Top Live Music in Portugal

Mesa de Frades ★ 4.7 · Lisbon

alfama · Rua dos Remedios 139, 1100-304 Lisboa

Mesa de Frades on Rua dos Remédios is the 17th-century tiled chapel in Alfama restored as a fixed-menu fado dining room, with sets of three to four fados.

Tip: Reservation required, 60 euros set menu; arrive by 20:30 for the first set. The original azulejo panels behind the singer are the photo seat, ask for a wall-facing table.

A Tasca do Chico ★ 4.6 · Lisbon

bairro-alto · Rua do Diário de Notícias 39, 1200-141 Lisboa

A Tasca do Chico on Rua do Diário de Notícias opened in 1993 as the Bairro Alto fado vadio tavern, where amateur and professional fadistas take turns.

Tip: Fado sessions run nightly from around 21:00, with Monday and Wednesday the busiest. The room is small and chairs are limited, arrive by 20:30 for a standing spot.

Casa da Musica ★ 4.6 · Porto

Avenida da Boavista 604, 4149-071 Porto

Casa da Musica on Avenida da Boavista in Porto is the Rem Koolhaas concert hall, with classical, jazz and electronic programming inside a 2005 architectural.

Clube de Fado ★ 4.5 · Lisbon

alfama · Rua de Sao Joao da Praca 94, 1100-521 Lisboa

Clube de Fado on Rua de São João da Praça by Lisbon Cathedral was founded in 1995 by Portuguese guitarist Mário Pacheco in an 18th-century stable.

Tip: Doors at 19:30 with fado from 20:30-01:00 nightly; book ahead, the seven-table room fills with cruise guests. The Roman arches across the dining room are the architecture.

Povo ★ 4.4 · Lisbon

cais-do-sodre · Rua Nova do Carvalho 32, 1200-292 Lisboa

Povo on Rua Nova do Carvalho runs the Cais do Sodré pink street as a contemporary tasca, programming young fadistas in residency between 20:30 and 23:00.

Tip: Fado sessions Tuesday to Sunday between 20:30 and 23:00; the residency rotates emerging singers. Walk-in friendly midweek, weekend tables benefit from a booking.

Damas ★ 4.4 · Lisbon

alfama · Rua da Voz do Operario 60, 1100-621 Lisboa

Damas on Rua da Voz do Operário opened in 2015 in a former Graça bakery, combining a casual restaurant with a concert room programming alternative bands.

Tip: Live music Tuesday to Saturday, mostly free; the back salon is the concert hall, the front is the bar. The kitchen runs vegetarian and vegan plates alongside Portuguese petiscos.

Maus Habitos ★ 4.4 · Porto

Rua Passos Manuel 178, 4000-381 Porto

Maus Habitos on Rua Passos Manuel in Porto opposite the Coliseu is a four-floor cultural centre with a concert hall, gallery and bar, live music six nights.

Colinatrum Cafe ★ 4.3 · Braga

Cividade · Rua Damião de Góis 11, 4700-028 Braga

Set on the rise between the university and the historic core, Colinatrum offers the best city views from its terrace and hosts occasional acoustic music evenings.

Tip: Live music nights are irregular; check the Facebook page. The terrace view of the cathedral roofline at sunset makes any evening worthwhile regardless of programming.

Casa Independente ★ 4.3 · Lisbon

mouraria · Largo do Intendente Pina Manique 45, 1100-285 Lisboa

Casa Independente on Largo do Intendente is the Mouraria cultural house in a decaying 19th-century mansion, programming live gigs in the Tiger Room and DJ.

Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday from 17:00, weekends to 02:00. The Tiger Room is the concert hall, the patio is the conversation seat. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Hard Club ★ 4.3 · Porto

Mercado Ferreira Borges, Praca Infante Dom Henrique, 4050-297 Porto

Hard Club inside the Mercado Ferreira Borges in Porto's Ribeira is the city's main concert hall, in an 1885 iron building with rock, indie and jazz.

Sé La Vie ★ 4.1 · Braga

Centro Historico · Rua Dom Paio Mendes 37, 4700-424 Braga

A craft beer bar with live music nights near the cathedral: an informal stage, Letra and PCB beers on tap and a welcoming late-night scene for students.

Tip: Live music nights are primarily Fridays; arrive by 21:30 to secure a seat. The bar draws a mix of university students and local craft beer regulars.

Cafe Guarany (fado nights) ★ 4.0 · Porto

Avenida dos Aliados 89, 4000-066 Porto

Cafe Guarany on Avenida dos Aliados in Porto runs fado and Cuban-music evenings in the restored 1933 Art Nouveau room, the city's most cinematic live-music.