Vegan restaurants and cafés in Portugal
Often, the cuisine of a country is not made for travellers that have specific dietary needs and habits. Often, these countries lie in the middle or edge of Europe, and I am in the middle or edge of them. Not long ago, I fell out of the sky above Portugal. Having travelled far and beyond, I also like to live here now for a while. Things have changed since I started to travel. I not only married my wonderful Belgian husband, also dropped out of the sky above Portugal before I did, but completely abandoned animal products out of my ingredient list. So, here we are, trying to understand people’s language, trying to cope with our own habits and see that we change our world to a what we believe would be a better one. And we truly believe that having a loving relationship to plants, animals, stones, humans, and treating them with respect, as well as not using them for our own good, is what contributes to a peaceful world.
Here I am, trying to make a list of places in the whole of the country of Portugal, where people know more or less what vegan means, or at least can understand this way of living, and serve you at least a nicely prepared sopa do dia, without chicken broth … 😉
Please, if there is a place that you know, and you cannot find it on this list, place the name in the comments below or send me a private message! Obrigada!
ALENTEJO
Espaço Nativa, São Luís, Odemira ⁓ a comfortable semi-outdoor café and terrace run by the Cooperativa Regenerativa, where they serve vegan menues and cakes, along with the common list of coffees and teas.
Casa Nirvana, São Martinho, Odemira ⁓ a beautifully designed and tastefully furnished restaurant with a spacious covered outdoor space, run by Monte Sahaja (Mooji). Always friendly staff, delicious food. They serve meat, vegetarian and vegan likewise. Check out their menu on their website.
Himalayan Restaurant, São Teotònio, Odemira ⁓ wonderful, good price Nepalese restaurant, serving vegan dishes such as Chana Masala, Vegetable Fried Rice, Vegetable Biryani, Dals, Vegetable Curry, Vegetarian Momos (spicy!) and our most favorite Samosas – please check if they prepare your desired dish with Ghee or oil!
Doce Amanhecer, São Teotònio, Odemira ⁓ another friendly Nepalese-Indian, more a café where we loved to sit and watch people pass by. They prepare Nepalese cuisine as well as Pizza and other snacks. Ask for Chana Masala, Vegetable Fried Rice, Vegetable Biryani, Dals, Vegetable Curry or Samosas, and if they prepare them with Ghee or oil!
Café Central, Brejão, Odemira ⁓ a traditional portuguese café and restaurant situated on the main road, which apparently prepares one vegan dish called “feijoada de legumes” (bean stew) on demand.
Adega 22, Vila Nova de Milfontes ⁓ nice (pricy) place with a few vegan dishes, such as vegan bìfe tàrtaro (Beef Tartar).
Yabalulu, Vila Nova de Milfontes (praia de Furnas) ⁓ beach style restaurant that apparently went completely vegetarian in 2023. Here you will find a nice list of vegan dishes.
Stress Free, Vila Nova de Milfontes ⁓ a small place, serving fish and a few vegan options.
Ritual, Vila Nova de Milfontes ⁓ high pricy tapas restaurant, offering vegan creations.
Manjedoura, Vila Nova de Milfontes ⁓ offers at least a vegan pizza. See their menu on their website.
Geladaria San Pietro, Vila Nova de Milfontes ⁓ beautiful homemade icecream, some of them (especially the fruit sorbets) are vegan.
Mabi Geladaria e Cafeteria, Vila Nova de Milfontes ⁓ great ice cream, some of the fruit flavors are vegan (passion fruit, strawberry, lemon, mango etc).
Lareu Cafeteria, Vila Nova de Milfontes ⁓ they have vegan snacks and oat milk as a dairy free milk option.
Tasca d’O Miguel, Ribeira do Salto, Odemira ⁓ a café on the countryside, serving Seitan a portuguesa, Vegan Pimentos recheados (stuffed peppers), Hamburgers, nuggets and Espetada de Almôndegas (meat ball skewers).
Salsa Verde, Évora ⁓ serves vegetarian and vegan food on a buffet.
ALGARVE
Gaia Shop Restaurant, Rogil, Aljezur ⁓ formerly run by a friend of ours, this bio shop-restaurant with chill veranda like sitting area serves good quality vegetarian and vegan food.
Roots, Aljezur ⁓ tiny vegan coffeeshop and food shop. Delicious food, but quite expensive…
Moagem, Aljezur ⁓ vegetarian café in a refurbished mill offering vegan options. See their website here.
À La Bilal, Aljezur ⁓ nice place at Arrifana beach, serving Halal food, some vegan options.
Arte Bianca, Aljezur ⁓ italian restaurant having three places in the Western Algarve (Aljezur, Arrifana and Sagres). On their menu there are some vegan dishes that are nicely indicated.
Maxi’s Warung Thai & Indo Food, Aljezur ⁓ Indo-Thai restaurant, serving vegan versions of almost all the dishes.
MINHO REGION
Chill Out Café, Ponte da Barca ⁓ Café (run by the public swimming pool, with external entrance) offering veganized portuguese dishes such as Francesinha, Soy-Hamburger and Soy Nuggets. For those of you, who want to avoid the very real taste of meat, the Hamburger might not be the right choice, as the soy patty really (!) tastes like minced meat … The view on the river is nice, the athmosphere relaxed and pool inspired.
Vai à Fava, Ponte da Barca ⁓ quite pricey restaurant , offering various vegan dishes such as Risotto and a vegan cheese cake. Stunning terrace view over the river and on the bridge.
Pizzeria Di Nando, Ponte da Barca ⁓ offering up three vegan-adaptable pizzas substituting the mozzarella with vegan cheese. They also have take-away. Quiet, nice staff. Good quality.
Tempus Hotel, Ponte da Barca ⁓ serving a few vegetarian options (that could probably be made vegan too), vegan pasta and two vegan soups, here is their website.
Ementa Lima Bar (Camping Lima Escape), Entre-Ambos-Os-Rios ⁓ nice spot at the river, where you can have a swim! They serve Vegan Lemon Cupcakes, a full Vegan Breakfast, Vegan Chicken Salad, Vegan Nuggets and Vegan Hamburgers. See their website here.
Greenstore4u, Vila Verde, Ponte da Barca ⁓ for the moment our favorite vegan restaurant in the region where we are staying. A nice bio shop, offering daily vegan menus and cakes for a good price. Check out their website here. Just see that you come early, meals sell fast!
Spacos, Vila Praia de Ancora, Viana do Castelo ⁓ a small cheap place with view on the railway, surprisingly serving veganized portuguese dishes such as Francesinha.
Argaço Food & Drinks, Moledo ⁓ offering three vegan dishes, Mushroom stew, Vegetable Curry and “Bacalhau sem Bacalhau”.
O Botequim, Viana do Castelo ⁓ Brazilian restaurant offering a few vegan options.
Letraria Craft Beer & Vinyl, Ponte de Lima ⁓ a beer bar that offers a few vegan petiscos (snacks).
PORTUGAL NORTE
Naturena Bio Hotel & Spa, Restaurant and Bio Shop, Durrães, Barcelos ⁓ nice place with a great view serving bio food. Opening hours: Mo-Sa 9-16:30.
O Arado, Café and Macrobiotic restaurant, Barcelos ⁓ charming little place serving vegan macrobiotic lunch from 12:30-14:30.
Bio Shop Celeiros, Braga ⁓ small bio shop in the shopping mall Braga Parque, serving delicious vegan quiches with salad, vegan cakes and much more.
Emilia Brunch & Cocktails, Guimarães ⁓ cosy little place right next to the main square, serving nice vegan food amongst others.
Anastacia Marina, Pòvoa de Varzim ⁓ offering a SUGESTÃO VEGANA, Tofu Tandoori vegan, vegan Thai Curry, Tofu Satay, and more vegan dishes. Find their menu here.
To be continued!