The Best Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Porto, Portugal
When I arrived, I didn’t expect to find many vegan restaurants in Porto. As a general rule, the food in Portugal is meaty, fishy and cheesy. But luckily, I was wrong: there’s vegetarian food in Porto in abundance! Of course, it’s nothing like the thriving scene in Lisbon, London or Berlin so you just have to dig a little deeper…OR, simply read my guide to the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Porto because I’ve done the work for you!
Whether you’re vegan or simply need a break from calorific meaty cuisine, I’ll share my discoveries from 3 months living in Porto in 2021.
Vegan world traveller? Read my vegan guide to Nuremberg, Germany and my vegan guide to Hoi An, Vietnam.
Porto vegan food – typical Portuguese dishes
On paper, the traditional dishes from Porto are anything but vegetarian. From meaty sandwiches drenched in cheese to an abundance of fresh seafood, you might be wondering how you’ll survive.Although you’d expect the vegan cafes in Porto to serve world cuisine rather than Portuguese, I was pleasantly surprised to find several restaurants have ‘vegan-ifed’ the cuisine of Porto.
This means you can shovel down vegetarian food in Porto without missing franceshinas or cachorrinhos! No one escapes a carb heart attack 😉
Vegana by Tentugal
The least healthy vegan food in Porto (hot dog with francesinha sauce)
Vegana by Tentugal is a no-frills vegan shop and restaurant in Porto’s Bonfim neighbourhood, the vegan hub of the city. It’s a quiet cafe with just a few tables and hearty, homemade junk food. On the menu are francesinhas, cachorrinhos (hot dogs), burgers, sandwiches and pastries.My only complaint is that the francesinha sauce had a strong, cheap beer flavour that I didn’t enjoy. I tried it on the special hot dog and, although the fake meats were good, it was small for €10 (it didn’t include fries) so I think there are better dishes on the menu. Instead, order one of the Seitan-on-bread dishes or a sandwich (€5-6). These huge tiers come stacked with various creative ingredients. The Moving Mountains burger also looks fantastic with ‘cheese’, ‘bacon’ and salad.Things to note – you can only pay with cash or Portuguese bank card. At peak times, there’s around an hour wait on food.Address: Rua de Santo Ildefonso, Bonfim, 4000-412, Porto.
Opening times: 10am-8pm, Mon & Weds-Fri; 10am-7pm, Sat; closed Tues.
O Porto dos Gatos (cat cafe)
O Porto Dos Gatos is one of my favourite vegetarian cafes in Porto for many reasons: the cat-themed decor, the furry friends who come for a cuddle (and sometimes try to steal your food), the peaceful garden area and, of course, the hearty food which is 100% vegan.This is a good place to eat if you’re not sure whether you want regular food or vegan versions of Portuguese food. I’ve tried both: there’s a huge selection of bruschettas which make a nice starter or main meal if you order 2-3 (the courgette, ‘feta’ and balsamic was my favourite).I’ve also tried the vegan francesinha which was very tasty with a good selection of fake meats inside. They also serve veggie burgers and sandwiches which I’m yet to try. The prato de dia (meal of the day) includes a starter, soup, main and drink for €8.50.Address: Av. de Rodrigues de Freitas 93, 4300-466 Porto.
Opening times: 12-7.30pm, Tues-Sat; closed Sun & Mon.
Pastelaria Tupi
Pastelaria Tupi isn’t a completely vegan restaurant in Porto however they do serve some of the best vegan pastries in town, as well as vegan versions of the typical Porto dishes.For lunch, there are hearty vegan francesinhas, cachorros, burgers, toasted sandwiches and salads ranging from €4.20 to €9.50.This is a simple, no-frills cafe with affordable prices. I like that you can eat and drink as the locals do, experiencing a real Portuguese cafe while keeping it vegan.Address: Rua de Sá da Bandeira 144, 4000-380 Porto.Opening times: 7am-7pm, closed Monday.
Where to eat vegan francesinha in Porto
Why should vegans miss out on the carby, calorific feast that is francesinha? Well, because the OG dish consists of steak, sausages, ham, cheese and a fried egg!
Luckily, lots of vegetarian restaurants in Porto substitute the meat for vegan meat or vegetables.
A few of the best include…
- Casanova – although it’s slightly out of the city centre, it’s worth visiting this family-run cafe serving some of the best vegetarian food in Porto. They use Seitan sausage and ‘beef’ in their francesinha, plus the sauce is well-seasoned and the ‘cheese’ is almost indistinguishable from regular cheese. The crispy fries and vegan desserts are also worth a try.
- Francesinhas Al Forno da Baixa – here you have not one but four vegan francesinhas to choose from. The cafe use tofu, Seitan and vegan cheese. If you have space, finish with a vegan dessert.
- Lado B – this is one of the most famous francesinha restaurants in Porto and, as well as the original version, they serve a mean vegan alternative with smoked tofu and vegan sausage.
- Santa Francesinha – these guys don’t hold back on ingredients! They use Seitan steak, soy chorizo and veggies including tomatoes, onions, courgette and mushrooms.
More Porto vegan restaurants
If eating the typical Porto dishes doesn’t appeal and you’d prefer world cuisine, I have plenty of suggestions. The following places serve some of the best vegan food in Porto…
daTerra – best vegan buffet in Porto
DaTerra is something else! It’s easily the best vegetarian buffet I’ve been to.Visit daTerra Baixa (the city centre branch) for a spacious cafe with tables for small and large groups. Pay €10.50 for a tasty, sit-down lunch with options including unlimited pasta, salad, quiches, savoury pastries, dips, stews… The list goes on! Pay extra for fresh juices and vegan desserts.There’s also a branch in Mercado Bom Sucesso. This cafe is only small but you can usually grab a table or bar seat, plus the buffet is regularly restocked. I paid €8.50 here (rather than €10.50 in the Baixa one) and you also get a free drink when dining between 2 and 6pm. Note, it was cash only when I visited.
I would avoid the branch inside Mercado Beira-Rio (on the Nova de Gaia side of the Douro) because it’s a small counter without as many options as the other two locations. There’s also a daTerra in Matashinos but I’ve yet to visit.
Suribachi – another vegan buffet
The second buffet I’d recommend to those looking for vegan food in Porto is Suribachi. It’s not serve-yourself like daTerra but the staff pile your plate high with different dishes so, believe me, you won’t need a second round.The prato pequeno (small plate) is enough but if you’re especially hungry, upgrade to the prato grande. You’ll be full for the rest of the day. It used to be super cheap but as of Dec 2021, they’ve upped the prices. Now it’s similar to daTerra, around €9 for a large plate.If we’re comparing the quality of the food, I prefer daTerra. Suribachi is great when I want a healthy, filling meal but it’s not necessarily the most flavoursome food. I douse it in picante sauce because there’s no spice about it.Still, it has everything you need: pulses, grains, fake meats, stews etc. The cafe is cosy with a large room upstairs covered in African artwork. Downstairs, there’s also a vegan grocery store selling plant milk, freezer food, vegan cheese, teas and body products.Address: Rua do Bonfim 134, 4300-096 Porto.
Opening times: 9am-10pm; closed Sundays.
Kind Kitchen
The best vegan burger in Porto
Kind Kitchen is a cute vegan restaurant in Porto city centre. It has a comfy, non-pretentious feel and cool details like a colourful painted ceiling.Rather than Portuguese food, they serve some of the best vegan burgers in Porto, as well as bowls and snacks. There are four burgers to choose from: bean & mushroom; chickpea & quinoa; Seitan schnitzel and Beyond Meat. I had the latter which was delicious.We also indulged in tasty nachos and barbeque tofu nuggets to start. If you’re looking for something a bit healthier, there are topped toasts and salad bowls. The Thai bowl looks great.Address: Rua do Bonjardim 302, 4000-115 Porto.Opening times: 12.30-4pm & 6-10.30pm, Tues-Sun; closed Mon.
They don’t take reservations so it’s worth turning up early-ish. We tried for a table of four at 9pm once and got turned away.
Árvore do Mundo
Mushroom wellington at my favourite vegan restaurant in Porto
Chocolate ‘salami’
Jackfruit coxinha
Árvore do Mundo in Bonfim is easily one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Porto. Everything served is fully vegan and I was wowed by the presentation. How pretty is my chocolate ‘salami’ sprinkled with raspberries, blueberries, mint and pomegranate?They do a well-priced lunch menu for €10 including a starter, soup, main dish and drink (including wine). At dinner, main dishes cost around €8 and include shiitake mushroom burgers, Seitan wellington, and vegetable ‘alheira’ (a Portuguese sausage dish made with bread and veggies).Dessert might have been the highlight. As well as the chocolate salami, the mango mousse was delicious. I really enjoyed the ambience of this cosy cafe with colourful tablecloths and cushions, and bookshelves where you can borrow a book during your stay.Note – it’s cash only.Address: Rua do Duque de Loulé 228, 4000-324 Porto.
Opening times: 12.30-3pm and 7.30-11pm, Thurs-Sat; 12.30-4pm Weds; closed Sun-Tues.
Zen Wonderland
Zen Wonderland is the place to be for colourful build-your-own vegan burgers in Porto. Choose a plain, red or blue bun (flavoured with beetroot or spirulina) and patties including black bean, Seitan Stroganoff, soy steak and BBQ jackfruit.Customise with sauces, veggies and toppings like onion rings, pickles, nachos and crispy onions.Although the burgers (€9.90) steal the show, there are also pancakes, tortillas and ramen alongside vegan cakes and a nice range of smoothies and shakes. Although it’s closed in the evenings, Zen is a nice lunch spot in a cute, quirky cafe.Address: Rua das Taipas 72, 4050-597 Porto.
Opening times: 12pm-6pm, closed Sun-Mon.
Thamel (vegan momo thukpa)
I’m giving Thamel a quick mention because, even though it’s not a vegetarian restaurant in Porto, they serve fantastic thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup) and momo thukpa (the same soup with veggie dumplings). My sister and I are always seeking out momos around the world and she was thrilled to find vegan ones here.They also serve thali, one of my favourite Indian dishes with small portions of curry including vegetable tofu curry. If you’re stuck for vegan food in Porto city centre and like the sound of those dishes, it’s worth a try.Address: Rua da Picaria 25, 4000-407 Porto.
Opening times: 12-3pm and 7pm-midnight daily.
Vegan cafes in Porto for pastries
Odete Bakery
Pastelerias are part of the furniture in Portugal but they can be problematic for vegans. The below vegan cafes in Porto will make a refreshing change for anyone who’s been inside a traditional Portuguese bakery and not been able to move for egg custard desserts…Odete Bakery, Bonfim – this is the best place for vegans in Porto with a sweet tooth! They make a range of delicious desserts from flaky French croissants to gorgeous chocolate tarts, as well as freshly baked bread. Vegan or not, you won’t find better loaves nearby. Try the sourdough sandwiches or vegan pizza, washed down with vegan wine. It’s pricey but worth it.
Note – the pastel de nata at Odete is tiny so I would recommend ordering any of the other pastries instead.
DUH! Vegan – these doughnuts are amazing! This takeaway stand is found at the edge of a small Cedofeita shopping mall housing vintage stores and record stores. Browse the shops and grab a vegan doughnut for €1.80 (cash only). I went for matcha and coconut
Pastelaria Tupi – another mention for Tupi which is surely the best vegetarian cafe in Porto where baked goods are concerned. There’s a whole separate counter for vegan pastries and they serve coffees with soya or almond milk. Everything’s affordable.
My top tip is to visit early as the pastries start to sell out towards the end of the day.
Cake at My Green Pastry
My Green Pastry – is this a lovely cafe overlooking a park? Yes. Is everything delicious? Yes. Was this the most expensive cake I’ve had in my life? Also yes.I enjoyed the ethos of this cafe: everything is vegan, gluten-free and homemade. With teas, coffee, kombucha and cakes (and brunch on Saturdays), it’s a lovely spot away from the city centre beside Jardim de Teófilo Braga.
Only complaint, the prices are high: I paid €5 for this pretty cake but there are cheaper ones for around €3.
Best vegan pastel de nata in Porto
Vegans need natas, too! It would be a shame to visit Porto and miss out on these delicious golden morsels. Usually, egg custard is baked in flaky pastry, lightly browned on top and sprinkled with cinnamon. Luckily, vegan custard can be used instead. A few places to try this include…Vegana by Tentugal – the first vegan pastel de nata I tried remains the best. The pastry was light but firm (a soggy bottom is the downfall of many a nata) and the custard was sweet and creamy. They’re a little pricey at €1.50.
Pastelaria Tupi – the vegan nata here was not my favourite because the custard was too runny. But since it was only €1, it’s considerably cheaper than Vegana by Tentugal.
Read next: where to find the best pastel de nata in Porto
Vegan brunch in Porto
Brunch in Portugal can be quite egg-focussed (shock) so it’s worth doing a little research to start your day with a delicious vegan breakfast in Porto. A few strong contenders include…
Nola Kitchen
Nola Kitchen is a vegetarian cafe in Porto focussing on healthy, organic meals. They make delicious breakfast dishes free from additives, oils and processed sugars, most of which are vegan or can be made vegan.I had the winter pancakes (€8) with coconut and cashew butter, coconut yoghurt, date-miso caramel, coconut chips and maple syrup. The rich mix of salty and sweet flavours was mind-blowing! It would have been nice if they were warm but that’s my only complaint.There are also vegan chocolate pancakes and ‘bacon’ pancakes with maple syrup that can be made vegan by removing the egg. The banana bread (topped with coconut yoghurt, apple jam, pecans and dates) and chai porridge also look good, plus there are some sharer dishes like sweet potato wedges and vegan cauli cheese.Brunch and a flat white (using local Combi Coffee Roasters beans) cost me €10.50.
Address: Praça D. Filipa de Lencastre 25, 4050-259 Porto, Portugal.
My Coffee Porto
If you love smoothie bowls, head for a simple and affordable vegan brunch at My Coffee Porto. This cafe has the best location in town overlooking the Douro River. You’ll have to tackle some stairs to reach it… Persevere because it’s worth it!The acai, red fruits and green smoothie bowls are vegan using ingredients like almond milk, peanut butter and dates.
Address: Escadas do Codeçal 22, 4000-173 Porto.
Zenith Brunch Bar & Cocktails
Another excellent place for vegan breakfast in Porto is Zenith. I can vouch for the vegan bagel with harissa tomato mix, plus there are vegan pancakes, smoothie bowls, tapioca bowls, banana bread, jackfruit tacos and vegan shakshuka.
Address: Praça de Carlos Alberto 86, 4050-158 Porto.
Read next: where to eat brunch in Porto, Portugal
Still on my vegan Porto wishlist
- MANNA – despite being near my place, I’ve not yet made it here. This stylish cafe is known for its organic food, sourdough, matcha, natural wine and yoga classes. All the good stuff!
- oValho Vegan Snack Bar – although it’s slightly far from town, I’m keen to try these vegan dishes served in huge portions. I hear good things about the pizza salame and caipirinha cocktail.