Oporto

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2 reviews
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31-33 Call Lane,
LEEDS,
LS1 7BT

(0113) 245 4444

The ViewLeeds Review

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Review byElla Woods13/03/2009
Viewed by many as the best bar on Call lane, Oporto is the place to be if you like your music with guitar strings. It’s rocking till the early hours.

The Venue
Oporto is in the heart of the action on Call Lane, the hub of drinking in Leeds these days. Like all of Call Lane, it looks as if it’s suffering a major hangover in the light of day and things never really get busy here until the sun goes down.

It's surrounded by other bars and clubs hence the popularity of the Call Lane area. Nearby are Jakes, BRB, Revolution, Arts Cafe, Normans, Mook, the list goes on. Call Lane is where you’ll end up if it’s your first time drinking in Leeds and Oporto is a great place to start.

The bar is separated into two main rooms, both with big loungy sofas and small tables and chairs. This is predominantly a late night bar/club so things are a little grimy. The brick walls get sweaty and the route to the toilet, via a set of stairs out the back, is far from pleasant.

But listen, if this upsets you, you’re probably too old or too prim to be in here anywhere. The place gets packed most evenings and especially on weekends so don’t expect to get a seat if you arrive fashionably late.

The People
Its location gives you an idea to what its clientele is like. Lying opposite Normans and next to the entrance to Jakes, it sits somewhere in between these two establishments on the pretentiousness and appearance scale. While certainly not as pretentious and, quite frankly, as fake as Normans, Oporto does attract a cool crowd who are at times a little too hip and alouf for their own good.

This bar has a little bit more of a refined atmosphere and a more eclectic music range. Whatever it is and does, it works because the punters flood in in their droves come the weekend where Oporto rocks to the early morning, kicking out around 5am.

In the week it can get equally busy but it’s certainly not as manic. There’s also live music events which attract a cool crowd and a mini-music festival on bank holiday Mondays where entry is £1 and the music is enthralling.

Bar staff are mostly indie males with big hair and shabby beards who are obviously far too cool to strike up any kind of idol chit chat. Unless of course you’re a blonde, blue-eyed Courtney Love look-a-like, then you might stand a chance. Ultimately this bar has a great atmosphere regardless of when you stumble inside.

The Drink
There’s no theme or gimmick going on here. Emphasis is on good music and ripping it up until the sun rises. Everyone is drinking everything, from girls with wine glasses to men with bottles of Corona to parties slamming Jagerbombs down their necks, it all goes on here.

There’s a decent wine list with bottles starting off at around £15. All beers on tap are £3.40 a pint with bottles coming in at around the same price. Most cocktails are £6 with a mojito costing you £7.

This bar caters to those wanting a really heavy night with an array of shooters to kick you into life or, in fact, kick the life out of you. A Stimuleister is a mix of Jagermeister and Red Bull at £3 and sounds and looks pretty deadly. Hold on to your hats!

The Last Word
The bar for the rock’n’roll kids, Oporto serves up music and booze to the cool indie crowd. Great alternative to a sweaty club but don’t expect to be leaving this place until the sun comes up. And face the fact that you’re probably going to have a sore head in the morning.
Oporto has been reviewed by 2 users

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