7 Best Nightlife in Alfama, Lisbon

The quality of both the food and the singing is dependably good at this family-run establishment, and the setting---which calls to mind the dining room of a well-traveled older relative---is always welcoming. It's a fado vadio ("vagabond") spot, meaning the night often ends with amateur singers lined up outside, raring to perform.

A former bakery, this cool restaurant, bar, and concert venue is one of the best spots in Lisbon for live music. Local and international bands and DJs take the stage around 11 pm every night of the week.

All the rage among local fado lovers, this performance space is housed in a tiny, azulejo-lined former chapel. The traditional Portuguese food is perfectly palatable, and the music and atmosphere are always top rate. You can slip in at the end of the night, order a drink or two, and enjoy the show.

This little club has been owned by fado legend Argentina Santos since the 1960s, and although she no longer sings, she sits by the door most nights greeting newcomers and listening to other highly rated singers. Chef Jaqueline Silva ensures the food, which includes rich seafood stews and other traditional dishes, is as appealing as the music.

Prominent fadistas, both traditional singers and next-generation artists who are expanding the boundaries of the form, perform most nights in this modern café attached to the city-run Fado Museum. Since this is a popular spot, reservations are essential in the evening.

An international crowd flocks to this spot to hear established performers and rising stars take turns at the microphone. Dinner is pricey at this two-story restaurant, but music fans arriving from around 10:30 pm can skip the food and concentrate on the music. 

Lisbon's most famous club is dotted with designer furniture and has two dance floors favored by big-name local and foreign DJs—plus a rooftop terrace with great river views. A young, stylish crowd comes to dance until dawn.

The doormen are selective and there can be a long line so be prepared.