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
Jill_foody_veg
Points +309
Good lunch in lovely room - Edit
I had a lovely lunch here. The menu clearly states what is vegan or can be made vegan and was delicious. This was a fine dining experience. Service was good.
Read moreGuest
DonnaC
Points +1708
Disappointed - Edit
Em Carne Viva has a beautiful interior, no expense has been spared and it is very unique. I was impressed with the vegan choice, all of the mains were labelled as vegan or as a vegan option.
Read moreWe were visiting the restaurant for a special occasion and were looking forward to sharing a bottle of wine with our meal, there is a nice selection of wine bottles on display behind the counter so wine seemed the logical choice in such special surroundings. Unfortunately there is only one wine labelled vegan on the menu and we were informed that they didn't have any in stock because people tend not to choose it- go figure!!
They are obviously very vegan aware and surely we aren't the only vegans who like wine (they would have had some bottles left if this was the case).
Moving on to the food. We both had soup to start which was ok. I opted for the mushroom risotto for my main which was quite tasty and well presented. My partner was disappointed with his fish style tofu which was genuinely tasteless. The vegan caipirinha pie was tempting for dessert but we were too full to try it.
Our overall impression was disappointing, we had such great expectations and for us it felt too reserved, maybe it's just a matter of taste but we like places that have more atmosphere. I wouldn't say the staff were unfriendly but they weren't approachable and lacked warmth. It's also very expensive, particularly considering the quality of food and service on our visit.
I would like to try the restaurant again to give it another chance and being a wine lover I hope they have at least one vegan option available next time.
Pros: good vegan meal options , elegant interior
Cons: too serious, no vegan wine, very expensive
Guest
jodiH
Points +99
Amazing - Edit
We almost didn't try out this restaurant during our trip to Porto because of some of the bad reviews from vegans here, and it being a bit far from our hotel. I am so happy we decided to try it after all. It was amazing. We had the vegan version of the Portuguese tasting menu. Everything was flavorful and beautiful. The staff were friendly and helpful. The building and decor were charming. Everything about this restaurant was perfect. Porto is a lovely city, but it would have been worth the trip from London just for this restaurant alone.
Read morePros: Excellent food, Attention to detail, Friendliness
Guest
hotchie_doggie
Points +56
Really wonderful meal - Edit
Very nice decor, amazing glass work (my five year old loved the fish tank sink pump in the bathroom), and even better food! Worth the visit, and very helpful staff and attentive service. We had the asparagus appetizer and the mushroom ceviche, both great, the francesinha (I liked that it was not a faithful adaptation, the original is not such amazing cuisine...) and the "sem espinhas", which was a very creative nod to bacalhau, delicious in its own right. The options were mostly vegan, or easily adapted. My non-vegetarian father had no complaints (this is very high praise, my father complains a lot). The wine recommendation was good, and the caipirinha pie was divine.
Read moreGuest
wicherwill
Points +48
amazing vegetarian/vegan lunch buffet - Edit
For not much more than the standard vegan/veg lunch buffet prices in Porto (€24 including a coffee) we got amazing food on par with restaurants in NYC where we've paid four times as much. A starter pumpkin soup was super flavorful without any cream, the main was a grilled kebab with couscous (no sauce for the vegan version), and a raspberry cheesecake/vegan raspberry mousse. The service was kind and the waitress (who was vegan) was proactive in pointing how how a dish had been adapted.
Read moreGuest
Andoolblu
Points +579
Esta bien pero muy caro - Edit
Se come bien pero no es para el precio que tiene.
Read morePros: tiene muchas opciones veganas.
Cons: es caro.
Guest
happyiris
Points +24
classy restaurant in beautiful garden - Edit
This restaurant serves vegetarian versions of traditional Portuguese dishes. Quite fancy, also higher prices than you'd pay in the average vegetarian restaurant. But the service is good, the food tastes great and the garden is a peaceful place to sit :)
Read morePros: original Portuguese food made veggie, garden, classy
Cons: more expensive, outside the city center
Guest
veganlavender
Points +20
Nice lunch - Edit
We had lunch here and it was really nice. As I'm eating only fruits and vegetables at the moment for a detox, we asked them to make a salad for me which was not a problem at all and turned out really nice. The house is beautifully decorated and renovated and it has a beautiful garden. It's maybe a bit expensive but the food is really good. My boyfriend had the vegetable risotto and he really liked it as well. A nice restaurant in Porto!!!
Read moreGuest
HélderPeixoto
Points +89
Expensive and not so tasty. - Edit
I went there for a Francesinha. It was not vegan as it came with an egg. I don't know if the error was mine for not asking...
Read moreThe flavour is nothing special. For sure you would find much better vegetarian food in Porto.
Prices are quite expensive.
The location and decoration is very nice, but that's it.
Pros: location, decoration
Cons: price, not vegan
Guest
vegantearoom
Points +309
Upscale Veggie Place - Edit
This place is quite fancy and the prices reflect that too.
Read moreI ordered the Francesinha which didn't look exactly as I expected it to with lettuce instead of vegan cheese and courgette and tofu instead of sausage. Overall, it was tasty and well-presented. My sister ordered the spineless tofu (which first of all, what is with that name? Everyone knows tofu doesn't have a spine and comparing it to fish is off-putting and not appealing) which was a bit strange. Again, it was very well-presented with petals and salad but unfortunately it tasted weird. I'm guessing they included some sort of fishy taste like nori but it really was just plain tofu cooked in the most simple way.
Still, I'd recommend this place if you've got extra euros and don't mind splashing out for a fancy lunch/dinner, but in my personal opinion, they shouldn't be charging that much for what I would describe as tasting half way between tasty and mediocre.
Pros: nice atmosphere/vibe, well-presented food (perfect for insta)
Cons: Taste was a bit meh., Expensive
Guest
LilianaNicolau
Points +445
Not amazing anymore! - Edit
It used to be my favorite vegetarian restaurant in Porto. I live here so I usually eat there once in a while, both lunch and dinner.
Read moreThe food was amazing with a concept that I liked (traditional portuguese food but vegetarian). I think with time they lost this concept (risotto isn't portuguese) and the prices are high now if we compare with the beginning and with food quality. The last 3 times I went there they also took really long to serve me and the place wasn't even full.
The place is amazing (no doubt about that), but I think they wanted to change to an elite restaurant and they forgot the rest.
There are some vegan options, but I would recommend for sure the francesinha (you have to ask the vegan option).
Pros: Beautiful Place
Cons: Price
Guest
xDIABOx
Points +98
Vegetarian based - Edit
I went here because everything my Veggie friends told me about the place. The place is really beautiful and worth checking out on sunny days/weather to enjoy the garden.
Read moreAs for the food, not that well as I expected.
The Vegan selection is a bit scarce, and not worthy desserts to have there too.
I've tried the "Francesinha" and was a poor one, with only Tofu and some grilled veggies in there. Not their strongest plate.
I've promised I will go there for a second time to check another plate.
Pros: Outdoor Garden, Nice place, Cousy and romantic
Cons: Expensive, Not that Vegan-Friendly as expected, Staff is a bit reserved
Guest
Joffel
Points +22
Splendid - Edit
Definitely worth of visiting: the staff, atmosphere, surrounding, food as well - just excellent. The waitresses were absolutely terrific.
Read moreIf you feel like having a different veg experience, go for Em Carne Viva. Vegan options were all good and next time I'll have the portion with seitan (Tasted it and it was unbeliveable!)
Will visit again.
Pros: Friendly staff, Great food for a good value, Cozy
Guest
JonTurner2000
Points +379
Em Carne Viva - You'll Be Sad To Leave Here - Edit
The restaurant garden area is totally lovely and relaxed; like you're getting to visit someone's tastefully kept home. The inside looked just as good, if it wasn't nice enough to sit out.
Read moreService was exceptional. The food was well cooked, well presented and imaginative. We visited for the lunch menu which we found surprisingly excellent value.
Stepping into the restaurant from the busy Boulevard outside feels like entering a calm oasis. Highly recommended - we were sad to leave when the meal was over! What a great place.
Pros: Environment, Fresh interesting food, Top quality service
Guest
orangensaft
Points +460
Beautiful restaurant but disappointing food - Edit
Firstly I think the menus have been updated since previous reviewers visited, as vegan options are now labelled and the menu is in English.
Read moreThe restaurant itself is beautifully decorated (although make sure you're looking for it on Avenida da Boavista rather than Rua da Boavista like we were...). The garden also looked really nice.
However, the food I felt unfortunately didn't quite live up to the expectations set by the surroundings. For starter I ordered 'Bulhao pato' mushrooms, which turned out to be mushrooms in a butter very garlicky which was OK but not amazing. To give you an idea of how garlicky apparently I still stank of mushrooms from several feet away hours later ): ): ):
For main I had the 'spineless tofu' (still have no idea what that is..) which I think also had a lot of garlic in it, but the tofu was cooked without any flavourings whatsoever. On a plus note though, the roast potatoes that came with it were great)
Some of the puddings sounded interesting, I would have loved to have tried the caprihana pie, however it wasn't vegan. The only vegan options were sliced fruit and fruit with yoghurt, which was really disappointing and felt really lazy in comparison to the non vegan options.
I was also disappointed to see
find out that there was only a single vegan wine on the menu which was a rose. At least one red and white option would have been appreciated.
However I should note that there was lots of choice among the staters and mains for vegans though.
Overall I don't think I would visit again
Pros: beautiful restaurant
Cons: disappointing wine and pudding options, weird bathroom arrangement , too much garlic
Guest
beaneeves
Points +95
Charming gourmet food - Edit
The concept is veg gourmet food so you can understand the prices. The presentation is beautiful and the food is so yummy! Also note the charming decoration.
Read morePros: Decoration, Food, Presentation
Cons: Price
Guest
stardustie
Points +53
Artisanal Vegetarian Tasting Menu - Edit
Love their concept n happy to see non-meat food taken to a culinary level and presentation. Nice garden, atmosphere and good food. Take the tasting menu (58 euros/person) and pamper yourself. How often you get a 9 course meal vege dishes served at Michelin level?
Read moreCons: every dish on the tasting menu was served in full
Guest
Maiskeks
Points +287
Many vegan options - Edit
Kind of upscale cuisine, but affordable. I had some tasty bread with olive tapenade for the starter. Instead of a soup I ordered caldo verde, some kind of Portuguese cabbage stew, which is usually neither vegan nor vegetarian. For the main course I had caramelised seitan in port wine. Everything was delicious, I would almost say perfect even the coffee. At least half of the main dishes are vegan and they also have a very low priced soup of the day.
Read moreApart from the excellent food the restaurant should be recommended because of its pleasant atmosphere and the very friendly staff. Menu is Portuguese and English.
Updated from previous review on Monday October 06, 2014
Pros: food, staff, atmosphere
Cons: Only two vegan desserts (fruit, yoghurt)
Guest
LaurencePerez
Points +13
A Magic moment - Edit
One of the Best places to eat in Porto !
Read moreMaybe the best...
More than a restaurant, it's a all new concept: the food, the place, the garden, the architecture and of course the warm welcome... everything is linked to create a magic place.
Romantic and Zen, a really special atmosphere...
I recommend the place for architects or creative people: a real inspiration.
Une cuisine raffinée dans une architecture remarquable et extrêmement inventive: un concept novateur et intelligent... bravo.
Obrigado for all the team and a special big up for Victor: we will never forget our evening.
Laurence, Elie, Nina and Ruben.
PS: When will you open the same place in Paris???
Much love.
Pros: Gourmet, Architecture, Warm welcome
Guest
Epstein
Points +177
Overated - Edit
This pretentious, expensive restaurant professes high caliber service, which we thought was not up to scratch , and creative cooking which was not altogether so. I had vegetable puree soup which was pleasant at best and stuffed Portobello mushroom which was tasty but not creative. My husband had the tofu dish which he said was devoid of flavor. The restoration of an old building was superb, but you can’t eat it! I wouldn’t go back
Read morePros: Nice building, Pleasant indoor feeling, Comfortable seating
Cons: Amateurish service, Expensive, Uncreative
VictorRodrigues
Dear Epstein, could not resist to take a look at your latest 5/4 caws ratings and in fact, one thing you notice that left us very confused: your sense of creativity. Anyway, our thanks for your visit and for your hardrating post.
Read moreGuest
MMCM
Points +286
Cuisine gourmet - Edit
Great effort, that of preparing traditional specialities in veg version!
Read moreResults are very interesting and the staff, kind and professional, is happy to support with explanations as well as with vegan options.
The design and the artistic decoration, aimed at maximising the re-use of materials, is excellent.
Beautiful garden, wonderful house.
A bit out of the historic centre.
Moderately expensive (expensive for a vegetarian)
Pros: food experience, ambientation, staff
Cons: price, far from historic centre
Guest
henning
Points +63
Exceptional - Edit
When in or close to Porto, don't miss this absolutely fabulous restaurant! A perfect place for an exceptionally good dinner.
Read morePros: Excellent Food, Lovely Place, Super Friendly Staff
Cons: None
Guest
mbbl
Points +1876
Fresh garden but poor vegan options - Edit
Me and my husband had a good afternoon tea in the fresh and quiet garden but the menu is minimalist.
Read moreI asked for vegan options, because the menu didn't have any reference to them, and the person serving us got confused with the tern and went to ask for them to the cook... no vegan options... so I simply drank a great Darjeeling tea with a toasted bread with jam.
Pros: Fresh garden, Satisfying tea, Friendly staff
Cons: Not many vegan options
VictorRodrigues
Our vegan options "A la Carte" based on traditional homemade Portuguese food and sophisticated modern fusion:
Read moreCouvert
-Crispy “Sea Spaghetti” SeaWeed
-Alheira (Portuguese sausage) puffs
-Black Olive Tapenade and Bread
Starters
-Soup of the Day
-Special Portuguese broth “Caldo Verde”
-Shitake Mushrooms as the traditional Portuguese “Bulhão Pato”
-“Little garden fishes” of Asparagus in Tempura
Main Courses
-Vegetable or Vegan “Francesinha” with Fries*Tradicional Porto sandwich with Cheese or not and Spicy sauce as coverage.
-Grilled Endive in Beetroot and Ginger broth, crispy Onion and Leek with creamy Fava beans.
-“Spineless” of Tofu as the tradicional Portuguese “Lagareiro”, grilled with garlic and olive oil with Sautéed Turnip greens and baked Potatoes.
-Asparagus on champagne Risotto
-Mushrooms Risotto
-Marineted Seitan fillets on Port Wine and Pinion sauce, with Chesnut and Port Wine Puree, tiny Carrots and steamed Asparagus
…and so many others we present as daily courses for lunch with lower prices!!!
Desserts
Sliced piece of Fruit
Creamy Yogurt with Jam and Forest Berries
Guest
prcr
Points +118
Beautiful and quiet gardens - Edit
Me and my wife went to Em Carne Viva to have an afternoon snack and were amazed by the impressively restored old house. Since it was nice outside, we decided to stay in the garden, which was really calm and quiet.
Read moreThe waiter was very friendly and helpful even though she seemed to be caught a bit off-guard when we asked her about possible vegan options.
We ended up ordering toasts with jam, and a nice Darjeeling black tea which actually tasted quite good - in Portugal it is very difficult to find a place where you can have a decent cup of tea!
We especially liked the quietness of the garden, where we had fun observing the cute kittens from the next door neighbor, and recommend this restaurant for those wanting to have a "posh" dinner in one of Oporto's finest avenues, near Casa da Música.
Pros: Quiet gardens, Impressive restored old house, Decent tea
Cons: Not many vegan options
VictorRodrigues
Thank you for visit us and for your friendly post.
Read moreOur vegan options "A la Carte" based on traditional homemade Portuguese food and sophisticated modern fusion:
Couvert
-Crispy “Sea Spaghetti” SeaWeed
- “Alheira”(Portuguese sausage) puffs
-Black Olive Tapenade and Bread
Starters
-Soup of the Day
-Special Portuguese broth “Caldo Verde”
-Shitake Mushrooms as the traditional Portuguese “Bulhão Pato”
-“Little garden fishes” of Asparagus in Tempura
Main Courses
-Vegetable and Vegan “Francesinha” with Fries *Tradicional Porto sandwich with Cheese or not and Spicy sauce as coverage
-Grilled Endive in Beetroot and Ginger broth, crispy Onion and Leek with creamy Fava beans
-“Spineless” of Tofu as the tradicional Portuguese “Lagareiro”, grilled with garlic and olive oil with Sautéed Turnip greens and baked Potatoes
-Asparagus on champagne Risotto
-Mushrooms Risotto
-Marineted Seitan fillets on Port Wine and Pinion sauce, with Chesnut and Port Wine Puree, tiny Carrots and steamed Asparagus
Desserts
-Sliced piece of Fruit
-Creamy Yogurt with Jam and Forest Berries
…and so many others we present as daily courses for lunch with lower prices!!!
Best regards
Victor
Guest
RubyFriel
Points +153
Disappointing experience - Edit
Our experience here was not great.
Read moreEven though there were staff who could speak English, they did not come to help us. Instead, we had to translate the menu on google translate. Our waiter was friendly but did not speak English, and we didn't understand why the English speakers did not try to help.
We were given 2 menus, an afternoon tea (in Portuguese) and a dinner menu (in English). The dinner menu looked very nice, with veggie interpretations of Classic Portuguese dishes. However, when I tried to inquire about which options were vegan the waiter told us the dinner menu wasn't actually on and it was only the snack menu. Eventually we both had a small sandwich and a coffee, it was nice ish but nothing amazing and we were still hungry so went to another restaurant afterwards.
It turned out they were actually closing early as it was a Sunday, but we were confused as to why nobody had communicated this with us. The whole experience was a little odd which was a shame as I think it had potential to be a good spot.
Pros: Very nice decor, Posh/chic, Good menu
Cons: Unhelpful staff, No soya milk, Not many vegan options on lunch menu
VictorRodrigues
Thank you for visit us and for your friendly post.
Read moreOur vegan options "A la Carte" based on traditional homemade Portuguese food and sophisticated modern fusion:
Couvert
-Crispy “Sea Spaghetti” SeaWeed
- “Alheira”(Portuguese sausage) puffs
-Black Olive Tapenade and Bread
Starters
-Soup of the Day
-Special Portuguese broth “Caldo Verde”
-Shitake Mushrooms as the traditional Portuguese “Bulhão Pato”
-“Little garden fishes” of Asparagus in Tempura
Main Courses
-Vegetable and Vegan “Francesinha” with Fries *Tradicional Porto sandwich with Cheese or not and Spicy sauce as coverage
-Grilled Endive in Beetroot and Ginger broth, crispy Onion and Leek with creamy Fava beans
-“Spineless” of Tofu as the tradicional Portuguese “Lagareiro”, grilled with garlic and olive oil with Sautéed Turnip greens and baked Potatoes
-Asparagus on champagne Risotto
-Mushrooms Risotto
-Marineted Seitan fillets on Port Wine and Pinion sauce, with Chesnut and Port Wine Puree, tiny Carrots and steamed Asparagus
Desserts
-Sliced piece of Fruit
-Creamy Yogurt with Jam and Forest Berries
…and so many others we present as daily courses for lunch with lower prices!!!
Best regards
Victor
Guest
SuzySig
Points +50
A sophisticated meal - Edit
This 100% vegetarian restaurant is situated in a very chic old house which include also a vey cute garden. It was still a bit chilly so we decided to eat inside and it was quite an experience.
Read moreFirst of al the staff is very nice, polite and obliging. The menu was written in portugese but one of the lady translated everything for us, in a very good english.
The food was elaborate and absolutely delicious, probably one of the best vegan meal I've ever eaten (the menu provided several vegan options).
I have a big appetite so maybe portions weren't big enough for me, but till I'd definitely recommend this place to whomever likes high class food.
Pros: Really awesome food, Very nice staff and atmosphere, Beautiful restaurant and garden
Cons: Quite pricey, Serving could have been a bit bigger
Guest
AndyT
Points +2360
Elegant vegetarian dining with many vegan options - Edit
Em Carne Viva (portuguese for "Living in the flesh") is a relatively new restaurant (open for about 6 months), and - different to other high-class restaurants in Porto like "Essencia", they do not offer non-vegetarian options. I can not commend them highly enough for that, also for offering a number of delicious vegan dishes, both in their daily menu and on their (small) a-la-carte dining menu.
Read moreI had the daily menu with a very nice vegan broccoli cream soup and something that can best be described as "pancake" with bean rice. Both the menu and the special starter, a warm mushroom salad with coriander, tasted very nice and was presented elegantly. The menu costs Eur 7,50, which can only be described as a great price for the food offered. It is most likely not exactly cheap when you go there in the evening, but the ambiance makes up for that. Credit cards are accepted.
The restaurant is situated in a beautifully renovated old house, and it has beautiful outside seating where you can enjoy the Portuguese sun. The staff are very polite and friendly, and there are enough people who speak English well and can explain the Portuguese menu and options to you.
Considering all this, it can only be said that the restaurant is a great addition to the vegan/vegetarian scene of Porto and you should not miss it.
Pros: Tasty food, many vegan options, Beautiful and festive setting, Moderate prices, at least for lunch menu
Guest
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