There's a wide range of bars and pubs in Lisbon, and visitors should not leave the city without doing some bar-hopping in Bairro Alto, Docas and Parque das Nações. Whether you're looking for a traditional, down-to-earth tavern, a sleek  bar, or a cosy chill-out atmosphere, there is always place for you.

When the sun goes down and the wonderful bright light fades, Lisbon gains a completely new life. The sunset in Lisbon brings never-ending opportunities to spend the night out. A typical evening may start in one of the cafes of Chiado. The narrow streets of the district cover many little coffee shops, including the most emblematic café of Lisbon, Café A Brasileira. The café is famous for being a favored meeting point for intellectuals and academics, including one of the most famous Portuguese poets, Fernando Pessoa. It has been said, that Pessoa regularly enjoyed a bica (as the espresso called in Lisbon) while he was reading or writing. The bronze statue at the terrace of the café represents his figure: the busy location of the café ensures the sitting Pessoa is never alone, as the locals or tourists love to take pictures with him.

Walking from Chiado up to Bairro Alto district (the area literally called upper district) offers a wide range of restaurants to the try traditional Portuguese cuisine. For some local flavor try a Fado House, as a must for any first time visitor. Lisbon's soulful sound, Fado sung always by a solo performer, is mostly melancholic music about love or expresses sadness or desire for something that was lost or could not be reached. The songs of the world-wide known Amalia Rodrigues or Mariza, who is defined as the new queen of Fado are the best introduction to Fado. When visiting Lisbon, spending an evening at a Fado House (or "casa de Fado, as the Portuguese call it) or a Fado restaurant is an essential cultural experience. The Bairro Alto district covers many of them, but the most authentic can be found in the old part of Lisbon, Alfama, or in Lapa district.

After a long and relaxed dinner in a restaurant mentioned above, the night can continue in the bars of Bairro Alto. It is the epicenter of the city's bar scene, where you can find a multicultural mix of locals and foreigners. At Bairro Alto you can always find some bars opened (normally until 2 a.m.), sometimes with live music, and a big crowd of young people. The many streets and the belvedere of the bar quarter provides an opened space to meet friends, and to walk around the big variety of bars serving many different kind of taste.

Lisbon has established a reputation as one of Europe's trendiest and main clubbing cities. During the night, when the time comes to visit one of the night clubs of Lisbon, the best choice is to move down by the river to Alcantara and the district of Santos. This area is the home of many fashionable, attractive and stylish clubs, and a pleasant place to watch the sun rise.