With several new restaurants opening up, being vegetarian in Lisbon has become really simple, provided you know where to go.
Whether your keeping meat-free because you’re a full-time vegetarian, for health reasons, or you’re just taking a break from Portuguese meat and fish-based cuisine, here’s a list of six new vegetarian restaurants. Centrally located, you may want to try out a few while in Lisbon.
1. Café Garrett by Ohana, Baixa
Outside Café Garrett
Conveniently located on the side entrance to the National Theatre, opposite Rossio’s railway station, Café Garrett is an ovo-lacto vegetarian eatery. The place is great for watching the hustle and bustle of the city while enjoying some seitan steak bites or a chickpea burger. The lunch menu is around €10, drinks excluded. At dinner, there’s the regular à la carte menu.
Praça Dom Pedro IV, 9am-11pm (Sunday 10am-6pm). Average price for 2: €30.
2. Juicy, Baixa
Juicy
Juicy is a juice and cocktail bar that takes the vegan concept to the next level with plant-based dishes, including gluten free options. It’s a great place for a healthy, vegetarian meal after a morning sightseeing. The menu includes flatbreads (or wraps) inspired by Mediterranean and Middle East cuisines, soup of the day, a delicious sweet potato side and several salads. There’s no table service.
Rua de São Julião 70, 10am-10pm. Average price for 2: €15.
3. O Botanista, Cais do Sodré
Inside O Botanista
O Botanista is a vegan eatery serving all-day brunch and creative dishes. Some of the specialties include stir-fry with whole grain rice, roasted vegetables and Asian sauce, rice noodles with fruity mango curry, or sweet potato yakisoba with peppers duo. Desserts are sweetened with agave, dates and coconut sugar (such as chocolate mousse sprinkled in passion fruit and mango and lemon tart with thyme).
Rua Dom Luís I 19, 9am-8pm. Closed Sunday. Average price for 2: €30
4. Arkhe, Santos
Arkhe Restaurant
If you’re looking for inventive food, you’ll find it at Arkhe, a signature restaurant with a minimalist interior and friendly atmosphere. The place is headed by chef João Ricardo Alves, a Brazilian who lived and worked in several countries in Europe and Asia before moving to Lisbon, and this is noticeable on the menu.
With a focus on seasonal and locally produced ingredients, the restaurant also offers an eclectic wine list to accompany the starters and main dishes. Arkhe, which stands for “beginning” in Greek, can be a great choice for foodies looking for a fresh vegetarian experience.
Boqueirão do Duro 46, 7pm-11pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. Average price for 2: €50
5. The Green Affair, Saldanha
The Green Affair – Vegetarian Restaurant
The Green Affair offers a menu with plenty to choose from, with options for both lunch and dinner. With a nice decor inside as well as outside seating, the menu starts with appetizers like bread and hummus or smoked beetroot tartare with avocado paste. The vegan dishes include linguini pasta with homemade pesto sauce, shiitake mushrooms, walnuts and cherry tomato, and risotto at sea with tofu and quinoa salad.
Avenida Duque d’Ávila, 32A, 12pm-3pm and 7pm-11pm. Average price for 2: €20
6. Moko, Anjos
Moko is actually a veggie café rather than a proper restaurant, with bacon croissants, cheese toasts, and chicken burger, but all vegan, using meat, fish and cheese substitutes originated from Taiwan and Malaysia. The owners are Taiwanese, having moved to Lisbon after several years living in Brazil. You’ll also find dumplings, noodle soup, and several juices.
Rua do Forno do Tijolo 29 D, 9am-7pm. Closed Sunday. Average price for 2: €15
