The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Salvador

Bar Zulu, a long-standing back-packer establishment attached to Hostel Galeria 13, caters brilliantly for hungry veggies on a budget. It is famous for its burgers, including a vegetarian one made with a lentil and potato patty, but meat-free versions of two of Brazil’s national dishes are also not to be missed. The Feijão Picante is made with blacks beans, potato, kale, pumpkin, potatoes and herbs and the moqueca – a kind of hearty stew made with dendê oil – can be ordered without meat or fish.

Healthy Valley Brasil is a small self-service vegan, vegetarian and lacto-free restaurant in Piedade close to Pelourinho. Based on Indian principles, it uses no onion or garlic in the kitchen, preferring instead plenty of ginger. The moqueca is made with a type of cucumber or pickle called maxixe that came to Brazil with slaves, and the feijoada is bulked out with cashew nuts as well as the usual stewed black beans. Next door, there is a little lanchonete that serves snacks like wholegrain tofu-filled pastry.

100%, wholeheartedly vegetarian, Rango Vegan has been serving top-quality vegetarian food in Salvador since 2006. It offers a delivery service, cakes and tarts made to order, as well as dining in its sweet little restaurant with its own balcony. The Prato do Dia, or Dish of the Day, is usually a sure-fire bet and the desserts are not to be missed.

The owner of Ramma Cozinha Natural became interested in a meat-free and vegetable and grain-rich diet after suffering from bad headaches in the eighties. Now she serves varied and exciting fresh vegetarian and vegan food at her well-known restaurant. As well as a buffet of cold salads, the menu includes more elaborate dishes like sushi, Arabic and Indian food. Get a taste of Bahia on Fridays when some of Brazil’s typical dishes are cooked up.

The upmarket neighborhood of Pituba is home to Brisa Restaurante – a buffet and dining room which prides itself on its fresh organic vegetarian food. The simple restaurant is light and airy, with a little grassy garden. The pizzas are a speciality, as are the cakes, tarts and ice cream served for dessert. Live musicians play on Sundays and organic produce is available to buy on others.