The best bars and cafés Lisbon

Between Estrela and Campo de Ourique, it is one of the best kept secrets of the city. This mini Pavilhão Chines (see Bairro Alto) is a hidden but very cosy space, with lots of beautiful objects and some pictures hanging on the walls. You can enjoy excellent tostadas and sip a cocktail. Named after the satirical review of cartoonist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, A Paródia has been offering poetry, theatre and music evenings since its opening in 1975 (thanks to a piano placed in one of its small pieces).

A Capela is one of the obligatory addresses of the Bairro Alto, with its nostalgic neo-baroque decoration. The place is very lively, especially at the end of the evening. Several resident DJs inspired by various local and international influences are distilling electronic music, dub and groove, installed near the bar. A glamour that will please everyone who wants to move! A Capela's Facebook page broadcasts upcoming events almost daily. An undeniable place to have fun with friends and meet new people.

So there you have it, you'll quickly appreciate the setting and its quality musical ambience (jazz, reggae, drum'n'bass...), which varies according to the DJ. Small salads, daily specials, spicy fresh cheese... For a snack or a drink, it's also a pleasant place to chill out in the early evening or drop in at the end of the night when the other bars close. A pretty facade designed outside, the space also lends its walls to photo exhibitions.

As you enter this place, you are plunged into a bar that oscillates between the 1930s and 1950s. The Paginas Tantas presents itself under the auspices of jazz. Bar as sinuous as the waves on the ceiling, posters of concerts or musicians, soft seats, superb lamps... It's beautiful and select. As a result, a lot of people gather in this space, which is quite overcrowded, to enjoy a Bailey's or a cocktail while listening to Saint Germain or Chet Baker. A classic survivor of the Bairro Alto. To discover or savour a unique atmosphere.

Between Príncipe Real and São Pedro de Alcântara, it is an institution and has been since 1986. Please ring the bell at the entrance before entering this former Asian delicatessen, which was once a stable. Indeed, this rococo cave is composed of a series of several rooms literally invaded from floor to ceiling with collections of objects. In this décor created from scratch, enjoy an intimate atmosphere to enjoy teas or excellent exotic cocktails to discover on a wonderful illustrated card of characters from the Roaring Twenties.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

After opening in Intendente in 2016, this address moved in 2019 near Cais do Sodré. Another place, another style, as it now also does brunch and restaurant, as well as being a tapas bar. It has lost its terrace, so you'll have to make do with the dining room. That said, the managers have preserved the beautiful ashlar arches, and the bar's name is echoed in the azulejos on the counter. Here, you can enjoy a glass of wine with a burger and home fries, or tapas, salads and more.

The philosophy of this restaurant is that the best food is the one shared with friends. Here you will find all kinds of tapas, from chicken skewers with peanut sauce to fried calamari and chicken quesadillas. There are also typical petiscos like pasteis de bacalhau or pimentos padron (small grilled peppers). Located in a quiet street, you can sit on the terrace and enjoy the nice weather or inside for more privacy.

Cool without being cheesy, simple without being cheap, popular without being redneck, here is a very pleasant corner which inevitably makes think of Bilal drawing his memories of São Francisco... The atmosphere is relaxed in this large space with its wide windows which open on the animation of the district. The music at the turntables varies according to the mood of the day between acid jazz, new bossa, hip-hop, house and drum'n bass. The clientele is quite young and wild, straight and gay, often more people outside than inside. A good choice to feel the atmosphere of the Bairro Alto !

It is one of the oldest bars in the upper district, ideal for conversing over an excellent musical background (the great voices of jazz, soul, blues). The classy and woody decor is the brand image of the place, as is its wine list (more than 300 references) of different Portuguese regions (by the glass or the bottle) to be accompanied by petiscos, cold cuts, cheese or a chicken croque-monsieur, inherited from the former management... Impeccable service! Be patient, sometimes you have to wait a quarter of an hour before a table becomes available!

This old bread and cake factory has saved its wood-fired oven and some of the worn-out machinery to remind itself of the particular climate of the place, which has become, without a pub, a hype for the insomniacs of Bairro Alto. In a colourful space with a warm retro style and rather large, compared to the standards of the neighbourhood, its relaxing atmosphere is coveted by the thirty-year-olds. Beneath its large pillars, one often comes across artists, actors and celebrities of the gotha. The background music remains at a reasonable sound level to allow for conversation.

Previously located in Bairro Alto, this patisserie is now well established in Belém, on the main street leading to the monastery. You can enjoy brunch, lunch or coffee with a slice of cake. But be warned: the closer it gets to closing time, the more likely it is to be out of stock. Even a simple banana bread takes on all its nobility here, served with a caramel coulis and banana slices on top. The decor is a touch romantic, with powder-pink walls and dried flowers on the ceiling.

Not far from the Anjos metro station, this coffee-shop is well worth the effort of going up Jacinta Marto street and stopping in. Its owner, a great coffee lover, will introduce you to local roasts using different methods (filter, espresso...). And then, every Friday evening, the café changes atmosphere to offer wine and DJ sets to get the evening off to a good start before heading out to the bars in the town center. Don't forget to try the viennoiseries from the excellent Soares bakery, or the banana bread he makes himself.

Adjacent to the National Museum of Ancient Art, above the Casa da América Latina, on the promontory of a small park, the former "Le Chat" has given way to a new concept: the Catch Me bar-restaurant. The name and concept were inspired by the film Catch Me If You Can , starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. The cuisine mixes Portuguese and international gastronomy: grilled octopus and roasted potatoes, shrimp risotto, chef's tosta with brioche bread... What's more, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Tagus and dance to the DJ sets.

Located on the corner of a street with bay windows that give you a view of the lively neighborhood, this bar welcomes you in a slightly rustic, retro yet elegant atmosphere. The manager, Ugne Kris, comes to us straight from the Sem restaurant and wanted to do more than just another wine bar. As a result, the tapas menu has been carefully thought out, using fresh, local ingredients for the most part. The wine selection changes regularly, so there's no wine list, just shelves with bottles and prices underneath.

Mirari was launched in 2023 and has proved a great success. It is located near LX Factory and offers various types of cultural and artistic events. Set in a disused and somewhat ruined factory, the space is open-air and divided into different zones. So it's in a post-industrial atmosphere that you can enjoy all the events organized, including the famous "Saturday afternoon matinees". The bar is complemented by street food stalls, some of which are run by Lisbon-based restaurants.

When the five bartenders decided to open their Brooklyn-inspired bar, the concept was unknown in Lisbon. Today, buoyed by their success, they've even opened a second location. Of course, the mix of cocktails and oysters can be surprising. That said, it seems to work very well with their signature cocktails, named after typographies such as Futura, Avenir or Didot. Their oysters are high quality and come from a supplier near Setùbal.

A little gem located in a less touristy area, not far from Alcântara Terra station. They claim to be the biggest rooftop in Lisbon. Unfortunately, we weren't able to verify this by comparing it to all the others. In any case, you can enjoy a brunch, a drink or even a dance, as the place transforms into a club at weekends. There's even a store with a fine selection of brands (although we regret that it's not all Portuguese designers). On their website, you can find out about all the other activities they offer.

Beer lovers will be delighted by the existence of this bar, located on the border of Baixa and Alfama. You'll find no less than 15 beers on draught, as well as a choice of 300 bottled and canned beers, both locally made and not. The venue regularly invites chefs to come and cook at weekends, so it can offer a variety of dishes on its menu. They also organize tasting sessions. To find out all about their events, just check out their Facebook page.

Created by the same people as Vino Vero, located a few numbers down, this wine bar has become a must on Graça hill. As soon as it opens, you sit down at the counter and order food and drink. Bacaro is the Venetians' name for osterias, so you'll find some excellent Italian cured meats to accompany your glasses of wine. There's also an emphasis on finger food , with pinsas and focaccias. As for the wines, they are all natural and come from various Mediterranean countries.

It's thanks to Cupid, featured on the illuminated sign at the bar's entrance, that we know it's there. We enter and discover a small room with subdued lighting and a bar with a beautiful terrazzo counter. Dare we say it's all done with love? You might think so as you sample the delicious foccacias and signature cocktails. The bar's decor is inspired by Milan's bars of the 1980s. You may be lucky enough to find the Mille made with Campari, clementine juice and Cape Verde brandy on the menu.

This is the address for aficionados of natural wines, a trend that is really starting to take off in Lisbon. Santos is one of the neighborhoods favored by this type of establishment. Here, you can feel the "Gallic" touch, with rillettes on the tapas menu. To compete, you'll also find oysters straight from Setùbal. You can sit back and relax on the terrace, which boasts seating reminiscent of the Jardin du Luxembourg. Rest assured, the wines are Portuguese!

Uni offers a unique mixology experience. Its name reflects the desire of its owner, Constança Cordeiro, to extract the aromas from each ingredient and combine them to create a new, one-of-a-kind flavor. Also behind the Toca da Raposa bar in Chiado, she explains that from her experience there she learned to extract 80 ingredients, which can be found on the menu. Uni's decor is equally surprising: white, minimalist, so as not to interfere with cocktail enjoyment...

AMO stands for the initials of the brewery's creator: Margaret Orlowski. She arrived from Canada, where she had learned the brewing trade. After making microlots for friends for a few years, she decided to launch herself for good in 2016. It's one of the first craft beers in Lisbon, back when nobody was really interested in it here. Today, AMO beers can be found just about everywhere, but in the brewery, you'll have access to more choice and be able to chat with the people who work there.

A French couple who have lived in Lisbon for several years decided to open this wine bar. Their aim is to select top-quality Portuguese wines from all regions, which are not necessarily well known, and to help you make some wonderful discoveries. In a beautiful room with a vaulted ceiling, you can taste the wines by the glass or by the bottle, and accompany them with tapas or charcuterie. Their must: roast Camembert. If you need any advice, the couple will be delighted to help.

A very ambitious concept has taken shape within the Le Consulat hotel. Rove is a bar, restaurant, brunch spot, surf store and art gallery all rolled into one. Comfortably seated on the second floor of the building, with a bird's-eye view of Camões Square, you can enjoy the panoramic view. The bar specializes in cocktails, but also offers craft beers and wines from local vineyards. The atmosphere is similar to that of speakeasy bars, so it's very cozy and underground.

If you're looking for a place to take a break after your visit to Corté Inglès, head to Solo Brewing for a good cup of coffee. You can treat yourself to a Belgian-style waffle, either savory or sweet, something you can't really find in Lisbon. Otherwise, there are more classic options like bagels or tostas. The coffee menu is ultra-complete, with several original options that change regularly. The decor is refined and elegant, with terracotta-colored walls throughout.

Located right in the heart of Baixa, it's a great option for brunching with its ultra-appetizing pancakes. This coffee shop also works with good products, since it uses specialty coffee, i.e. artisanal coffee. For those who prefer other beverages, there's plenty to choose from: quality tea, natural wines, signature mocktails and the classic matcha latte or hot chocolate. Their success has led them to open in other districts such as Alfama.

This space, in the heart of the Alfama district, offers a brunch of traditional Portuguese products until 3pm, hence the name mata-bicho (a popular word for Portuguese brunch). In the dining room or on the terrace, in an inner courtyard secluded from the hustle and bustle of the street, you can take a break and then continue your tour of the city. You can choose between a classic breakfast or one that's more hearty and typical: tosta mista, beefsteak in a bolo do Caco sandwich (Madeira Island bread) or French fries, a plate with products from the Alentejo region, salad, sweets...

You will probably be intrigued by the bistro chairs and tables on the terrace. Would you have come back to France during the night? But no, you are still in Lisbon and this café does not offer much French food except maybe croissants. One of the specialities is the empanadas cooked in a wood oven, delicious with a cocktail of your choice. During the day you also have several options for brunch like bowls or the very good banana bread. At night, the atmosphere is festive and the bar is often full.