Find out all about Lisbon nightlife. The Portuguese capital offers entertainment for all types of people, with a multitude of bars and restaurants.
Bars to visit in Lisbon
Many of the best-known bars in Lisbon are located in the Alto, Chiado and Docas de Alfama districts, or even in Cais do Sodré. One of the great things about these bars is that, not only are the prices good, but many have live music performances and outdoor tables.
As there are so many alternatives in these places, we recommend that you wander around the bars and choose the ones you like best. We recommend the Pavilhão Chinês, located between Bairro Alto and Príncipe Real, which has an intimate atmosphere with a pool table, antique pieces on display and lots of labels.
Restaurants to visit in Lisbon
Lisbon is a city that, as well as having a unique cuisine, has restaurant options to suit all budgets. Dishes are usually very well served, even when they are for just one person, and you can eat for as little as 6 euros in some cafeterias, such as 100 Montaditos, and upwards of 20 euros in good restaurants. The average is around 12 euros.
Our tip is to avoid restaurants only in the tourist area. Also, don’t always be taken in by appearances. Sometimes an old boteco, which doesn’t attract many tourists, offers the best typical Portuguese cuisine.
Fado shows in Lisbon
Another tip on how to enjoy Lisbon nightlife is to enjoy Fado, which is one of the most striking features of Portuguese culture and is considered an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
That’s why we highly recommend seeing a fado performance in a specialized house in Lisbon, even if you don’t know the style. Some options for places to see the show are the Casas de Fado, especially in the Baixa district, which is home to some of Portugal’s most famous houses. However, you need to make a reservation before going there.
Another interesting place to visit is Casa de Fado Sr. Vinho, which offers beautiful performances and a restaurant that serves excellent Portuguese cuisine – with the best wines from the region, of course.
Nightclubs in Lisbon
Our last tip on Lisbon nightlife is the nightclubs. Lisbon is a good place for those who want to stay out late clubbing. The Portuguese tend to “warm up” before going to the parties in the area around Praça Luís de Camões, in Chiado, and especially in Cais do Sodré.
But don’t worry, you can get from your hotel to the party without any problems by metro, bus or taxi/uber, in complete safety.
One of Lisbon’s best-known nightclubs is Lux Frágil. Although a little expensive, it’s one of the best in Portugal, located in Cais da Pedra. But there are many other good ones too, such as Kremlin, Icógnito and Plateau.
Extra tip for children in Lisbon
The Oceanário is a huge aquarium in Lisbon with a surreal permanent exhibition. Here, you’ll see many marine species up close, and children will be especially enchanted. On selected days, they even have an evening event that allows families to spend the night “next to the sharks”, next to the huge aquariums. It will undoubtedly be a special moment.
Save money on your trip to Lisbon:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Lisbon cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Tickets: find out where to buy your Lisbon tickets in the cheapest and safest way – for parks, museums and ticket combos. You can save up to 40%!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Lisbon. You will find out the best area, the hotels that we have stayed there and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
