Fun and entertainment Portugal

This cultural collective operating by subscription card offers its fellow members various and varied evenings: concerts (world music, fado, acoustic session, jazz…), DJ, cinema, exhibitions, workshops and experimentation…

In addition to the orchestra and resident choirs under the guidance of great masters (Corboz, Radu Lupu, Jordi Savall...), the foundation regularly welcomes excellent ensembles and the greatest foreign soloists or conductors. Amateurs will be amazed at the program. Baroque, romantic, contemporary music, nothing escapes the foundation, which also organizes ballets. In summer, in its outdoor auditorium, it gives way to jazz and world music.

You will surely first notice its beautiful 1930s style facade, in sharp contrast to the palm trees and old buildings in the surrounding area. You'd think it was abandoned, but no! Quite interesting shows, which do not feel obliged to be boring to be intelligent: musicals, café-theatre and even programming for young audiences.... Not to mention the lounge bar on the first floor offering concerts and dancing evenings....

Here, the coffee is roasted on site. Since its creation in 2015, the Fabrica Coffee Roasters has not destuffed with its small terrace where you can have breakfast with a coffee and a croissant (a real good one as in France). For us, it is the best elongated coffee in the city (called here americano or abatanado). If you are a fan of good coffees and cappuccinos, we highly recommend this address. Be careful, here no wifi, deliberate bias of the owners who do not want to see their establishment filled with computers.

Ideal for a break after a walk to the mouth of the Douro! Casa Aberta offers a menu of tapas and more elaborate dishes. Meat lovers will appreciate the grilled meats, a specialty of the house. The wine list features a nice selection of local whites and reds. You can also enjoy cocktails or vintage ports. The staff is friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is warm. Soak up the gentle energy of Casa Aberta.

A cultural place initiated by former Coimbra students who have decided to come together to promote their common passion: fado. A very appreciable place, on the walls, with photos of all the fadists, known or unknown in Coimbra. A short hour of entertainment will allow you to discover this musical tradition. Video that traces the birth and origin of this fado, then gives way to musicians who play with soul and passion. At the end of the show, you can enjoy a very good Port in the small patio. Very pleasant musical moment.

Carrying the pseudonym of a protest composer of the last century, native of Cape Verde, the B.Leza, friendly and smiling, fills us with lusophone rhythms, live or recorded, and a maximum of Africanities. Come and enjoy the orchestras on stage distilling mornas, coladeira, funaná, kuduro, kizomba... But also some Latin-American evenings and even a poetry night (on Sunday) and a monthly fado appointment. The heat increases proportionally to the crowd on the dance floor dancing to Brazilian, Angolan or Mozambican sounds...

A crazy bar with four intergalactic animals for mascots. You can spot this bar with its bright yellow illuminated sign that sits above the bar on a deep blue wall. It serves local beers, wine, but also homemade cocktails made with seasonal ingredients. We go there mainly for that, especially since sometimes they are on promotion (it's announced on the Instagram account). On the program: sets, soul, funk and latino rhythms to keep you entertained all night long or almost all night long. The motto: dance, don't stand still!

Close to the upper pedestrian area of the Luis I Bridge, the Casa da Guitarra invites you to attend a one-hour Fado show every evening. In an intimate atmosphere, the duo of guitarists and the singer transport you into the melancholy of the fado. A glass of wine will be served during the break. A great listening experience to get acquainted with this authentic music. In its shop and workshop, the Casa da Guitarra showcases traditional Portuguese stringed instruments and offers courses over several days.

The Hot Five is an excellent jazz club in the heart of the city, but if it is so well known it is because it is the oldest, born in the 1950s. You can feel a relaxed atmosphere from the first steps. The program is cleverly chosen and very relevant. You can enjoy a few good drinks at low prices. Perfect for those who enjoy long evenings of live music. Sit in the armchairs facing the stage and let yourself be transported into the world of retro and contemporary jazz. An address that changes from fado.

Housed in a beautiful chapel, this space of local musical tradition with an exhibition room and video library offers nightly concerts of fado and guitar from Coimbra, certified of origin and controlled appellation. It is also possible (and recommended) to have a few petiscos/tapas and a good glass of wine before enjoying the atmosphere. An original experience in an unusual setting. Smiling welcome and quality service.

The Three Monkeys is one of the references for nights in Lagos. It is open 365 nights a year and you are sure to make friends, even if you come alone. Customers are invited to drink a large quantity of beer with large helmets on their heads. The beer, poured by a waitress into a funnel, reaches the drinker's mouth via a long tube. It's a real show and you'll laugh! The bar also serves all kinds of alcoholic drinks and soft drinks. Remember that from 9pm to midnight, it's happy hour, with a cocktail offered for a bought.

An original bar that makes barber at the entrance and bar/pub in the background. A very British style with leather sofas and billiards. A real atmosphere apart with a little touch of lisboet madness in addition. It has the advantage of being outside the crowded streets of Bairro Alto, but still close enough to attract people. The atmosphere is guaranteed on weekends and the bar is packed! DJ sets are organized on weekends to warm up before going dancing in one of the city's clubs. They also offer some snacks in case you get hungry.

At the entrance to this bar, you won't see a name, just a red frog carved above a bell that reads "Press for cocktails". Ring the bell and the door opens, leading to a basement bar. This is indeed a hidden bar, in the tradition of speakeasy bars, the underground bars that existed during Prohibition in the USA. Down a few steps, you enter a small, dimly lit bar with a retro look, very American in the 1920s and 1930s. Red Frog was voted one of the 50 best bars in the world in 2022.

"The Good, the Bad and the Bad", a whole program! This establishment, named after the famous Sergio Leone western in Portuguese, is really one of the new good surprises in the Cais do Sodré district. In a kind of huge apartment with a design and cosy style, several rooms with bars, sofas, armchairs... The light is dimmed and the atmosphere is good-natured. Every evening, or almost every night, there is live music: DJ sets, afrobeat or jazz concerts. The perfect place to start the evening or finish it off with a cocktail.

Tereza and her two guitarists invite you to discover the history of Fado, a music that is so dear to Portuguese culture. This 40-minute show begins with a short documentary (in English and Portuguese only) on the origin of this music and its evolution through the political and social events that marked Portugal. This is followed by the presentation, in French this time, of several key songs of the genre, sung by Tereza. The performance takes place in the Church of the Misericordia just across the street, with an even more impressive acoustic.

In the heart of the historic center, in this yellow house, you can drink a good cocktail or enjoy a quality meal (typical dishes brought up to date that the jovial owner will advise you). Upstairs, good music and a relaxed atmosphere. Several rooms and some tables installed on the square offer different atmospheres with, on weekends, DJ and small concerts. A good place to discover the atmosphere of the nights ofGuimarães. All in a modern and elegant decoration. Quality service, available and attentive.

This very nice bar is always busy, especially in the summer, probably because of its huge and great terrace overlooking Chaves. The inhabitants as well as the visitors love this place. Installed in the ramparts of the city, the establishment has beautiful walls of old stones which, combined with a modern and coloured decoration, give it a crazy charm. Good music always appreciable at the end of the day. You can eat with your family or relax most of the evening with friends while sipping delicious cocktails with or without alcohol.

A little hidden on the right of the statue of this dear Adamastor, the giant of the Storms (depicted by Luís de Camões in his Lusiades), it is a busy space, which offers a superb view of the city from two beautiful terraces. The very friendly welcome recommends caipirinhas, vitamin juice and snacks... If it is too cool, blankets are distributed to observe, without worries, the sunset on the deck of April 25 (sublime!) and dive gradually into the night, sometimes animated by small concerts or DJ performances.

Probably the most mythical café in Lisbon, once frequented by politicians and especially modernist artists and writers. This historical monument in its own right, which opened its doors in 1905, continues to attract tourists with its Art Nouveau façade and its grandiose interior decorated with gilding, large mirrors stitched by the ages and painted ceilings. A coffee and a nata pastel are a must! On the terrace, it is impossible to miss the statue of Pessoa (of which it was one of the HQs) sitting at a table, book in hand.

Close to the Bossa Nova pizzeria, this space known to night owls is housed in a welcoming tavern with a décor reminiscent of the Orient. Yet it feels like a trendy bar in a big American or English city. The various cocktails and theme parties, as well as breakfasts, are the great assets of the place. Reggae music often rhythms the atmosphere. It is also possible to eat, thanks to a fairly complete menu that offers things that are easy to cook (lasagna, hamburgers...). This place is a bar first and foremost!

Here, we wanted to remain in the spirit of the emblematic Cabaret Maxime, which once made its mark on the Lisbots at this address. Redone for nine, this restaurant with an intimate and ultra-selective decoration offers dishes with surprising flavours (shrimps with Martini and chilli pepper, squid and fennel taco...). In the evenings, shows are programmed with singers, dancers, illusionists, jugglers and even a real cabaret revue! The Boudoir Garden, a small patio, is perfect for relaxing during intermission. Good wine selection and perfect service.

The typical and chic old café par excellence where all generations mingle, from the old ones who come every day to the young customers of the new generation. A must-see, to understand the pleasure of conversation, and the notion of waiting that characterizes the saudade of the Portuguese people. Café A Brasileira is, as you will have understood, one of the emblematic cafés of Braga, located in the heart of the historical district. Tea room, bar, snack, there is something for everyone, all day long. Impeccable, smiling and dynamic service. Recommended.

A bar to go forward or to get lost in the night... with shots (small glasses of alcohol and liquor), the house specialty that we drink dry while dancing on the last rock releases. The terrace is as lively as the interior. El Rock Bar is also open during the day. You can sit outside to have a drink or a coffee, with always good music resounding (less loud obviously than in the evening). A convivial place, favourable to the sympathetic meetings. Quality service, dynamic and available.

Where to classify this global and alternative space which offers one of the most beautiful views of Lisbon and the Tagus? In the shows? Yes, because there are animations regularly. The place has been built around a circus school (and performing arts in general) with a social vocation for almost 40 years. In Chapitô, it is often possible to see the students in training or in performance (many evenings, on the terrace, they present their performances by wearing hats). The Chapitô is also a bar (Bartô), on the site of an old wash-house.

Opposite the Cidadela, here's a beautiful space with a pinkish façade that presents temporary exhibitions in its gallery, as well as a number of cultural events and shows (concerts and others). Housed in the former convent of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, it was renovated by architect Jorge Silva. It is part of the "bairro dos museus" network, along with other sites such as the citadel and the citadel palace. Take advantage of its cafeteria and terrace.

Unmistakable so much it dresses the Rossio Square in a beautiful way by proudly standing at the end. This theatre, built in 1842, is one of Portugal's national theatres and offers original and sometimes even quite unpredictable shows. You should also know that this institution collaborates with street artists such as Vhils who has made 4 portraits of famous actresses on the top floor of the theatre. By asking nicely, you can visit a few venues before the shows.

At some 21 p. m. (except Sundays), it presents good live music sessions (Cape Verde and other Portuguese African colonies). Rather relaxed atmosphere.

The vixen' s space is a little marvel to savor a refined tea of exotic origin while tasting excellent scones or pastries. Its very sophisticated and warm decoration is a mix of painted swallows and rosettes on the ceiling, a large chandelier with fancy dragonflies, a giant mirror, an old carpenter's workbench in the middle, rose petals and candles on the tables, a starry tiled floor... A unique and romantic atmosphere, with a background of jazz and world music or with the rhythm of a guitarist.

One of the emblematic cafés of the city of Porto that opened its doors in 1909. In this huge room with its large wooden tables, people come during the day to drink a coffee or eat a dish of the day. When the night falls and the bar fills up with the youth of Porto, it is difficult to move around and the waiting time is longer than during off-peak hours. On the walls there are many writings and poems by personalities who praise the virtues of this coffee. It's up to you to read them! And for the amateurs of shots, the prices defy any competition.

On the 9 ^th floor of the Hotel Mundial, an esplanade bar with an incredible view over Lisbon. Admire the castle, the Baixa, the districts more northerly, and our gaze is lost on the horizon in the Tagus. Chic chairs and tables, clean in white and blue tones. Sip cocktails, especially gin, some salads and tapas plus a jazz music background.

A typical and cute kiosk, all dressed in white, in the corner of Principe Real Park. Take your "Bica", and simply let yourself be contemplated by the comings and goings of passers-by, and the imposing view of the century-old trees. Very good for a little coffee between friends, to gossip on passers-by. In the early evening, it is the meeting place for the Lisboetes just after leaving their work. On the other side of the park, another kiosk, this time pink, which displays more prices "for tourists", to avoid.

This is the bar of the famous soccer champion Luis Figo. The front of the bar bears the number 7, which was the number on the player's jersey. You'll love the wooden terrace by the water, where you can sip one of the cocktails on the menu. Inside, you'll find hundreds of photos of the star with other Portuguese personalities or soccer personalities, such as the one with Zizou! Fans be warned: Luis Figo occasionally visits the bar in summer, so with a bit of luck, you'll be able to take a cult photo with him and post it on your networks!

Near Santo Estêvão (Alfama), a small and discreet baba cool bistro, a few tables where one strums the guitar and sings like at home in a very friendly atmosphere. Bohemian and relaxed atmosphere (depending on the time of the day, one passes, in person, behind the bar to serve oneself) for young and cosmopolitan clientele under the good hospices of Mané, multidisciplinary Brazilian artist, the soul of the place. As for the musical background: a few regular musicians provide entertainment until the end of the night, but anything can happen in this "smallest cultural center in town".

To listen to the heartbreaking fado, the funny fado, the sad fado: one of the great survivors of the 1950s. The establishment is run by the fadista Argentina Santos, if you're really lucky, she might give up her stoves for a few minutes to push a lament within a line up of local fadists. The fado is excellent, the cooking(arroz de peixe, cabrito assado) much less and the bill a bit abused. Intimate atmosphere. We'll tell you about it but it will certainly not be your first choice...

This small auditorium in the historic centre of Lisbon, in the heart of Chiado, offers the opportunity to listen to artists. On the walls of this performance hall are images of Lisbon that present unique places in the city where Fado was born before it became the symbol of an entire country. If you don't want to choose the different dinner shows on offer, this is definitely the place to go. A good start to the evening to taste the passion of this song and soak up the Portuguese soul before going to dinner at Bairro Alto, a stone's throw away.

In a large and luxuriant garden where tables and sofas with multicolored cushions are installed, one could spend hours re-discovering the world around cocktails carefully measured in this very busy beer garden. It's also the ideal place to laze around for a few hours when coming back from the beach, while cuddling Burney, the house cat, or trying to find the turtle that wanders freely among the tables. If you decide to stay for dinner, the tempting smell of barbecued meat will delight your senses.

A direct address on the Ribeira. Café do Cais is a bar-snack-restaurant not to be missed on the quays. It serves drinks, francesinhas, croques and salads in a good mood. The octopus salad is a must try. The view is splendid! You will come there to have a drink, to eat a piece before continuing the visit of the city, or to savor a more substantial dish to finish well the day. A smiling and helpful reception, sometimes a little overwhelmed by the large number of customers. We invite you to be a little patient.

It is an establishment rather of summer having terraces, swimming pools and external gardens. The national DJs regularly occupy its turntables, the music is varied (electro, pop, musica brasileira, house and the always effective karaoke nights). The management has set up a free bus service from the cathedral to avoid drunk driving. Very young population. With the development of the bars on the Docas secas, the establishment has lost a bit of its former popularity; this is largely due to its distance from the center.

Sponsored and run by one of Portugal's leading banks, the Caixa Geral dos Depósitos, this modern space hosts exhibitions, performances (dance and theatre) and concerts in well-sounding auditoriums. Its architecture is impressive, facing one of the oldest libraries in Lisbon. The watchword is generally contemporary creation. It is also one of the screening places during Lisbon film festivals. An atypical experimental programming to be closely monitored.

In a cobbled cul-de-sac, which becomes a sort of thirsty street in the evening, a local inn with small concerts of traditional Lusitanian music (on weekends) serving good traditional food. A local institution, the popular house of the sympathetic Fernando Pereira, a famous guitarist who accompanies the greats on tour, is worth points. Its summer terrace with a small stage, located in a rustic setting, proves to be very convivial, whether you are in a group or alone. Recommended for dinner rather than lunch.

A trendy bar with a mini terrace on the street that doesn't just serve drinks. Natural fruit juices, wrapsand pancakes are a hit in the city with locals and visitors alike. The Bretons will surely criticize the latter, but who cares, the essential is elsewhere: it is to be found in the lively evenings organized by the house where the atmosphere of the 1980s is sometimes in full swing. For those who like it, the house also offers vegetarian hamburgers accompanied by crispy French fries

Pipa Velha is a very nice bar, emblematic in Porto for more than 30 years, where to go at any time from the beginning of the evening until half of the night. The menu will offer you good snacks(pesticides) and drinks (alcoholic or not) at very good prices. We especially appreciate the relaxed atmosphere with a good musical program. Totally relaxed! Some people say that they drink the best white sangria in Porto, others say that the red one is better. Smoking and non-smoking areas. A recommended address.

To prolong the enchantment of the rooftops open during the day, next to Largo do Camões, a small sophisticated and modern club (only 20 m² ?), with a panoramic view of the beautiful Lisboa on the 7th floor. Sober and elegant colors, gold, black and copper, and a tapestry with a crocodile skin texture. As you can see, this is the kind of place that is "In" and very select (proper attire required). So if you're on your "31", you might be lucky enough to get in for a cocktail and some sushi.

While the large bowling alley in the Parc des Nations closed in 2005, the casino has given a new lease of life to this much-loved area of Lisbon. Set in a sleekly designed building with lots of glass to let in the light, in a rather avant-garde atmosphere of constant change and technological sophistication, here's a new casino concept! The principle is the same: to make visitors spend as much currency as possible in the complex's games, bars and restaurants, while keeping them entertained (after all!).