Wine bars in Lisbon are springing up like mushrooms. Some are very famous like By The Wine, The Old Pharmacy. Personally I don’t like the cheap wines of Maria Fonseca (By the Wine) but love their moscatel and the nice bottles. Also, it’s too touristy for me to go there. Old Pharmacy has a je ne sais quoi that seems fishy to me. The service and the uniformity of the decor don’t really suit me.
So, we have selected our favourite places with one goal in mind : to give you something to build your opinion on the wines of Portugal & Lisbon. Among our criteria : the quality of the wines, the place, its atmosphere, the friendly and above all knowledgeable staff.
Onde os copos falam e as pessoas bebem, i.e. converse, drink, eat. This is the philosophy of Bla Bla Glu Glu, an emblematic wine bar located in the Mouraria district. Chef Leopoldo Calhau has put his heart into it.
If the bar is ever closed, you can always try his selection of wines in the Taberna do Calhau restaurant, just a few metres away.
The sommelier Quinti Deuninck runs the establishment. Of the 70 wines on offer, half are Portuguese. This establishment also serves as a delicatessen and of course you can buy preserves, cold meat, cheese, etc.
Address: Largo das Olarias 22.
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 5pm to midnight
At the foot of the iconic Praça das Flores is one of Lisbon’s smallest wine bars : Black Sheep. Brian founded it with his wife (and their dog), after leaving the US to dedicate his new life to Portuguese wines. Being a Black Sheep for them is when a person decides to follow their own path, their own beliefs without being pressured by others. Here you will find a nice collection of Portuguese wines, whether they are natural, dynamic organic or simply conventional. They have one thing in common : they are all made by independent winemakers who are driven by their convictions.
Here you will find unique bottles that cannot be found anywhere else in the classic Lisbon wine bars. I personally think that their prices are great for the location but also for their references.
Address: Praça das Flores, 62.
Open all week, from 2pm to 11pm (10am on Sunday)
The Club des Châteaux is a unique wine bar in Europe. A magnificent setting where you can taste French wines without any intermediaries, and therefore at harvesting prices. All the producers and growers that you will be able to discover are indeed members of the project!
If French wines dominate the menu, the next objective of the manager Xavier is to expand it with wines from Portugal, of course! A little fact : all the domains of the Club des Châteaux are historical (the domain of the Château d’Arlay is almost a thousand years old !) and have a long wine tradition.
Address: rua Actor Taborda 43.
Open from Monday to Saturday, from 5pm to 10.30pm
Located in the old warehouses of the port of Lisbon, a stone’s throw from Cais do Sodre and Madragoa, Comida Independente is a fantastic wine cellar. If you want to taste the bottle on the spot, you pay a corkage fee of only €4. Service by the glass is of course possible. On the spot you can enjoy charcuterie and cheese platters, as well as other small gourmet dishes.
All the wines on display are natural. A simple and warm setting, a friendly atmosphere that grabs you right away. Every sip of wine is a pleasure to savour.
Address : Rua Cais do Tojo 28.
Open Thursday to Saturday, 3pm to 10pm
Located in the vibrant Principe Real district, Jobim is a very welcoming wine bar with a Brazilian flair. The lively bossa nova music invites you to stop by. At the zinc counter, one can taste delicious petiscas (Portuguese « tapas ») accompanied by the most popular Portuguese national wines.
Simple things to start the evening with friends. It’s also an opportunity to meet new people.
Address: Rua da Imprensa Nacional 116B.
Open every day from 4pm to 2am (11pm on Sundays)
Located between Baixa and Sao Jorge Castle, Madame Bacchus is an establishment founded by a French couple of epicureans. It is the ideal address if you are looking for a wine bar worthy of the name near the Alfama district. A neat decoration, a pleasant atmosphere to taste Portuguese wine. The choice of wines is very wide, and you can also taste Portuguese specialities (muxama, amanteigado cheese, chorizo…) and French specialities.
Address: Rua de São Mamede 30G.
Open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 11.30am to 11.30pm
Located in the alternative district of Anjos, Opif is a pleasant wine bar, warm at first glance with its pastel tones and curves. An invitation to chat over a glass of Portuguese wine.
Opif is the project of a lifetime. Adelaide fell in love with the precious nectar when she discovered the Carménère grape variety in Chile. After months of travelling through the vineyards of South America, she fell (again) in love with Portuguese wines. A reminder of her Latin travels.
On the spot, over a platter of cold meats and cheeses, you can taste fresh and intense wines from small producers. As a wine lover, I can assure you that even if its wine list is not the most extensive, you will find the best of Portugal.
All in all, it’s the perfect place to make up your mind about Portuguese wines and… especially to get together with friends after a busy day!
Address: R. Maria 43A.
Open from Wednesday to Friday, from 5pm to 1am
Senhor Uva is a wine bar in the Lapa district, located behind the Prime Minister’s residence and a stone’s throw from the Estrela garden. It offers a wide selection of natural wines from Portugal and elsewhere (France, Greece, etc…). The whole team is at your service and the welcome is very friendly. You can enhance this tasting with a dinner prepared before your eyes. The dishes are vegetarian, seasonal and the ingredients come from small producers.
A continuity between natural wines and a philosophy of life : a human-sized space, healthy food, an experience that makes sense.
Address: R. de Santo Amaro 66A.
Open Wednesday to Sunday, from 3pm to 11pm (opening at 5pm on Wednesday and Thursday)
Vino Vero is a story that took root in Venice with the opening of the first bar in 2014. Italians who are passionate about natural wines and who in a few years have become a reference in Italy. Now they have fallen in love with Lisbon and are opening their Portuguese alter-ego in the Graça district at the end of 2018. As you can see, at Vino Vero you can taste natural wines from Portuguese producers, but not only.
You will find the most impressive collection of Italian wines in the city, as well as a few French gems.
Address: Tv. do Monte 30.
Open every day from 3.30pm to midnight (1am Friday & Saturday)
The famous Wines by Heart wine bar is located near the prestigious Avenida da Liberdade. Its location is in harmony with its prices, which are high for the average person. At Wines by heart, there are no entry-level wines, the owners offer the most prestigious wines on the market.
Wines from the terroir, whether they are organic, natural or conventional. Their aim here is to touch your heart and soul.
Address: Rua Rosa Araújo 35.
Open every day except Sunday, from 12pm to 11pm.
Finally, if you want to dine and stay on the wine theme, here are the restaurants in Lisbon with a nice wine list : Magano (campo de Ourique), Solar dos Presuntos (Baixa), JNCquoi (avenida da Liberdade), Via Graça (Graça).
Portologia (Rua de S. Julião 34-36): producer and retailer, Julien will be of good advice with his team. He has a shop in Porto, but also in Paris.
© VisitmyLisbon.com – 2021
