LISBON’S
NIGHT-LIFE
Lisbon's nightlife is considered one of the most
vibrant in Europe.
On any night of the week visitors can drink until
dawn, find dance music to suit, see a live band
or enjoy a late-night meal.
The city has an interesting variety of restaurants
and bars to offer in the most popular areas like
the Bairro Alto and Docas waterfront district.
Nights out in Lisbon normally last until the next
morning, given that most bars don't close before
2 am and discos are open until 6 am or later.
The Bairro Alto has always been a popular place
to go at night. This ancient quarter has cultivated
its own unique style over the years, distinguishing
it from other night-life zones around the city.
Besides an abundance of bars and clubs, the Bairro
Alto offers a wide selection of typical Portuguese
and international restaurants.
Better known as the Docas, the zona ribeirinha (waterfront
area) has recently evolved into one of the liveliest
night-life districts in Lisbon. The many restaurants,
bars, street cafés and discos by the river
make for a memorable night in the Portuguese capital.
But Lisbon’s night-life isn’t confined
to the city, it stretches all the way along the
Costa do Estoril. Claimed to be the largest of its
kind in Europe, the famous Estoril Casino offers
first-class entertainment and a wide range of gaming
options throughout the night.
After dinner, visitors can take a stroll through
the ancient districts of Alfama and Bairro Alto,
where there are plenty of bars, night-clubs and
fado houses.
There’s more fado to be found in Alcântara,
a vibrant district in the south-western part of
the city where sailors are said to have started
this tradition several centuries ago.
Those looking for a fashionable discotheque should
try along the Avenida 24 de Julho after midnight;
that’s where the young Lisboetans prefer
to hang out.
They can also be found in the new Docas riverside
areas of Santo Amaro and Alcântara, a recently-renovated
strip of bars, restaurants and night-clubs.
Alternatively, Lisbon is well-known for its rich
cultural calendar with regular first-class ballet,
opera and concerts happening throughout the year,
mostly at the city’s top venues such as
Belém Cultural Centre, the Gulbenkian and
Culturgest.
FADO. Translated as destiny
or fate, fado is a song about sorrow, sometimes
happiness, and the many things that affect our
daily lives.
For the visitor, fado is a curiosity, but for
the singer it is a form of intimate expression,
accompanied by intricate guitar melodies played
by smartly-dressed men.
We can’t be absolutely sure of its origin,
although some say it was invented by homesick
Portuguese sailors who spent long periods away
at sea in terrible conditions.
Above all, it is a performance to be enjoyed,
preferably during dinner with a bottle or two
of the local wine.
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