Eating Vegan in Portugal with Omnivores (and kids!)

Are you a plant-based foodie heading to Portugal with non-vegan friends or family? I was too! And with some extensive preliminary research before our trip plus talking to locals as we traveled, I discovered some remarkable plant-based grub! We visited primarily omnivore restaurants, which made everyone in our party happy (though I did sneak in a couple of amazing vegetarian & vegan restaurants, and the omnivores were not complaining!). Here is my guide to eating vegan in Portugal with omnivores…and kids, too!

Specifically, this post focuses on Lisbon, Lagos (in the Algarve, southern coast), and the Azores Islands (São Miguel only).

Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Lisbon

Damas

This funky, dark restaurant & music venue is a local spot for sure. Recommended by our tuk tuk tour guide for its separate omni and vegan menus, we had to check it out!

As we walked up the quiet, mostly residential road, we saw local folks waiting outside the restaurant (on a week night), we knew we had picked a good one…

The menu is only posted on the wall and is only in Portuguese, but the servers are super helpful with translating and making recommendations.

Most dishes are perfect for sharing, too. Highlights include the hummus (I mean, this is gooooooood hummus), tomato roasted cabbage with a cashew parmesan, yucca fries, and a HUGE falafel salad.

Time Out Market

Talk about something for everyone, this trendy, popular (albeit touristy) indoor food hall has more than 40 stalls of restaurants, bars, and shops. And many of the food stalls feature renowned local chefs representing dozens of cuisines.

While I highly encourage you to explore the market to find your favorite cuisine, I can also share the top vegan dishes we tried: avocado rolls, mango rolls, and tempura veggies from Confraria, veggie gyoza from Asian Lab, and sweet potato hummus from Susana Felicidade were all winners.

The Folks

The Folks is an adorable daytime cafe on an unassuming corner in the Alfama district that serves up porridge, eggs, pancakes, toast, coffee, and more.

Vegan delights include the mango coconut porridge and the avocado toast with cucumber, edamame, and seaweed.

The perfect breakfast or brunch spot for omnivores and vegans alike.

PSI Vegetarian Restaurant

For gorgeous fusion dishes, don’t miss PSI Vegetarian Restaurant. Tucked behind a playground, this casual al fresca spot is full of wholesome, fresh dishes from around the world, like Thai, Mediterranean, South American, and Indian.

With so many flavorful options, I suggest sharing dishes so you can taste the variety. Menu standouts include Dan Dan Noodles, Pad Thai, and the Mediterranean special eggplant and pomegranate dish.

Vegan Junkies

For vegan comfort food, look no further than Vegan Junkies. And while it is, in fact, a fully vegan restaurant, with a menu full of burgers, bar bites, Mexican food, and naughty desserts, there should be no need to twist arms to bring your omni friends and family here for at least one meal!

The burger selection is nothing short of amazing, with options like Nororious B.I.G. (with caramelized onions and sriracha mayo), So Fresh and So Clean (with “fakon” and BBQ sauce), and daily specials like the Hawaiian (with pineapple and a huge onion ring).

Guilty starters and side dishes like BBQ wings (cauliflower) and nachos are worth sharing too.

And finally, make sure you leave room for dessert! With fried Oreos, fried bananas, milkshakes and more, you really must try a few. My kids couldn’t get past the fried Oreos tho….

Pingo Doce Grocery Store

Not a restaurant per se, Pingo Doce is the largest grocery store in Lisbon with a handful of locations throughout the city. The supermarket came in quite handy, especially with kids in tow. Not only because we were a bit tired from jet lag the first two days and couldn’t deal with sit down meals 3 times a day, but also because we wanted to have fresh snacks for our down time.

In addition to the standard produce, bread, peanut butter, jam, and plant milk that you would expect to find, Pingo Doce offers a handful of pre-made plant-based dishes in the refrigerator section, like chickpea salad, couscous salad, and pasta salad.

Nannarella

For quite possibly the best gelato and sorbet in Lisbon, check out Nannarella. They impressively offer about a dozen plant-based flavors, including many seasonal fruits, and every one we tried was delicious! Especially the dark chocolate😋!

Pensão Sisudo (Sintra region)

If you are headed to Sintra for a day trip, I highly recommend lunch at Pensão Sisudo. This quaint and cozy cafe located on the side of a narrow winding road is the perfect break from crowded and touristy downtown Sintra a few miles away.

And the daily rotating menu always includes a vegan option. Our chickpea and peanut curry was one of the highlights of the entire trip! The soup starter was plant-based as well, as were the tempura green beans side dish (hold the aioli).

Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in the Algarve

Sunrays Kitchen

Hands down my favorite meal in the Argarve, Sunrays Kitchen is a MUST-TRY spot! Tucked away in a more local neighborhood a few blocks outside of downtown Lagos, this breakfast and lunch al fresco spot features fresh, homemade dishes with a focus on seasonal produce.

The menu leans heavily toward vegetarian dishes with a handful of vegan options too. The chickpea crepe was scrumptious, and I highly recommend ordering the house made cashew kimchi to go alongside it. We also enjoyed the overnight banana oats and the frozen mango cheesecake (vegan!), plus fresh squeezes juices and fresh margaritas!

I was SO BUMMED that we discovered this place on our last morning, as I was dying to try the vegan lunch items.

Abigail’s

Another great daytime spot in the heart of Lagos is Abigail’s. This modern vegetarian breakfast and brunch spot also offers vegan and gluten free options. Plant-based menu highlights include smoothies, fresh juices, avocado toast, and a breakfast burrito.

Mare: Eating Vegan in Portugal

With some of the best views in downtown Lagos, Mare may appear a bit touristy compared to other more quaint spots, but for good reason. Mare offers a full buffet for dinner, which is a huge hit for kids (we may not have dined here otherwise?!).

And shockingly, at least half of the offerings were plant based, making it a win for me too! From salads, to vegan potato salad (labeled as such!), noodles, pasta, fruit, and more, there was literally something for everyone. And that doesn’t even include the full a la carte menu with vegan burgers and more.

Plus, it was the most affordable dinner we had in all of Portugal to boot. So a winner all around.

Trattoria Vecchia Milano

After enjoying our first dinner at Mare (above), we were looking for something a bit more quaint and off the beaten path the following night. After some extensive research, my husband found this Italian gem.

Trattoria Vecchia Milano is authentic and absolutely delicious. We had a variety of tasty vegan dishes like the spicy tomato pasta, minestrone soup, and garlic focaccia…but the standout dish was my spaghetti, which the server offered to make for me after asking what I liked (pasta and veggies with lots of flavor and spice!). Wow, what looked so simple tasted anything but!

The trattoria didn’t have a plant-based dessert, but good thing there were plenty of gelaterias nearby!

Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in São Miguel (Azores Islands)

Rotas da Llha Verde

Popular vegetarian restaurant Rotas da Llha Verde is located in downtown Ponta Delgada. Cute and quaint, they serve up eclectic dishes from around the world.

While menu updates frequently, our highlights included the coconut curry, cucumber salad, and house made burger with truffle sauce and wedge fries. (And for dairy eating friends and family, apparently the cheese fondue is dynamite too!)

One warning…they went heavy on the vegan cheese in the beet risotto, so if you are sensitive to the flavors of strong vegan cheese, perhaps skip that menu items that include plant-based cheese.

Reservations highly recommended, and they book out a few days.

Sunset Beach Restaurant: Eating Vegan in Portugal

On Populo Beach just outside of Ponta Delgada, Sunset Beach Restaurant is a casual, local spot with VEGAN SEITAN STEAK on the menu! And it was delicious, cooked in a flavorful garlic chile sauce…my son and I were, quite frankly, blown away! The servings were so large that we had enough to make vegan steak sandwiches the next day.

Sorry to report that I don’t recall other vegan menu items because we didn’t get past the vegan steak (though not gluten free). I would recommend calling when you arrive to inquire about other current vegan options if you are gluten free.

Sunset Beach is very popular in the summer season, so reservations are recommended.

Casa de Chá ‘O Poejo’ Restaurant

If you are exploring the Calderias Lakes around lunchtime, this adorable cafe is a good choice. Located behind Quinta da Queiró Hotel, the tea cafe has a modern vibe with a pretty outdoor courtyard (perfect for restless kids to run around!).

The vegan salad was a simple but tasty bean and veggie salad with golden raisins. They also offered a simple vegetable soup, as well as a vegan cake (which they did not have the day we visited unfortunately).

A Tasca

One of the most popular restaurants in downtown Ponta Delgada, A Tasca features local Azorean and Portugese cuisine and a festive vibe.

While the vegan options are limited, everything we tried was outstanding: the white bean coconut stew, avocado cucumber salad, and the side of mushrooms and spinach.

A Tasca does not take reservations, and the wait can be long, so consider arriving early. They have a snack and cocktail bar next door so try to snag a table (or at least a drink) there while you wait.

Caldeiras & Vulcoes Restaurant and Bar

If you are visiting the Furnas, I highly recommend Caldeiras & Vulcoes Restaurant. One of the popular restaurants on the island that offers the traditional “conzido das Furnas” or geothermal cooking method (that is, burying the food in the volcanic soil to cook!), it also have an entire vegetarian/vegan menu page.

We thoroughly enjoyed the spicy veggie pasta (hold the parmesan) and lentil meatballs with zucchini noodles in coconut sauce (which they assured me were vegan although labeled vegetarian).

The restaurant even offers two vegan dishes from the geothermal cooking menu, bean stew and vegan boiled dinner (steamed vegetables in seasoned broth). Unfortunately, they need to be ordered a day in advance, so we missed out on these…but you should not!!!

So if you were wondering if you can easily eat vegan in Portugal…I think you have your answer! With a little research plus asking the locals, you will find plenty of spots to feast at.

I hope this list is helpful in planning your visit! Please, share your experience with me by commenting below.

For more restaurant recommendations, check out:

• Eating Vegan in Mexico City with Omnivores
• San Francisco East Bay Vegan Food Not to Miss
• Best Vegan Food in Truckee (Lake Tahoe)
• Must-Try Vegan Asian Food in Oakland
• Can’t Miss Walnut Creek Vegan Dishes

Cheers!

–Jenn

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