Vegan
International
Western
Portuguese
Elegant restaurant in a restored old house situated in a romantic garden. Offers a ten piece taster menu or a five piece set menu, re-designing traditional Portuguese dishes in vegan varieties. Reported fully vegan December 2021. Open Tue-Sat 19:30-21:30. 9.30pm is last orders.
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 13 Jun 2023 by richd123
Update business info -
Added by AndyT on 10 Apr 2014
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108 Reviews
First Review by AndyT
Sofia.in.Wanderland
Points +2090
A Vegan Haven in Timeless Elegance - Edit
Em Carne Viva is more than just a restaurant. It’s an experience of sublime tastes wrapped in timeless charm. Nestled in a beautifully restored old house, the space exudes sophistication with beautiful plaster details adorning the ceilings and walls. The soft glow of candlelight enhances the cosy, intimate atmosphere. The culinary artistry is unmatched. Every dish is a masterpiece, blending flavours and textures. It’s evident that each plate is crafted with care and passion. But the warmth doesn’t stop at the ambience or food—the owners themselves are the heart of Em Carne Viva. Their genuine hospitality makes you feel welcomed and valued, adding a personal touch to the entire experience.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-12-15
Guest
raiye
Points +816
A must-visit! - Edit
What a lovely place to eat!
Read moreAlready when entering the restaurant we felt comfortable and welcomed.
The restaurant looks really nice and cozy.
There is also very cute Garden that looks almost enchanted.
We were accommodated so lovely and kind.
The food was an excellent experience! Each dish was build upon the next and so delicious.
If you visit Porto you need to visit em carne viva!
Guest
MichaelDorf
Points +16
Possibly the best meal I’ve ever eaten - Edit
We each had the testing menu. The delicacy and subtlety of each course were incredible
Read morePros: Vegetable forward, Marvelous creativity, Extremely friendly service
Guest
Mikmikn
Points +44
Beyond Perfect! - Edit
You need to come hungry and open minded! The tasting menu has ten beautiful plates, that are incredibly delicious, interesting, unique and satisfying, and a lot of it blew our minds. It was so filling, that we could not finish the second desert (even though we tried but were just too full!) Eduarda the host, and Victor the chef with his team, gave us such a warm and homey feeling. We just can't recommend it enough. It's expensive as a chef's restaurant, but worth every penny.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-09-19
Pros: Unique food, Very satisfying , Warm hospitality
Guest
ClaudiaRevuelta
Points +48
Amazing - Edit
Amazing little vegan spot, top experience!!!
Read moreGuest
pampli8a
Points +99
El restaurante regional portugués al que hay que peregrinar - Edit
A día de hoy, el mejor restaurante vegano en el que he comido (perdón, cenado) en toda mi vida. Hablamos de una cocina de primer nivel mundial.
Read moreEn lugar de probar el menú degustación, me decanté por probar varios platos individuales de la carta. Como no podía ser de otra manera, me atrapó la francesinha local además de probar el tofú laminado con salsa Porto, un «pastel» de chía con varios vegetales y acompañado siempre con vino de la zona que acabó con un postre magnífico: chocolate en diferentes texturas con crema de avellanas, naranja, ron y caramelo salado.
Aun así, resaltar cualquier aspecto sería no hacerle justicia a la exclusiva carta y menús inspirados en la cocina portuguesa. El personal de sala y su trato, la estética de su sala o la experencia culinaria inédita de este restaurante, lo hacen, sin duda alguna, es un lugar obligatorio en la «peregrinación» sostenible. Aunque mi visita fue en 2021, aun espero con ansias tener la oportunidad de volver para seguir disfrutando de Em Carne Viva y probar cualquier menú que me ofrezcan. No hay estrellas suficientes para lo que yo sentí al salir de la puerta del lugar.
Gracias por tanto, Vítor. (Obrigado)
[Visita: Cena del viernes, 3 de diciembre de 2021]
Updated from previous review on 2024-08-09
Pros: La variedad de su menú, El ambiente exclusivo y único, Vítor y el resto de su equipo
Guest
AdeleDowney
Points +87
Fabulous vegan experience - Edit
We had the most delicious food in beautiful surroundings with perfect hosts
Read morePros: The venue, The food presentation , The quality of ingredients
Cons: None
Guest
MichielVanD
Points +1372
Unique restaurant - Edit
High end and vegan. In a beautiful building. Ten courses and great wine. This is a must visit when you are in Porto. Or come to Porto for this place as we sometimes do!
Read moreGuest
Prajna
Points +5861
Enchanting experience - Edit
Worth every cent that you pay.
Read moreThe food is so tasty and impressively beautiful. I can only imagine the time it takes to put each plate together.
They use fancy things like foams and molecular techniques.
The place is a very nice old house from 1900.
It is a family owned place. The chef and is kind and attentive and the woman that brings out the dishes, his wife, is kind and lovely.
Very worth for a special meal.
Guest
kxtie
Points +477
WOW - Edit
just WOW! the flavours, attention to detail, plating of the food were just marvellous.
Read morewe had the 10 course tasting menu & wine pairing.
everything was an absolute delight. highlights for me were the onion tortellini, seaweed tempura and white asparagus.
the drinks were also great. the wine pairing actually is 1 cocktail, 3 white wines, a red wine and a LBV port.
during the summer the seating is outdoors in the most beautiful garden. it’s like a fairytale. we went on the first day of being back outside, so the resident dog was really pleased to be out among the diners (she is not allowed in the dining area inside) and i was more than happy to say hello and give her some fuss.
we chatted with the chef who came out during a quiet moment to say hello and play with the dog and also the front of house who were both absolutely lovely.
overall it was an incredible dining experience and i feel very grateful to have dined here!
Guest
BrunoFehr
Points +161
Mandatory experience - Edit
We had the 5 course and 10 course experience and if the issue is not the budget, always go for the 10 course. We did not have the wine experience but we drank amazing white wine.
Read more100% recommended.
Pros: Amazing food experience, Super nice staff, Fair price for the experience
Guest
AdaS
Points +154
Exquisite - Edit
This place is an experience and a very nice one. It’s fine vegan dining at its best. The food was very unique and the service exceptional. We highly recommend it.
Read moreGuest
jessica_janes
Points +13
Do not miss! - Edit
This is an incredible dinner experience. The 10 course tasting blew us away. The thoughtfulness of each dish the surprise in transformation and balance with every ingredient and the genuine creativity is brilliant. Would highly recommend the wine pairing as well. Lovely place, incredible food, excellent service.
Read moreGuest
Pamelastephens
Points +46
Incredible!!! World class!! - Edit
Hours actually open at 7, not 7:30. The food is beautifully presented and taste is amazing. We loved the atmosphere, very classy, elegant, beautiful. Could be extremely romantic if desired. The chef is so talented and artistic. Family run in beautiful home. Wife is so sweet and perfect also!! Worth the Uber there and so much more. Best food in all Porto!
Read moreGuest
ClydeStephens
Points +19
World class dining experience - Edit
Victor and his son are creating dishes that are as delicious as you are ever going to find. The tastes are subtle and complimentary. The quality is outstanding. We had the five course tasting menu, and I wish I had chosen the ten. His wife, Edwarda, was incredibly attentive, and a delight to converse with. One of the best meals in my life.
Read morePros: Gazpacho soup, Purple sweet potato , Chocolate desert
Cons: No dislikes at all
Guest
Kyliewood
Points +1127
Unique 5 star experience - Edit
What a delightful space is ‘Em Carne Viva! Had the 5-course menu and enjoyed the different flavours and textures and their unique take on veganised Portuguese food. As a vegan chef myself I particularly appreciated the quality and painstaking detail put in to bringing each dish to the table. It is a unique fine dining experience well worth experiencing. I took non vegans and they enjoyed every mouthful. Go and support this small vegan family business.
Read moreGuest
munda
Points +441
Every dish a delight! - Edit
Went there to try out their ten-year anniversary menu, and was just blown away. Lots of subtle flavors inspired by Portuguese cuisine, beautifully arranged. I'm typically not a chocolate person but the chocolate was to die for.
Read moreThe couple running the place were very friendly, willing to explain things and chat, and there's even a cute little dog (in the garden outside), Stella, who you can pet if you're so inclined.
Pros: Awesome food, Great people, Cute dog
Guest
Vege-Niki
Points +1279
Deserves a Michelin star! - Edit
We were a couple and ordered the 5-tasting menu which celebrated their 10-year anniversary. The 2 first dishes were OK (interesting. The bread bun tasted like home...), the 3 last ones deserve a Michelin star. The Chocolate decadence was so amazing that I wanted to cry. All those varieties of chocolate on 1 plate. The Portuguese Christmas dish was out of this world: the smoked veggies and the 2 types of potatos were pure magic: this dish was called the spineless tofu because it replaces the Christmas fish. The mushrooms in a salty broth, replacing a traditional clam dish, were so good I would eat that everyday. I'm not a huge wine drinker but the sweet white wine which was recommended was sooo good! I would honestly eat all of this again and the service was exceptional. Thank you💓
Read morePros: Superb taste
Guest
Rivermead26
Points +74
Magical Evening! - Edit
Beautifully presented, delicious food served by staff that clearly are passionate about what they do.
Read morePros: Creative food using excellent produce , Efficient and friendly staff, Delicious flavours!
Guest
isaju
Points +66
No me gustó - Edit
Pedí un caldo verde y no me gustó nada, llevaba demasiada sal y se lo tuve que dar de vuelta porque estaba frío. El servicio era muy lento a pesar de que prácticamente estaba yo sola. Además el precio no es asequible.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-08-22
Guest
VanessaLúcia
Points +19
Delicious vegan food and nice experience - Edit
I highly recommend Em carne Viva. The food was amazing! Eduarda was really caring and loving with our son (16 months old), which made the experience for my husband and I even better. We could eat our meal with more patience and enjoy each piece of our delicious food.
Read moreGuest
MayaNisim
Points +481
Nice dining place - Edit
If you are looking for a place for a romantic date, this is the spot for you. the vibe is very elegant and calm and the food was really good!
Read moreGuest
Neda.banana
Points +249
Michelin Level Dinner - Edit
What an experience! The food, ambiance and service were impeccable and I can't recommend this place enough.
Read moreYou can feel that every component from the moment you step foot into the restaurant to the moment you leave, is curated to make you have the most magical time.
We went to many nice restaurants during our stay, but this was by far the best meal we had at En Carne Viva.
Pros: Food and wine, Service, Decoration
Guest
champoun
Points +1567
Fine dining vegan restaurant - Edit
Definitely more of a upscale restaurant with a fixed tasting menu.
Read moreNot cheap but the multiple courses do make up for it. Small portions are to be expected with such a menu.
Food was carefully prepared and beautifully presented.
It may not be for everyone but I really enjoyed it and the flavours didn’t disappoint.
I only wish they also have a regular a la carte menu instead of only a tasting menu.
Very friendly staff who explain the whole dish with every course.
The interior was nice and has a romantic touch to it.
If you want a new experience, then I would suggest coming to this place.
Pros: Fully vegan menu , Very friendly and attentive staff
Cons: Only a set tasting menu, Not cheap
Guest
Porcel
Points +24
Vegano con clase - Edit
El trato, los platos y su presentación.
Read morePros: Todo vegano incluso los helados, Vinos de oporto, Bio y eco
Cons: Algo alejado del centro
Guest
ZeroCows
Points +105
Wonderful experience - don't doubt, just go try! - Edit
What a wonderful dining experience. The hosts are incredibly service minded. The food.. oh men.. it's not just delicious, it's a memory, an experience. We went for the 10 course diner to celebrate their 10 years anniversary (when in Rome...). The pace of the courses is great and the lot took us around 3 hours. From perfect asparagus with a creamy celery puree, delicious roasted cabbage, to a roasted onion filled with onion puree. Then the Caipirinha dessert. I would come back, just to have this dessert. It's the best. You must try it, it was so so good (and I'm a vegan pastry chef). The chocolate dessert with meringue was on the sweet side, but that's truly the only thing.
Read moreI've no clue why there are even reviews with 3 stars, if I could give 6 I would do so. Just go and try it. It's money well spend - it's an experience, a night out you'll remember if you appreciate good food and hospitality.
Pros: excellent food, one of the most delicious desserts ever, lovely interior and great service
Guest
rainbow-ctenophore
Points +273
Delightful - Edit
Wonderful meal! We tried a few different vegan tasting menus during our time in Portugal and this was our favorite. Each dish was tasty, perfectly portioned, and there was a nice variation in the flavor profiles of each successive course. The atmosphere was warm and cozy. It was just what we needed after a long day of traveling.
Read moreGuest
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