The nightlife in Lisbon is legendary, with a vibrant bar scene, buzzing nightclubs and progressive attitudes. This is a city that knows how to party and have a good time.

If you are in the early stages of planning a trip to Lisbon and want to know about the nightlife, then be assured that it is amazing and can rival that of any other major European city. Lisbon has the best nightlife in Portugal, with more variety than Porto, Lagos or Albufeira.

If you are coming to this guide looking for ideas for your big night out, then the two main areas to head to are Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré. The latter is more tourist focused, with themed bars and clubs that stay open until sunrise, whereas Bairro Alto is known for its numerous small bars and sociable vibe that attracts an equal mix of tourists and Portuguese residents. Bairro Alto has a fantastic atmosphere during the summer, when the socialising spills out onto the streets and creates one giant party. If it is your first night out in Lisbon, start in Bairro Alto.

For something a little calmer and more personable, or if you’re a touch older, the bars of the Alfama or Graça districts would be a much better choice. If you are seeking something classy or high-end, try the Príncipe Real neighbourhood, as the bars here have more of a focus on quality. Príncipe Real is also popular with the LGBT community. The artisan and hip side of Lisbon’s nightlife is spread between Alcântara and up-and-coming Beato.

Lisbon has more bars and drinking venues than anywhere else in Portugal, and trying to detail every good bar worth visiting is nearly impossible. In addition, trends in Lisbon's nightlife scene are very fluid, with new places constantly opening and once-trendy places now catering to the masses, which makes it extremely challenging to provide a definitive guide.

Instead of saying exactly where to go, this guide will provide suggested routes (with maps) to help you get the best from your nights out in Lisbon. The last section details some of Lisbon's standout bars and venues.

Friday night in Bairro Alto

If you are planning a night out and are aged 18 to 35, then Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodre are the places to head to. They are relatively close together, separated only by a very steep hill, with Bairro Alto at the top and Cais do Sodre at the bottom, along the banks of the Tejo Estuary.

Bairro Alto is packed with hundreds of small bars that fill the ground floors of the district’s historic buildings. Many of the bars are very similar, with a couple of tables and low-priced drinks to entice patrons in. There are some gems such as A Capela, The Old Pharmacy and Pub Português, but the popular thing to do is wander between the bars and socialise on the streets. Bairro Alto really gets going around 9pm, but closes down relatively early at 2am. This is when most revellers head downhill to Cais do Sodre.

Cais do Sodre is a former red-light district, which is much more tolerant of the extremes of nightlife - in part due to fewer people living in the area. The nightlife of Cais do Sodre is centred around Pink Street (as the road is painted pink) and is packed with bars that transition into nightclubs around 1am. Cais do Sodre is more party-focused than Bairro Alto, but the trade-off is that it is more expensive. The best bar in Cais do Sodre is Pensão Amor, a former 1970s brothel that retains all of the original risqué decor and provocative elements.
A suggested bar tour of both areas is provided later in this guide.

Pink Street is often referred to as Lisbon’s “bar street”, and is one of the main nightlife areas of the city

As thrilling as Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodre nightlife is, it may be a bit extreme or not to everyone's taste.

For a calmer vibe, there are the bars in the historic district of Alfama, while the Graça neighbourhood offers a more Portuguese atmosphere.

Alfama may be packed with tourists during the day, but once the cruise ship passengers and tour groups leave, the district is an enjoyable place for a night out. Hidden within its maze of streets are small bars, which tend to have more character than those in Bairro Alto and are suitable for all ages. Exemplifying Alfama’s concealed artisan vibe is Crafty Corner, the best venue for craft beers in Lisbon.

The Graça neighbourhood lies on the boundary between ‘tourist Lisbon’ (such as the Alfama and Baixa districts) and ‘local Lisbon’ (Penha França). This means the area offers the best of both worlds and makes a good alternative location for a calmer evening. Found here is a mix of inexpensive late-night cafes and friendly wine bars, like Vino Vero.

Príncipe Real is one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in Lisbon and is home to a selection of high-end bars and restaurants. It is also the LGBT centre of Lisbon. The focus here is on quality and experience over excess and silliness, and prime examples are the outstanding cocktail bars of Cinco Lounge and Foxtrot.

The Travessa do Monte in Graça

Lisbon’s nightlife starts late and nothing gets going until 9pm, except in the truly tourism-focused bars near Pink Street.

This is partially because most people will head to a viewpoint or terrace to enjoy the sunset with drinks during the summer months. Having pre-drinks with friends at one of the viewpoints is part of Lisbon nightlife and should not be missed.

The best viewpoints are the Miradouro de Santa Catarina, Miradouro da Graça, Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, Miradouro do Monte Agudo or the Ribeira das Naus along the banks of the Tejo Estuary. At each of the viewpoints are kiosks serving inexpensive drinks, or it is perfectly acceptable to bring your own drinks to consume on the terraces.

Insight: The best location to watch the sunset is from the Jardim do Rio on the southern side of the Tejo Estuary.
Related articles: Sunset Guide to Lisbon

Sunset at the Miradouro de Santa Catarina

Lisbon is a large and vibrant city, boasting over 1500 bars and drinking establishments. If you are new to the city, the sheer variety can make it difficult to plan for a night out, and it is equally easy to simply miss some of the best bars.

To help you make the most of your time in Lisbon, we have created three exciting night-out routes that encompass a wide range of bars and nightlife areas. Each route includes a stunning viewpoint, providing you with the opportunity to watch Lisbon’s magical sunsets.
Insight: The guide has divided Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré into two different routes, enabling you to have two separate nights out, instead of going to the same places.

This is the most popular route for visitors new to Lisbon who are looking for a big night out. It takes in the waterfront of Lisbon and the lively Cais do Sodré district, and - unusually for Lisbon - there are no hills to climb. The route takes in the sunset from the banks of the Tejo River, and an interactive map can be seen below. (Note: Zoom in or out to see all of the points)

The route begins in the Praça do Comércio. It's highly touristy, but there are Wines of Portugal (1) or Museu da Cerveja (2) if you want a pre-sunset drink.

Watch the sunset along the banks of the Tejo Estuary while sipping a cocktail from a pineapple sold by one of the mobile drink stalls. Another option is to purchase your drinks from a supermarket (such as Pingo Duce) beforehand. The Quiosque da Ribeira das Naus (3) is a popular riverside bar.

Follow the river to the Jardim de Roque Gameiro (4). During the summer, there are often pop-up bars along the southern side of the plaza, or there is the Quiosque Cais do Sodré for inexpensive drinks. For higher-end dining and drinking there is Vestigius restaurant or Lisboa Rio.

Before heading to Pink Street, get a drink from one of the bars around Jardim Dom Luis. Here there is Javá Rooftop (5), or you can buy an inexpensive takeaway drink from 100 Montaditos (6). TimeOut market is more focused on food than drinking, but the bar at the front (Ginjinha da Ribeira (7)) sells good value drinks.

By now, you should be quite merry and ready to hit Pink Street. The bar to aim for is Pensão Amor (8), with its risqué brothel theme. After that, there is a wide choice of similar late-night bars and clubs around Pink Street, the best being Music Box (9). A high-end, late-night venue close by (500 metres) is K Urban Beach Club, but their fussy entry policy has ruined many a group’s night.

Bairro Alto is the nightlife neighbourhood of Lisbon, with its grid layout of streets packed with bars. Many of the bars are very similar, and once the streets are packed it's almost impossible to identify any of the bars.

This route involves watching the sunset from the Miradouro de Santa Catarina (often known as Adamastor viewpoint), which may seem a little out of the way but is totally worth the effort. The shaded blue part on the map is the main area where all of Bairro Alto’s 120+ bars are found.

Before the night begins, head to a supermarket to purchase your preferred drinks to consume while at the Adamastor viewpoint (10). There is a little kiosk bar here, the Quiosque do Adamastor, but all of its seats will be taken at sunset.

After watching the sunset, walk to the Praça de Luís de Camões (11), the main plaza of Bairro Alto. All of the bars are to the north (on the left) when entering the Praça de Luís de Camões.

There are so many almost identical bars that it's nearly impossible to distinguish them from one another. The best ones are Pub Português (12), A Capela (13) and The Old Pharmacy (14), but you could waste a lot of time looking for them. The best approach is to head to the liveliest bars, and the best vibes can be found on the streets later at night.

Warning: The bars in Bairro Alto are notorious for watering down cocktails, so before purchasing a large round, buy one test drink.

At 2am, the bars all start to close, so it's either a walk downhill to Pink Street or a wander to the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara (15) to admire the nighttime view of the city.

In comparison to the previous two bar tours, this is a relaxing and lower-energy tour. It begins in the popular tourist area of Alfama and leads uphill to the Graça district, with its distinctly Portuguese atmosphere. This is a great bar tour for slightly older or more cultured visitors who wish to be away from the mayhem of Bairro Alto or Cais do Sodré.

The tour starts from the wonderful viewpoint of the Miradouro das Portas do Sol (16). A starting drink can be purchased from the traditional kiosk here, the Quiosque das Portas do Sol, or from the higher-end SOL Restaurante e Jardim.

On the way uphill to the Graça viewpoint, stop at the Graça do Vinho (17) for quality wines and cheeses.

The kiosk bar of Esplanada da Graça (18) is where you will watch the sunset, and its relaxed atmosphere and inexpensive drinks mean you may stay much longer after sunset (or until the cool winds pick up).

Afterwards, wander along the pretty main street of Graça, with drinks at O Satélite or food at O Pitéu da Graça or the quirky Sant'Avó (19).

For the later part of the night, head to the Travessa do Monte with its wine bars, such as Vino Vero (20) or Locals & Nomads Natural Wine Bar. If you prefer beer, there is the Taproom Oitava Colina (21) close by.

If you’re on a romantic trip to Lisbon, or simply feeling energetic after all the drinks, head up the very steep hill to the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (22), the best viewpoint of Lisbon.

Pensão Amor - A uniquely styled bar housed in a former 1970s brothel that retains all of the original risqué decor and provocative elements. The The maze-like interior features rooms with mirrored ceilings and a former pole dancing room. Pensão Amor is by far the best venue on Pink Street.

Red Frog - A 1920s prohibition New York-inspired speakeasy, complete with a hidden entrance accessible only by pressing a doorbell. The theme, however, plays second to the highly acclaimed cocktails, which have earned Red Frog a spot among the world's top 100 bars for the last 5 years.

Rooftop Bar - A stylish rooftop venue situated at the top of the Hotel Mundial, providing wonderful views over central Lisbon and the castle. This is a great setting for an early evening cocktail and is high-end socialising without the pretentiousness associated with 5-star hotels.

The view over the Praça da Figueira from the Rooftop Bar

Crafty Corner - The best venue for craft beers in Lisbon, housed in a medieval building in Alfama, with many of its original features beautifully exposed. Crafty Corner offers a selection of quality beers, IPAs, and brews from local micro-producers, making it a great place to discover that Portugal offers more than just Sagres or Super Bock.

Pavilhão Chinês - Step into a world of wonder at this former tea house turned bar, where every nook and cranny is filled with fascinating antiques and memorabilia. Each of the five rooms is crammed with intriguing trinkets and eclectic decor from around the world, creating a unique atmosphere in which to enjoy one of their fine drinks.

The pool room in the Pavilhão Chinês

Sky Bar (Tivoli Avenida Hotel) - Glamorous drinking experience with outstanding customer service, which matches the 5-star price point of their drinks.

Park Bar - Trendy rooftop bar hidden at the top of a bland multi-story car park. The view and setting are the attractions here, as it can get very busy.

Cinco Lounge - Regarded as serving some of Lisbon's finest cocktails, with a menu of over one hundred drinks and highly experienced cocktail makers. This is where to head for exquisite drinks.

By the Wine - This wine bar showcases the finest wines from SOGRAPE, Portugal's largest wine producer. Complementing the extensive wine selection is a range of delicious appetizers. The roof of the wine bar is adorned with hundreds of green bottles.

Java Roof top - The roof top venue overlooking Cais do Sodré district, a fantastic location for early evening.

Foxtrot - Delighting Lisbon's residents since 1978, this Art Deco cellar bar in São Bento, styled as a speakeasy, transports patrons back to the glory of 1920s America.

Topo Chiado - A popular bar with views of the city, that stands beneath the ruins of the Igreja do Carmo. This is the perfect spot for enjoying afternoon drinks, or taking a break while sightseeing. Topo also has a sister bar located in the Martim Moniz plaza, but the Chiado setting is much more special.

The pool room in the Pavilhão Chinês

Maria Caxuxa - A relaxed venue and a favourite with hip locals, who tire of the chaos of Barrio Alto. It was formerly a cake factory and retains many features including its old oven.

The Couch Sports Bar - If you want a sports bar, with lots of TVs, great atmosphere and decent comfort food this is the bar for you.

Musa de Marvila - A beer hall and terrace attached to the Musa brewery. It’s a distance from the common tourist areas but worth the effort if you’re into your beer. They also have a trap room in Bica (the Musa da Bica).

Vino Vero - Relaxed and social wine bar in the Graca district, with its wines and prices plastered over the walls. This is a great follow-up location after the Esplanada da Graça.

 

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