A former brothel in Cais do Sodre converted into a multi-room bar that keeps the original decor with deliberate, unapologetic intent — erotic art on the walls, a library of vintage erotica, red velvet, burlesque performances on weekends. The building is a warren of rooms across multiple floors, each with a different atmosphere, from the ground-floor bar to the intimate upstairs library. It should feel gimmicky but the commitment is total and the cocktails are genuinely excellent.
Location
Baixa & Chiado, Lisbon
Map
Insider Intel
The cocktail menu rotates seasonally but the bartenders are skilled enough to work off-menu if you describe what you like. The Amor Proibido (house signature with gin, passion fruit, and lime) is the reliable anchor. Portuguese wines by the glass are well-chosen if you want something simpler. The absinthe selection is serious.
Thursday through Saturday from 10pm onward when the burlesque and live performance programming runs and the building fills to its ideal density. Earlier in the evening (7pm-9pm) for a quieter drink in the library upstairs with the erotic book collection. Weeknights are substantially calmer.
Located on the Cais do Sodre end of Rua do Alecrim, the street that connects the river to Chiado. The former-brothel history is not a marketing angle — this was genuinely one of the pensoes (boarding houses) that served the sailors arriving at the nearby docks. The building is large enough that even on busy nights you can find a quieter room. Cover charge sometimes applies for weekend performances. Cocktail prices reflect the location and production quality — expect to pay 12-16 euros per drink.