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Bairro Alto, long the center of Lisbon's nightlife, is still one of the best places in the city for barhopping. There's a street-party vibe on weekends, when revelers take their drinks outdoors. A number of bars here have a predominately gay clientele, but invariably welcome all.
Occupying three stylish terraces—designed by Pritzker laureate Álvaro Siza—below the ruins of the Convento do Carmo, this bar is in a prime location next to the antique Elevador da Santa Justa, but it can also be reached by taking a regular elevator (for free) from Rua do Carmo. The cocktails and views are the main attraction, but there’s also a tempting array of light meals like salads and homemade burgers. Most weekends DJs liven things up from mid-afternoon until late.
For a sophisticated sundowner before a full night out, head to this leafy roof terrace with sweeping city views. The cocktails are excellent, whether you order a classic margarita or a signature Lumi Negroni (made with infused gin, Portuguese vermouth, and Madeira wine). Light meals and snacks are prepared with seasonal ingredients by Chef João Silva.
This fun and funky bar retains the giant wood-fired oven that harks back to the building's previous life as a bakery. There's now a spacious rooftop terrace, but the interior is still reliably packed with hipsters who've turned out to hear the hottest local DJs. The lengthy cocktail menu and famous shots of strong spirits can ramp up a night on the town.
Tucked away in the back of Bairro do Avillez—the "neighborhood" of eateries overseen by top local chef José Avillez—is this fun burlesque-themed gastrobar. Here you'll find a menu of small plates with some of his greatest hits, divided into different “acts.” You may choose to just have a drink and enjoy the "opening act,” or stay on for live music and/or DJs and dancing on Wednesday and Thursday nights—and on weekends a show, too.
A bar that doubles as a barbershop, or vice versa, this is where Lisbon’s coolest guys come to ensure they look sharp for a night on the town. The interior is classically decorated, a comfortable space for men (and women) to relax with a gin at any time of the day or night.
Take the elevator and ramp to the top of an unassuming multilevel car park to emerge onto a leafy terrace where a trendy crowd sips cocktails and DJs spin tunes to the early hours, against the backdrop of Lisbon's stunning skyline. There are several bars and seating areas, but it's standing room only as soon as sunset approaches.
Partiers spill out into the street from the massive front doors of this former old-world tavern, now a gay-friendly bar, one of the busiest in the area, whose dance floor attracts a lively crowd keen to dance to Brazilian beats. Shots and cocktails keep the party spirits flowing until the early hours.
A building that once housed the Brazilian consulate was turned into a hotel, Le Consulat, with this classy second-floor bar whose windows open to a view over Praça de Luís de Camões. Open until midnight Wednesday through Sunday, it’s a place to enjoy pre- or post-dinner drinks and snacks to the sound of chill-out beats and also to admire some art, as it’s connected to a gallery of Portuguese and international contemporary art. There's a surf shop, too, adding to the relaxed vibe. The drinks menu is quite long, offering Portuguese wines, tea, gins, and cocktails.
A refined place to start off your evening (it is open during the day, until 7 pm) is the relaxed Solar do Vinho do Porto, on the first floor of a grand former palace, the rest of which is now an upscale hotel. Here you can sink into an armchair and sample port wines from a list of several hundred. You can also buy bottles to take away.
