10 Best Bars in Alfama, Lisbon

The quality of both the food and the singing is reliably good at this family-run establishment, and the setting—which calls to mind the dining room of a well-traveled older relative—is always welcoming. It's a fado vadio (vagabond) spot, meaning the night often ends with amateur singers lined up outside, raring to perform.

Popular among local fado lovers as well as visitors, this performance space is housed in a tiny azulejo-lined former chapel. The traditional Portuguese food is palatable, although most people come for the consistently top-rate music and atmosphere. You can slip in at the end of the night, order a drink or two, and enjoy the show.

This little club was founded by late fado legend Argentina Santos in the 1950s. Over the decades, it has welcomed many fadistas, including the celebrated Amália. The food, which includes rich seafood stews, is as appealing as the music.

Some of the biggest names in modern-day fado—Jorge Fernando, Fábia Rebordão, Vânia Duarte, and André Baptista—are in residence at this establishment. The dark candlelit dining room is located in the remains of a Renaissance building; the atmospheric location matches the melancholy and strong emotion of the music.

An international crowd comes to this spot to hear established performers and rising stars take turns at the microphone. Dinner is pricey, but if you arrive around 10:30 pm, you can skip the food and concentrate on the music.

There is more entertainment than authenticity in the 30-minute fado shows at this restaurant, although the performers are first-rate and include a number of the genre's current famous names. A theme traces the evolution of fado from the 19th century to the present, and folklore shows feature dancers in old-fashioned costumes.

This long-running fado house was first established by fado singer Ana Marina and fado violist Duarte Santos, who had the idea of serving guests home-cooked Portuguese food before their performances. They specialize in cataplana (a dish cooked in a copper pan) of seafood or pork, but there’s also a bean and vegetable stew for vegetarians.

This homey fado tavern is also known for the high quality of its typical Portuguese dishes that are meant to be shared, such as tempura green beans, codfish cakes, and bell pepper salad.

This tiny, somewhat divey music bar has a cozy living-room vibe. Its hard-to-find location makes it more popular with local music lovers than with tourists. The concerts tend to be informal, often more like jam sessions (not just fado) among local and touring musicians who head here after their own performances; things really start rolling around midnight.

Prominent fadistas, both traditional singers and next-generation artists who are expanding the boundaries of the form, perform most nights in this modern café attached to the Museu do Fado. Reservations are essential in the evening.