Fado Like a Local : Where to Hear it in Lisbon (No Tourist Traps)
Quick Intro
Hill here! I solo travelled to Lisbon in Fall 2024. While researching for the trip, I found there to be a scarcity of information—a lot of posts are purely promoting the city at a surface level. So if you’re looking for the no frills, honest reports of what it’s like visiting the Lisbon and other places aroudn the world (and especially as a solo traveller), make sure you subscribe to my Youtube channel (@hillchanproductions) and bookmark this website! We are just getting started!
🎥Watch the full episode for this post here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DoYMaWSdaA
What is Fado?
Fado means “fate” in Portuguese. It often carries a mournful tune, somewhere between yearning and melancholy. Originating from Lisbon’s marginalized communities and working middle class, these songs are often about heartbreak, longing, romance, and the everyday struggles.
The best Fado is heard live—and felt with the soul. And the best part for tourists? You don’t need to understand the language to understand the songs. You’ll know it when you hear the singer and the accompaniment.
It’s a Must-See
Fado is a recognized intangible UNESCO heritage. In other words, if you didn’t see a Fado show whilst in Lisbon, did you really go? Watching it is a blast from the past, a rare chance to witness the tunes of Portugal’s history with your own ears and soul.
2 Areas to Watch Fado
Fado originated from their marginalized and working-class communities: Alfama and Bairro Alto. These are the two key areas from which you’ll find these performances today! These two districts are on opposite sides, with two districts in between them (i.e., Chiado and Baixa). So, how do you choose?
Personally, if you have the luxury of time and money, try fado shows in both areas! But if you were like me, where you had to balance a whole lot of other travel priorities and considerations, then here’s a quick rundown:
Alfama
Neighbourhood Style: Historic neighbourhood for Fado, with shows that are in more formal settings.
Feel: A bit touristy for my taste. Some tourists share that fado shows here feel less organic, more produced (i.e., it might feel less intimate and less like a “travel back in time” vibe…less like “I’ve had a tough day so now i’m going to sing about it as a last-minute decision).
Bairro Alto
Neighbourhood Style: Bohemian neighbourhood with vibrant and flash nightlife and holes in the wall that offer fado.
Feel: Local and laidback with splashes of spontaneity. No one show is ever the same!
Rough mapping of the southern districts of Lisbon
I recommend Fado shows in Bairro Alto
Whereas Alfama shows seemed to have a strict start and end time to each show, the ones in Bairro Alto flowed seemlessly into each other and it felt eternal (in a very good way!). Bairro Alto has a laid-back and intimate charm to it— less produced and curated, more local and a unique experience. Afterall, I didn’t want to feel like I was watching a Fado show that could easily be offered on a cruise or anywhere outside of Portugal. In the past, Fado was often performed within the walls of taverns and restaurants and that’s exactly what Bairro Alto offers.
Where I went for Fado (Ideas for Your Itinerary & Trip Planning)
I visited two different restaurants for Fado and both offered a uniquelocal vibe.
Tasca do Manel
Feel: Small and cozy tavern.
Price: Buy a dinner, dessert, and/or drink for a complementary Fado (stay as long as you want).
Prebook?: Not necessary, though on high season, consider calling ahead of time.
What did I do?: Bought a dessert (~5 Euros), sat back, and enjoyed multiple shows.
Trovas Antigas
Feel: Fancier than Tasca do Manel
Price: Purchase an entree at minimum for complementary Fado (stay as long as you want).
Prebook?: Not necessary, though on high season, consider calling ahead of time.
What did I do?: Bought 3 course meal (~40 Euros) and enjoyed 3 Fado shows.
Additional note: I hate getting kicked out of things and hosts at these restaurants were amicable and encouraged guests to stay as long as they want. They tended to prioritize visitors learning and enjoying their culture over everything else!
Shoot! Will I still get in if i didn’t prebook online?
Yes! Prebook online is it gives you peace of mind, but most times, you can call a night before to reserve your spot.
Consideration: If you book online, it usually is through a third-party provider, which might mean you pay a booking fee. Plus, most packages offered by third-party providers don’t give you the flexibility of time or appetite. You can’t choose what you eat off of their entire menu (so you might be leaving hungry or overly full and having paid more than you can consume).
Upside to online booking: These packages sometimes come with a tour guide, so if you like having a tour guide, this booking with a third-party provider could be your one-stop shop.