13 Best Restaurants in Portugal

When arkhe opened in 2019, it was one of the first fine-dining vegetarian restaurants in town. With Brazilian and Portuguese roots, Chef João Ricardo Alves has classic Italian and French training, but it was when he lived in Asia that he got a taste for plant-based cuisine. This multicultural background has undoubtedly infiltrated the menu, with dishes featuring the likes of dashi sauce and homemade ravioli. Guests can pick and choose from three to five options or give carte blanche to the chef.

The cuisine of northern Portugal is notoriously meat-heavy, but local produce is so flavorful that it can easily stand alone. Essência understands this well, and its celebrated vegetarian menu showcases sophisticated meat-free dishes that run the gamut from mushroom carpaccios and colorful garden salads to risottos. Vegan and gluten-free dishes are available, and there are even a handful of seafood and meat options.

This tucked-away eatery serves inventive vegetarian and vegan sharing dishes designed to make the most of fresh seasonal produce. The staff goes out of its way to explain the dishes and provide recommendations; sharing is key here, so plan on three petiscos (small plates) between two people. This is the original location, but if it's full try Fangas Maior a few doors down, which also has fish and meat options. 

The plant-based dishes at vegetarian restaurant Seiva are as elegant as they are delicious and sustainably sourced. Chef David Jesus has worked at some of Portugal's best restaurants, and is known for creating impeccable, meat-free dishes inspired from destinations around the world. A focus on seasonal ingredients means dishes change frequently, but expect everything from Indian pani puri (spicy filed chickpea patties) to a seafood-free Spanish paella. The desserts, which make good use of Portugal's abundant fresh fruit, are another strong suit.

Offering a vegan alternative to Sesimbra's many fish and seafood restaurants, Aloha Café serves delicious plant-based breakfasts, brunches, and light meals. Expect an abundance of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables alongside vegan versions of classic desserts like cheesecake and pudim (a sweet flan usually made with egg). More substantial dishes include a different set meal every day, and a delicious vegan burger made with portobello mushrooms and smoked tofu. The cozy interior is pure rustic-chic, but on sunny days you'll want to take a seat on the terrace to enjoy the unobstructed ocean views.

This vegetarian and vegan café has a wide-ranging menu that includes snacks and sharing plates, as well as a hot and cold meze-style buffet. Smoothies, juices, teas, coffee, sangria, and beers are available.

Porto has a growing number of restaurants focusing on vegetarian dishes, and one of the places leading the charge for sustainable meat-free cooking is Época Porto. It's a small, light-filled space serving breakfasts, lunches, and brunches made entirely with organic produce---think barley bowls with mushrooms, goat cheese, and caramelized onion---and there's a range of natural wines and craft beers to accompany your meal.

As you're heading past Sé Nova, take the first alley on the left to discover this tiny bohemian spot tucked behind a church. The Mexican fusion restaurant has a small but delicious range of hot and cold vegan empanadas, quesadillas, and massive burritos. The quirky setting, with mismatched tables and chairs and board games scattered about, is a popular hangout for local students. No international cards are accepted, so be sure to bring cash. 

One of the most fun vegetarian restaurants in town, O Gambuzino lists its ever-changing daily specials on a chalkboard menu but always highlights fresh vegetables and other products from a place called the Fruta Feia ("Ugly Fruit") co-op. You get the sustainability angle, but the pleasure is also there, with a menu full of global influences. Sample dishes include kimchi rice balls, gazpacho served in crunchy puri wheat puffs, and lettuce tacos filled with giant mushrooms that were locally grown in recycled coffee grounds.

Delicious vegan dishes (think mango-and-tofu curry or seitan steak) ensure that there's always a line for a table in this restaurant's extremely colorful dining room or on the pleasant patio next to the botanical gardens. It’s part of a Buddhist center where a small shop stocks books, incense, homeopathic medicines, and other products, and yoga and meditation classes take place upstairs.

A vegan alternative to Aveiro's seafood-and-meat focused dining scene, Raiz offers wholesome dishes that could tempt the most hardened of carnivores. The menu is completely plant-based and has daily lunch specials such as spinach crepes with Mexican-style tofu scramble. There are gluten-free menu items every day, and a meatless version of Brazilian feijoada (bean stew) on Wednesday. 

A haven for vegetarians and vegans amid a sea of fish restaurants, Xéxéxé is a cozy bistro serving delicious meals as well as house-baked pies and pastries. With creative use of seasonal ingredients, there are several choices of set meals each day. Space is limited, so book a table in advance.