Juiz de Fora has a bar scene driven largely by its university population. The action concentrates in two areas: the São Mateus neighbourhood near the UFJF campus, where cheaper bars cater to students, and the stretch around the city centre near Rua Halfeld, where older, more established establishments serve a mixed crowd. Most bars stay open until the early hours on weekends; the weekday scene is quieter but picks up during the academic term.
The city has a tradition of the buteco — the small, no-frills neighbourhood bar with plastic chairs on the pavement, cold draught beer, and a menu of petiscos (bar snacks) printed on a laminated card. These are the real social heart of the city, more so than the flashier establishments.