Whether you want to sip artful creations in speakeasy dens, retreat under blankets to watch the sunset with a cockle-warming concoction or enjoy drinks alongside furry canine friends, Lisbon has you covered. Yes, winter here is mild, but things do still get chilly after dark, so read on for our pick of where to head to stay hot when the weather turns.
Imprensa
Classy scenes at Imprensa / Image: Hayley Kelsing
A snug space with an unpretentious attitude, Imprensa warmly embraces cocktail-lovers of all stripes. There’s superior snacking, too, as Imprensa is also an oyster bar; the blend of low-lit interior, slick tunes and super-fresh seafood would be reason enough to visit, even without those superstar drinks. The success of the original branch on Rua de Imprensa Nacional (the name translates as ‘National Press Street’) in lively Príncipe Real led to the 2022 opening of a fresh-faced sibling bar downtown, where you can indulge your inner typography geek with signature cocktails named after different fonts.
Pensão Amor
Pretty in Pink Street: Pensão Amor
Proudly occupying a former bordello on downtown’s famous Pink Street, Pensão Amor makes no secret of the fact that Lisbon’s buzziest nightlife strip was once a red-light district. Thankfully, at this alluring cocktail bar the seediness is long gone, but a playful sauciness remains. When a winter chill bites, duck through the doorway and sink into a plush chair to enjoy a classic Manhattan, old fashioned or Moscow mule.
