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Bar-hopping and dancing the night away
A sunset in Lisbon does not mean it's the end of the day (especially on a weekend or a typical summer night). For many, the day
is just beginning and many bars haven't even opened their doors yet.
A typical evening might start in the cafés of Chiado,
serving as meeting points before heading to a restaurant for a
long, relaxed dinner in the Bairro Alto
quarter. It is the epicenter of the city's bar scene and where most of the
nighttime action takes place.
Venues range from the hip
("Bedroom"), to the quirky ("Pavilhão Chinês"), to
the laid-back ("Clube da Esquina"). Most close between 2 and
4AM, when it is time to move down by the river to the docks of
Alcântara and the district of Santos, home to several fashionable bars and clubs. The
attractive setting of the docks is a pleasant place to stay and watch the
sun rise to the sounds emanating from "Op Art," a bar with a
view that stays open well into dawn on weekends. Best of all is ending your
night (or beginning your day) on the dancefloor or sipping a cocktail on the
terrace of the city's most stylish club, "Lux," partly owned
by Hollywood actor John Malkovich and often hailed as Europe's best-designed club.
Lisbon is fast gaining a reputation as one of Europe's trendiest cities, and
it's an established favorite with the international DJ set. The young European crowd has joined the party,
with many young Spaniards, Italians, and Brits visiting the city specifically
for its nightlife. It caters to everyone, offering everything from house to electronica, to 1920's-style jazz bars, to a flourishing gay scene.
If clubbing isn't your scene, classical music is well represented
at various venues such as the Calouste
Gulbenkian Foundation and Culturgest. The city's several
beautiful old theaters, especially Dona Maria II
National Theater, present experimental contemporary works and
classical plays, and for opera, look into São
Carlos Theater.
For some local flavor, spend a candlelit evening at a Fado House,
ranging from elegant restaurants to downmarket taverns with live Fado
performers.
Many have lost their authenticity (bordering on the tacky), and are targeted at tourists
(clustered in Bairro Alto), but there are still some genuine Fado
establishments in Alfama and Lapa (home
to "Senhor Vinho," the best of them all). Fado remains a
lively part of the city's culture, and is a must for any first-time visitor.
The major concert venues are Atlantic
Pavillion and Coliseu dos
Recreios, often hosting some of the world's top bands and artists. For
other cultural events, check out the extensive program of Belem Cultural
Center, and consult the monthly Follow Me Lisboa guide
provided by the tourism office, listing all the major happenings in the
city.
For a selection of the city's best bars, clubs, and Fado Houses, see the
links on the left.
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10 Best Nighttime
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