Bamboo & Coconut Braga: A Beach Club-Style River Day in Portugal

We absolutely love going to Portugal to stay with family and visit new places. My husband and I actually lived in Portugal for six months just after we got married and left Brazil, so Portugal will always have a special place in our hearts.

This was the first time we went with the kids during the summer, and we really wanted to enjoy ourselves and get to know some new places.

I don’t usually like going to the river. It’s something that’s very common for our family in Portugal, but I had never really been a fan. However, this time I decided I had to try it!

I like places with toilet facilities, somewhere comfortable to sit, a good atmosphere, not too many people and good food. Bamboo & Coconut actually ticked all of those boxes.

Bamboo & Coconut is a restaurant with a beach-club vibe, right by the river in Braga, Portugal. They also have an events area called Lago dos Cisnes, and let me tell you, this place is just too beautiful.

The kids can play by the river, and the water isn’t too deep. It also has a really nice temperature, which makes such a difference when you’re spending the day there with children.

There are toilets, a restaurant, the river club – which has a very beach-club feel – and an extra area where you can have a picnic and spend the day.

The entrance is open to the public, but there is a fee. You pay between €15 per person (on the website says €10 for August/September, but we paid 15 euros in August), and children under ten don’t pay. However, the amount you pay goes towards consumption, so it’s basically free if you’re planning to eat and drink there anyway.

It’s best to arrive early in the morning if you want to stay at the river club because there is no time limit. People usually arrive and stay for most of the day, so the best spots can fill up quickly.

You can also visit the restaurant without spending the day at the river, which is a great option if you just want to have lunch or experience the place.

They do close during the winter, so if you’re visiting Braga or the north of Portugal during the summer, this is definitely somewhere you need to add to your list.

They also have an arcade area, I know, how cool is that? As well as some animals for the children to see and interact with. On selected Fridays and Saturdays, they also offer yoga classes.

So there really is something for everyone.

The kids had space to play, we had somewhere comfortable to sit, there was good food, and the whole place had such a lovely atmosphere. It felt like one of those places where you can actually relax instead of constantly worrying about what the children are doing.

One thing to note is that they don’t accept Amex, which is very common in Portugal. So my go-to card for earning points without having to worry about whether my card will be accepted is my Revolut debit card.

I have the Metal Plan, and for me, the benefits pay for themselves. I can use it in places where Amex isn’t accepted and still earn points towards our next holiday.

And honestly, when you’re travelling with children, especially when you’re trying to enjoy the day and not overcomplicate things, having a card you know will work makes everything easier.

Bamboo & Coconut was such a lovely surprise for us. I went there not really knowing whether I would enjoy spending the day by the river, and I ended up understanding why my family loves these places so much.

It was beautiful, relaxed, family-friendly and had everything I look for in a day out.

So if you’re visiting Braga or exploring the north of Portugal during the summer, definitely put Bamboo & Coconut and Lago dos Cisnes on your list.

You won’t regret it.

Nat