Finding a place to have some cocktails or wine with your friends in Lisbon is not a difficult task. After all, Portuguese wines are very famous and Lisbon is known for its youthful and party vibes.
But because there are so many places, I decided to take on the challenge of finding the best ones.
So, after some months of research and hangovers, here’s my list of the 5 best spots to meet friends for cocktails and wine in Lisbon:
Joker Lounge
If you and your friends are looking for a place with more of a youthful vibe, Joker Lounge is the perfect place. You can go bowling, drink their famous ice cream cocktails and have a lot of fun. Their cocktails prices go from 7 euros to 13 euros, and their wines range from 14 euros to 45 euros per bottle. I highly recommend you to try the Irish Affogatto with Jameson whiskey, coffee, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. The place gets very crowded during the weekends, so it might be a good idea to make a reservation if you’re going with a big group of people. (Also, check to make sure they’re not closed for summer vacation.)
Follow them @jokerlounge
Visit them: Av. Marquês de Tomar, 44 C
Metro e meio
Their cocktail names are inspired by “Alice in Wonderland” and the space is under the ground, so it feels like entering the rabbit hole. It’s the ideal place to go during fall or winter and stay warm or even to take a break from the sun and heat during summer. Cocktails prices average about 10 euros and they have a wide variety, my favorite one is A Trip to Remember. They also have red, green and white wines ranging from 12 euros to 70 euros per bottle.
Follow them @metroemeiolisboa
Visit them: Avenida 5 de Outubro, 174
Homie’s a Local joint
I absolutely love this place because spaces like this are hard to find even in cities like Lisbon. Drinks are super affordable and tasty (cocktails from 5 euros to 8 euros, wines from 10 euros to 18 euros per bottle), the location is great, the people are just the best. I’d love to have the words to describe this place without copying what they show on their website, but there aren’t more accurate words:
“It’s not a hostel, nor a restaurant, not a bar, not a café, and not a cultural association. It’s a hangout spot with everything you need to connect with yourself and others either through snacks, books, table games, live music gigs, art exhibitions, social interactions, plants, or even just the hug from a cozy couch pillow.”
Follow them: @homies_alocaljoint
Visit them: Rua do Vale de Santo António, 48C
O Purista
If you google this place you will see that it is in the category of bars, but in the pictures it looks like a barbershop. Well, let me tell you, it’s both and it’s also an extremely cool place to hang out with friends. Besides the barber service, you can play pool for free with your friends and, if playing pool is not your thing, you can grab a book from their amazing library and have a read with a glass of wine. They also play some live music during the weekends. I always go for my traditional Mojito (or a Negroni if I’m feeling adventurous), which is 9 euros, the average price for a cocktail in Lisbon.
Follow them: @opuristabar
Visit them: Rua Nova da Trindade, 16C
Honorato
More of a bar than a restaurant, the cocktails there are just amazing. The variety is not overwhelming but they are one of the best in Lisbon. Plus, if you get hungry, you can order one of their amazing burgers or some French fries. Another reason to go there is that they have five locations in Lisbon, so it’s very likely that there’s one near you. Since I started going to Honorato three years ago, I can honestly say I’ve already tried all of their cocktails, and if I had to recommend one, it would be London Mule. Their prices for cocktails go from 9 euros to 14 euros, they also have alcohol-free cocktails, and if you are a gin-lover, they have even more options for you.
Follow them: @honoratohamburgueresartesanais
Visit them: Avenida Casal Ribeiro, 50B
See more about expat life in Lisbon here in Dispatches’ archives.
Mónica da Silva is half-Venezuelan, half Portuguese and has lived in Venezuela, Portugal, Spain and Germany. She has studies linguistics and has a Bachelor’s Degree in European Studies. Besides contributing to Dispatches, she works remotely as an English teacher, which allows her to be on the move as often as she wants.
