Edinburgh is one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world. The city boasts over a dozen fully vegan restaurants and cafés, and most places will offer at least a couple of vegan options. A restaurant or café in Edinburgh with no vegan offering at all is now, thankfully, quite rare.
You will notice that this guide does not include chain restaurants. While there are some great vegan options served at national chains, this website focuses on places and dishes you can only experience in Edinburgh. For detailed reviews of each and every vegan-friendly restaurant in the city, you should check out HappyCow.
But in the meantime, here are some of the very best vegan restaurants in Edinburgh, and some tips for visitors too. Hope you’re feeling hungry…
Contents
- Fully vegan restaurants in Edinburgh
- Vegetarian restaurants in Edinburgh
- Where to find vegan breakfast
- Best places for vegan lunch
- Where to find vegan dinner
- Something sweet: where to go for vegan coffee and cake
- Where to get vegan afternoon tea
- Where to eat vegan in Edinburgh: Map
Fully vegan restaurants in Edinburgh
From fine dining to brunch and lunch and cosy cafés, Scotland has a delicious bounty of totally vegan restaurants that don’t have any meat, dairy, or other animal products on the menu.
Start off the day at one of Edinburgh’s wonderful vegan cafés. Chapter One on Dalry Road used to be a regular café, but a couple of years ago they decided to go fully vegan, including refusing to sell cow’s milk in their coffee. They now do a wonderful range of breakfast options, sandwiches and cake.
Meanwhile, Green Bite Café on Inverleith Row has a fantastic range of pies, rolls, salads, sandwiches, soup, and of course sweet treats like cakes and pastries. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a wee mid-morning pick-me-up. Most of their range is available to take away as well, so there’s no excuse not to grab a stash of pastries and pies to devour later!
If you would prefer someplace that is a good all-rounder for breakfast, lunch and dinner, look no further than Seeds for the Soul in Bruntsfield. Open from dawn ’til dusk, this place has a cult following and for good reason. The owners are very passionate about good food, using organic ingredients where possible and making everything from scratch right on the premises.
And talking of places with a cult following – FacePlant is also a firm favourite with Edinburgh’s vegans. FacePlant Foods started life as a street food stall, drawing crowds with its legendary mac and cheese, burgers and decadent sandwiches. Now they have a brick-and-mortar location in Leith that opens for lunch Thursday to Sunday. Don’t be surprised if you see a queue snaking out the door!
Another great option for lunch is Black Rabbit in Tollcross. This deli has a grab-and-go counter with mouthwatering sandwiches, rolls and sweet treats. There is no seating available at the time of writing, but you could grab a picnic blanket and head to the Meadows on a sunny day for a wonderful cruelty-free picnic.
Pulse under St Johns Church also has fantastic lunch options, and its central location on the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road makes it the perfect place to refuel while shopping or sightseeing in Edinburgh’s city centre. Passionate husband-and-wife team Mark and Ayshé make great food that is delicious and nutritious. They make the most of local produce and pride themselves in creating tasty dishes that use as little sugar and oil as possible. Be sure to sample their salads, which are really flavourful.
If you’re down in Leith, be sure to pop into The Sly Fox for lunch. Like FacePlant, started their journey serving up vegan comfort food at Edinburgh’s street food markets – but now they have moved into a permanent residence in Leith. Here you will find comforting favourites such as vegan goulash and mac and cheese, alongside some new dishes like dirty falafel and vegan ‘salmon’ cream on toast. The vegan goulash is a must-try.
Another great place for lunch is Holy Cow, which has two locations: Holy Cow on Elder Street beside the main bus station, and Holy Cow Lounge inside Edinburgh Printmakers on Dundee Street. The Holy Cow Lounge is slightly bigger, so you are more likely to get a table at busy times.
Holy Cow has a varied menu of imaginative vegan dishes, but it is most renowned for its mouth-watering range of burgers and cakes. Everything at Holy Cow is homemade, organic and made fresh on the premises. As the menu is based on seasonal ingredients, you can expect the food available to change throughout the year, but it will always be vegan and there will always be a couple of gluten-free options available too.
For those who would prefer something sweet, a visit to Considerit is an absolute must. They are famous for their doughnuts, but they also make artisan vegan chocolate and sell dairy-free ice cream during the summer. Whether you are vegan or not, you are going to love Considerit’s baked delights. Their doughnut flavours change all the time and with seasonal specials for Christmas, Halloween and Easter (vegan creme eggs, anyone)? But you will always find regular flavours like biscoff, cinnamon sugar and Oreo on their shelves.
Just up the road from Considerit on Buccleuch Street you will find more sweet treats at Missy’s Vegan Cupcakes. This completely-vegan bakery specialises in sweet treats like cupcakes, cookies, cheesecake and pastries. There is also a small art gallery which sells various crafts from local makers. You’ll also often find them at vegan festivals and at the Leith and Stockbridge Markets.
Moving onto dinner – Harmonium is the perfect place if you want somewhere chill to relax with a pint and a good meal at the end of the day. From the same people who brought you the likes of Stereo, Mono and The Flying Duck in Glasgow, this bar and restaurant is completely vegan, from the food menu to the wine list. Comfort food is top of the agenda here at Harmonium, so expect to find tempting classics like pizzas, burgers and macaroni cheese alongside new inventive dishes like mushroom “scallops” and vegan Bhan Mi.
If you would like to head East for some tasty vegan food, we heartily recommend Soul Vegan on West Richmond Street. This wee Malaysian restaurant in Edinburgh’s Southside has a completely vegan menu bursting with colourful options that are full of flavour. Tofu enthusiasts are well taken care of with dishes such as satay tofu, mapo tofu, special deep-fried tofu and tofu green curry. There’s lots for noodle lovers too, from wonton noodle soup to gan lau mee with char sui and wonton. The sign above its door says “Welcome to Vegan Paradise” – and it’s not far wrong.
Or if you like Vietnamese Food, you’ll love Sen Viet Vegan. has a broad menu with something to suit every taste. If you want to try a bit of everything, make sure you get the sharing starter platter. Main course options include the classic pho, Vietnamese curry or stir-fried tofu and vegetables.
Vegan Italian food lovers are well catered for, with not one but two totally-vegan Italian restaurants in Edinburgh! First up we have Novapizza on Howe Street, which a huge menu full of Italian delights like pizza and pasta, and a seasonal menu which changes every six months or so. The vegan pizza menu reads like something you would find at any onmi Italian establishment, except that all the usual ingredients such as mozzarella, salami, ham and pepperoni have been swapped out for vegan alternatives. So if you have been craving a vegan alternative to pepperoni pizza, then Novapizza will definitely hit the spot.
On the other side of town, we have Sora Lella at Tollcross. This little award-winning restaurant oozes charm and its wide and varied menu is bound to satisfy all tastes. From classic pasta dishes such as carbonara, all’arrabbiata and lasagne to pizzas with toppings like “meat” feast, quattro stagioni and white crostini pizza, all of your favourites have been lovingly created without the meat and dairy.
There are also two really exciting residencies happening in a couple of Edinburgh’s pubs at the moment. At The Dog House you can find Antojitos, providing tasty vegan Mexican food to the good people of Newington. They also do regular street food pop-ups at Bellfield Brewery. The dishes here are deliciously comforting and excellent value for money. Can’t decide what to order? You can get a selection of the smaller plates, such as guacamole with moreish tortilla chips, spicy potatoes or taquitos, for a fixed price. Just get a bit of everything and share it with your friends.
Meanwhile, at the Meadows Tap you will find Rabbit Food. I an ironic twist of the infamous saying – the food at Rabbit Food is anything but! Expect dirty burgers, loaded fries, creamy mac and cheese and weekly specials which may sometimes combine all three. If you want to load up on great-tasting comfort food in a casual setting, this is the ideal place.
Vegetarian restaurants in Edinburgh
Of course, you don’t need to necessarily stick to vegan restaurants to get a great plant-based meal in Edinburgh. We have a wealth of vegetarian restaurants too, some of which are institutions in their own right. Yes, unfortunately these establishments still offer dairy and (sometimes) honey, but their vegan options clearly labelled, absolutely delicious and worth checking out.
Many visitors arrive in Edinburgh via Waverley Train Station. Come out of the back entrance, huff and puff up the stairs of Fleshmarket Close and you will be rewarded with one of the best places for lunch in the entire city: The Baked Potato Shop.
This cheap-and-cheerful vegetarian deli specialises in – you guessed it – baked potatoes. But they have recently been adding other tempting items to their menu including vegan nuggets, samosas, chips and sausage rolls. This author is a bit old-school though, and always orders the baked potato stuffed with vegan haggis. Excellent value for money and guaranteed to keep you full all day long.
The only slight issue you may have at the Baked Potato Shop is its lack of seating. With only one table, be prepared to take your food away, or get very friendly with fellow patrons! But with food this good and simple, it’s a small price to pay.
Another great place for lunch is The Pavilion Café in the Meadows. They have a nice selection of vegan wraps and cake, but what really sets this place apart is the location. The Meadows is a popular haunt with locals on a summer’s day, and for good reason. There’s nothing better than curling up in one of their sun-soaked comfy chairs and watching the world go by.
Portobello Beach is also a popular spot on a summer’s day, and there you will find the wonderful Gogo Beets café. This small colourful café has lots of grab-and-go options for breakfast and lunch, as well as tempting sweet treats such as cakes, empire biscuits, traybakes and much more.
For breakfast, you can have a yummy coconut milk porridge, topped with fruit compote and a wholesome sprinkling of seeds. For lunch, there is soup of the day (which is always vegan) as well as a selection of freshly made sandwiches and salads. Or, if you’re feeling naughty, why not treat yourself to one of their devilish vegan sriracha melts?
Another café which is well worth a visit is Love, Peace and Coffee in Edinburgh’s Southside. This cosy café boasts a wealth of vegan-friendly hot drinks and treats. In fact, most of the menu is vegan, apart from the odd bake here and there, and they do still offer cow’s milk as an option for your tea or coffee.
Walk in the door and you will be greeted with a huge display of vegan cakes such as fudge cake, apple tarts, cinnamon rolls, bakewell bakes and much more. There are also plenty of gluten-free options too.
Talking of cosy places, Santosa Café in Leith is a welcoming yoga café with a great vibe. It offers a meat-free menu including soups, wraps, paninis and hotpots. Stop by the counter and you’ll also find a range of vegan-friendly sweet treats like flapjacks and energy balls, perfect for enjoying with a warming mug of herbal tea.
Hummus is another small café in Bruntsfield that has some great vegetarian Middle Eastern food. Here you can enjoy vegan meze, with options such as hummus (obviously), baba ganoush, stuffed vine leaves, tabbouleh salad, pastries, falafel and wraps. Everything that’s vegan is clearly marked on the menu board.
Easter Road has a couple of great vegetarian café options. The first is Plant Bae, which has a tempting range of vegan waffles, brownies, cookies, cakes, sweet treats and breakfast options. Their eat-in menu is small but perfectly formed, with vegan options including waffles (pictured) bread with beet hummus and avocado on toast. Great for breakfast, lunch, or a wee coffee and cake.
Then we have Foodstory, which will already be a familiar name with Aberdonians. After finding great success with several locations in Aberdeen, the Foodstory team ventured south and opened their first café in Edinburgh. At least half the menu is vegan, with lots of delicious and wholesome options for lunch or a snack.
And talking of legendary names, we have a couple of vegetarian restaurants that have been blazing the trail for decades and gained somewhat of a cult following.
David Bann is near Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and has been a firm favourite with locals and tourists alike for years. It has a great reputation for vegetarian fine dining in a relatively relaxed setting. This restaurant is a great option if you want something a little bit special, but there is certainly no stuffy vibe here. This place gets the balance between great food and a relaxed atmosphere absolutely perfect.
And you can’t think about the vegetarian scene in Edinburgh without Hendersons springing to mind. The original location in the New Town used to be the longest-running vegetarian restaurant in the country before it fell victim to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Hendersons has opened up a lovely new restaurant in the heart of Bruntsfield.
The new location has a fresh new look, but the menu has lots of your old favourites including their famous haggis, neeps and tatties. Their new slogan is ‘Eat Better, Live Better’, and that shines through in their wholesome and tasty dishes. The new-and-improved Hendersons might have had a bit of a makeover, but they haven’t forgotten their roots and are still a must-visit for every veggie in Edinburgh.
Another legendary place to try is Kalpna, a glittering vegetarian institution in the heart of Edinburgh’s student district. And I mean that quite literally – there are lots of little sparkling mirrors on the walls in its iconic interior! Their South Indian menu is full of delightful vegan finds, but my go-to dish is always the vegan thali. For about £18 you get a taste of five seasonal wet dishes, bread, chutney, rice, pakoras, poppadom and a dessert – all presented in a beautiful silver platter. Definitely one to try for a special occasion.
Also located in the thick of Edinburgh University’s campus buildings, Paradise Palms is one of the best places to go for a drink. This delightfully kitsch bar has a fabulous cocktail menu and a great atmosphere to boot. It’s here that you will find Lucky Pig, which has been in residence at Paradise Palms for a couple of years now. They have built a reputation for great vegetarian soul food and have lots of vegan-friendly options too, including vegan macaroni cheese, hot dogs, nachos, burgers, and much more.
Where to find vegan breakfast in Edinburgh
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and thankfully in Edinburgh there are plenty of places where you can start the day the plant-based way. Whether you’re looking for something comforting like a warming bowl of porridge, a tempting tower of pancakes, or the vegan answer to the traditional full Scottish fry-up, there are lots of options for you to choose from.
Vegan restaurant Seeds for the Soul has a wonderful range for breakfast, including full cooked vegan breakfast (pictured above), avocado and ‘bacon’ on toast, bacon and tofu scramble or pancakes. Chapter One is a totally vegan café with lots of lovely breakfast options for sitting-in, and has great coffee too. For something lighter, Green Bite Café has a range of vegan pastries to enjoy with your coffee.
Vegetarian haunts Plant Bae and Gogo Beets are also great places for breakfast. Plant Bae on Easter Road has an amazing range of yummy waffles, while Gogo Beets in Portobello has some lovely warming porridge to grab-and-go.
Loudons and Hula Juice Bar have a couple of locations in Edinburgh city centre. While these places are not vegan, they have a great range of vegan options for a wholesome start to the day. Loudons has fantastic pancakes, a vegan cooked breakfast and hot-filled rolls. Meanwhile, Hula boasts a menu full of nutritious smoothies, porridge and smoothie bowls.
Down in Leith, The Roseleaf has a dedicated vegan menu, including a section full of all-day breakfast and brunch options. On Broughton Street, Bakery Andante can make many of their regular menu items vegan, including their waffles and tofu florentine. You can also find a fantastic full vegan breakfast or crepes at Wanderlust on the Royal Mile.
For grab-and-go options, BBL does incredible vegan sausages and is perfect for a cheap filled roll. Bross Bagels also have several locations across the city and have lots of great vegan fillings to choose from.
And if you fancy something a wee bit different… Indian restaurant Sabzi on Ferry Road is open from 10am on weekends for Indian-style breakfast. Vegan options include halwa chana puri and scrambled tofu and sausage naan.
Best places for vegan lunch in Edinburgh
When hunger hits around midday, there are lots of vegan options to try for lunch. From wholesome soups and salads to dirty burgers, pies and delicious sandwiches, here are some of our favourite places to visit:
Holy Cow do fantastic vegan sandwiches and burgers, all made in-house. Pulse Home Cooking have a sumptuous range of salads, soups and other great options for lunch, all with local organic ingredients and made with as little oil and sugar as possible.
Black Rabbit have some great grab-and-go sandwiches (the vegan “egg” and cress is our favourite), and Faceplant Foods is the place to go for filthy grilled cheeze.
Green Bite Café is the home of KaMa Vegan Bakes, so this is the perfect place to grab a delicious pastry, sausage roll or pie. For a lunchtime comfort food fix, head into Leith to The Sly Fox and give their macaroni sheese or vegan goulash a try.
For a cheap lunch that is guaranteed to keep you going all day, head along to the Baked Potato Shop which offers a range of vegan-friendly fillings. For a cosy and comforting lunch without the meat, check out Santosa Café which is totally vegetarian.
If you have a pie craving, Edinburgh has lots of pie shops that have vegan options. The Piemaker and Chums in Leith are our favourites.
Tollcross area also has a couple of community cafés that get rave reviews from vegans: Curran Geal on Leven Street and Kafe Kweer on Gilmore Place.
Civerinos Slice does pizza by the slice, and they have a couple of vegan options. You can’t go wrong with a slice of vegan margherita. They have several locations across Edinburgh, but our personal favourite is Prom Slice, where you can grab a pizza slice and enjoy on Portobello Beach.
We also love The Pakora Bar, which has a vast selection of pakora and most of their veg options are suitable for vegans. Meanwhile, Knights Kitchen on Leith Walk boasts some of the best African food in the city with great vegan options.
And for something healthy and wholesome on cold days, nothing beats a bowl of steaming hot soup from Union of Genius, which always has at least two vegan soup specials on any given day.
Where to find vegan dinner in Edinburgh
At the end of the day, there are some great options for vegan meals in Edinburgh. From cheap and cheerful to fine dining tasting menus, there is something for everyone.
For those who want to end the day in a cosy pub, Harmonium is a completely vegan pub and music venue with a great vegan food menu. Rabbit Food is currently in residency at the Meadows Tap, where you will find a mouthwatering selection of burgers, mac and cheese, and other vegan junk food. The Dog House is also hosting a vegan residency in the form of Antojitos, who do delicious vegan TexMex.
If you fancy something a bit more exotic, then we highly recommend Soul Vegan which does excellent Malaysian street food in an intimate setting. Fans of Vietnamese food will like Sen Viet Vegan, and those craving vegan Italian should visit Novapizza or Sora Lella.
If you want to celebrate something special, vegetarian restaurant David Bann is near the Royal Mile and popular with locals and visitors alike. Hendersons is also a vegetarian cult favourite, and a great place for a relaxed meal out. For a real treat, try the vegan thali at vegetarian Indian restaurant Kalpna, or Lucky Pig at Paradise Palms for some decent vegan filth.
There are lots of other pubs and restaurants in Edinburgh that aren’t necessarily vegan or vegetarian, but still have great vegan options for dinner. The Auld Hoose pub does famously generous portions of vegan nachos, and Woodland Creatures do a vegan roast dinner on Sundays.
The Herringbone Goldenacre has a lovely vegan menu, as does The Safari Lounge. The Sheep Heid Inn, Scotland’s oldest pub, also has a separate vegan menu which you can also find at the Salisbury Arms.
Everyone should experience an Edinburgh chippy tea, and vegans are no different. Thank goodness for #Fish in Marchmont, who have a great vegan menu including tofu “fish”, scampi, battered sausage and other chippy favourites.
There are a couple of good options for vegan burgers, too. Local favourite burger joints Butta Burger and Bread Meats Bread both have great vegan offerings.
If you need good food fast, head to Bonnie Burrito, which has great burritos with vegan filling options including vegan haggis and THIS isn’t chicken.
For a cheap dinner option, you can’t do much better than Mosque Kitchen. They use oil rather than ghee in their cooking, so most of their vegetarian curries are also suitable for vegans. Just ask for the options when you order.
For vegan tastes of the East, both Maki & Ramen and Bar Soba have excellent vegan options. Maki & Ramen has great vegan ramen (some dishes topped with vegan bacon), sushi and curry. While Bar Soba has great vegan fusion options including Thai curry and pad Thai.
Another great option is BABA on George Street. They don’t have their vegan options clearly marked, but ask your server and they will expertly tell you what elements of their mouthwatering meze menu can be made vegan.
And for something really special, check out Aurora in Leith. Their fine dining seasonal tasting menu always has a vegan option alternative (including a vegan cheese board) and never fails to delight.
Something sweet: where to go for vegan coffee and cake
Whether it’s for a catch-up with friends or for taking your laptop and working in a change of scene, nothing beats finding a great café for some tea and cake. Edinburgh has a thriving café culture, and most places will offer non-dairy milk (although some places still do charge extra, grumble grumble).
Here are some of our favourite places for a wee sugar and caffeine boost:
You can’t write about sweet treats in Edinburgh without mentioning Considerit. This vegan doughnut and coffee shop regularly has queues snaking out the door, and for good reason. A visit to Edinburgh is not complete without giving one of these incredible doughnuts a try.
Green Bite Café also has some incredible vegan bakes, including cakes and pastries. Other great fully-vegan haunts for cake include Black Rabbit (make sure you try their ‘cruffin’!), Holy Cow, Chapter One and Missy’s Vegan Cupcakes.
There are lots of vegetarian cafés in Edinburgh, too. Our favourites include Gogo Beets in Portobello, Love Peace & Coffee in Southside, The Pavilion Café on the Meadows and Plant Bae on Easter Road, which does epic buns and cookies.
Other regular cafés cater for vegans too. Those who love tea should try Eteaket. Not only do they have an incredible selection of loose-leaf teas, they also offer vegan cakes and scones.
Those who love good coffee should check out The Milkman or Little Fitzroy, who pride themselves in their quality joe and both regularly sell sweet treats by the VGN Bakery Co.
The Kilted Donut in Stockbridge has three regular flavours – jammy, vanilla and cinnamon sugar – that are vegan-friendly. You can choose between the full-size donut or the cute mini ‘kilties’ for just a small bite. Donut specialists Room and Rumours also have vegan options, including cinnamon buns.
Those with a sweet tooth will also love the Bearded Baker in Canonmills, where you can find epic buns including cinnamon and biscoff. And local favourite for cakes Lovecrumbs also usually has a couple of vegan options on display.
Where to get vegan afternoon tea in Edinburgh
For those not familiar, afternoon tea is a wonderful British tradition which involves three (or more) tiers of finger sandwiches, scones and cakes, and a pot of great tea. If you are just visiting Edinburgh, then having afternoon tea is an absolute must.
The good news is that there are a couple of vegan places in Edinburgh that do afternoon tea: Holy Cow do a gluten-free and vegan afternoon tea (but you do have to order ahead to book) and Black Rabbit often offer pre-ordered afternoon tea to go, perfect for enjoying at home or in your hotel room.
Other places that do afternoon tea will often cater for vegans if you let them know in advance. The Dome, Mimi’s Bakehouse and Peacock Alley at Waldorf Astoria The Caledonian all do great offerings.
Where to eat vegan in Edinburgh: Map
To make things easy to find, we have plotted out all the locations in this guide on this handy dandy Google Map. Dark green markers are fully vegan, light green markers are vegetarian, and purple markers are omnivore with great vegan options.
Struggling with a small map? Click here to view full size in Google Maps.
So there we have it – the ultimate guide to eating out vegan in Edinburgh! Are there any places you would recommend that aren’t in this guide? Let us know!