10 Best Bars in Alcântara, Cais do Sodré, and Santos, Lisbon

This under-the-radar spot draws an extremely enthusiastic crowd for live Brazilian music. The excellent caipirinhas help get the party spirit flowing, and traditional snacks from Brazil keep energy levels from flagging.

On Lisbon’s famously rowdy Pink Street, Collect is a space for those who take their music as seriously as their eating and drinking. With an on-site vinyl store and its own radio station, the spacious bar attracts a hip crowd of partiers keen to discuss their latest film and music obsessions over a craft beer, hard seltzer, or cocktail. The burgers are crowd pleasers, too.

This hip joint is where twenty- and thirtysomething vinyl lovers gather to chat (or shout) to the pumping sound of dance music. Some of the hottest DJs in the city take turns on the decks, and live music performances (think hip hop, punk, and Brazilian funk) draw big crowds at weekends.

Under the arches on the famous Pink Street---you can find it by the enormous mural overhead---MusicBox is one of the best spots in Lisbon to catch well-known bands and popular DJs. The musical menu is quite eclectic, so check listings in advance, and be prepared to dance until dawn.

Housed in a former bordello, this offbeat hangout recalls its decadent past with velvet armchairs, tassled curtains, and a huge mural across the ceiling. Its warren of rooms houses an erotic bookshop, a bar, a café, and a dance floor. Burlesque shows add to the racy appeal, but it's more suggestive than sordid.

When hip Lisboetas want to drown their sorrows, they come to "The Saddest Bar in the City" to do so in style. Expect whisky cocktails, sympathetic smiles from the bar staff, and a musical backdrop that encourages you to wallow before wondering what you were ever sad about in the first place. If you want to raise a glass to the Portuguese art of feeling saudade (somewhere between melancholy and bitter-sweet longing), this is the place to do it.

This former fishing-tackle shop kept much of the original decor---including fishing rods and life preservers---when it reopened as a bar. The lively spot specializes in canned fish and seafood served alongside cocktails and draft beers. Arrive early to catch one of the outdoor tables set out on the famous Pink Street.