The 5 Best Vegan Restaurants In Lisbon

Being a strict vegan can be tricky when you’re traveling. It’s not like you’re in the comfort of your home preparing your own dishes; you’re eating out more, and every time you choose a place to dine, careful consideration is required.

Veganism is on the rise in Europe, especially in the Portuguese capital. I was amazed to discover so many vegan-friendly eateries when I first came here to start my Lisbon food tours. Some of the alternatives blew my mind, like plant-based tacos, animal-free tarts, tasty vegan cheese, and non-dairy ice cream.

Don’t waste your time pacing around the city looking for your favorite meatless meals; save it for exploring! Instead, you can use this list of my picks of the best vegan restaurants in Lisbon that get my stamp of approval.

Kong – Food Made With Compassion

Photo credit: Kong – Food Made With Compassion

Get your vegan fix at Kong restaurant at Rua do Corpo Santo. These guys go above and beyond to make sure all customers’ bellies leave full while minimizing their environmental footprint at the same time.

The whole vibe at Kong is just amazing, between the boho chic interiors and the energetic staff. Even though it was slightly busy on the day I came, I noticed each team member dedicated a lot of time to each table to ensure everyone enjoyed their meal.

While I’m not vegan or even veggie, I still struggled to order here. There was so much variety on the menu, including international dishes, Portuguese food, plus excellent gluten-free options, but the Salmão Mediterrânico grabbed my attention. Despite what the name suggests, this dish was entirely plant-based!

Composed of soft and sweet tofu, nutty sesame, earthy mashed spinach, and starchy grated potatoes, I’ve never tasted a combo like it. The dish was served in the shape of a cake; its presentation was that perfect; I felt annoyed after sticking my fork into it.

Kong (€€) – Rua do Corpo Santo 2, 1200-129 Lisboa, Portugal. Open every Monday to Saturday, 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm, and closed every Sunday

Organi Chiado

Photo credit: Organi Chiado

You won’t need to look far for some vegan dishes when you’re in the Chiado district because you’ll always have Organi Chiado to venture to.

I love Organi Chiado’s design; the colors inside were green, with one dining room filled with seating space and incredibly detailed paintings of Lisbon spread across the walls. There are also some seats outside, just in case you can’t find any indoors.

The menu at Organi Chiado changes every day, so it’s a pure dream for vegans spending a lot of time in Lisbon, as they can keep coming back for something different. I’ve been here a few times, but on my last visit, I had the vegan burger, which I urge everyone to try if it’s on the menu when they go.

Only the patty comes with the order, so be sure to order a side if you’re starving. I also got some rice on the side to enjoy with it, but the burger was pretty sizable, and wow, it tasted amazing. Earthy, spicy, and slightly chewy, it was even better than some meat-based burgers I’ve had in the past.

Organi Chiado (€€) – Calçada Nova de São Francisco 2, 1200-300 Lisboa, Portugal – Open every Thursday, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and every other day, 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Vegan Junkies

Photo credit: Vegan Junkies

Whenever I have a craving for something not so healthy, but I’m dieting, I opt for vegan junk food, and Vegan Junkies does it better than anywhere else. It’s just down the street from Hospital Miguel Bombarda, so you’ll easily be able to locate it.

There’s a real chill atmosphere in vegan junkies that you’ll feel as soon as you walk in the door. It’s quite small and inviting; the walls are painted with gorgeous faded pink, and there’s a handful of seats available. If there are no spaces available, you’ll be able to place a takeaway order from their fast food menu, too.

The tacos at Vegan Junkies are my favorite; on my last visit, I got three giant pieces with the seitanitas option. They came out loaded on top of red and white parchment paper with a little slice of lemon on the side.

As for flavor, oh goodness. The seitan, a vegan version of meat, was cooked in all kinds of delicious spices that gave the crisp lettuce and sweet red onion quite a kick. Meanwhile, the salty soy sauce and sour lime juice were the perfect finishing touch.

Vegan Junkies (€€) – R. Luciano Cordeiro 28, 1150-300 Lisboa, Portugal – Every Monday to Saturday, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm, and every Sunday, 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Veganeats Caffe

Veganeats Caffe is a superb place for some late breakfast or a vegan brunch on R. Cavaleiro de Oliveira. I stumbled across this friendly restaurant one morning when I was out for a walk; outside, it didn’t look like much was going on other than the few table sets, but when I saw the food being delivered, I was won over.

I could tell as soon as I walked inside this vegan café that they knew what they were doing. The staff member who took my order asked a few questions about my dietary requirements and if there were any ingredients I didn’t like, which impressed me.

As I waited patiently for my order from the main dishes section, the smoked tofu salad, I couldn’t get over the layout of the interiors, like the plants on the wall hung up on a rack and the little bookshelf in the corner.

I didn’t think it would be possible to fit as much salad in the bowl as they did. The flavor profile was a delight for my palate; the greens had a delightful earthiness, the carrots tasted sweet and were extra crunchy, and the tofu had some yummy umami notes.

Veganeats Caffe (€) – R. Cavaleiro de Oliveira 42, 1170-088 Lisboa, Portugal – Closed every Sunday, open every Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and every Saturday, 10:00 am to 3:30 pm

O Gambuzino

Photo credit: O Gambuzino

Whether you’re in the mood for petiscos or dinner, O Gambuzino on Rua dos Anjos is one of Lisbon’s vegan restaurants that will surely meet your needs.

O Gambuzino is a cozy, vibrant eatery that takes plant-based fare to another level. I’ve never seen this place not busy; it gives off the feeling like you’re dining in someone’s home with the guitar on the wall and a small old TV hanging off the shelf.

Anyone who’s a vegan will eat pretty much everything on the menu here, but my recommendation is the Ta’ameya. It’s a combination of nutty broad bean falafel, bitter aubergine, tangy hummus, a mix of dukkah, and crispy flatbread.

Dipping the fluffy falafel into the oozing hummus and rolling it up into a piece of flatbread was an absolute treat!

O Gambuzino (€€) – Rua dos Anjos 5A, 1150-032 Lisboa, Portugal – Open every day 5:00 pm to 12:00 am

Eating out With Non Vegans?

Chances are, you’re probably traveling with a companion who may not be as fond of vegan food as you. Don’t worry, though; Lisbon offers a plethora of spots that serve both plant-based and non-plant-based dishes.

A high-end vegan-friendly restaurant that also serves gourmet meat-based dishes in Rua Nova da Trindade – Ofício

This is a well-known eatery that specializes in Portuguese cuisine but also caters to vegan eaters, offering a range of dishes for all tastes – Restaurante Faz Frio

Dine at this fancy restaurant in a stylish building with stunning architecture and tiling from Jorge Colaço, which dates back to the 20th century. Everyone is catered to here with vegan options, non-vegan recipes and vegetarian delights – Casa do Alentejo

Conclusion

One thing I can’t fault Lisbon for is its incredible line-up of vegan restaurants. It’s great to see entrepreneurs taking the initiative to cater to those who live a full vegan lifestyle.

Even if you’re not a full-on lover of plant-focused dishes, I urge you to try out some of these places. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Portuguese pir-piri chicken when I’m in the country, but I can always count on these restaurants whenever I need a break.