Viking Bar

For a decidedly more relaxed and low-key approach to the gay scene, spend an afternoon at Rendezvous. This is a gay-owned cafe and restaurant, with a bar that serves an excellent selection of wine and is proud of its local roots. The kitchen cooks up a great variety of tapas and traditional Portuguese food, so you can visit and enjoy lunch in a super accepting and diverse space.

Bar TR3S is Lisbon's biggest gay bar and has quickly become one of the most popular since it opened in 2010. Cocktails and cold beers are on offer, while outside there's a comfortable seating area to enjoy your drinks in the afternoon sun. A variety of music keeps the space lively for after-work drinks as well as late night partying. Owned and run by bears, the bar is also known as one of the world's best bear bars.

Catering to the bear community with a friendly atmosphere and a room full of friendly guys, Shelter Bar is a popular staple on Lisbon's gay scene. For those who enjoy a drink, the bar offers a great selection of wines, gins, and craft beers. Regular bear and drag events keep everyone entertained, while if you're looking for a more relaxed evening then there's the newly opened Shelter Coffee & Gallery that serves Italian snacks and smoothies.

Owned by the same group that brings you Woof X, Construction caters to bears of all kinds but welcomes anyone. The club spreads across three floors, with the top floor being a secluded cruising space where you can get the know the guys you've met. The other floors have a modern dance club atmosphere, home to guest DJs and hosting lively parties, bringing ever more exciting concepts to the club.

A well-known name in the Bairro Alto district, Portas Largas has been welcoming the queer community for years. It has a traditional look but a modern feel, attracting crowds of locals and visitors from all over the world. You can tell from the decor that this place has been around for a while, but that's part of its charm. Crowds gather to enjoy cocktails outside on the street while a laid-back soundtrack emanates from inside.

Woof X is a place for bears and fetish loving gay guys to meet, enjoy a drink, and explore the darker cruising area at the back of the bar. It's even located in what's known as the bear area of Principe Real. Woof X is busiest in the early hours, so kick off a night on Lisbon's bear scene in an infamous cruise club complete with fetish inspired decor.