The best Lisbon clubs

Rock, rock and more rock. That’s all you hear at Sabotage, ever since it opened
in April 2013. A by-product
of the magazine of the same name, which closed since then, Sabotage is close, but not too close, to Cais do Sodré’s crazy night bustle. There are concerts on Thursdays and Saturdays, almost always by national rock bands with an original repertoire, but occasionally it opens on other days. The music ranges from indie-pop to stoner, garage and psych-rock. In the end, it’s
a club for those who knee at the six-string altar of the electric guitar.

Rua de São Paulo, 16 (Cais do Sodré). Mon-Thu 10pm-4am; Fri-Sat 10pm-6am.

These days, Musicbox has a more eclectic agenda than ever: Baile Tropicante makes you dance to the sounds of cumbia, Noite Príncipe is all about afro-electronica heard in Lisbon’s suburbs and alternative showcases like the Musicbox Heineken Series brings international emerging and established clubbing artists to the city. It’s also known for being one of the clubs that stays open the latest, even when the rest of the bars in Cais do Sodré are already kicking out their last customers.

Rua Nova do Carvalho, 24 (Cais do Sodré). Mon-Sat 11pm-6am.

It’s the most famous club
in the city – and in the country, actually. It opened its doors on September 29, 1998. The owner Manuel Reis, who recently passed away, was already responsible for Frágil in Bairro Alto. Expect electronic music, two dancefloors and a rooftop terrace that’s perfect to watch the sunrise. The line can be a deterrent from 2.30am, when things start be really be interesting. Even so, this isn’t Berghain, and unless the bouncer tries to charge you €240 (there have been stories, even though cover is normally €12), it’s always worth the wait. Be presentable, don’t go in flip flops.

Avenida Infante Dom Henrique, Armazém A, Cais da Pedra (Santa Apolónia). Thu-Sat 11pm-6am.

In this historic space, which includes a ground floor and a basement, where the dancefloor is, the music is generally indie. Win Butler himself (Arcade Fire’s lead singer), played a DJ set there – to the hysterical delight of anyone who recognised him. It was the city’s first alternative venue. It is usually open until 4am, and on weekends - if you manage to get in–it can be so busy it’s hard to breathe.

Rua Poiais de São Bento, 37 (Poço dos Negros). Wed-Sat 11pm-4am.

Set in the former Ministry of Finance building, this club was inaugurated on December 1, 2012, and usually opens on Saturdays only. It has gradually become a reference in the city’s electronic scene, with national and international techno and house music names playing every weekend. There’s also a monthly LGBT night, Spit & Polish.

Praça do Comércio, 72 (Terreiro do Paço). Sat 11am-6am.

Metropolis is practically the only thing left at the abandoned Centro Comercial Imaviz, one of the city’s historical commercial centres, founded at the start of the 70s. To get to this club – or more accurately, to this rock crypt – you need to go down to the basement and walk through several vacated shops, in itself an interesting experience. Then, let yourself be carried away by the only important thing here, rock, with tribute nights to bands like Nirvana, Rammstein or Depeche Mode.

Centro Comercial Imaviz, Rua São Sebastião da Pedreira, 35 (Picoas). Fri-Sat 11pm-6am.

It’s Lux’s little brother, something no other club in the city can brag about. It was one the great nightlife novelties of 2016, with a concept different from its sister venue (and from every other bar in Cais do Sodré). Open from 10pm to 4am on the first floor of Time Out Market, it’s great for some post-dinner activity– whether it be drinking or dancing. On Sundays – and this is where it stands out – it has matinée sessions from 5pm to 1am, for those of us who want to go to be dearly.

Time Out Market, Praça Dom LuísI (Cais do Sodré). Tue-Sat 10pm-4am; Sun 5pm-1am.

Lounge is one of Lisbon’s best nightlife venues and its not overrated. The agenda is one of its greatest assets, as
it manages to please just about everyone. On a normal night – even on a Sunday – you could start by listening to a raw and sweaty rock concert and end dancing to obscure disco tracks at 4am. And best of all, it’s free entry. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the bar is so busy it’s hard to find the space to dance and let’s not even talk about the line to the bathroom.

Rua da Moeda, 1 ( Santos). Mon-Sun 10pm-4am.

Perfect for a workout without going to the gym, i.e., dancing after hours (it closes at four a.m., which is great in itself). 5AClub, located in the Príncipe Real area, has great drinks (how about a tequila shot machine? Go for it) and musical selections curated by Match Attack. That means good electronic dance music, several indie artists and a fine underground spirit.

Rua do Noronha, 5A (Príncipe Real). Fri-Sat 11pm-4am.

This Escadinhas da Praia disco opened for business in 1988, when there was still a Soviet Union. Its next years were its finest, until it earned something of a reputation, lost some of its glamour and, eventually, closed down in 2011. For five years it only opened for special events. Then it came back, for now only on Fridays and Saturdays, under a slightly different format. Among the differences: it is no longer open until 9am.

Escadinhas da Praia, 5 (24 de Julho). Fri- Sat 12.30am-7.30am.