Association - Ilusão Paralela

UPDATE - Unfortunately Ilusão Paralela has closed on 1/12/2011.
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Translated to Parallel Ilusion, it is an association, and as many others in Lisbon, it's a place where you can have a drink, eat, play board games, listen to music, attend workshops, read a book, watch art exhibitions, have parties, watch football games, etc. Make yourself a member to get discount at the bar, and like the facebook page to receive the events notifications.

Thursdays it's board game night with Vasco Chita, if you like board games you should go there, you will discover new games, make some friends and have fun!

They have lots of games like, Settlers of Catan, Dixit, Puerto Rico, Times Up, Tichu, Atlantis, Chinatown, etc. And thursdays Vasco brings even more games.

Quiz nights are Tuesdays, so if you are into general knowledge trivia feel free to show up, teams are of five, 50 questions and the winning team gets a prize. Don't worry if you can't round up a team, just show up and ask to join one of the teams.

There is also the Origami workshops and the role-players gathering, and many other activities, check the facebook for the dates and details.

You can talk to the owner and have a private dinner and/or a party, or have an exhibition with your photos, paintings, sculptures, etc.

Misc:

Beer price(20cl): 80 Cents for members

Smokers: yes

Multibanco/Visa: yes

Closes at: Sunday and Monday

Pros:

- Nice place to take your friends for a drink and chat

- Many different activities

- Stays open till late

- Restaurants and bars nearby

Cons:

- Difficult parking

- No near Subway

- Lots of smokers

Facebook page

Bar - Bomb Shelter

If you are looking for a cosy calm place to go for a drink after dinner, Bomb Shelter is the place.

It has a unique decoration, very British, dim lights, signs everywhere and the walls are filled with writings from the customers, very funny to read.

You can go with your friends, or if you just go alone sit in the balcony, chat with the owner(Sr. Domingos) and the usual customers about the weather, football, politics, etc. very "Cheers" style.

The music is normally 90's Rock I think, not too loud fortunately and the drinks are cheap, if you are a bit hungry you can ask for the famous toasts.

I don't realy know what days it is open nor what time it closes, but you can try asking in the Facebook group page.

Have fun!

Average price:

Beer 20 cl. - 1 Euro

Pros:

- Cosy, calm

- Good decoration and ambient

- Cheap

Cons:

- No near subway

- Small place, not good for large groups

Facebook group page

Google maps

Guilherme Cossoul

Founded in 1885, Guilherme Cossoul Theatre School Society is on of the oldest societies in the field, with a vast array of cultural options, you can take theatre classes, watch plays, music, comedy, attend workshops, quiz nights or just stop by to have a drink with friends.

Pros:

- Central place, in Santos, good nearby restaurants

- Lots of different shows and plays to watch

- Usually cheap tickets

- Bar is smokers friendly and closes late

Cons:

- Difficult parking, no near subway

- Small Bar, can become crowded

- Sometimes lots of smoke

- Small theatre, book tickets

http://www.guilhermecossoul.pt/

Quiz nights!

In Lisbon we also have quiz nights, a good way to get together with your friends, chat, have a drink, and test your general knowledge.

For those of you that have no idea what I'm talking about, its a game, a bit like "Who wants to be millionaire" but with teams(5 members max.), the quiz organizer shows 50 questions in order and each team writes down the answers, in the end the winner is announced.

There is also the "Cascata" quiz, more difficult and the rules are a bit more complex, and it usually needs reservation: The questions are asked directly to a team, if the answer is correct they win 2 points, if not, the same question is asked to the next team(only win 1 point) and so on until there is a winner or it reaches the last team.

Pros:

- Relaxed, fun and good mood

- Test your knowledge and learn new things

- Win prizes

- In most places you can smoke

Cons:

- Normal quiz ends at 00:30, and Cascata at ~3 a.m.

- Lots of smokers

- Only 1 place with quizes in english(that I know of...)

- Some places are not cheap

Bar Kai

Zona de Ampliação do centro de Congressos de Lisboa galeria comercial, Lojas 3 e 4,

Rua da Junqueira. (Parede lateral da antiga FIL)

Tuesday, 22h00

Ilusão Paralela

Travessa do Pasteleiro, 22

Tuesday, 22h00

AL Café

Rua Dona Estefânia, 151-C

Wednesday, 22h00

Sociedade de Instrução Guilherme Cossoul

Av. D. Carlos I, 61 - 1º

Wednesday, 22h15

Cascata - Last Wednesday of each month

Domínio Público

Rua de Entrecampos, 12 (ao Campo Pequeno)

Thursday, 22h00

Cascata - First Saturday of each month

Magic Pool Bar

Rua Augusto Gil, 30-A (à Av. Roma)

Sunday, 22h00

O'Gilin's Irish Pub (English quiz)

Rua dos Remolares, 10, Cais do Sodré

First and third Sunday of every month, 8.30pm

Santos Populares!

One more year!

Every year in Lisbon we have the "Festas dos Santos Populares" or roughly translated - Popular Saints Festivities, in June.

Older neighbourhoods organize their own street caravan, with dancers, cars and music to compete for the first place, a bit like the Brazilian Carnaval.

The main avenue is closed to hold the parade, and the caravans march down the road one by one, and then the jury votes for the winner.

Afterwards the party continues on each neighbourhood(until 4~6 a.m.), where the streets are closed for traffic and most restaurants, snack-bars, coffee shops, associations, even households become street shops for grilled sardines, steaks, chorizos, beer, sangria, etc. with loud popular music and a good mood.

Some places become so crowded you can hardly walk, and the noise will make phone-calls impractical so keep an eye for your friends! and texting may be helpful, check your phone regularly.

Average Price:

Sangria/Beer(20 cl.) - 1~1.5 Euros

Sardine - 1~2 Euros

Pros:

- Party everywhere

- Good excuse to round up your friends

- Sardines!!!

- Popular Portuguese music(for those who like)

Cons:

- Too much people everywhere

- Where are the toilets??? I need to pee! (specially for you girls)

- Popular Portuguese music(for those who hate)

- Transport - no Buses, no taxis, no parking...

Hope this is helpful to anyone curious, have fun!