The best places to visit in Lisbon at night

Despite being a daytime city with lots of blue skies, there are many tourist attractions in Lisbon that are also worth visiting at night. Check out, in this article, the best places to visit in Lisbon at night, and get tips on bars, restaurants, clubs, and how to make the most of the city’s nightlife.

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and the most populous city in the country. It is the westernmost capital of the European continent on the Atlantic coast.

Furthermore, Lisbon is considered a global city due to its importance in financial, commercial, media, artistic, educational, and tourist aspects. It is one of the main economic centers of the European continent, thanks to financial progress favored by the largest container port on the Atlantic coast of Europe and by the Humberto Delgado Airport.

Not to mention tourism. A day of tourism in Lisbon is usually full and intense, but anyone who thinks that the city falls asleep at night is wrong. On the contrary.

The capital is known as a bohemian and very lively destination and offers entertainment and nightlife options for all tastes.

The same diversity that is highlighted during the day, can be seen at night in the bars, on the tracks animated by renowned DJs, in the authentic fado houses, and on the rooftops with starry skies, in the cultural spaces. 

Read more: What are the best places to live in Lisbon, Portugal?

Do you want to know more? Check out, below, the best places to visit in Lisbon at night.

Fado shows

Going to Portugal and not seeing a good fado show in Lisbon is the same thing as going to Brazil and not going to a samba.

Considered an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, fado is a symbol of Portuguese culture and popular music, with its sad and nostalgic airs.

There are several places to see a good fado show in Lisbon, such as Fado’s House, a restaurant and bar in the Baixa district. Another fado house is Sr. Vinho, which opened in 1975, which also has a restaurant that serves excellent Portuguese cuisine.

Shows

Enjoy the cultural offer of the big and small Portuguese cities. The options are immense, including concerts, plays, performances, reading sessions, and much more.

In Lisbon, you can attend the biggest concerts and shows at the Pavilhão Atlântico or Campo Pequeno. Watch plays at the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II, or at any of the countless smaller theatres or venues scattered around the city. Discover the erudite concerts at the Gulbenkian Foundation or the excellent program of the Centro Cultural de Belem. If you prefer more intimate concerts, opt for the jazz club Hot Club de Portugal, or for one of the many concerts and meetings at Fábrica do Braço de Prata, for example.

In Porto, you can witness grandiose shows at the Coliseu do Porto and watch theatre plays at the Rivoli or at the Teatro Nacional de São João. Don’t miss the excellent and complete program at Casa da Música. Finally, explore the other cultural venues and smaller theatres and halls scattered around the city.

Restaurants

The Portuguese capital has excellent restaurant options for anyone to eat well. The dishes are usually very well served, even when they are for just one person, and the prices are not too expensive either.

Read here: Romantic Restaurants in Algarve.

Most restaurants in Lisbon have a more intimate and comfortable atmosphere – great for resting after a day of sightseeing.

Local tip 1:

After dinner, take a stroll through the city streets and see how busy Lisbon is until the wee hours.

Local tip 2:

Avoid looking for restaurants only in the tourist area. Little restaurants hidden in alleys can bring big surprises.

Here are some restaurant suggestions for good food:

• Dahlia
• A Travessa
• A Brasileira Coffee
• Eleven Restaurant
• Yakuza by Olivier
• Tasca da Esquina
• Le Chat
• Vestigius
• Donna Taça – Art & Wine

Bars

Most of the best-known bars in Lisbon are located in the Alto, Chiado, and Docas from Alfama districts, or even in Cais from Sodré. The city also has alternatives, such as the quiet bars and vibrant cultural associations of Graça, Intendente or Alfama.

There are dozens of alternatives that exist in these regions, and when in doubt, walk through one of them and choose the bar that suits you best. A good option is a Chinese Pavilion, which has an intimate atmosphere, with a pool table, old pieces on display, and many beverage labels.

Most of the bars have live music performances and have outdoor tables for you to enjoy, especially in the summer.

There are options for all tastes and budgets, from the most luxurious and expensive bars to the simplest ones with cheap drinks. Here are some of them:

• Chinese Pavilion Bar
• Klandestino Coffee
• Cinco Lounge Bar
• Bar Bedroom
• Red Frog Speakeasy Bar
• Bar Foxtrot
• Procopio Bar
• Pensão do Amor Bar
• Ferroviario

Ballads

If your goal is to enjoy the night in Lisbon until the wee hours, know that it is very active.

There are clubs in Lisbon that are super famous throughout Europe, which ends up attracting people from different countries to the city, especially in the summer.

One of the nightclubs that is a mandatory stop in Lisbon is LuxFragil. Although a little expensive, it is one of the best clubs in Portugal, located in Cais da Pedra. The place is super prestigious and the nights at Lux go on until dawn!.

But there are many other good options, such as the Kremlin, Incógnito, Metropolis Club, and Plateau.

For the children

The Oceanarium is a giant aquarium and offers a permanent exhibition. It is a nightly event that allows families to sleep with the sharks for a night, next to the huge aquariums. In addition to knowing more about the animals, the experience is remarkable for a lifetime and for all ages.

For kids who love adventures with science, one of the best attractions in Lisbon that unites fun and wisdom is the Pavilion of Knowledge. In the interactive science museum, there are temporary events and exhibitions, besides the different activities for all visitors.

One of the activities that can be found in the Pavilion of Knowledge is riding a bicycle that is suspended on a rope meters above the ground, for example. And what’s more, have you ever thought of piloting a rocket? At the Pavilion of Knowledge, it is possible. Because a large hydrogen rocket is available for visitors to enjoy.

Created in 1990, the Pavilion of Knowledge – Ciência Viva receives thousands of visitors every year, mainly families. Even famous people like Bill Gates and Bill Clinton have been there.

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Have you been to these best places to visit in Lisbon at night? Tell us in the comments.