Top 10 Best Bars in Lisbon (with a Free Bar Itinerary)

Last updated: November 2026

Lisbon is one of the easiest cities in Europe for a good night out, because the best bars are small, close together and spread across hilly neighbourhoods that are fun to walk. If you want the best bars in Lisbon, start with Pavilhão Chinês for an eccentric cocktail room, Park for a rooftop sunset and Pensão Amor for a theatrical late-night drink. Add a standing-room glass of ginjinha and a fado tavern, and you have the city’s drinking culture in one trip.

This guide covers ten bars, each with a practical box. Further down you will find how to pick between them, a free printable 3-day Lisbon bar itinerary, where to stay, getting around and budget guidance. For general planning, the official Visit Lisboa website is a good starting point, and if you want dinner first, our guide to the best places to eat in Lisbon covers seafood, tascas and pastry.

Bars change faster than monuments. Hours, door policies and even addresses move from year to year, so this guide avoids exact times and prices. Where something could not be confirmed, it says so, so check before you go.

Quick answer: What are the best bars in Lisbon? For character, go to Pavilhão Chinês in Príncipe Real or Pensão Amor in Cais do Sodré. For a view, climb to the Park rooftop above Bairro Alto. For craft cocktails, choose Cinco Lounge, Procópio or Foxtrot, and for a quick local ritual, take a shot of ginjinha at A Ginjinha. For live music, try Tasca do Chico for fado or Musicbox for gigs and DJs.

Quick comparison: best bars in Lisbon

1. Pavilhão Chinês

Pavilhão Chinês is the bar most visitors remember, because every wall and ceiling in its string of rooms is covered in collections. It sits on Rua Dom Pedro V in Príncipe Real, in a historic shop space that the city lists among its Lojas com História.

The rooms are the attraction. Cabinets hold toy soldiers, model aeroplanes, porcelain, military helmets and curios of every kind, and the ceiling is dotted with more objects. A billiards table sits in one room, and the menu runs from classic cocktails to drinks named after the themes of the collections.

The bar is popular, and on busy nights there may be a short wait for a table. It is an evening bar, and sources disagree on its Sunday hours, so check before you go on a Sunday. It is also a good place to start an evening in Príncipe Real, since several of the other bars in this guide are a short walk away.

Come with time to look rather than rushing your drink. The collections are the real show, and staff are used to guests wandering between rooms with a glass in hand.

• How to get there: Walk from Rato or Príncipe Real, or take a short taxi from the centre.
• How long to spend: One to two hours, longer if you want a table in the billiards room.
• Best time to go: Early evening, when there is room to explore without a crowd.
• Tip: Walk through every room before choosing a seat, as the best collections are in the back.

2. Pensão Amor

Pensão Amor is the most theatrical bar in Lisbon, set in a building that was once a brothel on Cais do Sodré’s Pink Street. It sits on Rua do Alecrim, with a second entrance on Rua Nova do Carvalho, and it helped turn this once rough waterfront district into a nightlife hub.

The decor leans into the history. Red velvet, chandeliers, vintage erotica, a small library and a stage for occasional burlesque and music nights fill a series of rooms over two levels, and there is a terrace for warmer evenings. The mood is playful rather than seedy, and the cocktails are well made, so it works for a date or a group of friends.

Pensão Amor is busiest from late evening, and weekends can be crowded, so go early if you want a sofa. Check the official Pensão Amor website for events and any door policy, since special nights change the atmosphere.

Because Pink Street is lively and compact, it is easy to continue the night on foot. Musicbox, also in this guide, is a few minutes away, and many people finish at the riverside kiosks nearby.

• How to get there: Metro, train or tram to Cais do Sodré, then walk to Rua do Alecrim.
• How long to spend: One to two hours for drinks, longer on event nights.
• Best time to go: Early evening for a seat, or late for the full buzz.
• Tip: Look at the opening times for burlesque or live music nights if you want a show, or avoid them if you want quiet.

3. Park

Park is the rooftop bar that many locals suggest first, because it is high, relaxed and has a clear view over the Tagus. It sits on top of a multi-storey car park on Calçada do Combro, on the edge of Bairro Alto, and you reach it by a lift or stairs from the street.

The setting is part of the charm. Rooftops, church domes and the river spread out below, and the open terrace has plants, low seating and a bar that serves cocktails, beer and light food. It has been a popular sunset spot since the early 2010s and now doubles as a place for DJs in the evening.

Expect a queue for the best sunset spots, particularly in summer. The bar does not usually take reservations, so arrive early if you want a table by the edge. It is generally an afternoon and evening venue and may be closed on some days, so check its current details before you set out.

Park suits a first evening in Lisbon, when you want to get your bearings. From here, the streets of Bairro Alto and Chiado are a short walk away, and you can continue on to Tasca do Chico or Pavilhão Chinês.

• How to get there: Walk from Chiado or Cais do Sodré, or take a short taxi to Calçada do Combro.
• How long to spend: One to two hours around sunset.
• Best time to go: An early evening arrival, before the sunset queue forms.
• Tip: Dress in layers, because the roof can be breezy after dark.

4. Procópio

Procópio is a classic Lisbon cocktail bar that has been serving drinks since the early 1970s and is still run by the founding family. It sits on Alto de São Francisco near Amoreiras, a quieter residential area away from the main nightlife streets, and it is listed as a historic shop by the city.

The bar began as a whisky bar and has since moved into cocktails, with a long menu of classic and long drinks. The interior mixes Art Nouveau and Art Deco touches, and the mood is that of a refined, old-style cocktail bar rather than a loud night out. It is a good choice if you want to talk, and to be served by bartenders who take the craft seriously.

Because Procópio is not on the main bar streets, you will usually find it calmer than the bars in Bairro Alto. It is an evening bar, and published opening days vary, so check before you go.

It works well as a start or end to an evening, as a quiet contrast to Pink Street or Park. A short taxi ride is usually the easiest way to reach it from the centre.

• How to get there: Taxi or a walk from Amoreiras or Rato.
• How long to spend: One to two hours.
• Best time to go: Early evening, when it is quiet and you can talk.
• Tip: Ask the bartender for a recommendation, because the menu is long and the classics are well made.

5. A Ginjinha

A Ginjinha is a tiny standing-room counter near Rossio where Lisbon drinks its cherry liqueur, and it is the quickest bar stop in the city. It sits on Largo de São Domingos and is generally dated to 1840, with the first Lisbon sales of ginjinha credited to a man named Espinheira.

The ritual is simple. You ask for a ginjinha, with or without a cherry in the glass (com elas or sem elas), pay, drink it standing at the counter or on the square outside, and move on. The liqueur is sweet, strong and sour-cherry flavoured, and it is a traditional digestif rather than a cocktail.

The bar is small, so you will often find a short queue and a crowd spilling into the square. That is part of the fun. It is a useful stop before a meal or on the way to a bar crawl, and it costs very little compared with the cocktail bars. Locals often drop in for one shot on the way home from work, which gives the counter a friendly, everyday feel that is very different from the cocktail bars.

Other ginjinha bars trade nearby, and locals have their own favourites, but A Ginjinha is the original and the one to choose.

• How to get there: Metro to Rossio, then walk to Largo de São Domingos.
• How long to spend: Ten minutes.
• Best time to go: Mid-afternoon or early evening, before dinner.
• Tip: Try it once with the cherry and once without, to see which you prefer.

6. Cinco Lounge

Cinco Lounge is the bar that helped start Lisbon’s craft cocktail scene, and it still takes its drinks more seriously than almost anywhere else. It sits on Rua Ruben A. Leitão in Príncipe Real and opened in the mid 2000s, a time when Lisbon had few bars that cared about technique.

The room is small and stylish, with low lighting and a bar that is the centre of the action. The menu is a long list of original cocktails alongside the classics, and the staff are happy to adapt a drink to your taste. It is the place to go if you want to try something unusual, or if you simply want a carefully made old fashioned.

Cinco is a late-evening bar, and its hours start later than many others in this guide. Its own website describes it as open every evening, but check before you go. Because it is small, it is worth arriving early on weekends, or booking if the bar accepts reservations.

It is close to Pavilhão Chinês and Foxtrot, so Príncipe Real makes a good base for a full cocktail evening. Plan a food stop first, because the bar is more about drinks than dinner.

• How to get there: Walk from Príncipe Real or Bairro Alto, about ten minutes from Chiado.
• How long to spend: One to two hours.
• Best time to go: Early in the evening, for the best chance of a seat at the bar.
• Tip: Describe the flavours you like and let the bartender suggest something from the menu.

7. Foxtrot

Foxtrot is a dimly lit cocktail bar with an old-world feel, and it is one of Lisbon’s longest-running hideaways. It sits on Travessa de Santa Teresa, on the border of Príncipe Real and Bairro Alto.

The look is Belle Epoque and Art Deco, with mirrors, velvet, low tables and soft lighting, and the mood is calm and a little secretive. The cocktail list covers the classics and some gin-based drinks, and it is the kind of bar where a quiet conversation is easy. It does not try to shout over loud music.

Foxtrot suits a second or third drink, after a livelier stop. Staff here are used to guests who want advice, so tell them whether you like drinks sweet, bitter or smoky and they will steer you. It also works as a place to wait for a table at one of the nearby restaurants in Príncipe Real. The bar is small, and at busy times it can fill up, so arriving early is sensible.

Check opening days before you go, because listings differ slightly. The easiest approach is to treat it as an early-evening stop, and to have a back-up in mind, such as Cinco Lounge or Pavilhão Chinês, which are within walking distance.

• How to get there: Walk from Príncipe Real or Bairro Alto, or take a short taxi.
• How long to spend: One hour.
• Best time to go: Early evening, to find a seat.
• Tip: Check opening days before you go, as listings differ.

8. Tasca do Chico

Tasca do Chico is a small, informal tavern where you can hear fado sung up close, without the formality and cost of a dinner show. It sits on Rua do Diário de Notícias in Bairro Alto and is known for fado vadio, a style in which amateurs and professionals take turns to sing.

The room is tiny, with photographs and small tables packed together, and there is usually a short pause between songs when everyone is quiet and the glasses stop clinking. The atmosphere is more like a neighbourhood tavern than a concert, and that is the appeal. The drinks are simple, with beer, wine and a few snacks.

Because the room is so small, arrive early on nights when fado is scheduled, or you may be turned away at the door. Fado nights are not fixed in any source we could confirm, and the tavern also has a second branch in Alfama, so check the Visit Lisboa website or the tavern’s own channels for the current schedule.

Keep quiet during the songs, as the singers expect silence. When the music stops, the bar returns to chat and clinking glasses, which makes it a good place to spend an hour or two before moving on to the livelier bars in Bairro Alto.

• How to get there: Walk from Chiado or Baixa, or take a tram or Metro to Baixa-Chiado.
• How long to spend: One to two hours.
• Best time to go: Early evening on a night with fado, before the room fills.
• Tip: Stay quiet during the singing and tip politely if a collection is made.

9. Musicbox

Musicbox is the club that anchors Pink Street, with live bands and DJs under the arches near Cais do Sodré. It sits on Rua Nova do Carvalho in a vaulted space under a bridge, and it has been one of Lisbon’s best-known live music venues for many years.

The programme mixes indie, rock, electronic and urban music, and the main room has a stage and a bar. It is more a gig and club venue than a cocktail bar, and the mood changes with the act, so look at the line-up before you go. Doors usually open late, and there may be a small entry charge on some nights.

Musicbox suits the end of a night out, particularly if you have already tried Pensão Amor on the same street. If you prefer a calmer evening, skip it and choose Tasca do Chico or Procópio instead. Check the official Musicbox website for events, door times and tickets.

The street outside is busy at weekends, and the area is safe in a crowd but busy, so keep an eye on your belongings. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are easy to find nearby for the trip back to your hotel.

• How to get there: Metro, train or tram to Cais do Sodré, then walk to Rua Nova do Carvalho.
• How long to spend: Two hours or more.
• Best time to go: Late evening, once the music starts.
• Tip: Check the programme in advance, as the style of music changes from night to night.

10. Quimera Brewpub

Quimera Brewpub is a good choice if you would rather drink craft beer than cocktails. It sits on Rua Prior do Crato in Alcântara, a short way west of the centre and not far from LX Factory, and it has been trading since the mid 2010s.

The beer list changes with the seasons and the brewers’ experiments, and the staff can help you choose if you are not sure what to order. Check the venue for its current food menu. The pub has a relaxed, local feel, and it is a good contrast to the busier central bars.

Alcântara is not a nightlife district in the way Bairro Alto is, so this is a stop for an early evening or a lazy afternoon. Combine it with a visit to LX Factory or the nearby riverside, and travel back to the centre by tram or taxi afterwards.

Because craft beer menus change, check the current list on the venue’s own channels before you go. If the taps do not suit you, there are several other beer bars in the area. The journey out is part of the appeal, since the tram ride west along the river shows a side of Lisbon that most bar-hoppers never see.

• How to get there: Tram 15E or a local train to Alcântara, then walk. Check the route on the Carris website.
• How long to spend: One to two hours.
• Best time to go: Early evening or a weekend afternoon.
• Tip: Ask the staff for a recommendation if you want to try more than one beer.

How to pick the right Lisbon bar

Start with the mood you want. For something unusual, choose Pavilhão Chinês or Pensão Amor. For a view, choose Park. For serious cocktails, choose Cinco Lounge, Procópio or Foxtrot. For something local and cheap, take a ginjinha at A Ginjinha and stop in at Tasca do Chico.

Next, think about the area. Príncipe Real has Pavilhão Chinês, Cinco Lounge and Foxtrot within a short walk, which makes it the easiest district for a cocktail crawl. Cais do Sodré has Pensão Amor and Musicbox side by side, and Bairro Alto has Park and Tasca do Chico.

Finally, think about timing. The cocktail bars come alive in the evening and are quiet earlier, while the standing-room ginjinha counter works at almost any hour. Lisbon nights start late, so plan to eat first and move on to bars after dinner.

Suggested bar plans for 1, 2 or 3 days

You can taste the best of Lisbon’s bar scene in three evenings by grouping the stops by area. Each day keeps the stops close together, so you spend less time travelling between them.

Day 1: Príncipe Real cocktails

Start with a ginjinha at A Ginjinha near Rossio, then take a taxi or walk uphill to Príncipe Real. Begin with a drink at Pavilhão Chinês, enjoy dinner nearby, and finish with a cocktail at Cinco Lounge. If you still have energy, end the night at Foxtrot.

Day 2: Bairro Alto, fado and a rooftop

Spend the afternoon in Chiado and Bairro Alto, then head to Park for a sunset drink. Walk down to Tasca do Chico for an hour of fado, and finish with a nightcap in one of the small bars in the surrounding streets.

Day 3: Pink Street and a quieter finish

Begin the evening at Pensão Amor in Cais do Sodré, then walk along Pink Street to Musicbox if there is a gig you like. For a calmer night, take a taxi to Procópio for classic cocktails, or travel to Alcântara for craft beer at Quimera Brewpub earlier in the day.

Where to stay for Lisbon bars

For the shortest walks between bars, stay in Príncipe Real, Chiado or Bairro Alto, where several of the bars in this guide are within ten minutes of each other. The area is lively, so ask for a quiet room if you are a light sleeper.

For a base with a livelier waterfront feel, choose Cais do Sodré, where Pensão Amor and Musicbox are on the doorstep and the train and Metro are close. The streets can be busy late at weekends.

For calmer nights, consider Baixa or Avenida da Liberdade, which are central, well connected and quieter after dark. From either, a short taxi gets you to the main bar districts.

Getting around Lisbon

Lisbon has a Metro, trams, buses and trains, and most of the bars in this guide are near a stop. Use the Metro de Lisboa website and the Carris website for routes, tickets and timetables.

The central districts are hilly, and the cobbled pavements can be slippery after rain, so wear comfortable shoes with a good grip. Walking between Chiado, Bairro Alto and Príncipe Real is possible but steep, so a short taxi ride is often easier at the end of a long evening.

Public transport slows down late at night, so plan your journey back before you start drinking. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are widely used, and it is sensible to use a licensed taxi or a booked car rather than accepting rides from strangers on the street.

Budget guidance

For a lower spend, choose A Ginjinha, Tasca do Chico and a beer at Quimera Brewpub. A simple evening of small drinks and one fado session costs far less than a night in a cocktail bar.

At the middle level, a cocktail at Pavilhão Chinês, Park, Pensão Amor or Foxtrot is a reasonable treat. Prices in tourist areas are higher than in a local tavern, so a round of two or three drinks is usually better value than a full evening in one place.

For a special occasion, Cinco Lounge and Procópio suit a longer, more considered visit, especially if you want to try several of their signature drinks. Add dinner in Príncipe Real or Chiado for a full night out.

Discover more of Lisbon

Once you have your bars planned, round out your trip with the top things to do in Lisbon by day and the best day trips from Lisbon.

Featured image: Photo by Unknown author, Public domain, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons