Lisbon is a cosmopolitan city with lots of options that will certainly please you when you come to Portugal. If you like going out, then Lisbon is one of the European cities with the most offer and an intense nightlife. If you want to go out to dinner, have a drink, visit somewhere or attend a festival or concert there is always something happening. In fact, many activities are free, so if you can plan ahead and consult the specialized press, it can be very worthwhile.
Going out in Lisbon is a real pleasure not only because of the quality of the spaces, but also because of the diversity of the offer, which makes Lisbon nights a success. The last 20 years have seen a tremendous evolution in terms of offering, which meets all tastes, all purses, all styles, from the most agitated to the most relaxed, from rooftops of hotels with ambience lounge to trendy terraces that abound throughout the city.
Lisbon is a city with many tribes and this is also reflected in the proposals that currently exist. Fado lovers, electronic music fanatics, jazz lovers, rock lovers, those who like Brazilian, Angolan or Cape Verdean music, everyone will feel at home here.
The zones
To go out, the center is the place par excellence if you want to have fun. To go for drinks or dinner, Bairro Alto is a great option because it combines restaurants and bars in one place. Circulation in this part of the city is limited, meaning you must do everything on foot. Bairro Alto thus surpasses other areas because it has a little bit of everything: lots of restaurants, lots of bars for all tastes, some shops, you can listen to fado, bossa nova or rock. Just choose what you like most. The other areas with bars and restaurants are Alfama, Cais do Sodré, Alcântara and Expo. But as an alternative to Bairro Alto, it is in the riverside area, that is, the strip next to the river that goes from Cais do Sodré to Alcântara that you will find more bars. The Príncipe Real area is known for being the LGBT area of Lisbon, although in Bairro Alto there are also several specifically LGBT options.
Kiosks and Terraces
In addition to all the bar options that essentially sell alcohol and operate more at night, in recent years we have been witnessing the appearance or rejuvenation of small kiosks all over the center of Lisbon. They are normally installed in places with panoramic views and also operate at night. The great advantage of these kiosks is that it is possible to sit peacefully on the terrace in an open-air environment. Most viewpoints have one of these kiosks and along Avenida da Liberdade too. In addition to these terraces, there are also several options in many Lisbon hotels – the popular roof tops. Here, despite having slightly higher prices, the lounge and relaxed atmosphere, but above all, the fantastic view they offer, is well worth the experience.
Everything else
In addition to the traditional nightlife spots, whether for a drink, dancing or chatting with friends, Lisbon also offers countless options that are difficult to list given the range of options available. You can watch a concert at Altice Arena or in Coliseum, opt for more intimate proposals in the Belém Cultural Center (better known as CCB) which has a wide range of offers or, if you come in the summer months, attend a concert at one of the festivals that take place here – Rock in Rio Lisboa It is Alive us are the best known, but there are also jazz proposals with the EDP Cool Jazz or more alternatives like Super Bock in Stock.