Indie Rock Café
Located in the fringes of Bairro Alto, Indie Rock Café is both in the center of the action and off the beaten track. It retains the lively partying spirit of the neighborhood…
Lisbon
Pois Cafe
A cosy, laid-back cafe-bookshop near the cathedral in Alfama, long loved for its sofas, brunch and easygoing charm. It has since closed.
Casa Independente
A wonderfully bohemian bar and cultural house in a faded mansion on Largo do Intendente, with a leafy terrace, live music, DJs and exhibitions. Note the project is due to close at the end of 2026, so catch it while you can.
Noobai Cafe
Tucked beside the Santa Catarina viewpoint, Noobai is a laid-back cafe-bar with one of the best terrace views in Lisbon – out over the red roofs to the Tejo and the 25 de Abril bridge. Come for brunch, sunset drinks or a lazy afternoon.
Cruzes Credo
A cool, easygoing cafe-bar on a corner by the cathedral in Alfama – coffee and toasties by day, relaxed drinks and soul-and-funk sounds by night. A longtime local favourite.
Incognito
A beloved, unpretentious indie and alternative club going strong for over three decades, with a packed weekend dancefloor of 80s, new-wave and guitar sounds. No frills, all fun.
Conserveira de Lisboa
A gorgeous, century-old family shop selling Portuguese tinned fish in beautifully retro wrapped packages – the tuna, sardines and cod are as good as the paper is pretty. The ultimate edible Lisbon souvenir.
Kremlin
A Lisbon clubbing institution since the 1990s (reborn in 2016), Kremlin in Santos still packs the floor on Friday and Saturday nights until dawn with house and techno. A late-night rite of passage.
Cais do Ginjal
A hauntingly beautiful riverside quay of ruined fish-canning warehouses on the Almada bank of the Tagus, looking straight back at Lisbon. Bring a picnic and a blanket for sunset by the little garden near the Boca do Vento lift, then wander Almada’s old town. Reach it by ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas.
A Tasca do Chico
A cornerstone of Lisbon’s fado circuit since 1993 – a tiny former tavern framed by paintings, posters and packed benches, drawing established fadistas and hopefuls alike. Come Monday or Wednesday for fado vadio (amateur fado). Tip: don’t be alarmed by the flaming chorizo – taste it once the flames die.