Lisbon's nightlife is defined by its sheer variety and vibrant energy, offering everything from traditional bars in historic neighbourhoods to vast, modern nightclubs. This diverse and progressive scene provides a complete nightlife experience, with venues and atmospheres to suit almost any style or budget, rivalling any of Europe’s major capitals.

The epicentre of this activity is Bairro Alto, a dense network of tiny bars where a sociable mix of locals and visitors gathers. For many, this is the starting point of a night out. As the evening progresses, the crowds often gravitate downhill to the Cais do Sodré district, where larger venues and late-night clubs keep the energy going until sunrise.

Beyond these two main hubs, Lisbon’s nightlife diversifies to suit different tastes. The districts of Alfama and Graça offer a calmer, more traditional atmosphere in their local bars. For more sophisticated cocktails and high-end venues, the Príncipe Real neighbourhood is the primary destination. Meanwhile, the city's creative and alternative scenes are found in the former industrial areas of Alcântara and Marvila.

 

 

The sheer number of venues and the fluid nature of the city's scene make any definitive list of 'best bars' quickly outdated. To provide a more useful resource, this guide focuses on a practical approach. It provides suggested routes for the main nightlife districts, helping you discover the distinct character of each area. A final section details a selection of Lisbon's most enduring and noteworthy venues.

Friday night in Bairro Alto

The heart of Lisbon's mainstream nightlife is concentrated in two adjacent districts: Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré. These areas are the primary destination for a younger crowd, drawing a vibrant mix of visitors and locals. Geographically, Bairro Alto sits atop a steep hill, while Cais do Sodré lies at its base along the Tagus estuary, creating a natural progression for a night out.

Bairro Alto is a dense grid of historic streets packed with hundreds of small bars. The district's main appeal is the social atmosphere that spills onto the streets, with the popular approach being to wander between venues, drink in hand. The energy in Bairro Alto builds from around 9pm and winds down by 2am, at which point the crowds typically move downhill. While many of the bars are similar in style, standout venues include A Capela, The Old Pharmacy and Pub Português.

The destination after Bairro Alto is Cais do Sodré. A former red-light district, the area is more tolerant of late-night noise and activity. The scene is centred on the iconic Rua Nova do Carvalho, famously known as Pink Street, where bars transition into nightclubs around 1am and stay open until the early hours. The atmosphere here is more party-focused than in Bairro Alto, and prices are generally higher. A unique venue is Pensão Amor, a former brothel that has retained its provocative 1970s decor.

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

For those seeking an alternative to the high-energy crowds of Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré, Lisbon offers several districts with more relaxed or refined atmospheres. The historic Alfama district provides characterful bars, Graça offers a more authentic local experience, and Príncipe Real is the centre for sophisticated, high-end venues.

By day, Alfama is filled with tour groups, but in the evening the district transforms into an enjoyable area for a night out. Its maze-like streets hide small, characterful bars that are suitable for all ages. A prime example of Alfama's artisan side is Crafty Corner, one of the best venues for craft beer in Lisbon.

The Graça neighbourhood sits on the boundary between the main tourist areas and residential Lisbon. This position gives it a unique atmosphere, offering a calmer, more authentic Portuguese evening. The area contains a pleasant mix of inexpensive late-night cafes and welcoming wine bars, such as Vino Vero.

Príncipe Real is one of Lisbon's most affluent neighbourhoods and the centre of the city's LGBT community. The nightlife here focuses on quality and experience rather than volume, with a high concentration of sophisticated bars and restaurants. This is the district for outstanding cocktails, with prime examples being the renowned Cinco Lounge and Foxtrot.

The Travessa do Monte in Graça

Lisbon’s nightlife typically starts late, with most bars remaining quiet until after 9pm. This is largely due to a local tradition of gathering at a scenic viewpoint, or miradouro, to watch the sunset with drinks. This ritual is an essential part of a summer evening in the city and serves as the customary start to a night out.

The city's hills provide numerous excellent locations for this. Popular viewpoints include the Miradouro de Santa Catarina, Miradouro da Graça, and Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. Along the waterfront, the Ribeira das Naus promenade is another prime spot. Most of these locations have small kiosks serving inexpensive drinks, and it is also common for people to bring their own.

For one of the most dramatic sunset views, however, it is worth crossing the Tagus estuary by ferry. The perspective from the Jardim do Rio in Almada, looking back towards the city and the 25 de Abril Bridge, is exceptional.
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 Luís. 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 Lisbon from the Rooftop Bar at the top of the Hotel Mundial

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.

Topo Chiado

Maria Caxuxa - A relaxed venue and a favourite with hip locals, who tire of the chaos of Bairro 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.

Discover more of Lisbon with our most popular guides