Vegan food in the Algarve

Andrea
Apr 25
4 min read

If you are planning a trip to Portugal and are looking for vegan restaurants or cafes, Here are a few tried and tested vegan-friendly food along the Algarve.

SUGAR RABBIT, Albufeira

I love the menu at Sugar Rabbit. Not only do they have a banging brunch menu with pancakes, breakfast bowls and overnight oats, but they also serve burgers, salads and a variety of boozy drinks, including a G&T made with Kombucha.

We grabbed a couple iced oat lattes and two pieces of cake, walked to the nearest viewing spot and sat in the sun enjoying the view and treats. Just wonderful.

HOUSE OF STEWS, Albufeira

Although not vegan on their menu, their vegetable stew is naturally vegan if you ask them to not add the feta on top. Cooked long and slow, their stew is a comforting hug in a bowl. Just as a stew should be. The owners are welcoming and super friendly. If you are a wine drinker, I recommend asking the owner for a wine pairing recommendation to go with your stew. A great place, especially on a colder or rainy evening.

ZIMZALA, Gale

Part of a surf school, this is another place I love. Although their vegan options for food are a limited, I do love this café. Sitting outside in the sunshine, enjoying an acai bowl and freshly squeezed orange juice, this place has a very laid-black surfer atmosphere.

Earn some brownie points: If you are traveling with a non-vegan who enjoys a toasted sandwich, then this is the place to go. They are very generous in size and a good price. Unfortunately they don't have a vegan toasted sandwich option.

THE HUMMUS KITCHEN, Aljezur

Situated in Aljezur, to this day this is one of my favourite places to eat in Portugal. Their food is just incredible.

Imagine a big bowl full of hummus, topped with mushrooms or falafel (other non-vegan options available), with a side of pickled vegetables and the fluffiest pitas. I can't believe that I'm thinking this but I think if there was ever a place where I might have been tempted to eat something non-vegan, it would be this place.

Earn some brownie points: If you are traveling with a non-vegan, who loves both hummus and shakshuka then this is the place to go. They do a hummus shakshuka bowl.

I had their falafel pitta, twice, and it was just the best. It's difficult writing about their food, without salivating. Highly recommended! The photo of the falafel pitta truly doesn't do it any justice. Hopefully I can update this photo soon (excuse to go back), but in the meantime why not check out their IG page.

They also make delicious, nutty tahini biscuits (vegan) - don't give them a skip!

ROOTS, Aljezur

This is a vegan cafe, with a fresh and organic menu, Their menu includes cakes, coffees, soups, smoothies, sweet and savoury breakfast, salads. I had a slice of their chocolate & raspberry cake, which was really delish and moist.

ENCCI, Carvoeiro

This place is great for all, vegans and non-vegans.

Based in Carvoeiro, this is a very pretty, pink brunch and pizza restaurant! I loved everything about this place. The pink tones of the terrazzo counter, the pink chairs, pink umbrellas and the food is served on pretty pink plates.

Their menu ranges from freshly squeezed juices, crudites, matcha pancakes to salads, ramen, burgers and pizzas. The also have a selection of cakes and pastries. Not everything is vegan, but they do have a good vegan-friendly selection. They have a limoncello Tiramisu, which I would have happily tasted if it was vegan.

We enjoyed our lunch in the sunny garden. I ordered an Asian Inspired Quinoa and Tofu bowl with peanuts and loads of vegetables and Mr P had a generous serving of their Eggs Benedict. We were both happy with our decisions. I couldn't leave without an iced oat latte, as the sun was shining and it had been a while since I had one.

PISCO, Vila Do Bispo

Although it has a very laidback atmosphere, their food is something special. The chefs work wonders with the most simply vegetables. I have been here on every trip to Portugal and every single dish I've tried I loved! Their menu changes with the seasons and always have a very interesting menu. They offer a tasting menu if you can't decide what to try.

On our last trip we shared their charred spring onions and greens with an almond emulsion. Never have spring onions tasted so good! My mains was a homemade pasta with black garlic and Mr P had a pumpkin and blue cheese pizza. For dessert we shared the most amazing strawberry dessert. So indulgent, but not too sweet. Perfectly balanced flavours of almond and strawberries. Strawberry ice cream is not usually a flavour I would choose, but this was our favourite dish of the evening. Booking is recommended as they are most of the time fully booked.

PICNIC, Sagres

This Cafe is open literally from sunrise to sunset. They have a delicious selection of pastries, breakfasts and breads. Not everything is vegan, but they have good plantbased variety. I had their Tofu Corn Bagel, twice., which was delightful. Don't get me wrong I do love falafel and hummus, but what I especially love about this place is that this bagel was not the typical vegan option of falafel and hummus.

Grab a coffee and something to eat and enjoy it outside in the sunshine.

SAUDADES COFFEE, Sagres

This was the first mobile Cafe in the Algarve and serve a good coffee. I suggest following them on Instagram to find out where they are.

ARTE BIANCA, 3 Locations

This is an Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria serving sourdough pizzas and other italian dishes. They have restaurants in three locations, Sagres, Vale de Telha and Aljezur. The interiors are rustic and have an interesting menu. I enjoyed their vegan gourmet pizza I had as a take-away.

ARTE NAUTICA,Armacao de Pera

This is a restaurant right on the beach in Armacao de Pera. They have a few vegan options and everything I tried was really delicious! If you aren't hungry it's still a great place to enjoy a coffee or a cocktail with the view of the beach and the ocean.