also known as the "side walk of fame" because it's where you can spot the rich and famous of PoA on their nights out. The bars here are very good but mostly over priced and there really is a snobbish tendency where you are judged by your clothes and car. There are two bars here with Draught Guinness, (I'm not going to put the names unless they pay me lots of money to put a link here!). One of which is a supposed "Irish Pub" but it's more like a Hollywood movie set of an Irish Pub, everything seems too fake and plastic. I went there once and asked it they have any Irish music. "Well, we've got U2" came the reply. DUH.
Probably the best place for bars is Cidade Baixa, about 15 mins walk from the city centre. The many streets here are full of small bars, cafés and bistros. Cidade Baixa attracts the "alternative" crowd of PoA. Students, intellectuals, TRAVELLERS!. Young and old.
A special mention must go to The Shamrock Irish Pub, your host, Simon a good friend of mine (I did say these pages were personal and reflect MY opinions!), has a great place, 3 floors: bottom floor is pubby, i.e. closed in, wooden tables and bar with DRAUGHT GUINNESS! Second floor has pool and darts and third floor is small, cosy and has a terrace for cool nights. The music is good mostly Brit rock pop and sometimes Simon can be persuaded to play Irish Music! Simon's from Belfast actually, so this can be considered a REAL Irish Pub! The food is EXCELLENT, on the menu you can find fish 'n' chips and a kind of spicy cumberland sausage. All ages frequent the Shamrock too and lots of foreigners and travellers can be found on most nights there.
The Shamrock is very near Redenção park.