A Night Out in Lisbon’s Alfama

When those visiting Lisbon for the first time ask a local where to go out at night, 9 times out of 10 they’ll be told to go to Bairro Alto. That’s the popular restaurants-and-bars district in the center of the city hosting a mega street party every weekend, but there are other neighborhoods with a lot going on after the sun goes down.  The former warehouses by the river along Avenida 24 de Julho are now clubs for every taste and music style, the bars of the Santos district still attract crowds with an average age of 16, and then there’s Alfama… Alfama is the medieval neighborhood much loved by camera-carrying tourists, that despite its dilapidated look, is now going through a renaissance. New cafés and bars have opened up in the area recently, particularly around the city’s castle-like cathedral, and Alfama is now a very attractive alternative to the other nighttime hangouts in the city, especially for the more mature, sophisticated crowds.  If all you want is to sit with a drink and chill out in the company of friends, Alfama just may be the best place to do it in Lisbon. These are the places to look for

Cocktail 88 Starting at 7PM you can enjoy a glass or bottle of wine, or go for one of the specialty cocktails at this attractive cocktail bar.  It’s only a few months old and has a sensually-lit interior where you may also nibble on some sushi throughout the night.  From Thursday to Sunday there is a Happy Hour from 7 to 8PM when prices go down and you prepare your stomach for dinner.

Kuta The owners of this bar have worked at the famous Buddha Bar in Paris, and that’s clearly where they got their inspiration to open this bar in Lisbon earlier this year.  One of its sides is the city’s medieval wall, and throughout the space are furnishings brought directly from Bali (Kuta is a beach town there). There is a long cocktail list and a cool chill out track invites you to stay throughout the night.

Sushill Out Just like at Kuta, part of Lisbon’s medieval wall is incorporated into Sushill Out, a sushi restaurant and bar around the corner from the city’s cathedral.  The sushi is artistically presented to the sound of jazz and chill out music, and you can stay drinking until 1AM (2AM on weekends), as it also doubles as a wine bar.

Onda Jazz It’s a bar, restaurant, and live music venue where jazz and world music can be enjoyed throughout the week (except Mondays when it’s closed).  It has a traditional Lisbon interior and the food is classic Portuguese, but the musical program includes international artists.

Chapitô One of Lisbon’s best views is enjoyed from this space that is a circus school, an attractive restaurant, laid-back terrace cafe, and bar.  The lively atmosphere is thanks to young and artistic crowds mixed with tourists who’ve been told that this is one of the most pleasant hangouts in Lisbon.  You go for the views, and you return for the atmosphere.  Just be warned that it does not take credit or debit cards.

Lux The undisputed favorite Lisbon club for the past decade stands just outside the Alfama maze by the riverfront.  On Friday and Saturday nights there are always huge crowds trying to be allowed in, but the door staff is very selective.  American actor John Malkovich is one of the owners, so after reading that on guidebooks and being told that this is “the” place to be in Lisbon, every young tourist wants to join the party.  Inside, the decor is always changing, but is always as stylish (and sometimes unconventional) as it can be, often featuring creations by Portugal‘s top contemporary artists (a famous example was a chandelier completely made up of tampons by Joana Vasconcelos).  Head to the dancefloor downstairs, or have a drink on the rooftop terrace overlooking the river and the floodlit monuments of Alfama.

After a night out in this hilly district your legs will probably be begging for some rest.  Instead of finding your way to a hotel uptown, why not stay at your own apartment in the neighborhood? LisbonApartments.com is offering new apartments in the area, and there’s even a chance for you to stay for free if you’re one of the lucky winners of its contest. For all other nightlife options in Lisbon, see the bars and clubs recommendations at the Go Lisbon website.