Clube de Fado

"In Alfama, a five-minute walk from the Museu do Fado, the Portuguese music adventure continues at Clube de Fado. This warm restaurant and performance venue, awash in red, combines the Portuguese guitar and melancholy fado vocals with homestyle cuisine. Nightly fado performances by artists like Cuca Roseta and Sofia Ramos are buoyed by the guitar wizardry of Clube de Fado owner Mário Pacheco, the son of famed fado guitarist António Pacheco. The performers, whether old-timers or emerging talents, give it their all in a retro setting." - Alia Akkam, Chadner Navarro

"Here’s the dilemma: You’re in Lisbon and want to hear live fado music. The late-night bar scene with a baby in tow feels out of the question, but maybe one of the traditional restaurants, serving dinner while performers rotate in and out, will take your reservation? Clube de Fado does just that—in fact, we didn’t have the youngest kid there for an 8 p.m. seating. (There was a 1-year-old boy the next table over, and don’t judge any of us—these kids were riding jet lag.) The wait staff was beyond accommodating, and the performances—eerie and beautiful—only last 15-20 minutes at a stretch. Just hold your breath hoping your kid doesn't make any noise." - Laura Dannen Redman

"Since 1995, this candlelit space in the heart of Alfama has enchanted locals and tourists alike. Located just steps from the iconic Lisbon Cathedral, Clube de Fado boasts Moorish influences on every inch, from its arched ceilings to its thick stone walls. The roster is a revolving door of the city’s best singers, including Maria Armanda, Machado Shares, and Maria Ana Bobone; additionally, house guitarist Mario Pacheco is a living icon of the genre. It’s on the pricier end of the spectrum, for sure, but the caliber justifies the splurge, as does the food—don’t leave without trying the signature bacalhau." - Todd Plummer