Give your senses a treat and visit a fado restaurant in Lisbon. It doesnāt matter if you go alone. You can also call some friends and head out in a group. Regardless, the chatting stops once the lights dim. The fado takes over in intervals of 15ā20 minutes. When the singing and guitars break, garlic, wine, and a mingling aroma from the land and sea pull you back to your meal.
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This is what itās like to visit a fado restaurant in Lisbon, and our picks for the most authentic ones. You might also see these restaurants referred to as casas de fado, or āfado houses.ā No matter what you call them, youāre in for the experience of a lifetime at any of the spots below.
What to Expect at Fado Restaurants in Lisbon
The best fado restaurants in Lisbon are scattered across the city. Still, youāll find many of them in Alfama and Bairro Alto, two of Lisbonās oldest and more traditional neighborhoods. These casas de fado stand out in a sea of tascas, taverns, and traditional restaurants.
Some fado houses are budget-friendly, costing between ā¬10ā15 for an entire experience. Others charge a minimum consumption fee between ā¬30ā50. The five casas de fado on this list range in price, but allĀ offer mouthwatering dishes, soothing ambiances, and (of course) fantastic fado performances.
Donāt worry if you donāt know Portuguese. The singer is an artist who pulls listeners into his or her world through emotion. In fado, words catch our attention as they hang in the air withĀ saudadeĀ (an emotion that mixes nostalgia and melancholy). Sometimes, fado is even happy.
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The Best Fado Restaurants in Lisbon
A Severa
This list contains a few older and well-known fado restaurants in Lisbon. One of the best is A SeveraĀ in Bairro Alto.
The restaurantās name pays homage to Maria Severa, a famous young fado singer who lived in Lisbon during the 1800s. The restaurant that bears her name has been owned by the same family since opening in 1955.
Arrive by 9 p.m. for the first performance (except on Wednesdays when the restaurant is closed). The menu offers everything from vegetable dishes to dry-cured meats and cheese platters, as well as a medley of fish and meat entrees. There is also a special tourist menu designed so visitors can taste the best of Portugal.
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Fama dāAlfama
Step inside Fama dāAlfama between Thursdays and Saturdays after 8:30 p.m. for aĀ cozy night of fado and iconic Portuguese dishes at typical local prices.
On the menu, youāll see a few different recipes for bacalhau (salt codfish), traditional bitoqueĀ (thin grilled steak served with french fries, rice, salad, and a fried egg), and unique specialties like bochechaĀ de porcoĀ (pork cheeks) and alheira (breaded sausage). They even have a good selection for vegetarians.
This is a great restaurant for budget travelers. And the local customers are proof that the excellent fado and food are both as authentic as they get.
O Faia
O Faia is another established name on Lisbonās fado scene. It was first opened in 1947 by the late LucĆlia do Carmo, one of Portugalās most famous fado singers.
This place is open Monday to Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and offers a robust menu full of regional specialties. Throughout the evening, the houseās four fado singers each take center stage accompanied by two guitarists.
O Faiaās reputation is so well known that it has welcomed celebrity fado singers like Carlos do Carmo, CamanĆ©, and even founder LucĆlia do Carmo herself.
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Tasca do Chico
We loveĀ Tasca do Chico for a few reasons. Itās not quite a restaurant or a bar, and itās perfect for when youāre in the mood to snack on petiscos.
There are two locations of Tasca do Chico. One is in eclectic Bairro Alto, and the other is in traditional Alfama, attracting both locals and in-the-know visitors.
Visiting Tasca do Chico is one of our favorite things to do at night in Lisbon. Order the chouriƧo assado, flame-grilled pork sausage served on a clay dish, with rustic bread. One bite and youāll understand why the late Anthony Bourdain made Tasca do Chico a stop on his Lisbon travel itinerary.
Parreirinha de Alfama
Finally, we haveĀ Parreirinha de Alfama. This fado house has welcomed great singers like do Carmo and the late AmĆ”lia Rodrigues (who is known as āa rainha do fado,ā or āthe queen of fadoā).
Youāll find Parreirinha de Alfama a few streets from the Fado Museum. The fado performers, who range in age and style, sing amid the tables at this cozy spot, which has been a local favorite since the 1960s.
Local tip: We recommend calling for a reservation when planning a night at Parreirinha de Alfama, as well as O Faia and A Severa.
We hope while you are in Lisbon you can tick off at least one of these must-see fado restaurants in Lisbon.
This blog post was updated on April 28, 2023.Ā
Want to combine an evening of fado with even more delicious Portuguese food? Thatās exactly whatās on tap during our Lisbon Food & Fado Tour. Join us for an exploration of the neighborhoods where fado has its roots, where weāll enjoy a pre-show snack and walking tour before sitting down to dinner at the live performance.Ā
Great, thanks for sharing this article. Keep writing. Deborah Fidel Sabba
Thanks for reading, Deborah!
I went to fama d’Alfama.
The fado was good but the food and service wasn’t. I’d suggest going elsewhere.