My Favourite Places to Eat and Drink in Lisbon
Lisbon is a food-lover’s dream. Pasteis de nata, sardines by the bucket and wonderous cakes and steaks. This is all great but, I have a confession to make; I am basically a vegan, and my boyfriend is actually ‘A’ vegan which means this list is (maybe, happily for some) very vegan and gluten free heavy. This is not necssarily a bad thing. Lisbon’s vegan scene is very diverse, skilled, delicious and even contains some of the classic Portuguese dishes. If you’re also gluten intolerant vegan restaurants are also great for desserts since Portuguese mains tends to be gluten-free anyway.
All this said, I ate a lot of meat, fish and gluten before, and my family still visit (who are not practicing vegans or prone to outbreaks of intolerance’s) so hopefully I have something for everyone
GF = Gluten Free
Portuguese Restaurants
Faca e Garfo (non vegan/ GF friendly)
This is located in a convenient location if you’re in the center. The food is classic Portuguese. You’ll find polvo (octopus), steak, sardines and so on, all served with the traditional boiled potato, chips (fries) or rice depending on your preference. I recommend adding lots of vinegar and oil too if there’s the opportunity.
2. Prado (non vegan/ sometimes GF friendly)
This restaurant is fancy but the food is really good. The menu changes depending on the week and season and it’s essentially modern Portuguese food. Maybe book before. Located in Baixa.
3. Kong (vegan/ GF friendly)
I was really impressed with this place. The food is delicious and they really do remake Portuguese dishes quite accurately. My favourite was the bitoque which even had a vegan made fried egg on top! Definitely book before (although we don’t always). Located in Baixa near the metro.
Pizza
4. Coppola (Vegan/GF)
A great Pizza place. It’s also in a beautiful square perfect for wandering around and having coffee. Nearby is nanarella (the go-to ice cream place) and Café Tehran (if coppola is full). You can walk there from São Bento.
5. Plant Base (Vegan/GF - but not the Pizza)
This is a mixture of 4 different menus from 4 different countries. The common thread - everything is vegan! I usually go for the tacos (get the fish ones) and my boyfriend gets the Neapolitan Pizza (he’s from Napoli and says it’s amazing). Located in Chiado.
Misc
6. Café Tehran (Vegetarian/GF)
I loved this place. The food is Iranian and so tasty. It’s Ok for vegetarians but def. not vegans. If you’re gluten free the tart is also great (it’s made from almonds)
7. Mercado Oriental Martim Moniz (Vegan/GF - but not both)
This is a food court with numerous different cuisines from Eastern Asia. This is the closest Lisbon gets to a food truck market.
Cafés and Brunch
8. Moko Veggie Café (Vegan/GF)
This is a cute chain across Lisbon. They’re always in residential but upcoming areas. For instance, Anjos, has a lot of independent stores and brunch spots or Alvalade, which is a bit fancy but fun to walk around.
9. Padaria Portuguesa (Vegan/GF - but not both)
These are everywhere! You’ll get coffee and a croissant for nothing and all with great service and convenience.
10. Fauna and Flora (Vegan/GF)
This is a cute chain. There’s one in Anjos, and another in Santos (quite a nice area to explore)
Bars
11. Bairro Alto
Bairro Alto can be messy, but it’s a great experience - especially on a budget.
12. Collect
I’ve only been here once but I loved the mood. It also has a record store upstairs. Located by Pink street in cais de sodré.
13. Moscatel
This is not a place but just a recommendation for a very tasty drink :D In fact it’s my favourite. Some may call this an old person’s drink (and it is!) but it’s also delicious.
Time Out Market
Some might say this is too touristy but I think it’s great.
Pastel de Nata
15. Aloma (Not vegan/ Not GF)
My fave before I went GF. Located all over including the end of the line of tram 28 in Campo De Ourique.
16. Vegan Nata (Vegan/ Not GF)
Located in Campo De Ourique and Bairro Alto Exactly like the real thing.
17. Zarzuela (Vegan/GF)
Located in Cais de sodre. It’s pretty good.
Mozambican Food
18. Oliveiras (Non Vegan/GF)
The best Mozambican restaurant out of all the ones we’ve tried in Lisbon. Located in Saldanha. I recommend the crab curry, and the bebinca for desert! I also love this restaurant because they feature a lot of dishes from my Mum’s home town.
19. Zambeze (Vegan/GF)
A very close second. If you’re looking for somewhere a bit upmarket and with some spectacular ambience this is your place. Located on a hillside, overlooking the whole of the city and with the best Mozambican dishes. The easiest way to get to this restaurant is to take the elevator at Pingo Doce.