More about: 10 Best Fado Shows in Lisbon
To truly grasp the essence of a country or a city, it is not enough simply to visit its monuments. We all know just how many attractions Lisbon has to offer, but we also know that the Portuguese capital exudes a distinctive air of melancholy, romance and beauty.
All these characteristics form part of Portugal’s most famous musical genre: Fado. Declared a World Heritage Site, this type of music originated in the country’s working-class neighbourhoods, so it is no surprise that it remains a feature in areas such as Alfama or Barrio Alto in Lisbon. Many restaurants offer their guests dinners accompanied by the finest Fado performers – a combination that no one should miss.
Lisbon Fado Tour with Dinner
Enjoy a walking tour and sample the best of Portuguese cuisine
Explore Lisbon’s most iconic and picturesque neighbourhoods with a local guide. Round off your tour at a traditional Fado house whilst enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal accompanied by Portuguese wine.
This activity is ideal if you want to immerse yourself in Portuguese culture through all five senses. Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll explore historic districts of Lisbon such as Alfama and Mouraria, where fado was born.
Over the course of around 4 hours, you’ll learn about the history and cultural significance of this musical genre, as well as the influence it has had on society.
Once the tour is over, your booking for this Fado tour will give you the chance to sit down at a table in a traditional Fado house and enjoy typical, home-cooked dishes, accompanied by a fine regional wine.
And if you want to continue enjoying the musical talent and its fusion with local cuisine, here is a list of places and recommendations so you can enjoy the Portuguese capital at its very best.
Recommended if... you want to experience a truly Portuguese experience, based on the best of its cuisine and the most traditional of its music.
1. Tasca do Chico, a fado institution in Lisbon
Barrio Alto is one of the city’s most bohemian neighbourhoods. It is home to one of the most popular spots for dinner whilst enjoying the finest fado, Tasca do Chico.
This venue is characterised by its traditional décor and for showcasing new talent in the fado genre, which has made it a true institution for those who wish to hear these songs.
Entry is free, though you are required to purchase a drink. If you fancy dinner, I recommend the delicious sausages they make, accompanied by a glass of red wine.
The popularity of this venue means it’s always very busy, especially on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 pm, which is when the performances take place. Don’t forget to book or arrive well in advance so you don’t miss out on a seat.
Practical information
- Address: Rua do Diário de Notícias, 39
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 7.00 pm to 2.00 am
2. One of the best options right in the heart of the Alfama district: the Clube de Fado
Clube de Fado has established itself as one of Lisbon’s most exclusive venues for listening to this musical genre. If you’ve been on a guided tour of Alfama, you may have walked past its door without realising that inside lies a superb restaurant and musical performances considered among the best in the city.
On the culinary front, the restaurant serves traditional Portuguese cuisine and is renowned for its variety of cod and octopus dishes.
Every evening, three different singers perform, offering much of the finest fado repertoire available. The evening usually lasts around two and a half hours in total.
One thing to bear in mind if you decide to visit the Clube de Fado is that you may need to book in advance. It is also a venue with higher prices than others in the same area, but the quality of the performances and the food more than make up for it.
Practical information
- Address: Rua São João da Praça, 94
- Opening hours: every day from 8 pm to 2 am
3. The family atmosphere at Sr. Fado de Alfama
The best thing about Sr. Fado de Alfama, located in the neighbourhood mentioned in its name, is the almost family-like atmosphere inside. It is a very small venue, which helps customers get involved in the show but makes it difficult to find a free seat.
When dinner is over, the restaurant owners take a few minutes to explain some of the secrets of fado and its variations. Then the performances begin, usually consisting of three sets by different artists.
The magic of the place and the quality of the fado singers mean that Sr. Fado de Alfama is considered one of the best places to enjoy dinner and fado. Almost all customers opt for a set menu for around €45, which includes three courses plus, of course, the show.
Practical information
- Address: Rua dos Remedios 176, Alfama
- Openinghours: 7.30 pm to midnight
4. The great tradition of Parreirinha de Alfama
If you’re looking for a restaurant to dine in whilst listening to some fine fado, there’s hardly anywhere in Lisbon with as much tradition and character as the Parreirinha de Alfama. The venue is run by one of the country’s most renowned fado singers, Argentina Santos, and often brings together some of the genre’s most prominent voices on its stage.
Over its more than 60-year history, the restaurant has earned a well-deserved reputation for both its food and its performances. Don’t miss the chance to admire the beautiful décor, particularly the tiles on the walls.
The so-called ‘fado menu’ costs €45 per person, though you also have the option of ordering à la carte, which will usually increase the price considerably.
Practical information
- Address: Beco do Espírito Santo, 1
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 8 pm to 2 am
5. The superb dining experience at Adega Machado
The history of this venue dates back to 1937, when the fado singer María Lourdes Machado and her husband opened it in Lisbon’s Barrio Alto. The venue now has a much more modern look, having been thoroughly restored in 2012.
As well as the splendid performances it offers, Adega Machado stands out for its culinary offerings. There you can sample specialities such as grilled dried cod fillets or glazed cod slices, two dishes that are hard to forget and which make this visit one of the best things to do in Lisbon at night.
Adega Machado also offers the option to book a package called Fado Inside the Box. This consists of a series of performances taking place in the afternoon (around 5 pm) lasting 45 minutes. Instead of dinner, this option offers a tasting of appetisers and wine.
Come evening, you’ll be able to choose (if you book early and are visiting Lisbon in summer) to sit on its lovely terrace or indoors.
Practical information
- Address: Rua do Norte, 91
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 7.30 pm to 2 am
6. Casa de Linhares: fado and cod
Casa de Linhares is considered one of the best places in all of Lisbon to enjoy dinner with fado.
Many of its dishes feature one of the star ingredients of Portuguese cuisine: **cod. ** It is also popular for its rice dishes and cheese platters. Unlike other venues of this kind, Casa de Linhares does not have a set menu; instead, you can choose to order à la carte or opt for their tasting menu.
As for the fado performances, there are usually between four and five sets during dinner, and there is no shortage of songs showcasing fado styles that differ from the more traditional ones.
Practical information
- Address: Beco Armazéns do Linho 2
- Openinghours: 8 pm to 1 am every day
7. Restaurante O Faia, a slice of fado history
Founded by the famous Lucilia do Carmo in 1974, O Faia is considered one of the most prestigious restaurants for dining whilst listening to the finest fado songs. Not only will you experience a special atmosphere, but the food and service are simply fabulous. During the meal, there are 20-minute performances by four different singers.
You’ll need to book well in advance if you want to visit this lovely restaurant in the Bairro Alto. The price for dinner and the show is around 55 euros.
Practical information
- Address: Rua da Barroca, 54-56
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 8 pm to 2 am
8. A Severa, a classic on the Lisbon scene
One of the most classic restaurants featuring fado performances in the Bairro Alto is A Severa, which opened in 1955. If you decide to visit, bear in mind that prices are higher than at other venues and there is a minimum spend of around €30 per person.
The commitment to high-quality cuisine, with delicious meat and fish dishes, is one of the reasons behind this restaurant’s success. Of course, this is complemented by the sensational candlelit fado performance.
Practical information
- Address: Rua das Gáveas, 51/61
- Opening hours: Thursday to Tuesday from 8 pm to 2 am
9. A Baiuca: fado in a tavern
If you want to have dinner whilst listening to fado, but don’t fancy doing so in a formal setting, A Baiuca might be the place for you. More than just a restaurant, the venue retains all the characteristics of a typical Lisbon tavern. Among other things, this means it doesn’t have many tables, so you’ll need to book in advance.
Although it also has a terrace in the square, it’s best to book a table inside to enjoy the fado performance. The singers take turns performing, and at times, local amateurs even put on impromptu performances.
Unlike other fado restaurants, the menu isn’t set, so for dinner you can choose from the dishes on their interesting menu. In any case, the portions served are generous and their cod is excellent.
Practical information
- Address: Rua São Miguel, 20
- Opening hours: opens at 7.30 pm and closes at 11.30 pm
10. A new take on fado at Povo Lisboa
Povo Lisboa aims to preserve the spirit of traditional Portuguese taverns with the aim of becoming a meeting place for Lisbon locals. In this endeavour , fado—or, as the venue’s managers themselves put **it, ‘new fado’—**couldn’t be missing .
If you choose this restaurant, you’ll find a great show in a setting not designed for tourists. The restaurant is quite small and the food, whilst unpretentious, is very good.
To enjoy the evening’s entertainment, you simply pay a small entrance fee of €4 per person, plus whatever you consume inside. The performances are split into two sessions, one at 8 pm and the other at 10 pm. The singers take to the stage every 20 minutes to perform four songs on each occasion.
Practical information
- Address: Rua Nova do Carvalho, 32-36
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, lunch is served from 12:00 to 15:00. In the evening, the restaurant is open from 18:00 to 02:00 (Sunday to Wednesday) and from 18:00 to 04:00 (Thursday to Saturday)
Fado in Chiado: if you just want to listen to fado without having to dine
Although the option of dinner with a fado show is widespread throughout the city, if you just want to enjoy the music, you’ll also have plenty of options.
The most notable is the one known as Fado in Chiado, a show held in a concert hall located in the neighbourhood of the same name. Each session lasts around 50 minutes, featuring 2 singers and 2 guitarists.
What is fado
Fado goes beyond its mere musical concept. For many, this genre represents an entire country, Portugal, and its songs reflect some of the experiences and lives of its people . Thus, there are those who refer to fado as ‘the soul of Lisbon’.
The word ‘fado’ comes from the Latin ‘fatum’, meaning destiny. This musical style is believed to have originated in the working-class neighbourhoods of the capital, and its lyrics often express feelings such as fatalism, frustration or the well-known saudade (nostalgia or melancholy).
Fado is usually sung by a single person accompanied by a guitar known as a viola. After a period of decline, fado has regained some of its prominence in the Portuguese capital, where it has become a real tourist attraction.