In October 1924, Fernando Pessoa published his translation of “The Raven”—Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous poem—in the magazine Athena. More than a century later, the verses that the Portuguese poet brought into our language come to life at the former Nun’Álvares Cinema, next to Avenida da Boavista. Starting November 7, the Hot Five Jazz & Blues Club, which now occupies the building, will host an immersive experience combining theater, themed cocktails, and a gothic atmosphere: the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy.
7 November 2026 15:00 + more dates
Hot Five Jazz&Blues Club
From the big screen to music
Nun’Álvares was founded around the 1950s, at a time when movie theaters in shopping malls were still a distant reality. With a single auditorium, it established itself as a gathering place for Porto’s film enthusiasts. In 2006, it closed its doors for the first time. Three years later, it reopened with a lineup that included European and independent films. However, this second life was short-lived: in 2011, it closed again.
Instead of losing its connection to culture, the Nun’Álvares Cinema building was ultimately reborn in 2019 as a jazz club, retaining several decorative elements from the old theater. Today, Hot Five Jazz&Blues hosts countless concerts and is preparing to welcome an immersive experience dedicated to the world of Edgar Allan Poe, one of the central figures of psychological horror in literature and a pioneer of modern detective fiction.
What can you expect from the experience?
In an intimate, Gothic-inspired setting, the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy combines theater and themed cocktails in an experience lasting 75 to 80 minutes. The show is organized into four acts, each inspired by a work by the American author and accompanied by a matching drink:
- Act 1: “The Tell-Tale Heart,” accompanied by Pale Blue Eye;
- Act 2: “The Black Cat,” accompanied by The Cat’s Meow;
- Act 3: “The Raven,” accompanied by Nevermore;
- Act 4: “The Masque of the Red Death,” accompanied by the Cocktail of the Red Death.
It is in the third act that the Portuguese reader finds a special connection: “The Raven” is the poem that Fernando Pessoa translated in 1924, served here with the Nevermore, a cocktail named after the poem’s famous refrain.
There are also non-alcoholic options, and the show is presented in Portuguese. The ticket includes four themed drinks, and the experience is exclusively for those 18 and older.
Useful Information
📍Where: Hot Five Jazz & Blues Club, Rua de Guerra Junqueiro 495
⏰When: November 7, December 12, and January 23, 2027, with showings at 3:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.
🎟️Tickets: on sale via the Fever app starting at 27€
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