Last Updated on February 6, 2026 by Emma Fajcz | Published: March 29, 2019
So you want to listen to fado, but all you see are overpriced shows in touristy restaurants? Don’t worry, free fado in Lisbon exists, and you don’t have to look hard to find it! Here’s our top 8 places where you can listen to free fado in Lisbon.
You’ve seen the sights, tried the best pastéis de nata, and even dipped your toe into Portuguese wine, but you’re still missing that fado show. While listening to fado is a must-do when you visit Portugal, it can also be an expensive affair. We know how easy it is to get ripped off with fado shows, so to avoid all that, we made it a list of our favorite places where you can listen to free fado in Lisbon. Enjoy!
Insider Tip: If you’re on a budget, we suggest looking for tascas with Fado Vadio, fado sang by amateur singers. Unlike most fado restaurants in Lisbon, you don’t have to get a full dinner here or pay a minimum fee, you can simply order a drink and a few petiscos to share.
Table of Contents
1. Tasca do Chico
Ask any local where to listen to free fado in Lisbon, and they’ll point you to Tasca do Chico. Open since 1993 this tasca is a beloved fado institution. You never know who’s going to sing here, but that’s part of the fun! They have fado shows every night starting around 8 p.m. While you wait, you can order a drink or share a round of petiscos.
If you don’t have a reservation, make sure to go early as it gets quite busy! They have another location in Alfama, but we still prefer the original one in Bairro Alto.
Insider’s tip: They don’t accept cards so draw some cash before you go.
2. Tasca do Jaime
Who said fado shows had to be a night event? At Tasca do Jaime, it’s an afternoon thing. Every weekend after lunch, locals and amateur singers gather up here to show off their skills or listen to fado. Not many tourists venture to the Graça neighborhood, but if you find yourself in the area and want to listen to free fado, this is the place to go.
Insider’s tip: Head here early if you want to sit down otherwise you might have to stand outside!
3. Devagar Devagarinho
Just a few steps from Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon’s main shopping boulevard, you’ll stumble upon Devagar Devagarinho. This traditional tasca serves a variety of dishes, including delicious grilled fish. Head here on Wednesdays and Friday nights around 9 p.m., and you might get a fado show with your dinner.
Insider’s Tip: The restaurant is a bit small, so we recommend booking a table in advance.
4. Solidó
Margarida and António lived in Bairro Alto for nearly twenty years, when they decided to turn their home into a restaurant. That’s how Solidó was born. Now, this two-floor restaurant serves typical Portuguese petiscos to anyone who climbs the steps of Calçada do Duque. At dinner, there’s always a free fado show that starts around 8 p.m.
5. Associação do Fado Casto
Walk past Associação do Fado Casto during the day and you probably won’t even notice it, but at night, this place turns into a live fado venue. The owner, Pedro de Castro, is a famous Portuguese guitar player, and when he’s not running the show, you can catch him performing with the fadistas too. While you can book a set menu for €45, we suggest going a bit later and sharing a few petiscos instead.
Insider’s tip: It doesn’t matter if you go for the dinner menu or the petiscos, make sure to book a table in advance!
6. Povo
Amidst the busy nightclubs and bars of Cais do Sodré, Povo caters to a different crowd: a crowd of fado lovers. Throughout the year, this local restaurant organizes musical residencies for young fado singers. The goal is to discover new voices and help them develop their careers. You can catch them on stage for free from Tuesday to Sunday between 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.
7. A Nini
You’ll find most fado venues in the center of Lisbon, but not this one. When it comes to fado, A Nini is still a hidden gem, even for many locals. Usually, the restaurant is only open for lunch, but on Thursdays, they host a fado night too. The show is free, so you only pay for what you order.
8. Grupo Desportivo da Mouraria
Mouraria is the birthplace of fado, so of course, you would find a fado school here. Grupo Desportivo da Mouraria provides all kinds of activities to locals, including fado lessons. But that’s not all. Every month they organize a free fado show, and everyone is welcome to join. If you want to support the younger generation of fado singers, pay them a visit!
Insider’s Tip: Check their Facebook page to know the date of the next show!
Bonus: A Fado Van and a Record Store
Walk along Rua do Carmo in Chiado, and you’ll probably spot an old green van playing fado tunes. Inside, there’s usually an old man selling fado records!
But what if you want to see more? Then you should visit Discoteca Amália, a record store specialized in fado music. While it’s not the same as listening to a live singer, visiting these places is a great way to get familiar with old fado legends like Amália Rodrigues and new ones like Mariza and Carminho.
Taste the Best Food in Lisbon on Tour
Join us on our Lisbon Food & Wine Tour for a curated selection of the best bites and drinks Lisbon has to offer. We cut through the tourist menus and overwhelming options and guide you to the best bars, tascas, and pastry shops in the neighborhood. Get ready to discover the most incredible wines, cocktails, petiscos, and even make some new friends along the way in this colorful and cultural corner of the city.
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– Vesa on Tripadvisor
Free Places for Fado in Lisbon FAQs
Where can you listen to free fado in Lisbon?
You can hear free fado in several traditional neighborhoods, especially Alfama, Mouraria, and Bairro Alto. Some small taverns, cultural associations, and informal fado vadio venues host performances without an entry fee, although buying a drink is usually expected. These settings often offer a more authentic and intimate experience than formal fado houses.
Is fado free in Lisbon?
Yes, it’s possible to hear fado for free in Lisbon, particularly at casual bars or community events. However, many classic fado houses require a paid dinner or cover charge, so free performances are usually simpler, more informal, and sometimes feature amateur singers. Even when the music is free, it’s polite to support the venue by ordering something.
What time does free fado usually start in Lisbon?
Free fado performances typically begin in the late evening, often between 8:30 and 10:30 pm. In more traditional or spontaneous settings, music may start later and continue past midnight. Arriving early helps you secure a seat in small venues.
What is “fado vadio”?
Fado vadio, or “amateur fado,” is an informal style of fado where anyone—from locals to visiting singers—can participate. It’s usually performed in relaxed taverns rather than formal concert settings and offers a raw, emotional, and authentic take on Portugal’s most famous music tradition. Many free fado nights in Lisbon feature this style.
Do you need to be quiet during fado performances?
Yes. Fado is deeply emotional and traditionally performed in silence. Conversations usually stop when the singing begins, and audiences listen respectfully until the song ends. Avoid talking, using flash photography, or making noise during the performance to fully appreciate the experience.
Joana … ola, bom dia. thank you for this information. i look forward to enjoying some of these options once i move to Lisbon. question for you … i understand that many of the fado houses are touristy and pricey; however, are they also considered to be inauthentic ? most present professional talent don’t they ? what are some reasons they wouldn’t be considered as “real” ? obrigado …. Thomas
Hi Thomas, you’re welcome. Hope you enjoy your time in Lisbon! That’s a good question, what we mean by authentic is more the original experience of what a fado show should be – think small tasca serving petiscos instead of a fancy restaurant with overpriced set menus. However, that doesn’t mean the singers aren’t professional in these restaurants. The show might be very good indeed, I would suggest reading some reviews first or check some of our other fado articles for suggestions. Keep in mind that the food might not be that great, which can be disappointing when you’re paying a lot. Also the word professional can mean several things, in most places you’ll find “fado vadio” which is sang by amateur fado singers, but amateur, in this case, is good 🙂 If you really want to see professional fado singers, meaning famous singers like Mariza and Carminho, you can see an actual show with them or try the Real Fado concerts in Príncipe Real which combines a bit of both types (amateur and professional), plus you get to see some really interesting venues in Lisbon 🙂 Hope this helps!
ola .. obrigado for the clarification. I was in Lisbon last year and got to see the Camane concert at CCB. Also did Fado Inside The Box at Adega Machado. Look forward to more shows and certainly will check out Real Fado.
Dear Joana, thanks for this list, very useful. We are visiting Lisboa this weekend with a group of friends and we are thinking of joining an easy going FADO evening on Sunday. We like to listen but maybe not too quiet (we haven’t seen each other since long ;)) Is there a place you recommend for a group like us?
Hi Maurice! Solidó and Povo on this list are quite easy going and you can book a table in advance on their Facebook pages. Solidó has dinners with fado starting around 7 p.m. and Povo around 8:30 p.m. We hope this helps!