Lisbon Nightlife
Lisbon Nightlife is one of the best in Europe. Bars, cafes, restaurants and great Discos to suit everyone. It's vibrant and fun - and it goes on through the night. Lisbon has a great nighttime atmosphere. There are places to go all over the city but two areas in particular are where things happen- the Bairo Alto and the waterfront between Alcantara and Santa Apolonia known as Docas. Often people go out to eat first around 9 in the evening at one of the great Barrio Alto restaurants or in the Chiado or Avenidas areas. Then people head to the small atmospheric bars.spilling out onto the narrow streets to chat, drink, dance. The atmosphere is electric. As the night goes on everyone heads to the Discos where they dance to the early hours before heading off for a Portuguese breakfast ! Lisbon Nightlife - As the Sun Goes down
Around 8 pm the sun begins to set in Lisbon and the city is really atmospheric and romantic. A good place to start the evening is at one of the miradors - viewpoints where you can see the tapestry of city lights below you. The Garden of Sao Pedro de Alcantara in the Chiado is a good place or Porta do Sol in the Alfama or high above the city in Graca. The light is very special at this time of night and often the river becomes a magical golden colour. Lisboettas call it the sea of straw.
Lisbon Bars
There are bars all over the city but four or five streets in the Bairro Alto and a few streets in Bicas and Santos are the central meeting places for cool Lisboetas.The Bairro Alto is a grid of atmospheric streets and part of the fun is finding a place that suits your style and then moving on to check out other cool hang outs.There are so many places to choose from just being in this area gives you a real taste of the best of Lisbon nightlife. Below is a sampler of the bars on offer. Lisbon Nightlife Bairro Alto BarsYou can enter the Bairro Alto from Chiado or from Principe Real, as soon as you get into the grid of streets around Rua Norte you are sure to know you have hit the Lisbon bar scene. Rua Atalaia and Barroca run parallel to Norte and also are full of bars.You might start at 121 in Rua Norte which attracts a sophisticated trendy crowd and people who love drinking and talking. Art adorns the walls. Media people start the evening here. 
Esquina in Rua Barroca is a cool relaxed place with great music. A slightly older than usual crowd are attracted by its laid back atmosphere. Mahjong on Atalaia attracts a younger crowd and has a fun cool atmosphere - there is even table football for those whose student days will never cease. Mexe is near Mahjong and has more intense music and appeals to dancers and a vibrant party loving crowd. Agito on Rua Rosa at the northern end of the Bairro is as cool as can be. Brazilian influences, great colour schemes and food mark this bar from the rest. Cafediario. At the other end of the Bairro near the Chiado in Rua Diario de Noticias is a bar for people who know what they want. A place to drink and talk with music in the background. Great for meeting friends before going to a a disco. Pavilhao Chinese. Rua Dom Pedro V. A favourite place at the edge of Bairro Alto near Principe Real. "The Old Curiosity Shop" might be a better name for it. Like walking into a dream. An eccentric crazy Bar full of oddities not unlike an old style English Pub but more intense. There is billiards too.A great Lisbon institution. A must for bar lovers. Lisbon Nightlife - BicaNear to the Bairro Alto but across Calcada de Combro is the area known as Bica where there is an Elevator that takes you down to Cais Sodre and the waterfront. In recent years this has become an in area for people who want to drink, talk with friends and feel ahead of the game. Try Bars such as Baliza and Bicanese near to the elevator for a relaxed atmosphere and the occasional place to sit down.Lisbon Nightlife Santos AreaSantos is down from Bica going west towards the sea. There are places to drink down at the Waterfont like Esplanada de Rio and Fluid. Just back from the river are Lua which is near Alcantara and Estado Liquido which is a famous Santos hang out.This area of Santos near the gardens of Largo do Santos is full of cocktail bars - many are pretentious and don't quite make it.Nearer Cais Sodre at the bottom of the Bica elevator is Lounge Cafe, an alternative night spot for cool people with limited budgets. Lisbon Nightlife DiscosA few years back it was deceided to move Lisbon's later nightlife from the Bairro alto down to the riverside so almost all the cities lat night spots are beside the river from Alcantara to Santa Apolonia.The coolest place in town without a doubt is Lux. Owned partly by John Malkovitch in a complex with cool bars, restaurants and a deli.Lux is a Lisbon Nightlife must. The crowd is every type of cool you can imagine. Lux is for everyone except the very square. It is over to the east of town below the Alfama at Santa Apolonia Docas Alcantara west of Santos has many alternatives but none as cool as Lux. Op art - a good choice right on the waterfront. You can dance till the morning and then watch the sun rise through sheer glass panels onto the river. Paradise Garage caters for a young crowd and is open very late. Kapital and Kremlin used to be the in places but Lux came along.Just behind the waterfront in Avenida Vinte Quatro de Julho.Kapital is known as a rich mans club. Kremlin is mixed and can be wild although there are strict rules. Be careful if you go here. People - Santos is a new addition to the scene and is going down well.Docks, nearby is also an OK choice. An alternative place with a nice atmosphere a bit harder to find is Incognito in Rua dos Polais do Sao Bento. A popular student Disco. Lisbon's Street Party - Festas Lisboa
May and June are months full of festivities and highlight is the Day of Saint Anthony - June 12. There are street parties all over town. The Alfama and Graca are the most traditional spots and most tourists head there - Santos has a great local atmosphere. There is a Rio style parade down Avenida Liberdad in the town centre. Cool types stick to the Bairro Alto but this is one night to venture into the unknown. Beer and Sardines are sold at small stands all over the city and families eat at long tables in the street. Bars open their doors and music fills the night air.
Lisbon Nightlife Top For breakfast and relaxing with friends see Lisbon Cafes For hunting for cool things to buy see Lisbon Shopping To find a nice place to stay that won't break the bank see Budget Hotels For more tips on enjoying your time in the city see Enjoying Lisbon For the programme of great Lisbon Festivals and events see Lisbon Events home
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