New Year’s Eve 2019: where to celebrate in Portugal?

December 5, 2018

(updated 1/12/19) New Year’s Eve is fast approaching and, like every year, many of you still don’t know what you’re going to do to celebrate it. Don’t panic, in this article you’ll find several ideas and addresses for celebrating your New Year in Portugal with friends, family or just the two of you, in a lively or more relaxed way. There’s something for everyone! To find out more about the events I mention in the article, click on the blue texts in the article. (non-exhaustive list)

1.New Year in Portugal: by boat on the Douro or Tejo rivers

Why not spend New Year’s Eve on a boat? Many cruises are organized for New Year’s Eve on the Douro in Porto or the Tejo in Lisbon. Prices range from €150 to €250 per adult, and include dinner, dj/live music, drinks and snacks after midnight. Please note that many cruises are already fully booked for this evening. Below are a few cruises that still have places available.

On the Tagus in Lisbon via the Lusoviagens website:

cruise, live music and dinner at 250€/pers. Link here
cruise, live music and dinner at 155€/pers. or 195€/pers. Link here

On the Douro, in Porto via Tomaz do Douro:

cruise, live music and dinner at 132€/pers. Link here

New Year on a boat.

2. New Year in Portugal: in a restaurant

More traditional than a boat, celebrating New Year’s Eve in a restaurant can also be a good option. Here are a few restaurants with nice settings offering gala dinners and DJ or live music for the last evening of the year. (Remember to ask for children’s prices if you have any).

In Lisbon

Monte Mar Lisboa: on the banks of the Tejo, in the Cais do Sodre district, you’ll celebrate New Year’s Eve here to the rhythm of 80’s hits, with a seafood and fish dinner, the restaurant’s specialties. 275€/pers. Event here.
Vestigius: on the banks of the Tejo, in the Cais do Sodre district, 75€/pers drinks included. Menu here.
Sud Lisboa: on the banks of the Tejo, near the MAAT, gala dinner with a privileged view of the Tejo. DJ, dancers and live music by Julio Iglesias JR will mark the evening. From 390€/pers. Program and menu here.
Jncquoi Asia: on the famous Avenida Liberdade, celebrate New Year’s Eve in one of the chic Jncquoi restaurants. 270€-370€/pers drinks included. Jncquoi Asia menu here. Jncquoi menu here.
The Decadente, in the trendy Principe Real district, 74€/pers drinks not included. New Year’s menu here.
Silk: no dinner offered here for New Year’s Eve. To enjoy the evening with DJ, surprise kit, dancefloor and the magnificent view of Lisbon, the Tejo and the fireworks, count 50€/pers, flute of Champagne Ruinart Blanc des Blancs included, and 350€/pers for a table of 2 with a bottle of Ruinart Blanc des Blancs. Program details here.

In Porto

The Yeatman: Porto’s famous upscale hotel, with breathtaking views over the Douro and the city of Porto, prepares a beautiful New Year’s Eve with live music and gourmet dinner. 280€/pers drinks included. To find out more, click here.
Decimosetimo: celebrate the New Year at this restaurant on the 17th floor of the Dom Henrique Downtown hotel. Enjoy a delicious New Year’s Eve menu and a lovely view of Porto and the fireworks. 148€/pers drinks included. Details and menu here.
Mundo by fullest: not far from the Aliados, embark on a festive New Year’s Eve in this trendy Porto restaurant. 95€/pers drinks included. Details and menu here.
InterContinental Porto – Palacio das Cardosas
Herança Magna: a magical New Year’s Eve awaits you in Vila Nova de Gaia(opposite Porto). 120€/pers with dinner or 45€/pers without dinner from 11pm. Program and menu here.

One of the sublime rooms at Jncquoi Asia.

3. New Year in Portugal: Fado dinner in the heart of Lisbon

Start the New Year with a Portuguese staple: fado. Mix fado, bacalhau and the stroke of midnight for one evening and celebrate the New Year in a fado restaurant. Here are a few addresses:

In Lisbon

Clube de fado: Alfama, 145€/pers. Menu here.
Café Luso, Bairro Alto, 120€/pers(to see the menu, click on the restaurant link here and then on “book now“).
Maria da Mouraria, Mouraria, 125€/pers(the menu is not yet fully established, but you can request a sample menu by email).

Fado at Café Luso.

4. New Year’s Eve in Portugal: dinner and overnight in a hotel

Many hotels also organize New Year’s Eve parties, with some offering dinner, New Year’s Eve and overnight packages. This way, you can make the most of the last year of the year by staying overnight. What could be better?

In Lisbon

Real Palacio Hotel: New Year’s Eve in a 5-star palace near Marquês Pombal. Package: dinner, New Year’s Eve party, late check-out and lunch on January 1st for 205€/pers. Dinner and New Year’s Eve only 140€/pers.
Cascais Miragem: New Year’s Eve in a 5-star hotel in Cascais. Tropicalíssimo!” package: dinner, New Year’s Eve party, overnight stay, breakfast, late check-in €650/person for 2. Dinner and New Year’s Eve only 270€/pers.
Hotel Palácio Estoril: New Year’s Eve in a 5-star palace near the Estoril casino. Pack: dinner, New Year’s Eve party, breakfast, late check-out and access to the Banyan Tree Spa for 435€/pers. Dinner and New Year’s Eve only 140€/pers or 260€/pers.

In Porto

HF Ipanema Park: New Year’s Eve in a 5-star hotel in the heart of Porto. Pack: dinner, New Year’s Eve party, breakfast 439€/pers. for 2 pers. Dinner and New Year’s Eve only 174€/pers drinks included. Menus and Packs here.
A.S. 1829 Hotel: between Aliados Avenue and the Ribeira district, Porto A.S. 1829 is a charming hotel housed in a former paper mill. New Year’s Eve dinner and party: 110€/pers drinks included. Menu here. Night and breakfast 457€/person for 2.
Torel Advantgarde: this five-star boutique hotel in the center of Porto offers a breathtaking view of the Douro River. The ideal playground for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve. 190€/pers drinks included. Menu here. Package: dinner, New Year’s Eve party, breakfast for 2: 800€.

Hotel Torel Avantgarde Porto.

5. New Year in Portugal: at home

Would you prefer to spend a quiet evening with friends and family? An evening at home might be just the thing. Buy a few cotillions, fill your cellar and put on your favorite playlist. And for the meal, if, like me, you’re not a cordon bleu, don’t bother, just order it! When it comes to food in Portugal, you’re spoilt for choice. There are many options to choose from:

hire a home chef. I personally love and recommend the“Supper Stars” website, where you’ll find chefs with different styles who will come to your home and take care of everything from A to Z,
order from a supermarket caterer, many of which offer this service for Christmas and New Year’s at affordable prices,
order from a restaurant via home meal delivery services, three of which I use regularly: noMENU, A Marmita, Comer Em Casa, etc.
order your seafood platter from your localmarket. We’re lucky enough to live in a country with a huge coastline, so it would be a shame to go without seafood if you like it.

New Year’s Eve at home with seafood and Vinho Verde.

6.New Year’s Eve in Portugal: in a pousada

All over Portugal, you can book an evening and night in a pousada. Pousadas are hotels set in a typically Portuguese setting, or in a building with a historic character. They are often places steeped in history, with magnificent architecture. They are atypical and romantic places to spend New Year’s Eve. Find here a list of pousadas around Portugal: Viseu, Guimaraes, Estoi, Viana do Castelo, etc. organizing New Year’s Eve parties.

7.New Year’s Eve in Portugal: concerts and fireworks in the heart of the city

Want to ring in the New Year with thousands of other people? Then head to the main squares of the major cities, which are pulling out all the stops to organize a memorable transition to the New Year. Concerts, DJ’s, fireworks and good cheer will be the order of the day. Here are just a few of the main events:

Terreiro do Paço (also known as Praça do Comércio) in Lisbon, the program :

22:00 – to be confirmed
00:00 – Fireworks display
00:15 – to be confirmed

Praça dos Aliados in Porto, the program :

22:30 – Concert by Tiago Nacarato
00:00 – Fireworks display
00:20 – Concert by Miguel Araujo
02:00 – DJ Gonçalo Mendonça & Francisco Pereira

Programs and concerts in many cities in Portugal here

Praça do Comércio fireworks in Lisbon.

8.New Year in Portugal: more cities, more ideas

Want even more ideas? Here you’ll find a comprehensive list of restaurants, quintas, hotels… all over Portugal (Palmela, Chaves, Nazaré, Lagoa, Aveiro, Troia, etc.) that are celebrating New Year’s Eve this year. You’re sure to find an event to suit you!

In conlusion

Two or more people, small or large budgets, in the north or south… there are lots of different options for celebrating your New Year in Portugal. Whatever option you choose, the important thing is that you have a good time and start the New Year in the best possible way. I’m not going to be original, but I’d like to wish you all a very happy festive season and a wonderful New Year 2020 filled with love and good health for you and your loved ones.

So now tell me, what are you going to do for your New Year in Portugal?

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