Must-see entertainment in Lisbon

  • Hot Clube de Portugal

    Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela

    As hot as its name suggests, this small, poster-plastered cellar (and newly added garden) has staged top-drawer jazz acts since the 1940s. It's considered…

  • A Baiuca

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    On a good night, walking into A Baiuca is like gatecrashing a family party. It’s a special place with fado vadio, where locals take a turn and spectators…

  • Estádio da Luz

    Lisbon

    SL Benfica play at this 65,000-seat stadium in the northwestern Benfica district, which also houses the club's well-done museum (https://museubenfica…

  • Alface Hall

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    With one wall covered in LPs and another with old cinema chairs, there's an old-time feel to this jazz and blues bar in Bairro Alto. Free concerts happen…

  • Cinemateca Portuguesa

    Marquês de Pombal & Around

    Cinemateca Portuguesa screens offbeat, art-house, world and old movies.

  • A Tasca do Chico

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    This crowded dive (reserve ahead), full of soccer banners and spilling over with people of all ilks, is a fado free-for-all. It's not uncommon for taxi…

  • Tasca Bela

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    This intimate spot features live fado on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and eclectic cultural fare (jazz, poetry readings) on other nights…

  • Parreirinha de Alfama

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    Owned by fado legend Argentina Santos, this place offers good food amid candlelit ambience; it attracts an audience that often falls hard for the top…

  • Mesa de Frades

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    A magical place to hear fado, tiny Mesa de Frades used to be a chapel. It’s tiled with exquisite azulejos and has just a handful of tables, including a…

  • Senhor Fado

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    Small and lantern-lit, this is a cosy spot for fado vadio (street fado). Fadista Ana Marina and guitarist Duarte Santos make a great double act.

  • Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

    Marquês de Pombal & Around

    Home to the Gulbenkian Orchestra, this classical-music heavyweight stages first-rate concerts and ballets.

  • Cinema Ideal in Lisbon

    Cinema Ideal

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Opened in 1904, this small neighbourhood cinema was last refurbished in the 1950s and keeps much of the same atmosphere of a classical movie theatre. The…

  • Fado singer reaches an emotional pitch at Clube de Fado, Alfama, one of Lisbon's most famous fado clubs.

    Clube de Fado

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    Clube de Fado hosts the cream of the fado crop in vaulted, dimly lit surrounds. Big-name fadistas performing here include Cuca Roseta and Maria Ana Bobone…

  • Teatro Nacional de São Carlos

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Teatro Nacional de São Carlos is worth visiting just to see the sublime gold-and-red interior (email ahead for €5 guided tours), and it has opera, ballet…

  • Tasca do Jaime

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    This low-key restaurant in Graça hosts authentic fado on weekends from about 4pm to 8pm. Decorated with azulejos and photos of prominent fadistas, it’s a…

  • Senhor Vinho

    Lisbon

    Fado star Maria da Fé owns this small place, welcoming first-rate fadistas (fado singers). Go for the fado (from 7pm) not the food, and feel free to…

  • Damas

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    Part restaurant, bar and alternative concert hall, Damas has given the cool kids a reason to climb the hill to Graça since its opening in 2015. From DJs…

  • Teatro Taborda

    Alfama, Castelo & Graça

    This cultural centre showcases contemporary dance, theatre and world music, and is the residence of experimental theatre company Teatro da Garagem. It…

  • Centro Cultural de Belém

    Belém

    The CCB presents a diverse program spanning experimental jazz, contemporary ballet, boundary-crossing plays and performances by the Portuguese Chamber…

  • Fado in Chiado

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Inside a small theatre, the 50-minute nightly shows here feature high-quality fado – a male and a female singer and two guitarists – and they're held…

  • Zé dos Bois

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Focusing on tomorrow’s performing-arts and music trends, Zé dos Bois is an experimental venue with a graffitied courtyard and an eclectic line-up of…

  • Altice Arena

    Parque das Nações

    Sporting an energy-efficient zinc roof, this UFO-shaped arena is Portugal’s largest, hosting big international acts Adele, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and more.

  • Teatro da Trindade

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    This early-20th-century gem stages an assortment of national and foreign productions. You can buy tickets online at the foundation's website.

  • Teatro Nacional de Dona Maria II

    Baixa & Rossio

    Rossio’s graceful neoclassical theatre has a somewhat hit-and-miss schedule. Guided tours on Mondays (except August) are at 11am (€8).

  • Culturgest

    Lisbon

    Culturgest’s experimental and occasionally provocative line-up encompasses exhibitions, dance, poetry, music and theatre.

  • Teatro Camões

    Parque das Nações

    Teatro Camões is home to the Portuguese National Ballet Company, which is under the artistic direction of Paulo Ribeiro.

  • Mascote da Atalaia

    Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré

    Petiscos (tapas), vinho (wine) and live fado keep the good vibes flowing at this intimate little bar.

  • Casino Lisboa

    Parque das Nações

    The sibling rival of Estoril, Lisbon’s own slick casino aims its chips at a younger crowd. Forget the James Bond–style tux, the dress code here is smart…

  • Estádio José de Alvalade

    Lisbon

    This state-of-the-art 50,000-seat stadium is the home of the Sporting Lisbon football team and the Sporting museum (tours run four times daily at 11.30am,…

  • Estádio Nacional

    Lisbon

    The national stadium, part of the Jamor national sports complex, hosts the Portuguese Cup fotball final each May. Take the train from Cais do Sodré to…

  • São Jorge

    Marquês de Pombal & Around

    While no longer a commercial cinema, the grand São Jorge stages concerts, stand-up, theatre and the odd film or two.

  • TicketLine

    Lisbon

    Tickets to a range of Lisbon events are available from the TicketLine outlet.

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