James

October 2, 2024

#Europe #Portugal #Lisbon

Lisbon Nightlife: The Best Party Areas to Explore

If you’re in Lisbon and want to have some fun, here’s a list of the best places to enjoy an unforgettable night in this incredible city.

Lisbon is a city with a plethora of options for all kinds of people. You have open-air areas with live music, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and more. The city offers a variety of nightlife activities.

In this blog, I’ll show you the best bar areas where you can have a “pre-drink” and then a list of clubs so you can choose the best one for your night out.

Party Areas: “Pre-drink” Spots

Before heading to the clubs, it’s always a good idea to have some “pre-drinks” — that time when you start with a few beers or cocktails with friends and get in the mood for the night ahead.

Typically, the pre-drink starts around 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM. Here are some interesting options to consider:

• Dinner + Drinks: If you’re with friends or your partner, you can start with a nice dinner at one of the many restaurants in the downtown area (Baixa-Chiado / Bairro Alto) and finish off with a cocktail or a glass of wine.

• Alfama: One of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods (the old district). During June (the first two weeks), you’ll find all the streets filled with music and decorated for the Santos Populares celebrations.

• Bairro Alto (Erasmus Corner): Bairro Alto is one of the best areas to party in Lisbon. It has a wide variety of restaurants and bars as well as numerous pubs. Within this area, there’s Erasmus Corner, where you’ll find a street full of small bars and perfect spots to start your night. This area is usually open until 3:00 AM, and a caneca (a large beer mug) costs around €1.5 - €2. It’s the best place to start before heading to a club. This area is also packed with tourists and Erasmus students, making it an excellent place to meet people.

• Pink Street: Pink Street is one of the city’s most popular areas, located right between Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré (club zone). Here, you’ll find restaurants, pubs, and a couple of clubs with good music. Some of these clubs are open until 6:00 AM.

• Cais do Sodré: This is the port area, and you’ll find most of the city’s clubs here. There are also some day events with live DJs, perfect for enjoying a sunset by the river.

• Caparica and Carcavelos: These two areas are great options to enjoy a beach party. Both are about 40 minutes from Lisbon, so if you’re planning to go, I recommend checking out the events in the area. They’re also great for enjoying the beach and the sea in Lisbon. If you’re interested, I’ll leave you a mobile app where you can see all the events available in Lisbon, many of which are beach parties: Shotgun Live.

Lisbon’s Nightclubs

Now that we know where to have the pre-drinks, we can choose the club that best suits our vibe. Here are some of the most famous clubs in the city, all located in the Cais do Sodré area:

💡 In some clubs, the entrance fee can be used as a credit for drinks. For example, if you pay €20, you’ll get a card with €20 to spend inside (consumption is mandatory).

• K-Urban Beach: A great club, slightly more “fancy” than Lisboa Rio, with a variety of genres and a touch of techno.

  • Guest List - ❌
  • Price - €20 to €30

• Lux Club: One of the best techno, electronic, and mainstream clubs in Lisbon, popular with international guests, including celebrities. The first floor has a DJ, the second floor is a lounge bar, and the third is an open terrace.

  • Guest List - ❌
  • Price - €15 to €25

• Lisboa Rio: A famous club with an excellent location. It has two floors. The first features Brazilian music (Funk), while the second floor has commercial music, including Reggaeton and American hits, plus a large terrace.

  • Guest List - ✅
  • Price - €10 to €20

• Lust In Rio: A club with a focus on American pop and commercial music. It has a great atmosphere and excellent views of the river. Very popular among Erasmus students.

  • Guest List - ✅
  • Price - €10 to €20

• Pensao Amor: Located on Pink Street, it’s a good spot for live events with great music. During the week, it’s easy to get in, but on weekends, it’s better to arrive early as it fills up quickly.

  • Guest List - ❌
  • Price - €0

• Posh Club Lisbon: A club focused on the LGBTQ+ community, though it’s open to everyone.

  • Guest List - ✅
  • Price - €10

• Plateau: Plays music from the ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s (Pop, Rock, Disco, Soul, Reggae).

  • Guest List - ✅
  • Price - €10 to €15

Tips

Now that you know the best areas to party in Lisbon, here are some tips to help you have an even better time.

To get around the city, you can use Bolt, an app similar to Uber, and rides are usually affordable throughout the night.

I recommend checking the clubs’ websites and, if possible, signing up for the guest list by registering for the event of the night. This will get you a discount on entry (you usually need to arrive before 1:00 AM).

If you’re living in Lisbon and are an Erasmus student, you can get the ESN Erasmus Card which offers great discounts at some of the city’s clubs.

Always have fun responsibly, make new friends — most of us love meeting new people.

I hope this blog helps you have an amazing weekend in this beautiful city.