Heading out to Carvoeiro for the 1st time on 29th April and i am looking for some advice on which bars are child friendly,especially at night?The 2 kids holidaying with us are a wee boy aged 6 and a wee girl aged 3(almost 4).

I'd also like to take the wee boy to watch a few football games on TV,are there plenty pubs with Sky,Setanta etc?

Regards

TS.

I don't really understand why people take small children into bars at night, but thats not my buisness anyway.

What I can tell you is, that all bars allow and will most probably have smokers, so the air will get pretty thick when the bar starts filling up.

I think we should have a list of bars that allow children. It will make it much easier for me to avoid them.

Well, Tinsoldier, I hope you found those non-judgemental replies helpful. You will find a number of bars which have an open air element, whilst still allowing you to watch sporting events on the big screen. This will go some way to ensuring your children aren't bothered over much by smoke. Mungo's is an example but, as Carvoeiro is a smallish place, you'll quickly find somewhere that suits you pretty well. You'll find the people of Carvoeiro, including those who run the bars and cafes, generally very friendly, unlike some of the people who inhabit this site. The Portugese tend to enjoy, rather than tolerate, the company of children.

Anonymous wrote:Well, Tinsoldier, I hope you found those non-judgemental replies helpful. You will find a number of bars which have an open air element, whilst still allowing you to watch sporting events on the big screen. This will go some way to ensuring your children aren't bothered over much by smoke. Mungo's is an example but, as Carvoeiro is a smallish place, you'll quickly find somewhere that suits you pretty well. You'll find the people of Carvoeiro, including those who run the bars and cafes, generally very friendly, unlike some of the people who inhabit this site. The Portugese tend to enjoy, rather than tolerate, the company of children.

Cheers mate,thats the kind of advice i was looking for.Hope to bump into you in May and buy you a pint.

As for Kidaphobic,if he/she can give me a list of bars they inhabit,i'll do my best to avoid them.

You are right guest, in that most restaurants owners are very welcoming to children..
But, I'm in agreement with Gambrinus on this one, in that I would never take children that young into a bar late at night.
I have been witness to this many times..where the kiddies are fretful and distressed as its obviously well past their normal bedtime..
The last time was when dining at Colombos late (it was after 9pm) and there was a small family sitting opposite. 2 kiddies about 5 and 3. The youngest,strapped in pushchair,was very distressed. Suddenly he was violently ill, vomitting and choking.
The owners were very helpful with the child and helped clean him up and the surrounding area. Then what happened?
Granny (who had been tucking into her meal all through this episode), started to feed the little lad with chips!! Then they(4 adults) sat back smoking!...
I'd never have taken my little ones into pubs,bars, eateries late at night..it isn't fair to them,
You often have to forego some pleasure when you're raising little 'uns..
but thats life (tell me about it )
wish you happy hols TS

TS, Go to the square where you and the missus can have a meal or drink and let the kids have a little wander, May will be quiet enough so that you can see the kids and there will probably be others that they can play with. I have three children and we enjoyed the square as it felt as though we could still have an "adult" part of the night. As regards the footy with the wee man, go to "jokers" they have a smoke filter, or go to Vale do Milho clubhouse as this is very spacious. Above all enjoy !

Cheers for the advice folks its much appreciated.We are all looking forward to our visit,i'm sure we'll all love it.Ten days to go.....

I think it totally depends on the children - mine are monsters after 8pm but I know others that will quite happily play at midnight.

I would recommend the Cocktail Garden at Monte Carvoeiro - they can run around outside in a traffic free square all they like there and they are likely to find other youngsters - I also suspect Louis will be showing any major footie game on his TV.

To the anti- kids comment - what do you do? - do you take your children out for an early tea and then go back to your appartment at 8pm, put the chuldren to bed and then sit quietly and read a book for the next few hours? - we are lucky that we have a babysitter but I know most parents have a real problem in the evenings - it is the 'child friendly' nature of the rest of Europe that gets the tourists in.

Mine wasn't an anti-kids comment Graham..in fact it was the reverse! I was simply thinking of their welfare..specially with really young ones at such a late hour.
Is it difficult if you want to be out in the evenings and make the most of your holiday. I think CM's idea of dining in the square a good one..at least they'll have space to run around..or get up on the stage (if its there)..Ive seen many of them 'doing a little turn', dancing etc
I only know from my own experience of 3 little 'uns, that kiddies so young, like and are happier with routine..lucky you to have a baby sitter,which would be the dream answer to most couples..and mum and dad get some time to themselves!
Mind you, life is often different in a hot climate. Living in Lagoa, we often saw kids (and as young as 6,7) out playing beneath our windows at Midnight!
Too hot to sleep or just the way of life?

Ellie - it wasn't you I was referring to - I agree with you that it is not right for SOME children (i.e. mine!), but others seem quite happy at a late hour.

If the parents miss the warning signs that the kids are unhappy/bored it is the parents' fault - not the child's.

Having just got back from Carvoeiro its seems incredible that because people know the bars and restuarants are chilld friendly they not only took their kids out late at night, but also when the children cried, as they do when tired, 9 timestimes out of 10 the parents looked round the bars/restuarants with a stupid grin on their faces ignored the kids and carried on with their meals whilst the rest of us including the waiters, made face and tried to amuse the said little ones. Would these people take the kids out in the Uk at such a late hour? I don't think so. Also pity the said kids in the morning when parents and co have 'tired' heads, kids are shouted at parents are grumpy with them, then they go and repeat the whole thing over again.
Yes they are on holiday but so are the rest of us., and no I am not a grumpy old thing but a mother of 2 youngsters. The time to eat out with kids is lunch or T time not in smokey drink fuelled places in the evening.

Hi Graham,
I was referring to very young children really.. and as 'Concerned guest' has indicated, some of these kiddies are too young to be in smokey eateries late in the evening and as she asks a vital question 'would you do this with your little 'un back home in UK?'
I usually dine late in CVO and I witnessed another incident whilst having my dinner. There was a large family(4 or 5 adults) seated nearby, with 3 youngsters all under 5 I'd have said. They were all quite sleepy, head drooping over meals..it was by now around 10pm..
then suddenly a drunk walked in (hes well know there) and started shouting the odds,arguing with the bar man,then plonked himself down at MY table! His voice got louder and louder..2 of the kiddies nearby started to scream and were very frightened (they weren't the only ones !)
Eventually the man was evicted, but the children were still crying.
Wouldn't you have thought, with a large family, 1 or 2 of the adults could have stayed home with the kids and then had their meal later..
or as Concerned guest says, have an earlier meal? Makes sense doesn't it?
I have no little 'uns now, but if,for example I bought my oldest grandson 10, on hol with me..then I would dine no later than 8pm,possibly earlier.
Very late hours in bars, restaurants,in my opinion. are not the places for the very young.

If anyone whats a babysitter you can email me, usually have a daughter available.

Cheers for the advice again folks.In reply to some of the points raised,my girfriends 2 kids are aged 6 and 3(almost 4) and theres no way we would have them lying screaming and shouting etc in bars,think we'd be a bit embarrased and get them home pronto!It was really just to see if we could bring them in 2 watch footie in the evening,maybe till about 11ish at the latest.Certainly we don't want to spoil the evening of others who are child free etc.

Regards

TS.