The south of Europe, especially on the Iberian Peninsula, can be a bit tricky when it comes to vegetarian food. Their laid-back lifestyle and penchant for heavy meat stews and seafood are absolute heaven for some, but for others (aka, me), we could give the animal products a miss. Luckily as Lisbon has developed as an international and modern city, a huge number of vegetarian and vegan options have become available and Lisbon has become a great place to visit and an easy find for vegetarians, vegans and flexitarians alike. Vegetarian versions of traditional Portuguese dishes are still pretty tricky to come by, but it’s not impossible!
I’ve lived in Lisbon as a vegetarian for more than two years now, and you may know that that’s also where I met our food columnist, Zsófi, who also had a hand in discovering some of these hidden gems in Lisbon, that include completely vegan and vegetarian restaurants, as well as those that simply have a great range of vegetarian options on the menu.
Contents:
The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Lisbon
Specialist/Themed Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Lisbon
Vegan & Vegetarian Places to Grab a Snack in Lisbon
Vegan & Vegetarian Desserts in Lisbon
The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Lisbon
The Green Affair
Saldanha, Chiado, Parque das Naçoes & Cascais
Fully vegan
Now with three restaurants in Lisbon and another just half an hour away in Cascais, The Green Affair has grown over the last few years. They are 100% plant based, meaning their menu is packed with vegan dishes and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll have hard time choosing what to eat. I’ve only been here a few times, but I’ve been impressed every time. The vibe is quite and chill but also quite classy. Think casual business lunch vibes. The staff are really friendly and the menu is packed with a range of options for every taste from tacos to cauliflower bites. They also sometimes have vegetarian versions of traditional Portuguese food on the menu!
The Green Affair on Trip Advisor
Honest Greens
Amoerias, Avenida da Libertade, Chiado, Cais do Sodre, Parque das Naçoes & Principe Real
Options for vegans, veggies & carnivores
Honest Greens was born in Barcelona, but quickly branched out to Madrid, Lisbon and Porto, and they’re “coming soon” to Valencia and London. Their “Real Food Revolution” aims to make healthy and seasonable food accessible and affordable and, in Lisbon at least, they do just that. Their menu is not completely vegetarian, but it is full of vegetarian options and their ingredients are ethically sourced, unprocessed and free of preservatives. They also use organic ingredients where possible. It is also DELICIOUS, and the menu changes with the season, which means there’s always something new to try even though I am always there.
The vibe is nice, but not in the way that would make you feel the need to dress up. It’s the perfect place if you’re looking for quick, healthy and delicious food, because your food always arrives in a heartbeat.
Ao 26 Vegan Food Project
Chiado
Fully Vegan
As you can probably gather from the name, Ao 26 is a completely vegan restaurant. Their name comes from their original address (Rua Vitor Cordon, 26) but they have relocated since to Rua da Horta Seca, 5. They often have a range of vegan versions of Portuguese food, including a traditional Portuguese Bifana made with seitan.
Ao 26 Vegan Food Project on Trip Advisor
Ao 26 Vegan Food Project on Instagram
PSI
Ferreira
Fully Vegan & Vegetarian
PSI is set in the small Jardim de Paz (Peace Garden) in Ferreira in Lisbon and offers quite a unique dining experience in that you’re basically dining in a greenhouse. Their menu is completely vegetarian and offers a range of international cuisines. It is one of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in Lisbon, famously visited by the Dalai Lama in 2007.
The Food Temple
Martim Moniz
Fully vegan
The Food Temple pitch themselves as the first vegan restaurant in Lisbon and, well, nobody is mad at them for it. On the face of it their menu looks quite fancy but their restaurant is humble and down to earth, with the option of dining inside or outside depending on the weather.
The Food Temple on Trip Advisor
Mother Burger
Colombo, Saldanha, Amorerias & Roma
Fully vegan
“The Burger Change is Real” is the motto of Mother Burger, a down to earth burger joint that sells only vegan burgers in a sea of otherwise conventional shopping mall food halls in Colombo, Saldanha and Amoreiras shopping centres. They also have a pop-up style (but permanent) location within Roma-Areeiro train station, which is endlessly convenient when you’re on the move and I’m hoping to see some more small stores like this pop up in the future!
Their menu is delightfully simple, and they have a few additional extras including “cheese” balls and nuggets.
Vegan Junkies
Marques do Pombal
Fully vegan
Another aptly named location, Vegan Junkies is the place to go for vegan junk food in Lisbon. Their menu is stuffed full with vegan burgers, loaded vegan nachos and vegan BBQ wings, alongside a simple menu of craft beers. They also have a range of vegan desserts on offer, if their giant plates weren’t already enough to fill you up! Vegan Junkies also have a sister restaurant, Bonefree, in Costa de Caparica just outside of Lisbon.
O Gambuzino
Intendente
Fully vegan
O Gambuzino can still just about be called a hidden gem, but it won’t be for long. This is one of Lisbon’s best vegan restaurants, with a truly international menu and hearty food that never fails to disappoint. They’re known for their classics: Bibimbap, Katsu, and brownie served with Belgian chocolate mousse.
Plant Base
Chiado
Fully vegan
Plant Base was one of the first places I went to in Lisbon and I still remember it for the eclectic mix of food on offer, the craft beers (which are quite popular in Lisbon but this was the first time I’d seen them in Portugal) and the loud music. Another classic place for vegan junk food they have vegan pizza, veggie burgers and vegan momo on their menu.
Read more about food in Portugal: What to Order in a Portuguese Pasteleria
Vegan Buffets in Lisbon
Lisbon Vegan Restaurante
Arroios
Fully vegan
I was introduced to this vegan buffet style restaurant by a friend. It can be quite hard to locate (if you’re like me and just walk vaguely towards the location on maps instead of finding the actual location), because it sits discreetly underneath a bridge. The all you can eat buffet is 7.50€ at lunch or 8.50€ at dinner, and includes a variety of hot and cold daily specials that usually involve hearty stews and non-spicy curries. This is the best spot if you’re looking for good, hearty vegan or vegetarian good.
Lisbon Vegan Restaurante on Trip Advisor
Jardim das Cerejas
Chiado
Fully vegan
This is a buffet style vegan restaurant in Lisbon that I haven’t actually visited, but I’ve heard a lot about it so it’s made it on the list! From what I can see online they serve a range of food with a Portuguese twist, so you’re sure to find some traditional Portuguese cuisine here, too.
Jardim das Cerejas on Trip Advisor
Buffet Leão
Rossio
Options for vegans, veggies & carnivores
Buffet Leão is the go-to place to eat for me and one of my flatmates. It’s an all-you-can-eat Brazilian style buffet, with tiered pricing depending on whether you’ll just take from the buffet, or also eat meat that waiters bring to your table on impressive-looking skewers. This makes it a bit cheaper for veggies, and there are plenty of veggie and vegan options at the buffet. (Don’t mix it up with Leão de Ouro which is just next door!)
Specialist/Themed Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Lisbon
Santa Clara dos Cogumelos
Alfama
Options for vegans, veggies & carnivores
If you speak Portuguese then you might read the name of this restaurant and think “wait, what?”. But no, you’re right. This is a mushroom-themed restaurant. Every dish contains mushrooms, even down to the desserts, which includes ice cream made from portobello mushrooms. I’ll tell you, it was quite the experience! I really enjoyed it as a novelty, but of course it’s not the kind of place you’d go to every week. (Not unless mushrooms are really your thing…).
Santa Clara dos Cogumelos on Instagram
Santa Clara dos Cogumelos on Trip Advisor
Mini Bar – José Avillez
Chiado
Options for veggies & carnivores
“Where nothing is what it seems!” Mini Bar by Michelin Star-winning chef José Avillez is a small, intimate, upscale restaurant in the heart of Lisbon. It’s unclear from their website if they offer a vegetarian version of their tasting menu, but there are plenty of vegetarian options on their a la carte offering. If you’re looking for a more upscale dining experience, Mini Bar might be the one for you.
Legumi Sushi Vegan
Lapa
Fully vegan
Legumi Sushi Vegan offers the most impressive range of vegan sushi I have ever seen. Legumi isn’t the only vegan sushi restaurant in Lisbon, but in my opinion it is absolutely the best! You can eat in or order through their dedicated app (takeaway sushi is a true guilty pleasure of mine), and order anything you want being sure it will be 100% fish-free!
Legumi Sushi Vegan on Trip Advisor
Legumi Sushi Vegan on Instagram
Vegan & Vegetarian Places to Grab a Snack in Lisbon
The Potato Project
Chiado
Options for vegans, veggies & carnivores
If you know me, you’ll know that I’ve included this on my list because I am obsessed with french fries, and you have no idea how excited I was to hear that The Potato Project opened in Lisbon, dedicated to serving the perfect french fries. You can pick from a range of toppings and make them vegan or vegetarian as you wish, and located in the city centre, there’s no better place to pick up a snack after a long day of sight seeing!
The Potato Project on Instagram
The Potato Project on Trip Advisor
Vegan & Vegetarian Desserts in Lisbon
Scoop n Dough
Avenida da Libertade
Fully vegan
Scoop n Dough sell artisanal vegan donuts and a range of vegan ice cream not far from the city centre in Lisbon. They boast an impressive range of awards for best vegan donuts, best vegan ice cream, and are owned by two proud Portuguese brothers.
VeganNata
Chiado
Fully Vegan
Okay, there are several places that you can get a vegan pastel de nata around Lisbon, by in my humble opinion this one is the best. They did used to have three stores, but two are temporarily closed as of March 2024. The only one open is in Chiado (Praça de Camōes), but it is well worth a visit.
O Melhor Croissant da Minha Rua
Various locations
Options for vegans, veggies & carnivores
You’ll see shops of this incredibly popular croissant chain throughout Lisbon and beyond. But what’s so special about it, you ask? The croissants are INCREDIBLE, and the pastry is completely vegan. So, yes, you can stuff your croissant full of ham, chicken, or a range of other unholy non-veggie fillings. Or, you can choose any of their many veggie and vegan fillings, including the very Portuguese crema de ovo (egg cream), marmalade, dark chocolate, stewed apple, and more. If you’re ordering vegan, make sure to check with your server and request vegan as they have separate utensils for preparation.
I would absolutely love to go on a culinary trip around Lisbon to any one of these places to eat. They all sound delicious and a great vegetarian and vegan experience to have!