Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Newcomers to Lisbon often hit the bars around 9 pm and head home at midnight thinking that the bar scene is rather quiet. In fact, Lisbon bars don't get going until after midnight, clubs even later. On weekends, lively groups spill out of bars and stand shoulder to shoulder in the streets, especially in the lively Bairro Alto and the revamped Cais do Sodré. Many places are rather quiet from Sunday through Wednesday although, in the summer high season, bars fill every night of the week with holidaymakers who don't need to rise early the next day.
Some dance clubs charge a cover of €15 (more on weekends), which includes one drink; if you come early you may get in free. Clubs are open from about 10 or 11 pm (but only start filling up well after midnight) until 4 or 5 am; a few stay open until 8 am. Be aware that some unscrupulous door staff will try to overcharge out-of-towners; if the price seems way over the odds, walk away.
For a less boisterous evening out, visit a café-bar or a casa de fado, where professional or amateur performers sing the city’s world-renowned, beautifully mournful style of music.
Lisbon has a well-established gay and lesbian scene, concentrated primarily in and around the Bairro Alto and the neighboring Príncipe Real area, on the way to Rato.
Peru's national drink is the star at one of the area's less touristy bars, hidden round the side of Rossio train station. Drinkers can choose cocktails from a range that doesn't begin and end with the pisco sour. Snacks are available and, Thursday through Sunday, ceviche and other dishes, plus well-priced set menus.
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.
An Italian and a Basque walk into a bar . . . actually, a couple from the two parts of Europe opened one, on what has turned into one of Lisbon's buzziest streets. Quatto Teste emphasizes high-quality cocktails (starting with the obvious ones from their native regions: Negronis, of course, and Kalimotxo, that Basque specialty made with Coca-Cola, Rioja wine, and raspberry). There are also Basque-style pintxos (tapas) and ciders on tap.
Sipping a drink at one of Lisbon's many outdoor kiosks is key to enjoying the city's fine views and fine weather. Belém's own quiosque is perfect for a sundown ginjinha (sour cherry liqueur) or a chilled white wine overlooking the leafy location.
Grab a seat—or a sunlounger—at this riverfront kiosk and listen to live pop, rock, or samba as the sun sets over the Tagus. Musicians gather here on sunny evenings to entertain the totally chillaxed crowds.
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.
Unlike most other wine bars in town, this one is open from midday. It has inviting outdoor seating and a tastefully designed interior that tells the story of Sandeman, one of the best-known port wine labels. Naturally, it was founded in the city of Porto in 1790; it opened this outlet in the capital in 2016. Since then it has been offering all of its different types of wine—plus port wine cocktails—along with desserts and a couple of food options.
Dress to impress (no sneakers) if you want to get past the door staff at this fancy rooftop hangout, which caters to a well-heeled crowd. The terrace offers Lisbon panoramas, and glass walls mean that even those who make a reservation to drink and dine indoors can appreciate stunning vistas in all directions.
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.
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.
A bar, restaurant, and swimming pool all enjoy gorgeous riverfront views at this super-luxe contemporary space. By day visitors can eat, drink, and swim; at night saxophonists play under the twinkling lights of the poolside bar.
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.
The fado-loving owner of this informal space—once used to store olives and sausages, now lined with photos of famous fadistas—opened this bar serving simple food almost three decades ago; it has established itself as the city's best-known venue for fado vadio, or "vagabond fado," with mainly amateur singers, on Monday and Wednesday. Performers put their heart and soul into it (some even have half-decent voices), and the very competent musicians hold things together. Later on, professionals often turn up to do a turn when nearby fancier fado houses close. Tasca do Chico has an offshoot in the Alfama neighborhood, at Rua dos Remédios 83, where there's fado Thursday through Sunday.
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.
This bustling rooftop bar has great views of the castle and the ancient neighborhoods that sit on the hill beneath it. It can be a little hard to find, but persevere and you'll be rewarded with fine views and a wide selection of drinks along with a lively young crowd.
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.
Drink mead from a ceramic mug, eat flaming chouriço sausage, and pretend you're back in medieval times at this offbeat tavern. There are flickering candles and live folk performances.
This tiny five-seat bar, named one of the Top 50 World's Best Bars, serves only classic and bespoke cocktails catered to each guest. It also has one of the largest bourbon collections in Lisbon. Reservations (via Instagram or WhatsApp) are a must.
Steps from the water at the popular Praia da Sereia, Waikiki is a place for late-night summer beach parties or for daytime drinking and sunbathing during the warm spring months. There are sandwiches, salads, and fruit smoothies on the food menu, which could come in handy after a surf class.
