Where Everybody Knows Your Name…Immediately!

What does a bar in the south of Portugal have in common with a open-air bar in Placencia, Belize??? Only how they both make you feel like a regular the moment you walk in the door.

Clive’s in Luz, Portugal

We sat down at an outdoor table at Clive’s in Praia da Luz in the south of Portugal. Clive himself came out to greet us and asked us to order at the bar inside. We followed him inside and didn’t walk out again until hours later. In the meantime, we were asked our names, where we were from, immediately dubbed “Ohio”–and collectively addressed as such throughout the evening! We were introduced to other Americans in the bar and engaged in conversations with people from the UK and Ireland. We heard all about the “old days” in the Algarve and how much it’s changed. We got recommendations on where to find the best Cataplana (fish stew) for our last dinner. We drank an excellent Algarve rosé and our glasses were kept full.

We returned the next night and were greeted with Clive’s shout of “Ohio! You threatened to return and here you are!” We were greeted as old friends by people we met the previous night and asked about our day, our dinner, and when we planned to return. Clive has a wicked sense of humor, loves sarcasm, and has a talent for filling your heart as well as your glass. As one regular said to me “you’ll never be lonely in Luz as long as you hang out here!” ❤️

Yoli’s Over Da Water in Placencia, Belize

I first visited Placencia on a 5 day trip in April 2024, and decided almost immediately to return to spend a month. I found Yoli’s on night 4 and was served by Eric, the bartender. By the time I left, I had met over a dozen people, exchanged phone numbers, met another Linda, and felt like I was home.

When I returned two weeks later, Eric greeted me with a big hug and a Belikin Stout with lime. During my weeks in Placencia, Yoli’s wasn’t just my watering hole, it was where I went with all my questions. Q: Where is the best place to buy eggs? A: The Egg Guy is here on Tuesdays Q: Where can I get coconut water? A: Doggy, the Coconut Water Guy is here most days. Q: Where can I get a reliable taxi? A: Let me call you one right now! Answers and laughter and nicknames and inside jokes–what more could you want from your local hangout???

Yoli’s is filled with expats and sailors, and each time I visit, I make new friends. Sadly, both Yoli and her husband, Reagan, have passed away since my first visit, but Eric is there, tending the bar, playing poker on Wednesdays, Trivia on Saturdays, and serving BBQ on Sundays. And always ready with my Belikin Stout!

Don’t visit places like Clive’s or Yoli’s, to gawk or gush over how “cute” the bars are. Visit to meet people, to converse, to understand the locale, and to relax. Sit at the bar, introduce yourself, and become part of the place.

When you travel to Luz, please tell Clive that Ohio says hello. And when you visit Yoli’s, please tell Eric that Mexican Lynda says “Nos vemos pronto, mi amigo!” (See you soon, my friend!) ❤️

Have you found local places that made you feel immediately welcome? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!