Live Music · DINNER SHOWS WITH LIVE MUSIC IN PORTUGAL
Good dinner shows with live music in Portugal sell out weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 9 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Spend four hours exploring Porto by minivan, with summer seaside views or winter panoramas from Serra do Pilar, then enjoy a traditional Portuguese dinner, drinks, and live Fado. Guides may include Bernardo, Bernie, Miguel, or Maria, and groups are limited to eight.
“El guía… buenisimo, muy carismático, la cena deliciosa y el Fado, espectacular”
You’ll see Lisbon’s illuminated center and Belém, sample a Pastel de Belém, then enjoy Portuguese dinner and live Fado in Alfama. A private guide, hotel transport, and flexible photo stops make this a convenient four-hour introduction, though the meal and show can vary.
“Did not follow itinerary, Pastelería belém was closed because the tour was not done in order specified Belem tower was also closed Sadly Dinner show was not the best. We were brought back in 3 1/2 hrs for a 4 hr tour.Sincerely, the tour was done in a particular manner so it could not be completed.”
Spend about four hours with a small group, enjoying a traditional Portuguese dinner and live Fado before touring Porto at night. Hotel pickup, a modern minivan, drinks, a guide, and a surprise treat are included. Pickup is from central Porto between 7:00 and 7:30 pm.
“Sara, our guide was a delight. She pointed out some very helpful locations and things to which helped to informed our self directed activities the following day. The Fado show was everything we hoped. Portuguese guitar is beautiful and the singers were truly engaged yo the point that we felt the emotion without understanding the lyrics. The food was typical Portuguese and delicious.”
Begin at 7:30 pm with private hotel pickup, then see Lisbon’s night views by car before a 2.5-hour Alfama dinner and Fado show. Drivers such as Carlos, Nuno, Martin, and Fred have helped shape memorable evenings, though the depth of sightseeing commentary can vary.
“Carlos was a wonderful guide he was friendly knowledgeable and knew exactly what I wanted to doing although the set menu at the restaurant could have been better”
Spend four hours with a local guide, a group of no more than six, and Porto’s Fadistas in a traditional Fado house. You’ll ride from central Porto, hear the stories behind the songs, and share a Portuguese dinner with local wine. Children under 12 and wheelchair users cannot join.
“The meal was not good. Very below average. And it was hot. Kept asking for water. Needed better service and better quality food. Worse steak I had in a long time.”
Start at 7 p.m. with hotel pickup and a private drive through Lisbon’s historic streets and viewpoints. Guides such as Bernard, William, Goncalo, Tiago, and Paolo have led guests to photo stops before dinner and live Fado at O Segredo de Alfama. Allow about four hours.
“We had a wonderful time on this excursion. Paolo picked what’s up at our hotel Promptly at 7 o’clock. He was actually even a little early. And then drove us around to some beautiful sites in Lisbon and took us up so that we could get pictures and some of the viewpoint of the castle. After that we drove back through Lisbon and went to the restaurant where we were gonna be having our meal and fado music. We had the typical Portuguese meal of bacalhao a bras, olives, vinho tinto and a dessert. The music was wonderful as was the meal. Paolo then picked us up At the restaurant…”
Spend about four hours with a guide such as Maria, Violeta, Alex, or Hernan, taking a short evening tour through Porto before dinner and live fado near Ribeira. The group has no more than eight people, with hotel pickup, dinner, and a final view from Serra do Pilar.
“Good tour and tour operator was responsive and friendly, just how it was listed in the Viator website was confusing: tour description said free hotel pickup and drop off but really for downtown Porto area only which is not where we were staying.”
You’ll tour Lisbon’s lit-up landmarks, stop in Belém for a traditional pastry, walk through Alfama, then dine with live Fado around 20:30. Hotel pickup, dinner, transport, and drop-off are included. Groups are limited to eight, with English, Spanish, or Portuguese guides.
“Tour guide provided good customer service and transportation. We enjoyed very much the Fado dinner show. All singers and musicians were excellent. Dinner menu included good food and wine!”
Join a Portuguese-speaking guide for a 3.5-hour evening through Lisbon, with hotel pickup, photo stops at the National Pantheon and Cathedral, dinner, and live Fado in Alfama. The group is limited to eight. Ask about Gonçalo if you want an English-speaking guide.
“Excellent guide, very personable. Spoke perfect English which was great as I spoke little Portuguese. Lovely dinner and evening tour of the city with several flexible stops for pictures. Wonderful tour guide I recommend asking for Gonc,alo”
Pick a genre, a room or a night of the week.
