AFTER DARK: LISBON

Michael
May 10, 2016
2 min read

Surprisingly enough, Lisbon is not that big of a nightclub town, it has more of a restaurant, lounge and bar scene which suited us quite well as we weren’t in the mood for big nights out. Instead, we made sure to visit a bar before dinner and one after dinner almost each night so we could experience Lisbon nightlife for all that it has to offer.

Restaurants

Lisbon is secretly a food haven, filled with amazing restaurants of all categories and every price point. The one thing they all have in common is quality. It didn’t matter where we went or how much we spent (or did not spend), the food was extraordinary in its own way. Here are our favourites:

Cantinho Do Avillez

This was our favourite dinner experience, a quaint little restaurant in Chiado with a hipster feel and amazing food. Created by famous Portuguese Chef Jose Avillez, the restaurant had superb service, original food and brilliant drinks. The dessert, Bolo de Chocolate, is divine.

Tagide

A restaurant deserving of a Michelin Star, this traditional restaurant is home to amazing views, delicious wines and a beautifully crafted tasting menu.

Grapes & Bites

We found Grapes & Bites by getting lost in Barrio Alto and developing quite an appetite. This great little restaurant is nestled next to a hostel and is a more laidback take on Lisbon food, it is however delicious and the selection of wines and port is massive.

Lounges & Bars

There are little bars and lounges all over Lisbon, in each of its great neighbourhoods so if you are looking for a chill night with great drinks, you will be quite well served. To us, our top 3 locations were as follows:

Cruzes Credo

This very small but quite hip lounge had a lineup when we showed up, the reason for its high demand is quite simple; it is a gem. Located next to the Cathedral on the edge of Alfama, this little lounge offers amazing eats and even better drinks.

PARK

Our favourite bar by far, this original venue is located in a car park, on the top floor, where the urban landscape is changed to be made to look like a beautiful park. The vibe and views are great, it was extremely busy, the music was on point and the drinks were great. Really fun night.

Cinco

The head bartender and manager of Cinco is an award winning mixologist, no wonder our cocktails there were the best we had in Lisbon. This small lounge is owned by a British expat and you can tell by the décor and vibe of the lounge.