The Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Brazil
- Rachel
- 16 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Brazil is a country widely known for its meat - especially barbecue, and the national dish Feijoada. Despite this, vegetarian and vegan dining options have grown significantly across the country.
Today, Brazil is experiencing a shift in eating habits, with a growing number of Brazilians adopting plant-based diets. A 2024 study indicates that 34% of Brazilians have some form of dietary restriction concerning animal products, including 5% identifying as vegan or vegetarian. Additionally, 21% are reducing meat consumption (GFI Brasil).
The rise in plant-based diets is also reflected in the availability of plant-based foods. In 2022, Brazil's plant-based food sector reached approximately US $170 million, a 42% increase from the previous year. This has led to the emergence of numerous vegetarian and vegan restaurants across the country, catering to the increasing demand for plant-based dining options.
Where to find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Brazil
Brazil's major cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are at the forefront of this movement, and now have a strong selection of vegetarian and vegan restaurants, while smaller coastal towns that are popular with tourists, particularly in Bahia, are also starting to offer options that cater to vegetarian and vegan diets.
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The best vegetarian & vegan restaurants in Rio de Janeiro
1. Teva Deli Rio & Teva Restaurant
A modern plant-based restaurant and bar in Ipanema serving a 100 per cent vegan menu made with locally grown, seasonal, organic produce. offering dishes such as burgers, mushroom steaks, vegan sweets and desserts. Also includes a vegan delicatessen and bakery.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: Ipanema (restaurant) and Copacabana (deli)
Highlights: Rated among the top vegan restaurants in Rio
2. Acougue Vegano
Vegan fast-food spot in Ipanema, serving burgers, skewers, and Braizlian snacks and street foods
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location:
Rua Prudente de Morais, 167 - Ipanema
Uptown Shopping - Barra da Tijuca
Highlights: Recommended for jackfruit coxinha
3. Refettorio Gastromotiva
A social-impact restaurant in Lapa serving a fixed-price lunch menu—with starter, main, dessert and beverage—crafted by guest chefs using rescued ingredients. Revenue supports community meals and culinary training.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Not exclusively vegan; menus are sustainable and vary daily. Plant-based options are used but animal products may appear depending on the chef and ingredients available.
Location: Lapa.
Highlights: All proceeds support evening meals for those in need and culinary education programmes.
4. Barletta – Padaria do Futuro
A bakery project described as one of the first 100 per cent vegan bakeries in Rio de Janeiro. Created to serve not only the vegan public but also people with dietary restrictions, such as dairy allergies, coeliac disease, and other intolerances. Positioned as a “bakery of the future,” bringing vegan alternatives to traditional bakery items in the city.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: R. Cinco de Julho, 486 - Icaraí, Niterói
Highlights: Focuses on inclusive baked goods and safe food options for those with allergies and intolerances.
5. Só Verde
Description: A fully vegan bar and restaurant in Botafogo offering fast-food-style dishes like burgers, onion rings, croquettes as well as traditional Brazilian fare.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: Rua General Polidoro, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro
Highlights: Considered a cosy spot to eat, and offers a broad menu of vegan dishes
6. ZaZa Bistro
A contemporary dining venue in Ipanema with a stylish decor and date-night ambiance. Offers international fusion dishes including clearly marked vegan choices such as moqueca (vegan), vegan gyozas, chickpea curry, vegan pasta, lasagne, and pad Thai. Reservations recommended.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Vegetarian with some vegan-friendly dishes
Location: Rua Joana Angélica 40, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
Highlights: Known for bold vegan flavours in a chic setting
7. Nusa Café Ipanema
A brunch café inspired by Balinese design offering healthy breakfast and lunch options with clearly labelled vegan and vegetarian dishes.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Full vegetarian menu with clear vegan options.
Location: R. Vinícius de Moraes, 129 - Ipanema
Highlights: Offers oat-milk, vegan waffles, avocado toast and pitaya bowls
8. Restaurante Haz
A Middle Eastern–style restaurant known for dishes like falafel, kafta, hummus and salads. Delivers a casual Middle Eastern dining experience.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Vegetarian with some vegan-friendly dishes
Location: Praça Santos Dumont, Rio de Janeiro
Highlights: Offers vegan falafel
9. Brota
A vegetarian-oriented restaurant in Botafogo with some vegan options.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Vegetarian with vegan options.
Location: Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro.
Highlights: Rua Conde de Irajá, 98 - Botafogo
10. Spazziano
Buffet restaurant located above a spa in Ipanema. Features organic and raw dishes, salad bar, warm and cold vegan items, and includes a green juice, “energy shot,” dessert, and sometimes a hot plate. The restaurant sometimes hosts raw events.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan historically, but the buffet now includes some meat options. The buffet continues to offer vegan and raw vegan dishes.
Location: Rua Prudente de Morais 729, Sobreloja, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro.
Highlights: Frequently described as “the best vegan buffet in Ipanema”
Vegetarian & vegan restaurants in São Paulo
1. Pop Vegan Food
A social enterprise established in 2017 by long-time vegans. Offers lunch buffet, pizzas, burgers, takeaway, and delivery.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: Rua Fernando de Albuquerque, 142/144 – Consolação, São Paulo
Highlights: An affordable lunch buffet, and fast-food that even non-vegans keep coming back for
2. A Coruja Vegan Steakhouse
A pioneering vegan rodízio (all-you-can-eat) steakhouse offering plant-based versions of traditional Brazilian barbecue items like kafta, sausage, and plant-based fish.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: Rua Tito, 25 – Vila Romana
Highlights: Known for its authentic Brazilian barbecue experience without animal products
3. Sushimar Vegano
São Paulo's first vegan Japanese restaurant, offering an à la carte menu and all-you-can-eat options with dishes like coconut nigiri and shiitake gyoza.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: Alameda Campinas, 1287 – Jardins
Highlights: Renowned for its innovative vegan sushi
4. Loving Hut – Vila Mariana
Part of an international chain, this location offers a diverse vegan menu including Asian and Brazilian dishes, desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: Rua França Pinto, 243 – Vila Mariana
Highlights: Known for its extensive menu with a diverse range of choices for vegans
5. Mount Zion Vegano
A neighborhood food bar offering vegan versions of traditional Brazilian snacks like burgers and coxinhas.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: Rua Caio Graco, 393 – São Paulo
Highlights: Known for its casual vibe and vegan take on classic Brazilian snacks
6. Botanikafe
A trendy cafe inspired by concept of All Day Brunch, offering tasty and healthy dishes any time of the day. Aims to create shared experiences through food.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Serves meat but has extensive vegetarian options and some vegan options.
Location: Four locations in São Paulo:
Jardins: Alameda Lorena, 1765
Butantã: Avenida Magalhães de Castro, 286
Pinheiros: Rua Padre Garcia Velho, 56
Café Bienal: Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/n – Ibirapuera
Highlights: All-day brunch menu, with an emphasis on healthy, flavourful dishes
Vegetarian & vegan food in Brasília
The Plant – Asa Norte & Asa Sul
Vegan restaurant with two locations in Brasília, offering plant-based dishes including burgers, bowls, and salads. Focuses on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and healthy vegan cuisine.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: Two locations: Asa Norte and Asa Sul, Brasília
Highlights: Emphasis on wholesome, balanced meals. Suitable for both casual dining and take-away.
Vegetarian & vegan food in Salvador
1. B Vegan Gastronomia
A plant-based café delivering burgers, falafels, pizzas, sweets, and a customizable “PF B Vegan” plate including rice, beans, potatoes, salad and extras.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: Locations in Barra and Pituba, Salvador
Highlights: Highly rated falafel wrap
2. Ramma Cozinha Natural
A natural-food restaurant offering a buffet of salads, raw foods, sprouted grains, organic vegetables, and occasional fish or chicken. Most dishes are free of eggs, dairy, butter and refined ingredients.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Extensive vegetarian and vegan options. Clearly labelled vegan dishes and limited meat options kept separate.
Location: Rua Lord Cochrane 76, Barra
Highlights: High-quality healthy ingredients
Vegetarian & vegan food in Morro de São Paulo
Passiflora
Vegan restaurant situated directly on the beach, accessible via stairs. Serves Bahian-style vegan dishes such as plantain moqueca, chickpea curry, cakes, sweets, and juices.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: First Beach, Morro de São Paulo
Highlights: The island’s first vegan restaurant, set right on the beach by the sea. Low-cost “plate of the day” at R$ 30
Vegetarian & vegan restaurants in Itacaré
1. Restaurante Alamaim
Middle Eastern vegetarian restaurant focusing on Arabian cuisine with eco-friendly ingredients. Offerings include falafels, wraps, dips such as hummus and baba ganoush, and mixed plates.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Mostly vegan, some vegetarian options
Location: Rua Pedro Longo, 204 (Pituba), Itacaré
Highlights: Recognised for delicious vegan dishes and outstanding falafel
2. La Ninfa
Vegetarian café serving healthy organic food, including quinoa bowls, avocado toast, tapioca, quesadillas.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Mostly vegan, some vegetarian options
Location: Passarela da Vila, 139, Itacaré
Highlights: Organic food & outdoor seating
3. Cioba Pizzaria
An Italian pizzeria offering the best traditional pizzas in Itacare. Offers a highly-rated vegan pizza loaded with vegetables, especially designed for vegans.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Pizza restaurant with a vegan option
Location: Rua Pituba II, 233 - Itacaré
Highlights: Pizza bases made with natural fermentation and quality ingredients
Vegetarian & vegan restaurants in Pipa
Coelho Vegano
Vegan restaurant offering healthy meals in a relaxed and nature-integrated environment. Popular for fresh, well-prepared vegan dishes and desserts. The space includes rustic and ecological decor, a small pool, and fresh juices.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Fully vegan
Location: Rua dos Pássaros, 1150, Pipa
Highlights: Dishes are served in three sizes: P, M, and G (small, medium, and large). The pool can be used by guests.
More resources for planning your trip
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