A drink outside the bar. Coming?

Lisbon, outside the bar

Nobody here stays seated for long. You order at the counter, drink outside, climb the cobbled streets to a miradouro (viewpoint) and head back down to the river. Between a ginjinha (cherry liqueur) and a tasca (a small, traditional tavern), the plan changes three times and nobody complains.

The hard part is lining up calendars: between work, traffic on the bridge and friend groups that never make up their minds, meeting someone new always gets pushed to next week. YesTonite only thinks about today: switch on “Out tonight”, see who else is out and settle it with a message.

In June, on the night of Santo António, the old neighbourhoods fill with arraiais (street parties), grilled sardines and pots of basil, and the marchas parade down Avenida da Liberdade. It is the night when all of Lisbon talks to strangers.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the big nights. Dinner is around nine, the bars fill up after eleven and the clubs only warm up after one.

Where Lisbon goes out

• Bairro AltoNarrow streets packed with small bars and people standing outside, drink in hand.
• Cais do SodréBy the river, with the Pink Street and nights that end late.
• Príncipe RealA garden, cocktail bars and a welcoming LGBTQ+ scene.
• SantosBetween Cais do Sodré and Alcântara, more laid-back bars and terraces.
• IntendenteA revamped square with terraces, music and a very mixed crowd.
• AlfamaThe home of fado, with tascas and alleys that come alive during the Santos Populares festivities.