In Lisbon, there’s always a reason to drink. Whether you’re craving a cold beer on a hot day, a handcrafted cocktail during a night out, a glass of local wine, or an energizing shot of bica, the Portuguese equivalent of espresso, beverages flow freely in Portugal’s capital city. Between that and Lisbon’s massive travel boom over the past decade or so, you can imagine how extensive and exciting the bar scene has become. From rooftops to speakeasies, cellar bars to outdoor kiosks, these are the best bars in Lisbon to wet your whistle.
Photo: Fotokon/Shutterstock
A Comprehensive Guide to Lisbon’s Hottest Bars, From Rooftops to Speakeasies
- The best wine bars in Lisbon
- The best cocktail bars in Lisbon
- The best rooftop bars in Lisbon
- The best speakeasy bars in Lisbon
- The best garden bars in Lisbon
- The best craft beer bars in Lisbon
- The best neighborhood bars in Lisbon
- Where to stay near the best bars in Lisbon
Wine bars in Lisbon
Portugal’s wine culture is famous, particularly its fortified dessert wines. Lisbon doesn’t fall on any of Portugal’s major wine routes, notably the renowned Douro Valley up north by Porto, but you better believe that the Portuguese capital is well-stocked with vinho from across the country.
By The Wine
Centrally located in Chiado, By The Wine is a tastefully furnished wine bar that calls itself a wine restaurant due to its sizable food menu. The highlight, of course, is the wine list, which not only features reds and whites from all over the country but also sparkling wine, rosé, green wine, fortified wine, and special editions. You can even get a cocktail or two, but why would you?
Where: Rua das Flores 41 43, 1200-193 Lisboa, Portugal
Comida Independente
Part wine bar, part specialty market, Comida Independente is a one-stop shop for all things tasty. The bar serves wines by the glass and prides itself on working with small producers from across Portugal alongside nibbles like cheese, charcuterie, and preserves that you can also purchase on site. If you’re looking for something hearty to counterbalance more than a couple of glasses, the pastrami sandwich has become something of a local legend. You can also swing by for a tasting when the producers are present to learn about Portuguese wine.
Where: Rua Cais do Tojo 28, 1200-649 Lisboa, Portugal
A Ginjinha
Strictly speaking, A Ginjinha isn’t a wine bar. It’s more of a counter with a few stools than a proper bar, and it specializes in ginjinha, Portugal’s signature cherry liqueur. But if you’re looking for a taste of something local while touring Baixa, it’s more than worth the couple of euros to sample ginjinha served in an edible chocolate cup. Give it a go after visiting the Carmo Convent, one of Lisbon’s must-see museums and attractions, which is just a few minutes away on foot.
Where: Largo São Domingos 8, 1100-201 Lisboa, Portugal
Cocktail bars in Lisbon
Travel celebrates different landscapes, both cultural and natural. And what better way to celebrate than with a cocktail? Like any cosmopolitan city, Lisbon has no shortage of cocktails bars to make every night of your visit a special occasion.
Pavilhão Chinês
Cool, kitschy, and occupying prime real estate near trendy restaurants in Principe Real, Pavilhão Chinês is the perfect stop for a pre- or post-dinner drink. Once the site of a grocery store, the bar now serves as a speakeasy-esque watering hole that displays an eclectic collection of curiosities from antique toys to old mannequins and a vintage piano, not to mention upholstered booth seating that gives the funky space a classy air.
Where: Rua Dom Pedro V 89, 1250-093 Lisboa, Portugal
Café Klandestino
Located near the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte in Graça, one of Lisbon’s standout viewpoints, Café Klandestino stays true to its name with an underground vibe. The interior is simple but not lacking in character, from the mismatched chairs and eclectic decorations to the cool-kid tunes the bar plays. A popular spot with Lisbon’s creative crowd, the Martim Moniz bar also works coffee into as many of its cocktails as it can, hence the cheeky nod to being a cafe.
Where: Rua do Benformoso n256, 1100-087 Lisboa, Portugal
Cinco Lounge
Sophisticated, stylish, and dimly lit, Cinco Lounge is the ultimate date spot in Principe Real. The interior leans mid-century modern with long leather banquettes, and the impeccable service keeps the experience just as classy as the decor. Whether you like classic or creative cocktails, Cinco Lounge delivers, with specialty creations changing seasonally.
Where: Rua Ruben A. Leitão 17A, 1200-392 Lisboa, Portugal
Pensão Amor
Pensão Amor is a playfully risqué bar housed in a former brothel near bustling Pink Street in Cais do Sodre. The space retains much of its original decor, with ornate ceilings, velvet furnishings, and erotic art on display. It’s a popular spot for cocktails, with a menu featuring creative drinks inspired by passion and lust. Pensão Amor also doubles as a venue where you can see everything from live music to burlesque shows.
Where: Rua do Alecrim 19, 1200-292 Lisboa, Portugal
Rooftop bars in Lisbon
From the shimmering Tagus and the bridges that span it to architectural landmarks that’ve been standing for centuries, it’d be a shame to take your eyes off Lisbon’s skyline for even a second. Luckily, the many rooftop bars in Lisbon are some of the city’s best viewpoints.
Topo
Topo is a rooftop bar with two locations in Lisbon, one in Chiado and one in Martim Moniz. Resembling a small urban park, Topo Chiado has better views of Lisbon’s historic core, but Topo Martim Moniz is the bigger and more popular nightlife spot, with an outdoor terrace, sleek indoor lounge, and DJs spinning electronic music. You can get everything from wine and beer to cocktails and globally inspired food at Topo Martim Moniz.
Where: Terraços do Carmo, Largo do Carmo, 1200-288 Lisboa, Portugal & 1100-341 Lisboa, Portugal
Park
Situated atop a parking garage in Bairro Alto, Park is a magnet for travelers who like to go places that not everyone else does, although it’s become quite popular. The casual wood-and-metal seating makes the bar feel a bit like a rooftop park, and from there patrons get excellent views of Lisbon landmarks like the Sao Jorge Castle and the Tagus River. Live music is a regular fixture, and you can order both refreshing cocktails and food.
Where: Calçada do Combro 58, 1200-123 Lisboa, Portugal
Memmo
Memmo Alfama is a boutique hotel near the Lisbon Cathedral with a stylish rooftop bar that offers stunning views of the city. The bar has a sleek, minimalist design with white furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows that separate the indoor and outdoor seating. It’s a popular spot for sunset drinks or after-dinner cocktails, with DJs often playing laid-back music. The bar is open to both hotel guests and the public, but reservations are recommended, especially in summer.
Where: Travessa Merceeiras 27, 1100-348 Lisboa, Portugal
The V Rooftop Bar
The V Rooftop Bar is a stylish rooftop lounge atop the Vintage Hotel off Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon’s answer to Barcelona’s La Rambla. The space has a paneled wood bar, cozy sofa-style seating, and a cocktail menu that features creative drinks using local ingredients, such as port wine and Portuguese vermouth. The V Rooftop Bar is on the pricier side, but it’s worth it.
Where: Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca 2, 1250-191 Lisboa, Portugal
Speakeasies in Lisbon
Speakeasies are a staple of Lisbon’s bar scene. In some cases, speakeasy is shorthand for a shadowy bohemian bar. In others, the drinking experience is worth the effort of finding the bar.
Red Frog
Red Frog is one of Lisbon’s must-visit bars — if you can find it. In true speakeasy fashion, the bar is hidden behind an unmarked red door off Avenida da Liberdade. Ring the buzzer, you’ll be ushered into a dimly lit lounge with vintage furnishings. Dramatic cocktails are crafted using ingredients that blend Portuguese tradition with modern mixology. A special occasion spot, except to hear hushed, sultry tones and see smartly dressed patrons when you enter.
Where: Praça da Alegria 66b, 1250-004 Lisboa, Portugal
Foxtrot
Bar Foxtrot has been peddling cocktails for 38 years. It has a reputation as one of Lisbon’s coolest speakeasies, being a cellar bar with four dimly lit Art Deco rooms, but was also designed in the spirit of an English pub. Fit for any season, the São Bento staple is outfitted with a lovely garden patio to enjoy during the summer and a fireplace to keep cozy in winter.
Where Travessa Santa Teresa 28, 1200-405 Lisboa, Portugal
Procópio
Procópio isn’t a speakeasy in the sense that you need a secret code to get in. It’s a neighborhood bar that tourists would be lucky to visit, with vintage Art Nouveau decor that’s reminiscent of America’s Prohibition era and France’s bistro culture. Procópio is located near the Amoreiras garden and 17th-century aqueduct, a stone’s throw from the Rato metro station.
Where: Alto de São Francisco 21, 1250-228 Lisboa, Portugal
Garden bars in Lisbon
It’s no coincidence that Lisbon’s sunniest seasons are also the most popular times to visit. When it’s warm out, the entire city seems to exist outside, and with the help of these outdoor drinking venues, that includes both mid-afternoon wine stops and a thriving nightlife.
Quiosque Príncipe Real
Kiosks are a prominent feature of Lisbon’s cafe landscape, and many serve wine and beer. Quiosque Príncipe Real is one of the more iconic kiosks owing to the fact that seating is generous for a sidewalk cafe, and it’s located by the lovely Príncipe Real garden. Grab a drink under the shade of umbrellas and large trees during the day or in the evening. The people-watching is excellent, and you might even catch some live music.
Where: Praça do Príncipe Real, 1250-301 Lisboa, Portugal
Casa Independente
Casa Independente opened its doors in 2012 as a multidisciplinary cultural space that organizes diverse offerings including concerts, exhibitions, workshops, residencies, recitals, and soirées. Live music and visual arts are both part of the experience, as is the occasional film screening on the patio. In addition to the garden cocktail bar, creative types gather inside at The Tiger Room.
Where: Largo do Intendente Pina Manique 45, 1100-285 Lisboa, Portugal
Craft beer bars in Lisbon
The craft beer scene in Lisbon is still young, not only in age then in prevalence. But it’s growing, with a couple of nice bars and breweries to visit if you get tired of the standard pours of Sagres and Super Bock, both of which are light pilsners.
Duque Brewpub
Lisbon’s first brewpub, Duque has been helping to bolster Portugal’s craft beer scene since 2016. Find nine beers on taps plus an array of bottles totaling over 50 labels. Refresh with a cold one indoors or bask in the sun on the outdoor terrace while noshing on tapas.
Where: Calçada do Duque 51, 1200-156 Lisboa, Portugal
Crafty Corner
Crafty Corner is the ideal spot to appreciate the scenery near the Se Cathedral, mingle with craft beer aficionados, and savor Portugal’s best microbrews. The bar keeps 12 beers on tap that rotate weekly to bring new flavors as well as support small local breweries. Order one for a quick drink, or go for a paddle to sample five or 12 beers at once.
Where: Rua de São João da Praça 95, 1100-519 Lisboa, Portugal
Neighborhood bars in Lisbon
The neighboring hoods of Bairro Alto and Príncipe Real are two of the most likely places to find hordes of drinkers in Lisbon. If you’re looking for something a little more local in the two busy areas, these neighborhood bars will hit the spot, much like their drinks.
Pub Lisboeta
Pub Lisboeta has garnered a decent amount of press over the years, but no amount of publicity seems to be able to compromise its unabashedly local feel, despite its visitor-magnet location on the main drag in Príncipe Real. During the day, Pub is a quiet place to stop for a cheap beer. At night, the small bar becomes a gathering place for locals and tourists alike, who are often spotted spilling out into the street on busy weekends, cocktails doing the same in their hands.
Loucos e Sonhadores
Mismatched furniture, kitschy antique decor, and dark lighting make Loucos e Sonhadores feel like your grandma’s basement guest room — in the best way possible. The bar is located in the heart of Bairro Alto, Lisbon’s nightlife hub, but it avoids the gimmicks and drunken crowds that many of the other bars in the neighborhood attract. Instead, you’ll find creative types sipping generously priced table wines and beer here, with jazz or swing music to accompany.
Where: Rua da Rosa 261, 1200-385 Lisboa, Portugal
Where to stay near the best bars in Lisbon
Throw a stone in Lisbon, a city that enjoys both casual drinking and the finer things, and you’ll probably hit a bar. Bairro Alto is the undisputed king of nightlife, but all of the central neighborhoods — Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, and Príncipe Real, among them — are filled with bars and restaurants that are sure to keep you busy during your stay. For stays centrally located near the bars included in the list above, check out the Lisbon Airbnbs and hotels below.
We hope you these Airbnbs and hotels near the best bars in Lisbon! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Artfully Curated House in Príncipe Real
Photo: Airbnb
If you’re going to be dining and drinking in the stylish Príncipe Real neighborhood, why not get an Airbnb that’s equally fun and chic? This two-bedroom house has four levels, with bedrooms on the two upper floors, so there’s plenty of space for a group of friends, although it’s surprisingly reasonably priced by Lisbon standards for a place its size, even if you’re a solo traveler. Numerous bars are in close proximity to the Airbnb, including Pavilhão Chinês and Pub Lisboeta, while many others are within walking distance, such as Red Frog and Pensão Amor.
Two bedrooms, four guests
Price per night: $245
Hotel Tivoli
Photo: Expedia
Located on Avenida da Liberdade, a main artery that connects you to all the coveted areas in Lisbon, Hotel Tivoli has a five-star rating and luxurious feel. In addition to granting easy access to virtually all of the hottest bars in Lisbon, not to mention all the important attractions, the hotel has its very own beloved rooftop bar called Sky Bar.
Where: Avenida da Liberdade 185, 1269-050 Lisboa, Portugal
Price per night: From $319
The Holiday Rooftop Lisboa
Photo: Airbnb
Outfitted with a private terrace to admire the cityscape, this one-bedroom apartment is located in the Intendente neighborhood of Lisbon, near Casa Independente and Café Klandestino. The apartment has everything you need for a quiet, comfortable stay, including a small kitchen, although you’ll love exploring the restaurants and cafes in the neighborhood.
One bedroom, four guests
Price per night:
Memmo Alfama
Photo: Expedia
One of the reasons the Memmo’s rooftop bar made Matador’s list of bars to see in Lisbon is because it’s a pleasant spot to stop for a drink in Alfama, an iconic area that’s better known for housing historic sites, quaint restaurants, and places to hear live fado music. One could argue that the tasteful boutique hotel is even lovelier than the bar, rooftop views notwithstanding. 
Where: Travessa Merceeiras 27, 1100-348 Lisboa, Portugal
Price per night: From $231