Ice for Santos Populares in Lisbon: a guide for street parties and bars
June is when Lisbon drinks most on the street. How to make sure the ice doesn't run out on Santo António night.
Published 27 September 2026
In June, Alfama, Mouraria, Graça, Bica and Madragoa fill with arraiais, grilled sardines and cold beer. The night of 12 to 13 June, Santo António, is the peak: streets stay packed until dawn, and bars and stalls sell in one night what they normally sell in a week. It's also the night ice runs out most.
Who needs ice for the Santos
- Arraial stalls — to chill beer, soft drinks and sangria in coolers and tubs.
- Bars and tascas in the old quarters — demand multiplies and the house machine can't keep up.
- Private rooftop parties overlooking the festivities.
How much ice for a stall
At a stall, most ice goes into coolers to chill drinks, not into glasses. A good rule is to have enough bags to refill the coolers several times during the night — ice melts fast with the lid constantly opening. Tell us how many cases of drinks you expect to sell and we'll help you work it out.
Which format to order
- Cubes in 5 kg bags for coolers and tubs — the most effective format.
- Crushed ice if you're selling caipirinhas, mojitos or sangria over ice.
Logistics in the old quarters
On festival days, streets in Alfama and Mouraria close to traffic and fill with people from the afternoon. Book delivery in the morning or early afternoon, before the roads close, and tell us the nearest unloading point. For top-ups during the night, it's safer to have enough coolers to store the day's ice.
When to order
Santos Populares is one of the busiest dates of the year. Order at least a week ahead and confirm the final quantity two or three days before.