Fun and entertainment Lisbon Area

If you are allergic to the Internet, you can go to the oldest ticket sales agency: ABEP. In the city centre, you will find its kiosk at the end of Restauradores Square, opposite the Eden Theatre. The staff is accessible and friendly. It has lots of seats in certain categories, but it is often more greedy on commissions than any other sales outlet. Also present at the Centro Comercial de Alvalade (Loja 43).

This charming 18th century opera house has seen the greatest voices of the century pass through and still houses beautiful productions (lyrical and symphonic). We go there to listen to classical music concerts mainly or opera. All the season's programming is online. From late June to late July, don't miss the Festival Ao Largo (part of the city's celebrations), with many quality concerts (and free admission) in the unique setting of its magnificent square....

This theater, a small jewel of the late 19th century, hosts plays by Portuguese and foreign troupes, but also café-theater shows (later) and even music. It is one of the oldest theaters in the city, inaugurated in November 1867! Restored some time ago, its decoration is elegant and its attendance cosmopolitan. It is linked to the Inatel Foundation. You will find a nice café in the basement. All the program is available on the website and you can book online.

Formerly the Jules-Verne theatre (it changed its name at the end of the World Fair), it is a beautiful concrete and glass building on the waterfront with 1,000 seats. Here, ballet and contemporary dance lovers will be delighted with shows that take place here on a regular basis. The Camões Theatre is home to the vibrant Companhia Nacional de Bailado. Usually in September (or several times during the year), the theatre opens its doors free of charge to the public with artistic activities. Registration is required.

This huge blockhouse of cut stones, in contrast to the Jerónimos' lace, is a world of its own. The CCB (for intimates) is a bit of an art and culture sanctuary where, from corridors to sloping planes, you can discover yourself: auditoriums, exhibition halls, shops, cafeteria, terrace, restaurant and bar. There are also excellent shows, recitals, plays and concerts, ballets (modern and classical) and well thought-out temporary exhibitions.

Inaugurated in 1890 in the heart of Lisbon, this unique multi-purpose venue hosts operas, concerts, circuses and performances of all kinds. The iron structure extends over four circular floors with pit and balconies, and on the top floor is the galeria de pé to see standing concerts at the most economical price. Major Portuguese artists, such as Madredeus, have recorded their live albums here, as have international heavyweights (Caetano Veloso, Paco de Lucia, Kraftwerk, David Byrne...). A space with fairly good acoustics.

For the huge sporting events, big concerts of international pop stars, rock, variety, Brazilian and Portuguese music, apart from the Alvalade stadium (for mega concerts!) it is mainly the Altice Arena (ex Pavilhao Atlântico and ex Meo Arena) and its shell of gigantic crustaceans on an inclined plane (slightly acoustic) that welcomes the spectators. It has also become the emblem of the web summit in recent years. We just hope it doesn't change its name again until our next edition....

It is the most used system in Portugal to sell tickets for concerts, events, shows... It is therefore very likely that you will have to use it if you want to buy a ticket for a festival for example and you do it in advance. The site works from France without any worries so you can buy your ticket from home before your stay. The ticket is then sent to you by email and you just have to print it out. Ticket Line publishes a magazine, a sort of monthly catalogue of the shows in attendance.

Since it was taken over by the hyperactive director Filipe la Féria in the 1990s, opposite the Coliseu dos Recreios, this theater built in 1913, especially for operetta shows, has been very successful thanks to musicals for the general public(My Fair Lady, Amália, Piaf...). It also regularly offers shows for children during the day. So don't be surprised to see a crowd of toddlers queuing up. Musicals remain on the bill for a long time, as was the case with the Snow Queen(A rainha da neve) in 2020.

The Portuguese equestrian art school is as respected as those of Saumur, the Royal Andalusian School of Jerez or the Spanish School of Vienna. Lusitano horses are small and fine, with distant Arab origins, renowned for their use in tourada. In particular, they are used for the Chantilly equestrian show. In the picturesque setting of the Queluz Palace (before a possible trip to the Carrosses Museum), a delight in perspective for lovers.

Conquered by tourada? This agency organises travel in all places of worship in the country to assist Portuguese touradas and even in Spain to see bullfighting. Possibility of free lessons with a mannequin mounted by bicycle. The largest have started so…

Lisbon's intellectual, art and avant-garde cinema. There are cycles by great filmmakers or with themes (such as Asian cinema). It sometimes changes its life to host dance, theatre or music performances. Since the beginning of 2010 and thanks to very good acoustics, the hall led by Zé Maria Branco, son of the producer Paulo Branco, promises us a good programming on the fringe. If you want to go to the movies without seeing blockbusters, this is one of the best places to go.

Close to Marquês Pombal Square, the varied and interesting program of films in their original version is a mix of national and international, old and new, classic and avant-garde. A small handful of theaters (including two main ones), a well-stocked bookshop, a fine library and a small museum for film buffs, plus a bar-restaurant (open like the bookshop from Monday to Saturday, 12.30 to 00.30) with terrace on the upper floor. In the Salão Foz at Palácio da Foz, the Cinemateca Júnior awaits budding cinephiles.

Dedicated to all types of theatres (including children's) but also to music. This space, both a place for exchange and training, also develops a good calendar of conferences and debates. A place that will make you discover various theatrical universes, offering more or less nice surprises. You will find the programme on the spot and will also have the opportunity to discuss with artists if they are present to inform you. Interesting.

Founded in 1904, its huge stadium (inaugurated before Euro 2003) can accommodate up to 65,000 seated spectators. The seats are red (reference to the club's colour). Everyone who is interested in football knows of course the Benfica football club. Together with FC Barcelona, it is one of the clubs in the world with the most sócios (subscribers): more than 200,000. The club's Facebook page has no less than 2.5 million fans! The stadium can be visited every day but at fixed times.

This bar has been open since 1989! In a rather cosy setting with lounges, in the heart of the city, near the famous and superb Pipa fountain, the tables of friends chat while sipping cocktails and long drinks at rather affordable prices. Floor imitating the calçadas of the street and portraits of famous singers painted in black and white on the walls. This address is very popular on weekends, but much quieter during the week. Good to know, there is a non-smoking room and some darts games available.

Want to take a coffee break during your shopping trip? Why not kill two birds with one stone by going to The Feeting Room, where the So Coffee Roasters corner is located. A few tables are set up in the store so you can sit down too. In the heart of Chiado, you can enjoy an excellent espresso or coffee made with a gentle method. The coffee used is its own coffee since it is also roasted. So, if you like the coffee, you can buy a package to take it home.

Previously it was a decoration store. Today the Marquise has expanded to open a café and a bakery. Of Nordic inspiration, you can eat delicious pastries, salads, toasts... Of course a particular care was brought to the decoration and we find objects of the nearby store. Good to know, the cafe has a very nice courtyard with greenery. On the big table, you will often see people working during the day. We also recommend you to go and buy some bread at the bakery to test it.

On the program here: wine, tapas, records and plants. It's pretty tempting! Located in a fashionable area of Lisbon (Arroios) and very popular with the locals, this wine bar, which defines itself as gastronomic, leaves a large place to music. This bar was created by a well-known DJ here: DJ Rykardo. Every week, a playlist is published on Spotify with a specific theme. All products are carefully chosen and often come from the Arroios market next door. The wine can be bought to go.

Is it more of a restaurant or a bar? There's no way to tell. The philosophy here is: eat, drink, dance and repeat. A little more friendly than the classic metro-business-sleep. The establishment proposes natural wines and seasonal cuisine but goes further than that, since it seeks to have a direct and close link with the producers. The will of the two creators of Tricky's is to create a place where you can spend your whole evening from the aperitif to the end of the night. The plus: you will be received as a regular of the house.

Opened in 2013, this bar-cafe, run by an Italian couple, has been a growing success ever since. By the way, you better come early if you want to have room inside to eat. Once there, don't forget to admire the works left by the artist Andre Tarli during his stay in Lisbon, including this magnificent fresco painted on the bar counter. The menu has been growing ever since it opened, with many Italian specialties. To drink, we recommend the spritz which are delicious.

This bar moved from Cais do Sodré to its new location near the Sé Cathedral. It is now in a beautiful old building with stone vaults. Crafty Corner is a beer bar and offers quality Lisbon craft beers. You will find all varieties with no less than 12 kinds: pale ale, stout, white, IPA... They also offer some snacks to accompany your beer and of course other drinks (softs, cocktails, etc.). All you have to do is sit down around a keg and enjoy your evening.

Beer lovers will be delighted, Cascais now has its own beer bar where you can watch all the soccer matches but also participate in karaoke nights. Of course, when we hear crafty, we think of craft beers and this is the case here. You will be able to taste local beers (there are quite a few now) but there are also some international brands, if you don't want to take any risk. You can accompany your drink with some tapas like chicken wings: the perfect combo for a successful evening.

A trendy beach bar: Praia Irmão, created by three brothers. Arriving by road, it's impossible to miss its imposing entrance. You'll be immersed in a Berber atmosphere, thanks to a lovely decor that reminds us more of Morocco than Portugal. You'll enjoy Mediterranean-influenced cuisine with a few more exotic touches for a fusion feel. There's something for everyone on the à la carte menu: pizzas, mixed salads, vegetarian dishes... At the bar, juices and cocktails await you. We loved their homemade iced tea.

All along the beaches of Costa de Caparica, you will see bars-restaurants installed in wooden buildings. Da Wave is one of them. Lounge atmosphere, chill music and above all a terrace where the sun shines at the best hours of the day. Perfect to have a drink or to eat between two sunbaths. The menu is simple with sandwiches and salads. The prices are a bit high but it is rather logical considering the location of the place. Like many of the neighboring establishments, it also offers surfing lessons.

Located inside the Mercado da Ribeira, the entrance is somewhat hidden. However, the place is well enough known today for us to know how to get there. We'll warn you right away: you've got to love the color red to venture inside. Most of the music played here is from the 2000s, and the club's clientele tends to be in their thirties and even forties. We deplore the security service at the entrance, which can be very unpleasant. It remains an option if you want to stay in the city center to finish the evening.

A perfect place to enjoy the sunset. Posto da Onda is a beach bar that regularly organizes parties with DJ sets and other entertainment. It also has a restaurant that offers all the delicacies of the sea, caught in the morning to arrive directly on your plate. Thanks to its partnership with a surf school, you can also surf the wave before having a drink with friends and enjoying the music. Be aware that this is one of the most popular places to go out here in Costa de Caparica.

Behind the Casa da Morna, always linked to Angola as at the time when it was called Luanda or Soul Club, the place remains suitable for a hot evening in the sound of R'n'B and of the African rhythmic and sensual musics of the moment. Recommend to arrive late, rather than a first box.

The KARNART CPOAA is a non-profit association. It aims to create, from different artistic fields, objects of great aesthetic dimension and with a strong interventionist impact, either from an anthropological or sociological point of view. It also raises questions about environmental and ecological issues that are becoming increasingly urgent. A place dedicated to alternative arts which, finally, is in tune with the times that are coming. Take a tour there to open your mind.

The old Roma cinema, which has become a showroom under renovation since early 2010.

Towards Portela de Sintra (not far from the cultural centre) in Bairro Flores, the Casa Verger is a rather secluded space of 750 m ² with its origins in São Paulo, Brazil. At the same time art gallery, a small museum of indigenous art, sculpture workshop and café-concert concert celebrations, it also serves, incidentally, the correct Brazilian cuisine. It will be wise to find out about the scheduled evenings and the possibility to get a cocktail at the end of the evening.

Created in 2004, this non-profit but more welfare-oriented cultural cooperative was once housed in a beautifully decorated old building, rua das Portas de Santo Antão. Then she was itinerant and organized musical evenings (traditional, urban or electronic music, jazz...), exhibitions, film screenings and workshops. Since 2015, it has had a new venue in Intendente where concerts are held almost every weekend. Very relaxed atmosphere, the place can look a little like a squat.

Synonymous with cosmopolitanism and diversity, with its two theatres, it is part of the history of the district since its setting was immortalized in A Janela - Marialva Mix, Edgar Pêra's film, a true ode to Bica. The setting: an old-fashioned tavern with a beautiful marble counter for cocktails and a curious alarm clock collection. From time to time, in the interior space, a DJ comes to push the cake, a rather reggae colour and alternative music. There are sometimes jazz sessions and even short film screenings

If you see a crowd next to the São Paulo square, it's normal, you've arrived at the Tabacaria, a very popular bar in the neighborhood. Rather chic, the prices are not cheap but here you will have home made cocktails, created on the spot. Inside, it has kept some old-fashioned elements, including a large wooden counter and stained glass windows. It almost feels like an old pharmacy. This is perhaps the reason why this place was transformed into a spirit laboratory... Some tapas are also available to accompany your cocktails.

This small family and popular tavern with brick and azulejos walls and artists' photos, presents unforgettable fado vadio speakers, spontaneously on the fly: young first, old briscards and great ladies... Accompanied by a veteran guitarist. In addition to a few draught beers and wine to accompany the fado, some petiscos and daily specials. Be careful the tables of this casa portuguesa are reserved for those who intend to snack, in short, we sit down if we eat, otherwise we stay at the counter and it's just as well!

Easy to spot with its large doors decorated with street art frescoes that change every year, it is located in one of the "quiet" streets of Bairro Alto. Inaugurated in the former printing house of the newspaper Diário Popular, it favours different artistic expressions: theatre, dance, cinema... Good point also for music since some evenings are programmed by serious and historical actors of the capital: Mesa de Frades (fado), B.Leza (Cape Verdean and African sound), Hote Clube Portugal (jazz) but also DJ sets.

On the main street of the village of Meco, the little night-owls will not miss the weekend (every evening in August), a lounge bar and a trendy restaurant (which is not recommendable!), which sometimes hosts good DJ evenings. A little bit of fashion, however.

Created in 1998 to bring Portugal and Latin American countries closer together, in its yellow house, below the Museum of Ancient Art, it hosts many activities and initiatives, in collaboration with the various diplomatic and consular missions and the assistance of associates and partners. Its agenda is very varied: shows (music, theatre, dance...), artistic exhibitions, conferences, book presentations, documentaries or film screenings. Note that most of the events are more for Portuguese-speakers.

For lovers of dark music, Gothic or metal (all dark, heavy or speed trends), cross the Tagus River by ferry to Cacilhas is advised to discover on the docks close to the pier this bar for fanatics, changing name (ex-Man's Ruin Bar or Culto Bar), and ensuring a very high level of music programming and transpiration rates.

In a little hidden street next to the Toca do Javali restaurant, this old-fashioned tearoom is well known for the quality of its products and the friendliness of its all-female staff, whether for breakfast, lunch or a light snack. As well as offering a good range of pastries, sandwiches and snacks, it's a great place to have lunch, either in a welcoming dining room or on a pleasant terrace, with a successful octopus salad preceding a delicious cooked codfish. Very popular on weekends.

Literally, this expression means "a little old lady who likes to move and dance"! So here is a multifunctional space between the rua Madalena and the Sé cathedral where you can enjoy some petiscos, a chorizo assado or a cheese plate. The house also offers craft beers. On weekends, you can choose between concerts, photo and painting exhibitions on the wall, or simply come and read. In the large vaulted room, a retro atmosphere and to discover: toilets with their unique decoration!

In the charming garden of the Campo de Santa Clara, with a view of the pantheon and the river, here is a kiosk where you can come for a small coffee, a croissant with nutella or one of their very good tosta mista (toasted sandwiches with cheese and ham). We recommend the Clara tosta, which consists of goat cheese, raw ham and fresh tomatoes, a sandwich that tastes great! On the terrace, we find the inhabitants of the district and the flea hunters, all generations combined, for a small moment of relaxation in the shade of the trees.

An almost secret place, held by a collective of artists, cultural association wishing to promote: teatro, música, cinema. Inside, a few stools and chairs to have a drink while listening to musicians, a program, notably, eclectic music ranging from Brazilian music (samba) to electro jazz. Intimate and bohemian atmosphere, on monday the entrance is free, music lovers and small compositions will be delighted.

"Art and music with tiger's milk for the soul" is what it says about this multi-faceted venue. This former regional house has been taken over and transformed into a bar. There are several areas: a large room for listening to concerts and DJ sets, a smaller, more intimate lounge for sharing a drink and catching up on old times, a patio for taking a breather, and a corner for enjoying some of their delicious tartines. Please note: at the time of writing, the establishment is threatened with closure, but there's no date yet.

A theatre that concentrates its programming on contemporary creation, with dance, theatre and music shows..... Since 2006, the Maria Matos Theatre has been a municipal space, which defends contemporary performance, artists and companies that do not have a place of residence, after major renovations. Inside you can enjoy a coffee, a lounge area on the first floor with bay windows, a pleasant place to philosophize and debate after a show. A program that gives an idea of contemporary Portuguese creation.

In the heart of the beautiful park of Principe Real, you will be able to see this pretty veranda in the shade of majestic trees. This place invites you to take the time to take a break over a gourmet coffee, lunch or even, in the evening, over a drink. In the shop window near the bar you can choose the cake you want to eat (we recommend pão de ló). On the menu, there are also very good hamburgers with homemade potatoes and an excellent mayonnaise to accompany them. Otherwise, salads and sandwiches on the go for a quick snack.

Here, regulars come to eat petiscos, which they happily share in the middle of the table. Grilled chorizo, octopus salad, chickpea and cod salad, you name it. Tuesdays are for poetry! Wednesday evenings and Sundays, ao vivo music, to the tunes of fado, Brazilian classics or jazz. The night goes on into the wee hours, and it's time to leave... A must-see in the Alfama district, and a must-visit for your own pleasure.

A club well known by the Lisboetes who regularly organizes theme evenings. On weekends, it is one of the clubs where you can meet to finish the night, during the week you can listen to jazz with jam sessions but also dance the forro to experience a typical Brazilian dance... Located on the banks of the Tagus, it is very pleasant to be able to cool down on the quays between two dances (be careful not to fall into the water). Thanks to its eclectic programming, this club attracts all types of customers. Everyone is therefore welcome to attend.

It may be the black sheep of the city but we love it. It opened at the time when wine bars were slowly appearing in the city of Lisbon. When the evening comes, you'll see the praça das Flores come alive in front of Black Sheep's entrance. Indeed, the bar is very small inside and that's how it became known in the beginning: the smallest wine bar in Lisbon. Come and discover the wines of Portugal thanks to the wide selection. And if you don't know what to choose, the team will guide you according to your tastes.