Peters Bar/Cafe Sport in Horta.

Peters Bar/Cafe Sport in Horta.

Cafe Sport, or Peters Bar as it is also known as, is located on a tiny island on the Azores. Right in the mid Atlantic. The bar is world famous among sailors.

 

Peters Bar used to be a post office. An exchange office. And also a watering hole.

Inside Peters Bar.

Inside Peters Bar.

Once upon a time, about 20 years ago, before we all got the internet, Peters Bar was the most important post office in the world for long distance sailors. This was the place where trans Atlantic sailors had their mail sent to on a Poste Restante address. This was also the place where you picked up gossip about people in the sailing world. As well as changing their currency in to Portuguese escudos.

These days you can still pick up some gossip. The Poste Restante thing is almost gone with the arrival of email though. The bar is still going strong though. Attracting hundreds of long distance sailors every year. As well as other foreign visitors and many locals who like to hang out there for a drink too.

 

There was never an owner called Peter.

Wall decoration at Peters Bar.

Wall decoration at Peters Bar.

The real name of the cafe is Cafe Sport, which you will see on the sign as you enter. But the cafe is actually known better as Peters Cafe. One odd thing though, is that there was never a guy called Peter there. The Peter name comes from the second world war. The previous owner had a son called Henrique. But one of the soldiers from an American battleship thought that he looked like his son Peter back in the states. So the soldiers started calling Cafe Sport for Peters Cafe. The name Peter has stuck to the place ever since.

The cafe is decorated with hundreds of flags and pennants that have been donated by the thousands of ships that have been passing by over the years. As the Azores is the natural stop over point for sailing boats crossing the Atlantic ocean from the Caribbean to Europe during spring months. Upstairs they have a fascinating collection of scrimshaw. Down in the main bar you have bar food being served during day time hours and live music a couple of times a week.

Sailors decorating the pavement, before going to Peters Bar.

Sailors decorating the pavement, before going to Peters Bar.

This place could so easily have been turned into a massive tourist trap. But since the tourists are very few on the island of Faial, it still retains the original charm. The tourist trap is left to the copies that have been built in other parts of Portugal where you have more tourists. The reason why Faial and Horta sees few tourists is not because it’s not interesting. Because it’s so far out of the way that very few people bother to visit. Except for the sailors crossing the Atlantic ocean. I can assure you though, that this is a world class destination. I have been on the road non stop for +25 years and been to +70 countries. And I will right away put the Azores on to my personal top 10. So get yourself out to the Azores and pop by the little town Horta. And go down to Cafe Sport for a beer or 10, as well as some good company. Because this is a place is still the real deal.

For more photos from The Azores click here

The harbor of Horta, with the island Pico in the background.

The harbour of Horta, with the island Pico in the background.

Live music at Peters Bar.

Live music at Peters Bar.

Cross Atlantic sailors decorate the pavement in Horta, before moving on to the next destination.

Cross Atlantic sailors decorate the pavement in Horta, before moving on to the next destination.

6 Comments

  1. Hello, Claus! It was great to learn about this amazing spot… Thanks for your story!

  2. The best sailors bar in this moment around the world the last years is the ONE sailors bar in Lanzarote Island. Not so old, but ten times more types of sailors and visirors and beautiful place.

  3. armenistis Nice

    Peters bar is a great spot representing all sailing people that cross the Atlantic eastbound. Similar famous important bars are Sailors bar in Las Palmas (Canaries) and Micalvi in Port Williams in Chile for sailors passing Cape Horn or bisiting Antatctica and Patagonia

  4. Just returned from the Azores myself — everyone at Peter’s says to tell you “Hi”…

  5. We were the first yacht to call by here in January, about 50, fifty, years ago. Wonderful welcome! I wonder if our name is still in “book” ?
    Mike, Captain 100 ft ketch PATRINA

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