The Ultimate Girls’ Weekend In Lisbon

From cocktail bars to beach breaks, these are the best places to go on a girls’ weekend in Lisbon

With year-round sunshine, tempting restaurants, trendy boutiques and a lively nightlife scene, Lisbon is the ideal location for a mini break. From bar hopping in Barrio Alto to shopping for designer labels in Embaixada, the weekend possibilities are endless. If you’re organising a visit, follow this guide to the best places to shop, party, explore and indulge on a girly trip to Lisbon.

Brunch In Lisbon

Restaurant terraces with stunning views? Check. Intimate pastelarias with freshly-baked goods? Check. Traditional teahouses with tempting Portuguese sweet treats? Check. When it comes to brunch, visitors to Lisbon are spoilt for choice. If you’re staying at Corinthia Hotel Lisbon, start your day with a buffet breakfast on the terrace at Sete Colinas, or head out to Instagram-worthy breakfast spots elsewhere in the city such as Pastelaria Versailles and Tartine.

Shopping At Embaixada

Lisbon’s cutting-edge concept stores are blazing a trail in the region’s fashion scene, with Embaixada in Príncipe Real one of the trendiest fashion hubs in the city. Set in an 18th century Moorish palace, the giant concept store is a place where old meets new, with two storeys of trend-setting collections by Portuguese designers featuring everything from the latest fashions and accessories to handmade jewellery, interior furnishings and Portuguese ceramics. There’s also an art gallery and a bar called Gin Lovers, which serves a tempting selection of different gins.

Sundowners With A View

After a day of sightseeing and shopping, treat yourself to sundowners at one of Lisbon’s best rooftop bars, for example Silk Club, one of the hottest and most exclusive nightspots in the city. The contemporary bar, restaurant and terrace has stunning panoramic vistas over River Tagus and serves Japanese bites and craft cocktails as a DJ spins tunes into the early hours. Alternatively, Hilltop bar Le Chat mixes some of the best cocktails, and views, in the city. Its stunning riverside terrace offers guests a front row seat to an unforgettable sunset. If you prefer wine, head to Mini Bar, which offers an impressive selection of Portuguese and international wine and Champagne.

Dinner And Dancing In Barrio Alto

Get your dancing shoes on for a girls’ night out in Barrio Alto. The neighbourhood transforms dramatically after sunset from a cultural hub to a lively nightlife destination. The Portuguese like to party until the early hours so line your stomach with dinner at one of the district’s best restaurants. Visit 100 Maneiras to indulge in the chef’s extravagant tasting menu, enjoy tasty tapas and wine at BA Wine Bar, or get pumped up for a night out at Blend, a celebrity chef restaurant serving creative cuisine to a soundtrack set by a resident DJ. After dinner, explore Barrio Alto’s many bars, from creative cocktails at Cinco Lounge and al fresco drinks and tunes at Park Bar, to live music at Galeria Zé dos Bois and dance floor vibes at Incognito.

Day Trips From Lisbon

Escape the bustle of the city and spend an afternoon soaking up the Mediterranean sun on the beach in Cascais. Just 20 minutes by car from Corinthia Hotel Lisbon, the beach town is both conveniently located and spectacularly beautiful. The coastline is dotted with intimate sandy coves – such as Praia da Rainha (The Queen’s Beach) – while the harbour is full of cafés and restaurants. If you’d rather see the sights, visit Sintra. Just an hour outside of Lisbon, Sintra is home to a number of fairy-tale hilltop palaces that tower over dramatic forests. Back in Lisbon, enjoy a sun-soaked boat trip on the River Tagus – the perfect finale to a girly weekend in Lisbon.