You don’t need to go to Porto, or the increasingly famous Douro Valley, to get some of Portugal’s best wines. You can do that in the country’s capital, which also offers an opportunity to discover lesser-known labels from wine regions nearby such as Colares, Azeitão, and Alentejo. When in Lisbon, these are the five wine shops to look for:

1. Manuel Tavares Found on a street connecting Rossio and Figueira squares, this gourmet shop dating from 1860 specializes in Portuguese wines. It doesn’t look very big when you step inside, with an interior cluttered with bottles, cheeses, and a variety of regional products, but there’s a wine cellar downstairs which is not always open but that the friendly staff opens for clients especially interested in the wines. Once downstairs the staff essentially gives you a history lesson on the different labels and wine regions, pointing out vintage bottles going for hundreds of euros, to more recent and less expensive choices.
2. Napoleão There is more than one Napoleão wine shop in Lisbon but the most central of all is found downtown on Rua dos Fanqueiros, 70.  It’s also the most attractive, with Roman ruins visible through a glass floor. The staff is friendly and multilingual, and always prepared to help you choose the right Portuguese wine for any occasion.
3. Garrafeira Nacional Offering the best of Portuguese wines in downtown Lisbon since 1927, Garrafiera Nacional has a rustic interior and so many kinds of bottles that it looks like a wine museum. The grand total is over 4,000 Portuguese wines, including ports which the staff can arrange to be shipped anywhere in the world.
4. Adivinho Number 24 of Travessa do Almada in downtown Lisbon was where a French couple decided to renovate an 18th century building and open their own wine shop in 2004.  Advinho offers labels from all over Portugal which clients can sample in the free tastings or paid seminars.  If you end up buying a bottle, it can be shipped abroad.
5. Wine O’Clock Opened in 2007, this is the most modern of all Lisbon wine shops and its elegant space is worth the trip uptown to the Amoreiras district where it is found. Wine O’Clock is more than a wine shop, organizing workshops and offering wine-related books, magazines, and films.  Also of note is the space with top-quality cigars and the good selection of international wines in addition to the Portuguese labels. [More information on Wine O'Clock, including an interview can be seen here]

For all other shopping options in Lisbon, see the http://www.golisbon.com/shopping/ Go Lisbon shopping guide.

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.

Editor’s Note: We’ve recently been chatting with the founder of Go Lisbon

Lisbon dines very late, so in between lunch and dinner, after work, or by the end of the afternoon, you’ll be looking to relax and fill your stomach.  A glass of wine is always the tempting choice, and for that there are several cafes and bars in the city.  We highlight the three most laid-back where you can also get a taste of Lisbon as you sip your glass.

Bairru’s Bodega - Rua da Barroca, 3 (Bairro Alto) Although the vast majority of bars in Bairro Alto only open at night, this one was also created as an afternoon hangout.  It’s only a few months old, and is one of the most attractive bars in the neighborhood, especially for a late-afternoon drink. Cheeses and hams are available to accompany a glass of Portuguese wine which can be enjoyed to the sound of Portuguese music in a rustic-style interior.  The tables were made from wine barrels and seats are sometimes placed outside for those wishing to see life go by in Bairro Alto on a typically warm afternoon.  The bar’s best atmosphere is when the sun is setting and the neighborhood is preparing for another nightlife invasion, but it’s also a good choice for after-dinner drinks.

Side – Rua da Barroca, 33 (Bairro Alto) Side has been one of the most popular bars in Bairro Alto for the last few years.  It closed a few months ago, only to reopen with a new “wine bar” concept.  Its new name is “Side – Wine for You,” and is one of the rare bars in the neighborhood that open during the day.  It doesn’t have much space inside, but everyone prefers to hang out outside by the door anyway.  It often hosts wine tastings of mostly Portuguese labels and offers Portuguese cheeses and hams to go with them.  At 7PM is Happy Hour, when there are also special musical and literary events from time to time. On other days you may also hear some Fado music, but if a drink and a relaxed atmosphere at the end of the day is all you’re looking for, it also offers free wi-fi service so you can enjoy a glass of wine as you work on your laptop.

Le Gouts Du Vin – Rua de São Bento 107 (São Bento) Seven o’clock at night it way too early to think about dinner in Lisbon.  So that’s when this bistro-style bar located in front of the Portuguese parliament building opens its doors for some glasses of wine and snacks.  The French name is an indicator of the origin of the owners, although most of the wines served by the glass are Portuguese.  As expected at a wine bar, you can also sample a variety of cheeses and hams, but there are also some French specialties to nibble on.

These are only three choices for you to consider during a visit to Lisbon, but since the Portuguese capital is also home to a vibrant and varied nightlife, there are dozens of other bars, especially for the after-dinner hours.  To decide where you should go, see GoLisbon.com’s bars recommendations.

Mario Fernandes

Make sure to also check out: Os Goliardos and Garrafeira Alfaia