Lisbon NightLife

Lisbon NightLife information

Music

Being a European capital, Lisbon has its fair share of classical concerts, with touring companies often visiting the city. The most important events are organised in the Belém Cultural Centre or the open-air auditorium and concert hall of the Gulbenkian Foundation (found next to the museum) where the Gulbenkian Orchestra and Gulbenkian Choir are permanent fixtures. Lisbon is also well known for its classical music concerts held in some of the city's churches in summer. The local press gives details, but the best known are the churches of São Roque (Saturdays), Carmo and the Sé. Centro Cultural de Belém Praça do Império Belém Tel: +351 21-361-2400 Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Serviço de Música Avenida Berna, 45 Tel: +351 21-782-3000 Lisbon is also one of the best places in Portugal to listen to traditional fado music, a unique version of the blues played on the fado guitar. Most performances are held in traditional fado clubs, which usually serve traditional Portuguese food as well. There are a number of these dotted around the city, especially in the Alfama district. Clube de Fado Rua de S João da Praça, 92/94 (nr the cathedral) Tel: +351 21-885-2704 Adega Mesquita Rua Diário de Notícias, 107 Tel: +351 21-321-9280 It seemed to take a long time for Lisbon to come to terms with its colonial past and assimilate the rhythms that came back with the returnees of 1974. Nowadays the city has a thriving modern music scene loosely based on jazz, as well as African and Brazilian traditional music. This scene is predominantly found in small club venues around the city, for example: Hot Clube de Portugal (Jazz) Praça Alegria, 39 Tel: +351 21-346-7369 Dock's Club Rua da Cintura do Porto de Lisboa 226 Docas de Alcantara A new, cavernous, overdone, modern warehouse development, and so kitsch it's amusing. If you expect it to be as fantastic as Docks thinks it is, it will disappoint. But if you're prepared for a laugh at the sheer amount of fake glitz and glam you can have a good time.

Theatre

Inaugurated in 1846 the National Theatre of Dona Maria II is Lisbon's premier theatre, at least in terms of appearance. The grand old building was almost totally destroyed by fire in the 1960s and was consequently entirely renovated - although the sumptuously ornate interior was saved and restored as much as possible to the original. The programme is predominantly Portuguese-language productions of national and international works. Praça D. Pedro IV (Rossio). Tel: +351 21-325-0800. Lisbon's largest theatre is the Belém Cultural Centre, a modern centre for the arts only built in the 1980s. As well as the main auditorium, there is a smaller theatre and a studio sized venue both of which host smaller performances. Praça do Império, Belém. Tel: +351 21-361-2400. The Teatro de Trindade is a vast 19th-century gilded palace of a place, and to take a look inside it's hard to believe this was once the cutting edge of theatre technology. The theatre is still popular for smaller shows, revues and plays. Rua Nova Trindade 9, Bairro Alto. Tel: +351 21-342-0000

Opera

Opera productions in Lisbon are hosted at both of the Centro Cultural de Belém's main auditoriums. The Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, Rua Serpa Pinto 9, is home to the city's main opera productions during the winter season. Tel: +351 21-325-3000 for details.

Cinema

The major shopping centres are the best bet to see mainstream movies in Lisbon. The Amoreiras boasts a few screens throughout the centre. A better facility can be found at the massive and modern Colombo, which boasts a multiplex with an excellent sound system. Blockbuster and mainstream films are shown with subtitles. The more discerning film fan should head for the Cinemateca Portuguesa. There are usually a couple of shows daily drawn from an eclectic range of international cinema from Classical to Modern. Real movie buffs can read up on Portuguese cinema in the library while more casual film fans can take refreshment in the excellent bar instead. Rua Barata Salgueiro, 39. Tel: +351 21-359-6266.

Nightclubs

Clubs, discos and places for live music open and close with relative frequency, but the Docas district along the banks of the Tagus is the current late-night hotspot. All of Lisbon's bars open until well into the night, and many become what most people consider clubs after midnight. Don't expect any revolutionary sounds though. Saccharine Euro-pop is just as likely to assail your ears as pumping house tunes. Armazém F Rua da Cintura, Armazém 65 Tel: +351 21-322-0160 A bit of everything; club, bar and restaurant. The restaurant is open until after midnight, the bar keeps its doors open until 02h00 and the club doesn't shut down until well into the next morning (06h00). Although the warehouse development is expensively done the sounds aren't too modern. Loft Club Rua do Instituto Industrial 6 Tel: +351 21-396-4841 A fairly recent addition to the Lisbon club scene having replaced the popular Indústria. An eclectic mix of clubbers come here for the various themed nights. Dock's Club Rua da Cintura do Porto de Lisboa 226 Docas de Alcantara A new, cavernous, overdone, modern warehouse development, and so kitsch it's amusing. If you expect it to be as fantastic as Docks thinks it is, it will disappoint. But if you're prepared for a laugh at the sheer amount of fake glitz and glam you can have a good time.

Special Events

February At the beginning of February, Lisbon plays host to a musical and cultural exchange, during the ten day Festival das Músicas e dos Portos, (The Music and Harbours Festival). Each year, Lisbon invites a city port to exchange their music and culture. In 2001, the city came to life with the sounds of Jazz and Blues from New Orleans. As well as paying homage to the music and culture of another city port, the festival is a celebration of "Fado", Lisbon's traditional folk music. An enormous variety of events take place alongside the extensive music programme and you are well advised to book accommodation in advance, as thousands of people flock to the city. For further information about future programmes, you can contact Lisbon Tourism. Tel: +351 21-031-2700. April The Portugal Half Marathon has been run since 1990. The route follows the River Tagus and ends at the Mosterio dos Jerónimos in Belém. If you're feeling energetic, then the marathon provides a good opportunity to see a few of the city's sights. If not, then come along and join the spectators. Tel: +351 21-386-1811. June One of the best times to visit Lisbon, is during the Festos dos Santos Populares, when every street in the city is decorated in celebration of the patron saints of Lisbon. There is music and dancing all over the city and each district holds street parades. During this time, the people of Lisbon traditionally exchange pots of Basil and poem bearing carnations, as a sign of affection. Contact the Lisbon tourist office. Tel: +351 21-031-2700, for more information about specific events. June/July Lisbon Pride, the annual celebration for the gay and lesbian community, starts on the fourth Sunday of every June and encompasses a week of debates, films, exhibitions and theatre. The festival culminates in a huge open-air party, with DJs and drag queens to entertain the crowds of over 10000 people. Tel: +351 21-887-3918 for details. July-September The BAIXAnima Street festival takes place every weekend from July to September in the Baixa quarter of the city. You can enjoy street entertainment, music, theatre, circus acts and dance and it is all free. Performances take place between 16h00-18h00. August The Ocean Festival, which starts on the 2nd Saturday of every August, pays homage to Lisbon and provides a real insight into the city. The festival programme includes exhibitions, film screenings, literary events and performances as well as a locally produced food fair. You can contact the tourist office, Tel: +351 21-031-2700, for full details. December New Year's Eve, or Noite Mágica, as it is known in Portugal, is a time for great revelry in Lisbon. Celebrations start at 10h00 on 31st December and last well into the following morning. The streets are ablaze with lights and there are parties in the hotels and on throughout the streets. The focal point of the celebrations is the Torre de Belém, where there will be Portuguese bands and a spectacular firework display.