The Little Guide

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Vegan Restaurants in Lisbon

House of Wonders

Lisbon's vegan food scene is one of the strongest I've seen in Europe. There are endless options catering to the vegan, gluten-free, paleo crowds so no fear for the health-conscious in this city.  While I'm not vegan, I do veer towards vegan/vegetarian meals after doing the 30 Days to Healthy Living detox and going on a yoga retreat in February.  I noticed I overall feel and look better when I fill up on plant-based nutrition so make an effort to balance my diet 80/20.  Here are some of my favorite vegan-friendly restaurants, cafés, and organic grocery stores in Lisbon.  I've also included some places I haven't tried yet but have heard great things about. I'll come back and update this post as I make my way through them but if you have any favorites yourself, please feel free to share in the comments! 

RESTAURANTS

MY MOTHER'S DAUGHTERSSao Sebastio. CC.
Definitely my favorite place on this list. Hidden away on a back street is this delightful restaurant filled with succulents, interesting lighting, and delicious food. The menu is completely in Portuguese but the staff are incredibly nice in deciphering the menu for you.  I had the Bowl Fresca filled with veggies, baked falafel, and a super interesting yeast rice that was a bit nutty.  For this New Yorker, they won me over by pouring me water when I sat down that had been infused with fresh mint leaves, oranges, and all sorts of goodness. 

TANTURA. Bairro Alto. CC
Lost in the lanes of Bairro Alto is this homey Mediterranean treasure with the kindest service in town.  Immerse yourself in the homemade pitas straight from the wood oven, cauliflower hummus, and shakshuka. For the vegetarians, don't miss their innovative cheesecake which is more like a baklava with warm feta baked in. Yum! 

JARDIM DOS SENTIDOSPrincipe Real. CC.
Influenced by ayurvedic principles, this vegetarian/vegan-friendly restaurant is quite popular for their €8 unlimited buffet lunch special including raw salad, fruits, hot entrees, soup, and a fabulous ginger tea.  Quite spacious inside but the stunner is the huge, covered patio with colorful decor reminding me of Morocco.
*Lunch

ALOHA CAFEPrincipe Real. Cash only.
Hidden away in Principe Real near the Jardim do Principe Real is this popular vegan and sugar-free restaurant. On weekends, they have a €11 brunch special including a bit of everything: soup of the day, salad, roasted veggies, beetroot hummus, etc. While it's not my favorite place food-wise, the atmosphere is quite nice and very popular with the locals so the people-watching makes up for it. 
*Breakfast, Lunch

NATURAL CRAVE. Sao Paulo. CC.
A casual DIY salad or bowl place near Time Out Market similar to the popular Chop't salad-type chains in the States. They also set options as well. While not the most flavorful, they have seasonings you can add yourself to jazz it up which is probably better for you anyway. 
*Lunch

PACHAMAMMASao Paulo. CC.
Very instagrammable and stylish decor. The food isn't necessarily my favorite however the locals tend to love this spot.
*Lunch, Weekend Brunch

HOUSE OF WONDERS. Cascais. CC
True seasonal, vegetarian delights at this multi-level café with an amazing rooftop overlooking Cascais. They have a great main + fresh juice special for less than €10. Very casual atmosphere: select your main on the 1st floor, head up to the 2nd to pick up your juice, find yourself a table on the 3rd. 

TO TRY:
AO 26 VEGAN FOOD PROJECT. Downtown. CC.

CAFES

Each of these cafes meet my favorite criteria: vegan-friendly, good for co-working, nice atmosphere for hanging out, tasty food.  

CAFE BOAVIDASao Paulo/Santa Catarina.
Open, spacious, high ceilings and plenty of seating reminding me of LA meets Brooklyn. This vegan-friendly neighborhood gem is a cross between coffeeshop, restaurant, co-working, and specialty grocery store.  They are one of the few places I've seen sell almond butter and have great relationships with every indie vendor they feature.  Great coffee, healthy food options as well as obligatory sweets.  Incredibly nice staff who can also make iced beverages upon request.  Great for co-working in and outlets galore. Pro Tip: They are only open a few days a week so make sure to check out their schedule before going.

AGUA NO BICOSao Paulo.
What makes this place special is their unique location in a huge courtyard. My favorite for bright, sunny days.  They have large wooden picnic tables in the courtyard perfect for catching up with a friend, working on your computer, or just solo reading/journaling time.  Food options cater to every type of healthy food diet really: vegan, paleo, gluten-free, raw, regular. They also feature great breakfast and lunch sets for less than €8 including a dish + drink. 

Hello, Kristof

HELLO, KRISTOF. Sao Paulo/Santa Catarina.
Remember when cafés were meant for just reading while sipping on a coffee? Well, that's the inspiration behind this café which also happens to have one of the best avocado toasts in town with a good avocado + bread ratio and a sprinkling of freshly, cracked pink pepper.  It's normally served on Portuguese traditional toast but gluten-free options are also available.  For coffee drinkers, almond milk is also available! While smaller than other cafés listed, there's a nice atmosphere for those that prefer a buzzier setting. 

DONA FLOR CAFESao Paulo. CC
Hidden away far inside a vegan goods store is charming Dona Flor Cafe serving vegan-only mains and desserts. I had a fantastic ratatouille while there and a chocolate truffle ball to die for.  There is also a little market here perfect for picking up any organic groceries before heading home.

A MERCEARIA SALOIA. Sao Bento
This charming concept shop is a cafe & flower shop in the front and a snug grocery store in the back. There are only a few tables however it's a nice hideaway in Lisbon to work for a few hours or have breakfast with a friend.

TO TRY
NAKED LISBOAPrincipe Real.
JUICY LISBOAChiado.

 

ORGANIC GROCERY STORES

FOOD MERCEARIA BIOLOGICASao Paulo. Cash Only
A quintessential neighborhood organic, grocery store where you can pick up anything you would need for dinner, ingredients, snacks, and also a small selection of freshly baked goods each day. You can find imported organic goods here from the UK and Germany. 

MERCADO BIOLOGICO DO PRINCIPE REALPrincipe Real. Cash Only
A weekly Saturday morning market along the west side of Jardim do Principe Real.  You can pick up all your organic veggies and fruits for the week.  There are also small vendors who sell their artisanal cheeses, quinoa, and sprouted bread here as well.  While not a grocery store, this is my favorite place to pickup groceries.