Lisbon is one of the best party cities in Europe, according to my experiences and my friends. From 1€ shooters to bar areas and Portuguese music, you are in for a treat. This party guide for Lisbon will introduce 10 bars that will definitely get you started for the night. Lisbon party guide includes a good quieter chill bar to get you started and ends with crazier and unique clubs and bars!
Nightlife in Lisbon starts on the streets. Literally, the street being so filled with people that you can lose your friends. The noisy rowdy crowd, a bar at every 10 meters or the beautiful squares where you can chill and spend the day. Partying in Lisbon is also great. Sometimes I have no idea how I got back, other times you end up in random bars speaking with even more random people.
Party Guide for Lisbon: Visit Bairro Alto
Lisbon is definitely a party city. Why do I say that? They have an entire section in the city just catered for partying. Yes, yes, you have streets like Lan Kwai Fong in Hong Kong or Clark Quay in Singapore or Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam. But no, in Lisbon, partying levels up. They have an entire quarter for late night partying with hundreds of bars!
We were at Bairro Alto at around 11pm, and it was already packed with people. You have bars lining the streets, and people standing on the streets talking. Beers are cheaper there for they have nightlong happy hours. Sometime, you also get deals like 1€ shots and beers for 2-3€.
Unfortunately, this place is also a residential area. Bars close at 2am on weekday nights and 3am on weekend nights. Nonetheless, just head on down the hill, where the scene changes to night long party clubs.
Bar 1: Maria Caxuxa
According to my memory, this should be one of the first few bars we went to. The atmosphere inside felt very “local” with Portuguese music playing and it is also packed with people. We had a hard time squeezing with people to get from the door to the bar, but we made it in the end. We had some beers, some people gave us tequila shots and we were enjoying the music.
Turns out, this place used to be a former bakery, so the rustic decoration is just remnants of the old bakery. Music there ranges between electronic and jazz. This is also the most popular bar in Bairro Alto because it is relatively bigger than the other bars, but everyone is standing on the street drinking. So it doesn’t matter, really. Also, you can smoke inside.
I recommend that you stay in Bairro Alto and you can access the center of Lisbon on foot. Also, it’s easier to go home when you’re drunk. Saying this with experience!
Name of Party Place: Maria Caxuxa
Address: R. da Barroca 12, Lisbon
Operating Hours: (Mon-Sat) 17:00-02:00, (Sun) 21:00-02:00
Contact: +351 96 503 9094
Bar 2: Incognito Bar
Not exactly the bar where you go invisible like Google Chrome’s incognito mood, but this bar is the best non-mainstream club in Lisbon. Open in 1988, this club has come a long way. Music range from Indie to SynthPop, New Wave, Post-Punk or anything depending on the DJ.
A small fee is required, 5€, but you get a free drink with it. The dance floor is packed with people, like everywhere in the area at 2am. This is also located at the foot of the hill where Bairro Alto is. So head down to the club after you are done with 5 hours of drinking. I would recommend you to visit after 2am.
Name of Party Place: Incognito Bar/Club
Address: Rua Poiais de São Bento, 37 Lisbon
Operating Hours: (Wed-Sat) 23:00-04:00
Contact: +351 21 390 8755
Bar 3:
A Ginjinha probably got popular when featured in 2 TV shows. Ginja is a Portuguese liquor made of ginja berries (who would have guessed) and sour cheery in alcohol.
The best way to describe this place is “a little hole in the wall that serves you alcohol”. They sell ginja shots for 1.40€ each, and you can drink it on the streets and return your little glasses. There are old “hardcore” local drinkers around, but there are as many tourists. It is also the oldest place in Lisbon that serves the original Lisboa ginja!
Name of Party Place: A Ginjinha
Address: Largo de Sao Domingos 8
Operating Hours: (daily) 09:00-22:00
Contact: +351 21 814 5374
Bar 4: Bar Procópio
Some of us spend the night drinking and not remembering anything. Some of us prefer to catch up with your friends in a nice bar over some drinks. Then Bar Procópio will be the bar for you.
This bar plays bossa nova music with great food. You can have a nice night chilling with your friends or meet people. You have people in the twenties to sixities there! It is also a lot more chilled compared to the cheap shots/cheap beer bars along Bairro Alto street. Port wine starts at 3€ per glass.
Name of Party Place: Bar Procópio
Address: Rua João Penha 21 A, Lisbon
Operating Hours: (Mon-Fri) 18:00-03:00, (Sat) 21:00-03:00
Contact: +351 32 385 2851
Bar 5: Cinco Lounge
If you are a fan of cocktails, Cinco Lounge is a quiet little hidden place that serves some great cocktail mixes. The quality of mixers with the perfect balance of alcohol with beautiful presentation is just lovely. Not only are the cocktails well mixed, the staff are also passionate about what they do. Sit by the bar and enjoy your cocktail over a little chat with the bartender!
You have to be warned that it is a smoke bar so people smoke inside.
Name of Party Place: Cinco Lounge
Address: Rua Ruben A. Leitao 17-A, Lisbon
Operating Hours: (daily) 21:00-02:00
Contact: +351 91 466 8242
Party Guide for Lisbon: Visit Rua Nova do Carvalho (Pink Street)
The other party place is the pink street. As you can imagine, the street is lined with pink carpets. You thought red light district is filled with red lights? (That is true). Pink Street is filled with pink carpets.
And needless to say, this was once the red light district. Every other bar there is a sex-related bar with strippers and dancers. However, you still have a good selection of bars to choose from! The bars there are also quite selective in the people that can enter. The ratio is about 2 females per male to enter. Best to enter with a group of friends.
The bars and clubs are named after port cities or countries like Tokyo, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, etc. Tokyo and Jamaica are now trendy clubs and you have other smaller and cosy ones lie Pensão Amor.
This place used to be frequent by drunk, sailors, drunk sailors, drifters, party-goers and prostitutes. Today, it is also filled with almost the same crowd, with an inclusion of pickpockets and thieves too.
Unlike Bairro Alto that closes at around 2am, this goes till the morning! Simply move your party from Bairro Alto to the pink street and continue partying the night away.
Bar 6: Pensão Amor
Pensão Amor is located at the former red light district. The walls are painted with artistic figures of ladies. Since it used to be a cheap pension with rooms to rent for an hour, you can now check out the old copies of burlesque posters and peep shows.
This is one of the most popular bars in Lisbon. You have a pole dance room in leopard prints and gold. There is also a bookstore that sells erotica and a sex shop. This place gets busy after 2pm, when people move from Bairro Alto to the Pink Street.
Name of Party Place: Pensão Amor
Address: R. do Alecrim 19, 1200-014 Lisboa, Portugal
Operating Hours: (Thu-Sat) 00:00-04:00, (Sun-Wed) 00:00-03:00
Contact: +351 21 314 3399
Bar 7: Viking Club
Viking is a club that preserved its services till today: 1 dancer performing for the strip show on a little stage. This is popular for bachelors to throw parties with some naughty fun. (Although I think Budapest is better for bachelor’s party.)
It is also a dance club with lots of people. However, this place is known for 2 things: people getting pocketed and some people are subjected to racism, usually English men.
Name of Party Place: Viking Bar
Address: Rua Nova Do Carvalho 1 a 7, 1200, Portugal
Operating Hours: (Mon-Sat) 23:00-04:00
Contact: +351 21 342 6468
Bar 8: MusicBox
MusicBox is one of the clubs located under the bridge. They have ladies at the door, trying to ask you to get inside. Entry costs 10€ .
The interesting thing is that you need girls in your group to get in. Otherwise, they will reject the group, even if you are willing to pay! There must be a higher ratio of females to males. I found this weird and sleazy, but I guess it is some rule that the club imposes.
Name of Party Place: MusicBox
Address: Rua Nova do Carvalho N 24, Lisbon 1200-292, Portugal
Operating Hours: (Mon-Sat) 23:00-06:00
Contact: +351 21 347 3188
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Bar 9: Pink Wine Point
This club is probably one of the classier ones in Pink Street. You have live music and good selection of alcohol. The atmosphere is nice and chill, one of the places you should definitely check out in Pink Street.
Name of Party Place: Pink Wine Point
Address: Rua Nova do Carvalho 29, Lisbon 1200-161, Portugal
Operating Hours: (Daily) 18:00-02;00
Contact: +351 933 350 117
Bar 10: Cais do Pirata
This bar was where I think we ended the night. It was once again free entry for ladies, and you need to have more ladies in the group for the men to get in. Inside, it is super packed but there was space to dance. Hot skin pressing against each other as bodies moved to the beat. You have to be careful of being pickpocketed and also groped! My friend’s ass was squeezed and we went to find the bouncers, but they didn’t care. Take care of yourself and your belongings!
Name of Party Place: Cais do Pirata
Address: Rua de S. Paulo 4, 1200-052 Lisboa, Portugal
Operating Hours: (Mon-Sat) 23:00-04:00
Contact: +351 963 098 171
Some Notes about Partying in Lisbon
Lastly, I just like to add some pointers about the party scene in Lisbon, especially in the Pink Street. I did not feel any racism per say as an Asian, but I saw many English dudes being turned away because the bouncers were racist. How do I know that? Because the bouncers literally said that they are racist and not letting the guys in. They are also rather sexist, for allowing more girls than guys in the clubs. If you are in a group, be prepared to enter with a ratio of more girls to guys. Otherwise, you will not be allowed into the club, like us.
It is still a nice party place, nonetheless. Be sure to keep your money close to you and be nice to the bouncers. They can reject you anytime. Seriously.
Trevellers is my way to change the world. Through my stories, tips and lessons learnt, I truly hope to inspire you to get out of your comfort zone, see the world and see who you truly are. Travel is more than just taking a selfie. Travel is an adventure, where you can truly become who you are, give you the time to reflect and grow to become the person you’ve always wanted to be.
Beaches in Lisbon, Portugal
