Umami Veggie Food Fest

Umami Veggie Food Fest takes over Jardim do Torel, one of Lisbon's most scenic hilltop gardens, with sweeping views over the Baixa and the Tejo, on 16-17 May 2026. After a successful debut edition in October 2025 that drew national press coverage, Umami moves to a spring slot for its second outing and doubles down on its founding pitch: this is a gastronomy festival first, aimed at everyone including committed carnivores, with plant-based food that happens to be its entire reason for being.

The festival is run by two Lisbon cultural heavyweights. Amuse Bouche is behind Foodtopia and the Food Love Fest, both mainstays of the Portuguese food-festival circuit. New Sheet runs the Revenge of the 90's party series and brings the music and DJ programming. That hybrid DNA, serious food people plus serious music people, is what makes Umami feel different from a typical vegan fair.

Entry is €25 per person, with €20 returned as spending credit redeemable across all food and drink vendors. Children under 12 enter free, and group and family packages are available. The festival splits each day into two sessions: a relaxed lunch from 12:00 to 17:00, family-oriented with room for strollers and picnic blankets on the garden lawn, and a higher-energy dinner session from 18:00 to 23:00 with DJ sets, creative cocktails and a genuine party atmosphere as the sun sets over the city.

Confirmed vendors from the debut include Fava Tonka (chef Nuno Castro, Matosinhos) and Seiva (chef David Jesus, Matosinhos), two of Portugal's most decorated plant-forward kitchens, alongside food trucks and creative street-food concepts. The curatorial line has been "urban, bold, attitude-filled" rather than health-food crunchy, which has helped the festival attract Lisbon's gastronomy press.

Jardim do Torel is reached via the Elevador do Lavra funicular from Avenida da Liberdade (a two-minute lift up the hill), or a steep 10-minute walk from Restauradores metro. Everything is outdoors, so May weather in Lisbon (20-24°C, occasional showers) is your main variable, bring a light layer for the evening sessions.

Practical tips: buy tickets in advance via the official site; the debut sold out the Saturday evening session. Lunch sessions are the sweet spot if you want calm conversation with the chefs; dinner is for dancing.