Ao 26 Vegan Food Project is located in the neighbourhood of Chiado - the place to be in Lisbon. The restaurant is coming up to its first anniversary this June, and you can tell by the amount of people brimming in through the door at 1pm on a weekday that it is highly successful (pre-booking is definitely recommended!).
The decor is simple but elegant (I loved the rose gold ceiling pendants), reflecting the beautiful 18th century building itself; and the occasional iconic 28E yellow tram passing outside the window adds to the ambience.
I ordered the soup of the day for Sienna because I knew she would like it. It was pumpkin, sweet potato and turmeric sprinkled with sesame seeds, poppy seeds and hazel nuts (and only 2 Euros a bowl!). It was delicious and creamy, and Sienna was so excited about the "sprinkles"!
Ao 26 is child-friendly with high chairs available on request.
Looking around, Ao 26's vegan burgers are a really popular choice but I went for the Citríca Tropical salad (the menu is available in Portuguese and English). The combination of flavours really blew my mind. With the tangy orange rind, juicy kiwi, nutty quinoa, fresh leaves, radish, homemade vegan pesto (made with, basil, coriander, cashews and sunflower seeds) and more - this salad is pure genius.
We couldn't not order desert, especially looking at the menu. Ao 26 have a selection of sweet treats, from sugar-free raw cake to vegan crème brûlée. The oreo, peanut butter and chocolate cake was shouting out to me though, and it was indeed sensational!
This is Sienna's "don't you dare eat anymore of this delicious cake Mummy" glare!!
This little cake monster also got a blueberry "nice cream" afterwards!
A very special thank you to Ao 26 Vegan Food Project for having us and for the lovely, friendly service! Keep up the great work!
Follow Ao 26 Vegan Food Project's ever-evolving adventure on Instagram here for more vegan food inspiration.