8 elegant Lisbon rooftop bars to your next trip to Portugal

Love them or hate them, rooftop bars are a part of Lisbon’s social life. Portugal’s hilly capital is dotted with rooftop terraces on hotels, office buildings, automotive parks or department shops, offering stunning views over town and river, balmy summer evenings and glorious sunsets. While some are crowded with stag and hen parties (the explanation no less than one rooftop terrace needed to ban costumes), others are slightly more civilized and attract a more relaxed crowd, serving upscale cuisine and offering well-mixed cocktails or unusual Portuguese wines from small producers.

Mona Verde

With a design by the corporate accountable for a few of London’s most exclusive addresses, Mona Verde welcomes guests with jungle greenery and panoramic views. Of course, some people come for the nightly DJ sets or the live music on Wednesdays – Portuguese and international artists, including Cuban bands – but many others benefit from the food and drinks. The cocktails are inspired by Brazil, Mexico and Peru and include flavours reminiscent of the graviola fruit and tajin spice, and the food also has a Latin accent. There’s white fish ceviche, smoked eggplant with feta and flat iron steak with Nikkei chimichurri.

Mom Shelter

Striped cushions and woven chairs give the roof an airy, summery atmosphere Lisbon’s Outpost of cheeky French hotel brand Mama Shelter. The DJs are a draw, nevertheless it’s still a spot to take a seat at tables, especially for lunch and afternoon. Some of the signature cocktails, just like the one with white rum, passion fruit and lime, are served by the pitcher, and the food selection ranges from bar snacks like panko shrimp tacos and garlic prawns to full meals like pork cheek lasagna, veal udon and a grilled tomahawk steak for 2.

Editorial Terrace

The Restaurant on the eighth floor above the homewares department store Pollux continues to be something of a well-kept secret. It offers stunning views of Baixa and the Santa Justa elevator, with Chiado and the Tagus River on the side, in addition to superb food and wine. Chef Rui Rebelo brings loads of technique to the casual menu, which incorporates dishes reminiscent of octopus croquettes with ink, squid ink rice with mussels and seaweed, and pork belly with kimchi sauce and ginger. There’s an entire section dedicated to burgers and a collection of gourmet cheeses and meats. The wine list includes 190 wines, including many by the glass, mainly from boutique winemakers.

Lumi-Roof

The banquets in Lumi-Roof have views of the red-tiled roofs and architectural towers of the encircling Bairro Alto and Chiado districts, with the Tagus River in the gap. The fifth-floor space also serves as an open-air breakfast room for guests of the Lumiares Hotel downstairs, but later within the day it’s open to the general public to enjoy easy drinks and Portuguese food. Chef João Silva’s all-day menu includes classics reminiscent of tempura green beans and Brás Cod (salted cod with potatoes and eggs) in addition to pulled pork sandwiches, portabella mushroom burgers and orecchiette with vegan basil pesto.

BAHR roof terrace

The Terrace in BAHR— the Bairro Alto Hotel’s restaurant — is designed as an open-air extension of the dining room inside. It has river views, in fact, but in addition cushioned chairs for adults at low tables for coffee or cocktails, and dining tables for easy, sunny meals. It’s an excellent alternative for brunch, with a menu that features French pastries, bread with Madeira bananas, homemade granola, spelt porridge with turnip greens, Turkish eggs, and a croque madame on a croissant. The drinks menu includes an excellent variety of special wines by the glass. The rooftop terrace upstairs is a more casual spot for coffee or drinks.

Seen Sky Bar

For greater than a decade, the SkyBar on the rooftop of the Tivoli Hotel on Avenida Liberdade is one in all town’s best addresses for sunset cocktails. Just a few years ago it strengthened its links with the hotel’s own restaurant Seen, a project by successful local restaurateur Olivier da Costa. New this summer is a lunch service, allowing visitors to benefit from the stunning views of St. Jorge Castle, the Tagus River and the Arrábida Mountains in the gap in the midst of the day. As before, there are a number of celebratory cocktails (each alcoholic and non-alcoholic), premium champagnes, bar snacks reminiscent of oysters and carpaccio, a collection of enormous salads, top-notch sushi and classic dishes reminiscent of a lobster roll and a Wagyu burger.

Unusual

The rooftop restaurant on the shabby-chic Independente Hotel in Principe Real has also been recently renovated and incorporates a recent concept that makes it primarily a bar – or, as they describe it, a spot for “cocktails, snacks and fun!” Unusual (Portuguese for “unusual”) lives as much as its name with a unusual atmosphere marked by colourful vintage furniture, ceiling plants and tassels, and a drinks menu stuffed with lighthearted names like Trippy Mary and Hardcore Soft Corn. The snacks are playful too, including smoked cabbage tacos and ras el hanout hummus.

Rossio Gastrobar

From his place above Rossio Square Rossio Gastrobar The restaurant, atop the Altis Avenida hotel, offers probably the greatest views in town, in addition to a classy retro design with Art Deco lines, green velvet wing chairs and low cocktail tables. The food is by chef João Correia, who emphasizes organic Portuguese produce and infrequently makes a detour for something out of the extraordinary, reminiscent of the Japanese hamachi (yellowtail) served with citrus at a recent lunch. The 13 cocktails were created by Flavi Andrade, a frequent nominee and sometime winner of the Lisbon Bar Show who has featured on the 50 Best Discovery List.