Communal dinners

[DPetronio]

My son and I are walking the Portuguese Camino next May. He is Vegetarian, and we are also looking for some communal dinners. Any advice?

 

[trecile]

Communal dinners in albergues are actually pretty rare.

Look for the covered dish symbol on Gronze.


The large pot symbol means that there is a kitchen available. Many pilgrims will make their own communal dinner with others using albergue kitchens.

 

[KariC]

One of the things I enjoyed about the Camino was letting go - taking the pilgrim meal that was offered, and ordering "un vino tinto" without asking what varieties were available. Never disappointed with what I was offered (and I am normally a pescetarian).

 

[lovelyshell]

I encountered two communal dinners but that were on the Portuguese central. Casa
Fernanda in Lugar do Conde and Ninho/Pilgrims Nest in Rubiaes. I don’t know anything about the coastal, sorry.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Whilst I too have no personal experience, but given that Portugal is the second highest fish eating country in the world (after Japan) you and your son should be able to join in this pilgrim experience. Maybe inquire of the hospitalero when you check in. If there is one on that night offer to help with the process. I think you will find that there are more and more " vegos" on the Camino. Cheers

 

[Yoyo]

I encountered two communal dinners but that were on the Portuguese central. Casa
Fernanda in Lugar do Conde and Ninho/Pilgrims Nest in Rubiaes. I don’t know anything about the coastal, sorry.

When I stayed at Ninho in Rubiães in September 2022, there was no communal dinner at the albergue. Everybody went to a restaurant a few hundred meters down the road.
The communal dinner at Casa Fernanda, of course, is legendary.

 

[jungleboy]

My son and I are walking the Portuguese Camino next May. He is Vegetarian, and we are also looking for some communal dinners. Any advice?

Whilst I too have no personal experience, but given that Portugal is the second highest fish eating country in the world (after Japan) you and your son should be able to join in this pilgrim experience.

Fish is not vegetarian.

For @DPetronio, there aren’t many (any?) communal dinners on the CP Coastal, and traditional Portuguese restaurants are generally lacking in vegetarian options, as the menu is typically divided into two sections: meat and fish.

But fortunately there are some options. Going quickly back through my own CP Coastal last year, here are some restaurants with veg choices: À Moda Antiga in Viana do Castelo has a veg burger and veg super salad, Sebastião in Caminho has a veg lasagna and a veg pizza, and La Pepita Burger Bar in Baiona has two veg burgers.

 

[good_old_shoes]

Personally, when I end up in an albergue that offers a communal dinner, and the hospitaleros don't ask if there are vegetarians there that evening to prepare something seperately, I'll just eat what is vegetarian anyway. Sometimes that's only bread and salad but that's okay. It's easy to ask for a bit of salad to be put aside before tuna is added - no extra work for the hospitaleros. But often the hospitaleros even asked, any vegetarians today? And then would prepare a version without meat.

Easiest option is to prepare a communal dinner yourself, together with other pilgrims! Those who want to add some meat can still do so seperately. All you need is an albergue with kitchen, a food shop nearby, and then ask around, "who's interested in cooking/eating together?". Especially younger pilgrims on a budget are usually happy to join.

It is a lot of fun, too, and a good way to get to know your fellow pilgrims.

 

[Fiona30]

I had a really lovely vegetarian communal dinner at O Lagar de Jesus, just after Padron (so final night before walking into Santiago) last month. Really good albergue and lovely hosts too. Would definitely recommend

 

[motero99]

My daughters and I stayed at the Ninho/Pilgrims Nest in Rubiaes in June and there was a meal. You had a choice of meat or vegetarian. My girls got the vegetarian and it was very good when I tasted it. I toook the meat, chicken. It was also very good. Wish I had chosen the vegetarian as they brought out a platter of extra chicken for everyone to share, I could have had the best of both worlds.
One of my daughters just asked if anyone knows the brand of vinho verde they serve with dinner. She loved it and felt it was the best vinho verde she had on the camino Portugues.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Vegetarian communal meals in Portugal are rather unlikely.

The Portuguese are VERY strong on communal eating, and when they walk in groups from their villages to Fátima, and on religious Feast days, communal eating is a matter of course. But pretty much they are not vegetarian.

The one place I *do* remember as having a vegetarian option in that scenario was at the excellent donativo Albergue Casa Catolico at Branca.

 

[JohnRT]

My wife and I stayed at three Albergues on the Portugese Central route in April 2023 where we had communal dinners. In addition to Casa Fernanda, I thoroughly recommend Quinta Estrada Romana at Pacos, (9 km north of Rubiaes).
Also Casa Alternativo at Orbenlle, which is north of Tui.
Both are likely to be able to offer a vege alternative, particularly if you ask in advance.

 

[jungleboy]

For everyone answering with suggestions for the CP Central, just FYI that this thread is in the CP Coastal sub-forum, which is presumably what the OP is doing (although not specifically mentioned in the post).

 

[lovelyshell]

When I stayed at Ninho in Rubiães in September 2022, there was no communal dinner at the albergue. Everybody went to a restaurant a few hundred meters down the road.
The communal dinner at Casa Fernanda, of course, is legendary.

I went in April 2023 so maybe it’s a new thing.

 

[JabbaPapa]

I did not partake of it, but there was a vegetarian communal dinner at the Bom Caminha Albergue in Caminha on the Coastal.

 

[Vancouver Rose]

I always let the places I was staying know I was a vegetarian when I booked. That way, if it wasa communal meal and they were able to prepare something vegetarian we both felt good. It's hard to be a vegetarian on the Camino. Some people think "there's plenty of bread and pasta", but vegetarians know that's not a healthy meal that will enable you to keep up the pace day after day.

 

[Bibi]

I had a really lovely vegetarian communal dinner at O Lagar de Jesus, just after Padron (so final night before walking into Santiago) last month. Really good albergue and lovely hosts too. Would definitely recommend

I’d second that . Wonderful albergue and great meal . I stayed there in June . It’s worth remembering that lots of the communal meals are vegetarian. I guess it’s easier to cater for diverse needs and it’s cheaper too. Enjoy your Camino .

 

[WGroleau]

The one place I *do* remember as having a vegetarian option in that scenario was at the excellent donativo Albergue Casa Catolico at Branca.

At Oasis Trails (Villamayor de Monjardín), we would prepare a separate portion for vegans or gluten-free if we were informed before 16:00. I haven’t been there since 2019, but I’m confident they will still be accommodating.

 

[Judy T]

I recommend the Happy Cow app. It finds restaurants with vegetarian/vegan offerings all over the world. I’ve used it in Portugal, Spain, and France in my iPhone. It’s free.

 

[JabbaPapa]

At Oasis Trails (Villamayor de Monjardín), we would prepare a separate portion for vegans or gluten-free if we were informed before 16:00. I haven’t been there since 2019, but I’m confident they will still be accommodating.

My impression on the Coastal last year was that, apart from restaurants etc with veggie/vegan options, the closer you got to Spain the more frequent these choices became.

Similar just over the border with Spain near Vilar Formoso in a completely different area of Portugal.

And of course Porto ...

 

[Lawrence Ross]

My son and I are walking the Portuguese Camino next May. He is Vegetarian, and we are also looking for some communal dinners. Any advice?

The Bom Caminha hostel in Caminha and Casa Gwendoline Vila Nova Cerveira hostel both make a communal vegetarian dinner with a meat option.

 

[Vickey]

My son and I are walking the Portuguese Camino next May. He is Vegetarian, and we are also looking for some communal dinners. Any advice?

I did coastal, senda littoral and there was no communal meals. I ate at the nearest restaurant, early...