Suggested itinerary based on a load of research and recommendations from someone who lives in Lisbon. Some stuff is booked, some is ideas. Change whatever you want.
Turn up at James's house Thursday morning. Get Chloe to pack his bag the night before without him knowing. We ring the doorbell — it's go time.
Everyone gets the tube to Heathrow together. That becomes the pregame — the stag starts from his front door, not the airport.
Would need to coordinate with Chloe on timing and the bag.
Hal's planned a route through Bairro Alto (Lisbon's bar district — narrow streets packed with small bars, the main nightlife area) with some games and challenges. The details are a surprise for everyone including you.
All anyone needs to know: be at dinner by 18:30, the rest is sorted. Ends with karaoke at an Irish pub. Home by ~1am.
First night energy — this gives the evening structure without being a massive one. Sets the tone for the weekend.
Everyone will be fed and a few wines deep from the tour. Two ways to play it:
Head to Bairro Alto. The bars are just coming alive at this time — the narrow streets fill up from 9pm with people spilling out of tiny bars. See where the night goes. If people want to go late, there are clubs in Cais do Sodre (downhill from Bairro Alto, a 10 min walk) that are open until dawn.
Back to the apartment, beers on the terrace. Thursday will have been a big one and Saturday is THE big one — not every night needs to be huge.
Cervejaria Ramiro. Lisbon's famous seafood and beer hall, open since the 1950s. Loud, boisterous — you order piles of prawns, clams, and crab, and go through buckets of Super Bock (the local lager). Perfect stag energy. ~€40–50 per person. It's about 10 min Uber from where the boat drops us. Then → Bairro Alto → bars → clubs.
Skip sit-down dinner. Head straight to Bairro Alto from the boat. Grab bifanas on the move — Portuguese pork sandwiches, about €3 each, the local street food equivalent of a kebab.
Either way, this is the biggest night. Bairro Alto bars until ~2am, then clubs in Cais do Sodre for those who want to go late.
5 min walk from the apartment, right in Alfama. Spacious — two big rooms. Properly good brunch (eggs, coffee, juices). Would need to book ahead for 13 on a Sunday — email dearbreakfast@gmail.com.
The same food hall from Saturday lunch. 15 min walk, no booking needed, everyone orders what they want. Less special but guaranteed to seat us. Also slightly closer to the airport direction.