Baixa

If you're up for a night of dancing, make your way to the Ministerium, where you'll find the perfect pairing of old and new Lisbon. The space, which once housed the Portuguese Ministry of Finance, was transformed a few years ago into a cantina by day and nighttime modern dance club, where 18th-century vaulted ceilings meet modern dance music (with some of the best techno-electronic DJs from Lisbon and around the world), all conveniently located near Lisbon’s largest square, the Praça do Comércio. Most dance spots in Lisbon don't get going until after midnight, and this one keeps going until 6am.  

This old-school, white tablecloth restaurant (which has been open in this space since the '70s), is our pick for classic Portuguese food and fresh-as-it-gets seafood, with an extensive wine list to match. Fish are purchased in the markets each morning, so it's best to opt for classic, lightly prepared foods like the grilled lobster tails with a squeeze of lemon or, for the brave, an incredible salt-crusted fish that the waiter presents and filets for you at the table. For littles, there's an endlessly entertaining lobster tank in the front of the restaurant.

Leaning into being a tourist (or playing tourist in your own city for a day) can be extremely entertaining. Such is the case with GoCar's cool take on the common city tour: a talking, GPS-guided go-cart vehicle that takes you around the big—as well as some lesser known—sights of Lisbon. Following the suggested routes laid out for you is simple, as is making an unplanned pit stop for photos, or veering off to do more of your own thing. Each car fits two people (the driver must be at least twenty-one years old, but kids can ride shotgun); small groups and families can reserve a mini fleet of their own.