Problem: how to choose a restaurant in Bairro Alto among the huge offer of over-prized tourist trap serving” fado and traditional food” and more modern, but often disappointing, new offerings?

That’s an easy one! Go to Império dos Sentidos. Trendy setting. Monthly rotating art-exhibitions on the walls. Right in the middle of Bairro Alto, the ideal launch-platform for a great night out. One of the few good restaurants in BA that will serve you after midnight.

The food is a mixture of Portuguese and Italian cuisine. Ah, and don’t forget the champagne sangria.

Have a drink in Capela afterwards to kick-start your night out.

P.S. – say hi to António for me.

When I have foreign guests to entertain, I often opt for this restaurant. The reasons are plentiful. Located in the middle of Bairro Alto, the restaurant is housed in a beautifully restored wine-cellar.

The food is typical Portuguese and of high quality. Try the fish and seafood. Find out why Portuguese have fetish for codfish. Service is great.

They serve food until late in the evening, so it’s a nice place for night owls.

If you plan to go here in the weekend, your patience will be tested every now and then. It has happened that I had to wait quit long for my table, although I had a reservation. Fortunately the restaurant has a nice bar to have a drink while you wait.

And wait for the dessert trolley. Yum!

This large, busy Portuguese restaurant has been one of my favorites for many years in Lisbon. Situated on the edge of the Bairro Alto this restaurant is always very lively and crowded and often there are people queuing to get in whilst the waiters bustle frantically from table to table carrying plates of food and bottles of wine.

This restaurant is frequented by locals and tourists alike (the menu is in both Portuguese and English), the dishes are extremely reasonably priced and the atmosphere in the restaurant is one of conviviality and good cheer. I thoroughly recommend any of the grilled fish dishes, which are always accompanied by the traditional boiled potatoes and green beans (or chips/rice and salad if you prefer).

If you are wanting a quiet, relaxing evening meal then this is not the place to go, but if you want to experience an evening surrounded by the chatting and laughter of large groups of friends and relatives then look no further than Príncipe do Calhariz. Please note, this restaurant is closed all day on Saturday and on public holidays.

I should warn you that as this is on the tourist track it is advisable to watch your personal belongings as there are pickpockets at work.