Best rooftop bars in Lisbon

Lisbon is one of the world’s trendiest tourist destinations and this terrace is a favourite with visitors – and with views like that, it’s no surprise. With views of Alfama and space for 65 people, it serves a crowd-pleasing sangria as well as snacks. What better way to enjoy the view?

After more than a decade as Le Chat, this spot on Jardim 9 de Abril Square, right next to the National Museum of Ancient Art, has undergone a big change. In it current guise as Catch Me, the bar draws inspiration from Steven Spielberg's film Catch Me If You Can, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. The colours reflect those of Pan Am Airlines, but the new menu is far superior to anything you’d get at 30,000ft. The view is just as spectacular as ever.

There’s no better combination than cocktails and city views, and at Entretanto, which sits on top of the Armazéns do Chiado shopping centre, they’re just seven floors away. There’s always a good reason to come here for a cocktail, but there’s just something about an after-work drink here that makes the already delectable creations taste even better.

Although not technically a rooftop bar, this terrace is ideal for those looking to enjoy the sunset with a drink in their hand, so it would seem silly not to include it here. This terrace bar has occupied the Graça viewpoint since 1992 and the views continue to astonish Lisbon residents and visitors alike.

Attracting a crowd of born and bred Lisbonites, newer Lisbon residents from all over the world, and tourists just passing through the city, this is the perfect place to watch the sunset and have a drink in a chilled-out setting. The view rivals that of many viewpoints, and the service is more laid-back than in most hotel bars.

This restaurant and bar describes itself as a small, secret oasis in Lisbon, and indeed, the more absent-minded passersby might easily miss the entrance as they walk along the street. But ignoring Lost In is a mistake. Here, you’ll find fantastic views over the city and great drinks.

The most famous nightclub in the city – and, to be honest, in the country – opened its doors on 29 September 1998, the penultimate day of Expo 98. Manuel Reis, the owner, had already opened Frágil in Bairro Alto and continued one of Lisbon nightlife’s greatest legacies in this new spot. To this day, Lux Frágil regularly hosts top DJs every week. Hold out until dawn and head to the balcony, where you can catch the sunrise. We promise it’s worth it.

Madame Petisca has a privileged view over the Tagus and the boats that sail along it. Find a table and share some snacks with your party. There are also plenty of drink options, from wine to cocktails.

Hidden atop a building on Rua Castilho, with tropical-inspired décor and a rare panoramic view, Mona Verdecombines the cuisines of southern Europe and Latin America. For drinks, there are cocktails by Marco Freitas, who also takes inspiration from all over the world for his creations. Every so often, there’s live music and DJ sets.

We can confidently say that this is the busiest car park in the city – and the coolest. It’s become very popular among tourists visiting the city, though you should still be able to get a table. There are always DJ sets, and the cocktail list includes all the big hitters, like daiquiris and piña coladas.

The Altis Avenida took advantage of the hotel’s expansion to create a new gastrobar with a terrace up on the seventh floor, complete with comfortable armchairs and a view over Rossio Square, the castle, the Santa Justa Lift, and the river in the distance. The menu features seasonal products, mostly from Portugal.

RubyRosa is a bar on the top floor of the Lisbon Art Stay hotel, boasting a panoramic view over the city. It’s a speakeasy that draws inspiration from the prohibition era in the USA, and the interior décor is inspired by a jewellery box.

When it comes to bars with great views, Sky Bar by Seen (on the ninth floor of the Tivoli Avenida da Liberdade) is one of Lisbon’s best. It’s an extension of Seen, the bar by Olivier da Costa, and here you’ll find cocktails, virgin cocktails, as well as snacks. But it’s the view, which stretches from the Tagus to São Jorge Castle, that remains the main draw.

The Hotel Tivoli Oriente gave its terrace a refresh, opening a Sky Bar on the sixteenth floor of the hotel – it’s higher than the one on Avenida da Liberdade (which is on the ninth floor) and offers an unobstructed view over the Tagus and Vasco da Gama Bridge, with Montijo and Alcochete in the background. It serves snacks, fusion sushi platters, cocktails, and pitchers of spirits to be shared with friends.

The Sana group renovated the buildings of the former BBC nightclub and Piazza di Mare, near the MAAT. In the former BBC location, they created the SUD Lisboa Hall, a private events space; in the former Piazza di Mare location, they created the SUD Lisboa Terrazza, where there’s a pool (and at night, a pool bar) on the first floor, and a restaurant, a terrace, and a kiosk on the ground floor.

The spectacular views from the top floor of the iconic Lisbon department store Pollux remain something of a secret, albeit a poorly kept one. This spot has had many lives, having been a snack bar, then a restaurant by Miguel Castro e Silva, then back to a café. Now, it’s Terraço Editorial, a restaurant/bar and wine library where you can enjoy views across the Lisbon rooftops and the ruins of the Carmo Convent.

Editor’s note: The Insólito is closed during the tourist off-season, but is available for private hire during this time and will open to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2024.

Located near Bairro Alto and with views over the Baixa neighbourhood as well as the Castle, Insólito is divided between a bar and a restaurant. The bar menu includes a mix of classic and signature cocktails along with a range of wines.

To get here, you need to go up to the sixth floor of the Martim Moniz Shopping Centre, where you’ll find generous views of the square, Mouraria, Graça, and the castle. This landscape has always been (and still is) the main draw of Topo, but it's not the only reason people flock here: the décor is cosy, the signature cocktail menu is tempting, and the food (which is designed to be shared) is also enticing. This rooftop is just as good for getting together with friends as it is for a romantic evening.

There’s much more than just rooms at The Vintage Hotel, as you’ll discover when you head to the top floor and settle into the vertical jungle that is the V Rooftop Bar. Times may change this spot, but one thing remains constant: the incredible views of the city. The cocktail menu includes the classics and there’s a snack menu too.

If there’s one thing Lisbon has in spades, it’s breathtaking views, but none compare to the view from the Vasco da Gama Tower viewpoint in Parque das Nações, which was built for Expo 98. This is the tallest building in the country, at 145 metres high, with views of the Tagus and large swathes of the city. This 360º perspective was inaccessible for over two decades until the SANA group opened this space, adding a dome, a vertical natural garden, and a bar serving cocktails.