Tavira
If you haven't experienced fado, this comprehensive introduction is even more worthwhile. Space is limited, so buy your ticket a couple of hours ahead…
Must-see entertainment in Portugal
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Coimbra
At the bottom of the old town, this friendly cultural centre is a good place to acquaint yourself with fado. The evening 6pm show includes plenty of…
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Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela
As hot as its name suggests, this small, poster-plastered cellar (and newly added garden) has staged top-drawer jazz acts since the 1940s. It's considered…
Alfama, Castelo & Graça
On a good night, walking into A Baiuca is like gatecrashing a family party. It’s a special place with fado vadio, where locals take a turn and spectators…
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Lisbon
SL Benfica play at this 65,000-seat stadium in the northwestern Benfica district, which also houses the club's well-done museum (https://museubenfica…
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Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
With one wall covered in LPs and another with old cinema chairs, there's an old-time feel to this jazz and blues bar in Bairro Alto. Free concerts happen…
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Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
This crowded dive (reserve ahead), full of soccer banners and spilling over with people of all ilks, is a fado free-for-all. It's not uncommon for taxi…
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Aliados & Bolhão
Maus Hábitos or 'Bad Habits' is an arty, nicely chilled haunt hosting a culturally ambitious agenda. Changing exhibitions and imaginative installations…
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Alfama, Castelo & Graça
This intimate spot features live fado on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and eclectic cultural fare (jazz, poetry readings) on other nights…
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Alfama, Castelo & Graça
Owned by fado legend Argentina Santos, this place offers good food amid candlelit ambience; it attracts an audience that often falls hard for the top…
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Alfama, Castelo & Graça
A magical place to hear fado, tiny Mesa de Frades used to be a chapel. It’s tiled with exquisite azulejos and has just a handful of tables, including a…
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Tomar
This Tomar-based theatre company presents highly innovative and entertaining monthly performances (more in summer) of works such as The Name of the Rose…
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Aliados & Bolhão
The lavish, romantic Teatro Nacional São João was built in the style of Paris' Palais Garnier. One of Porto’s premier performing-arts organisations, it…
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Aliados & Bolhão
This art deco theatre is one of the linchpins of Porto's evolving cultural scene. It traverses the whole spectrum from theatre to music, contemporary…
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Lagos
This intimate, two-level, candlelit joint is the best live-music bar in town, with blues, jazz and occasional rock acts. Admission is free, but a €5…
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Alfama, Castelo & Graça
Small and lantern-lit, this is a cosy spot for fado vadio (street fado). Fadista Ana Marina and guitarist Duarte Santos make a great double act.
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
Opened in 1904, this small neighbourhood cinema was last refurbished in the 1950s and keeps much of the same atmosphere of a classical movie theatre. The…
Alfama, Castelo & Graça
Clube de Fado hosts the cream of the fado crop in vaulted, dimly lit surrounds. Big-name fadistas performing here include Cuca Roseta and Maria Ana Bobone…
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Funchal
This concrete brutalist-style casino was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the architect behind Brazil's planned capital Brasilia, and is a great night out even…
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Funchal
The aroma of a loaded charcoal grill wafts along Rua de Santa Maria from Arsenio's, luring evening strollers into the old, atmospheric dining room, all…
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Faro
Faro's tiny and exquisite Italianate theatre hosts drama, music and dance performances. Adapted into a theatre in 1874 (from a building dating back to…
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Guimarães
Started 52 years ago, this creative cultural association – also a jazz school – is still going strong. Its programme includes classical music concerts,…
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Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
Teatro Nacional de São Carlos is worth visiting just to see the sublime gold-and-red interior (email ahead for €5 guided tours), and it has opera, ballet…
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Teatro Nacional São João – Mosteiro de São Bento da Vitória
Miragaia
Few theatre backdrops are more atmospheric than the Mosteiro de São Bento da Vitória, which harbours an offshoot of the Teatro Nacional São João. See the…
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Alfama, Castelo & Graça
This low-key restaurant in Graça hosts authentic fado on weekends from about 4pm to 8pm. Decorated with azulejos and photos of prominent fadistas, it’s a…
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Coimbra
A 14th-century chapel turned intimate cocktail lounge, this place hosts nightly performances by the city's most renowned fado musicians. Shows cater…
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Lisbon
Fado star Maria da Fé owns this small place, welcoming first-rate fadistas (fado singers). Go for the fado (from 7pm) not the food, and feel free to…
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The Beiras
Shimmering in neon and acrylic, Figueira’s landmark casino is the epicentre of the resort's nightlife. Crawling with cash-laden holidaymakers, it has…
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Sintra
This atmospheric restaurant and bar features live music (folk and acoustic) on Friday and Saturday nights – an institution that’s been around for more…
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Centro para os Assuntos da Arte e Arquitectura
Guimarães
Inside a former textile factory, this nonprofit collective promotes interaction between various fields of creative expression, including visual arts,…
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Funchal
Though not as illustrious as other Funchal fado-and-dinner venues, Sabor e Fado is an intimate affair. The menu is meat-heavy; the live music starts at…
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Ribeira
True to its name, this spot hosts live jazz and blues as well as the occasional acoustic, folk or all-out jam session. It’s a modern but intimate space,…
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Alfama, Castelo & Graça
Part restaurant, bar and alternative concert hall, Damas has given the cool kids a reason to climb the hill to Graça since its opening in 2015. From DJs…
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Guimarães
CCVF kick-started the city’s cultural revival when it opened in 2005 in a striking modern building added on to a converted 18th-century palace. Events at…
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Alfama, Castelo & Graça
This cultural centre showcases contemporary dance, theatre and world music, and is the residence of experimental theatre company Teatro da Garagem. It…
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Miragaia
Porto has no fado tradition of its own, but you can enjoy the Lisbon or Coimbra version of ‘Portugal blues’ into the wee hours at Restaurante O Fado. It's…
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Centro de Artes e Espectáculos
The Beiras
Behind the Museu Municipal Dr Santos Rocha, CAE hosts big-name bands, theatre performances and art-house cinema. Check the website or pick up a schedule…
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Portimão
Reached via an arched stone tunnel off Rua Professor José Buísel, this charismatic backstreet bar is Portimão's best venue for live music, with weekend…
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The Douro
This handsomely restored theatre and cultural space hosts a wide range of programmes throughout the year, from children’s puppet shows to classical…
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Funchal
Funchal's grand, late-19th-century main theatre (there were once five!) is the place to head for high-brow entertainment, including classical music, fado,…
