Lisbon Nightlife

One of the best reasons to visit Lisbon is soak up its very rich nightlife, considered one of the most exciting in Europe. Hitting the town at night usually starts early, just as the sun sets. Friends usually meet up in different cafés all over the city and then proceed to a nice dinner. Cafés are a perfect as meeting places, and hanging out in a café to read, smoke, or chat up the nearest stranger, has become a cultural tradition in Portugal. The best cafés can be found in Chiado and Baixa.

Dinner is a long affair, for two reasons. Portuguese food is exquisite, especially with good company, good port and good conversation. Secondly, a lot of the clubs don't open until 10 or 11 pm. And there are lots of bars, of all kinds and persuasions to keep you up and dancing all night, guaranteed.

Fado Music and Dance

Another cultural institution in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon is the casa de Fado or Fado house. A popular homegrown genre of music, performed in Lisbon by a soloist, Fado was immortalized by Maria Severa and Amalia Rodriguez, the latter credited as the singer to give Fado its unique style, and popularize it all over the world.

Fado houses are open earlier than other bars because they serve dinner, so make sure you dedicate one night of your Lisbon trip to experience Fado. Some will advise you to visit many Fado houses in Bairro Alto, just stepping in and out for a drink or two, and that may be the best way to go about it in Bairro Alto, which is generally steeped of party-goers and tourists.

There are better Fado houses in Alfama, with much better food and even more authentic Fado singers. When going to the Fado house on a weekend, it is advisable to make reservations beforehand. The most recommended Fado houses are Clube de Fado in Alfama and Senhor Vinho in Lapa.

Larger Concert Venues

The highlight of your night out could be an exquisite classical music concert held at the Culturegest, or the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, which is the main hub of art and culture in Portugal. If you're a Theatre buff, the Dona Maria II National Theatre regularly puts on a varied repertoire of works, from plays of the classical period to contemporary and experimental pieces. Opera is regularly staged in São Carlos Theatre.

For more popular music, you can find out if a major, international band or artist is playing at the Atlantic Pavillion, found in Parque das Nações, or at the Campo Pequeno Bullring. You can also check out the performance schedule at Coliseu dos Recreios on Rua das Portas de Santo Antão.

Other Music Bars and Dance Clubs

Including the Fado houses, there are around 150 night clubs and bars in Bairro Alto alone. One of the busiest districts, Bairro Alto is known to host the punk, hip hop, heavy metal, goth and reggae scenes, and within a few steps, you're bound to find a bar which plays live music of the genre of choice. Bairro Alto at night is comparable to a Brazilian street party with locals and tourists spilling out into the street as they hop from bar to bar, partying until around 4am.

You will also find clubs that feature live DJs playing house, drum n' bass and all sorts of electronica, as well as live bands playing Latin rhythms or old school jazz in different sections all over Lisbon. Normally, Lisbon's party people don't go home at 4am, they head for the Docas, or the docks, where bars, such as Op Art, continue the revelry until the sun rises.
Among the best bars to visit are the world-renowned Lux, which is the most stylish club in Lisbon. International DJs are a regular occurrence in this city hotspot that is co-owned by US actor, John Malkovich. Other bars of note include Kapital, Kremlin, Bedroom and Pavilhão Chinês.

Within Lisbon, and most particularly in Bairro Alto, Chiado, and also in the deceptively quiet residential area of Principe Real, is a thriving gay scene. One of the most gay-friendly places in all of Europe, you'll find both gay clubs and gay-friendly clubs, where even straight men and women have the best of times.

Recommended gay and gay-friendly clubs include Bric-A-Bar, Finalmente, Max, S&S, and the largest gay club, Trumps, all in Principe Real, Herois in Chiado, Fragil, Portas Largas, Sétimo Ceu and its sister bar, Side, and Memorial in Bairro Alto.