Editorial
Lisbon's bar scene came back from the financial crisis as one of southern Europe's most exciting. Red Frog opened in 2015 and reset what the city expected from a cocktail bar; the rest of Lisbon's serious rooms followed. The 10 below pair the new wave with the old institutions — including a bar inside an old brothel and one on top of a multi-storey car park.
Lisbon's geography makes bar-hopping a workout — the city is built on hills. Plan one neighbourhood per evening: Bairro Alto for the late-night scene, Cais do Sodré for the cocktail bars, Príncipe Real for the elegant ones. Most cocktail rooms peak between midnight and 2 AM. The view-bars (Park, Sky Bar) are best at sunset; book ahead in summer.
Global Cities Editor — Bangkok to Buenos Aires. Cultural context, not just cocktail tourism.