Top bars in Lisbon

Lisbon offers bars to suit all tastes – from hip rooftop spots with sweeping city views to welcoming pubs serving local craft beers, and chic wine bars offering bottles from Portugal’s longest established vineyards. Here is our guide to the top bars in the capital.

1. Park Bar

Reached via an entrance tucked away in a multi-storey car park in the Bairro Alto, Park is a chic rooftop bar moments away from Rua do Poço dos Negros, one of the most fashionable streets in Lisbon. With potted plants and trees, the leafy outdoor deck is an ideal place to sip a cocktail or two over bar snacks at sunset, as you take in sweeping views over red-tiled roofs with the River Tagus beyond. Later in the evening and at weekends, guest DJs often get the party started with dance music sets. 

2. Rio Maravilha

With views of the imposing Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge spanning the River Tagus, Rio Maravilha is a rooftop bar in LX Factory, a trendy former industrial district west of the city centre that now houses hip cafés, boutiques and businesses. The vibrantly coloured restaurant retains factory features in its airy dining room that serves a menu of international cuisine, while the fourth floor terrace is the place to savour sour rum cocktails al fresco, while taking in the sweeping panorama of the river, bridge and city skyline. 

Rio Maravilha terrace overlooking the River Tagus, Lisbon. Photo: Rio Maravilha

3. Povo

Having been regenerated in recent years, the once run-down Cais do Sodré district near the waterfront has lost its formerly seedy reputation. The Rua Nova do Carvalho is now pink, and home to some of Lisbon’s best bars and nightspots. Povo in the heart of the ‘Pink Street’ is an understated and intimate tavern where you can drink a glass of fine Portuguese wine accompanied by tasty petiscos (small plates). The bar also hosts live fado shows from up-and-coming performers of these popular, melancholic songs. 

4. By The Wine

In the Chiado district, this stylish wine bar’s vaulted ceiling is lined with hundreds of empty green wine bottles – a striking design feature acknowledging the fact that the By The Wine is run by Portugal’s longest-established producer of bottled wines, José Maria da Fonseca. There are around sixty labels in total from their vineyards to choose from, which you can relish accompanied by charcuterie, cheese boards and delightful small dishes. 

By the Wine's striking vaulted ceiling. Photo: By the Wine

5. Sol e Pesca

A couple of doors down, Sol e Pesca is a relaxed bar in a former fishing tackle shop. Having had a minimal makeover – rods, reels, floats and nets are now part of the decor – it’s a quirky spot with a handful of small tables spilling out onto the pavement where you can enjoy national wines and beers, accompanied by tasty dishes from a creative menu prepared exclusively with Portuguese canned fish and seafood. Tuna, trout, mackerel, sardines, octopus – you name it, the friendly staff here can serve it to you accompanied by fresh, traditional Alentejo bread.

6. Chafariz do Vinho Enoteca

Set in the bowels of a 19th-century bathhouse with thick stone walls and underground tunnels that once piped water into Lisbon, the extraordinary Chafariz do Vinho Enoteca offers an extremely long list of wines, which you can appreciate accompanied by regional breads and tempting small plates such as octopus carpaccio or Iberian smoked meats. Savour Portuguese full-bodied reds or crisp whites, alongside German, Spanish, Italian, Chilean and Argentinian wines served by the glass, as well as carefully selected ports and Madeira wines.

Chafariz do Vinho, Lisbon. Photo: Chafariz do Vinho

7. Kiosk at Miradouro de Sao Pedro Alcantara

Lisbon’s seven hills each offer sweeping views of the capital, and being blessed with plentiful sunny days, it’s a wonderful city in which to watch the sunset. The Portuguese capital is home to many miradouros, or viewpoints. Miradouro de Sao Pedro Alcantara in the Bairro Alto has stunning city views. Kiosks with folding chairs and tables serve ice-cold beers, wine and snacks to those who come on warm evenings to chat with friends, take in the view and watch the sun slip away behind the hills opposite. And when the sun disappears, there are several good restaurants within walking distance serving a variety of delicious cuisine.

8. Crafty Corner

In a compact converted warehouse in the Cais do Sodré, Crafty Corner is an inviting, split-level bar focused on Lisbon’s emerging craft beer scene. Pull up a high stool at one of the long tables to sample the premium produce of local microbreweries. Selections are rotated on a weekly basis, but there are always a dozen beers on tap to choose from. For a bite to eat, you can enjoy sharing platters alongside tempting small plates like chicken wings and cod cakes.

Enjoying a brew in Crafty Corner, Lisbon. Photo: Crafty Corner

9. A Ginginha

Set on historic São Domingos Square in central Lisbon, A Ginginha is a tiny, quaint bar serving traditional ginginha – Portuguese cherry brandy. There’s just about enough room to walk in, drink a glass of the sweet red liqueur and step back out to see the city in a whole new light. Order it straight, with lemonade, or served in an edible miniature chocolate cup.

10. Portas Largas 

On a cobbled street in the Bairro Alto, Portas Largas is one of the district’s most renowned bars, attracting a lively gay-friendly crowd. Its origins as a fado house are evident in its blue and white Azulejo tiling panels depicting musicians, while shabby chic furniture and chandeliers add to the venue’s easy-going appeal. Ordering caipirinhas or mojitos can take a while in the summer when the bar is often packed and the crowd spills out onto the street. However, the ambience is always laid-back, even on the regular nights when African or Latin bands perform live. 

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