Bairro Alto

Bairro Alto, meaning 'upper district', extends over the hill to the west of central Lisbon and the Baixa district. At the heart of Bairro Alto are narrow cobbled streets densely packed with apartments, restaurants and bars. This historic neighborhood has always been associated with liberals and progressives, and after the collapse of the authoritarian dictatorship of the Estado Novo in 1974, the area became a haven for those simply wanting to enjoy life. Found within a relatively compact area are over two hundred family-run restaurants and small bars, catering for every genre and taste. Many of these bars are tiny, only providing seating for a handful of patrons, so as the night progresses the socializing spills out onto the streets, and the entire district becomes one huge party. The unique grid layout of central Bairro Alto is unusual for a medieval-era city district, as it originally followed ancient farming plots which were rectangular in size. Bairro Alto has matured since the heady days of the 1980s, but it is still the location for vibrant nightlife and late-night socializing, attracting both locals and tourists who come to experience authentic Lisbon nightlife.