BAIRRO ALTO - I

A sunset in Lisbon does not mean it's the end of the day (especially on a weekend or a typical summer night). For many, the day is just beginning and many bars haven't even opened their doors yet. A typical evening might start in the cafés of Chiado, serving as meeting points before heading to a restaurant for a long, relaxed dinner in the Bairro Alto quarter. It is the epicenter of the city's bar scene and where most of the nighttime action takes place.
Venues range from the hip ("Bedroom"), to the quirky ("Pavilhão Chinês"), to the laid-back ("Clube da Esquina"). Most close between 2 and 4AM, when it is time to move down by the river to the docks of Alcântara and the district of Santos, home to several fashionable bars and clubs. The attractive setting of the docks is a pleasant place to stay and watch the sun rise to the sounds emanating from "Op Art," a bar with a view that stays open well into dawn on weekends. Best of all is ending your night (or beginning your day) on the dancefloor or sipping a cocktail on the terrace of the city's most stylish club, "Lux," partly owned by Hollywood actor John Malkovich and often hailed as Europe's best-designed club.
Lisbon is fast gaining a reputation as one of Europe's trendiest cities, and it's an established favorite with the international DJ set. The young European crowd has joined the party, with many young Spaniards, Italians, and Brits visiting the city specifically for its nightlife. It caters to everyone, offering everything from house to electronica, to 1920's-style jazz bars, to a flourishing gay scene.

If clubbing isn't your scene, classical music is well represented at various venues such as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Culturgest. The city's several beautiful old theaters, especially Dona Maria II National Theater, present experimental contemporary works and classical plays, and for opera, look into São Carlos Theater.

For some local flavor, spend a candlelit evening at a Fado House, ranging from elegant restaurants to downmarket taverns with live Fado performers. Many have lost their authenticity (bordering on the tacky), and are targeted at tourists (clustered in Bairro Alto), but there are still some genuine Fado establishments in Alfama and Lapa. Fado remains a lively part of the city's culture, and is a must for any first-time visitor.

The major concert venues are Atlantic Pavillion and Coliseu dos Recreios, often hosting some of the world's top bands and artists.