The vegan dining scene has truly exploded in Melbourne over the last few years. Long gone are the days of soggy mushroom burgers and sad-looking salads—these joints are serving up some seriously delicious eats.
So whether you’re a true blue vegan or a veg-inner, here’s a rundown of Melbourne's best vegan restaurants for 2021:
Green Man's Arms
Carlton
Green Man's Arms' charming (and very green) interior decor offers a cosy respite from the hustle and bustle of the regular Lygon street Italian fare. It really feels like you’re just chatting away in someone’s fancy, sparkling living room. With a fresh, ever-changing menu, this joint truly embodies comfort food goals—so grab a pint and a vegan bolognese or tuck into their nice, juicy eggplant schnitzel, a strong case for the best vegan restaurant in Melbourne.
Trippy Taco
Fitzroy & St Kilda
Our favourite trippy team has set up shop on the other side of the river. Serving an all-vegetarian menu, every dish comes with a vegan-friendly option. Think scrambled tofu and soy cheese brekkie burritos, vegan tacos and fluffy, cheesy vegan quesadillas.
Shoku Iku
Northcote
Specialising in raw, organic eats, Shoku Iku’s menu also doubles as vegan. Banana pancakes are served with fresh fruit, raw and activated Nutella with a plant-based cream of the day. For lunch, noodles are made from kelp and vegetables which are served with a coconut dragon sauce and teriyaki sprinkle.
Smith & Deli
Fitzroy
Not your old-school corner deli, Smith & Daughter’s second café lives up to its veggie-filled reputation. Smith & Deli’s menu is home to creative names like the Parmageddon (vegan chicken parma with Napoli sauce, pesto, vegan mozzarella) and The Eggs-orcist (vegan egg salad with shredded iceberg). The sandwich names alone warrant a visit.
Smith & Daughters
Fitzroy
A reigning vegan dining institution in Melbourne, Smith & Daughters hardly needs an introduction. For vegan beginners, this is the heavenly place to start, with Spanish and Mexican-influenced dishes including Paella Fritters, tacos and creamy dips.
Shakahari
Carlton
Forget one-choice menus—all entrees, mains and desserts are vegan at Shakahari. Expect dishes like the Laksa Hebat with organic Japanese udon noodles, mixed vegetables and fried tempeh and tofu in a mildly spiced coconut stock. Is your mouth watering yet?
Vegie Bar
Fitzroy
Have you even been to Fitzroy if you haven’t been to Vegie Bar? The answer is no, no you haven’t. Smack bang on Brunswick Street, Vegie Bar is still one of the best vegan restaurants Melbourne has in 202—they serve all the veggie meals, including veggie-packed noodle dishes, warm buddha bowls and pizza (which even includes vegan cheese). And don’t walk past their sister store Girls & Boys next door, which serves vegan ice cream and sweet treats.
Transformer
Fitzroy
Vegie Bar’s older, more experimental, more popular sister (but don’t tell her that), Transformer is home to an all-vegetarian menu that champions humble ingredients like roast cauliflower and grilled king oyster mushrooms. A large portion of the menu is also vegan-friendly or can be made vegan on request—just look out for the cheeky “V” or “VO”.
Yong Green Food
Fitzroy
Focused on locally sourced, organic ingredients, Yong Green Food is a winner for foodies with particular dietary requirements. Raw, vegan, organic and gluten-free options abound, with Hawaiian Live Pizza and Kelp Pad Thai.
Sister Of Soul
St Kilda & Richmond
Sister of Soul boasts raw, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan meals that mark it out as one of the best vegetarian cafes in Melbourne—north or south of the river. The menu is full of familiar favourites and delicious surprises, and it's open pretty much all the time, from 7:30 am until late.
The Carringbush Hotel
Abbotsford
Boasting a classic pub vibe with a strong focus on sustainability, The Carringbush Hotel’s meat-free menu is vegan and vegetarian. All wine is on tap, there’s no packaged beer, it’s stocked with eco-friendly reusable metal straws and ethical plates, it’s decked with environmentally friendly lighting and heating...we could go on.
Lentil As Anything
Abbotsford, St Kilda & Thornbury
If you’re after a feel-good feed, don’t go past Lentil As Anything on Heliers Street in Abbotsford. Part of the Abbotsford Convent complex, this leave-your-pretensions-at-the-door set-up speaks to the heartstrings. The vegetarian and vegan fare is mighty decent, and the kitchen is run by staff and volunteers after a free feed. You pay what you can, and what you think it’s worth.
Lona Misa
SOUTH YARRA
Wouldn’t be a best vegan in Melbourne write up with a least three inclusions from Melbourne’s plant-based chef icon, Shannon Martinez. Lona Misa which opened earlier this year is 100% vegetarian with the majority of the menu dishes being vegan. The diner has a Latin-style approach, mixing traditional flavours into modern vegan interpretations like the Patatas Bravas and Peri Peri fire-roasted cauliflower.
Kevabs
BRUNSWICK
Traditionally a pretty tough one to replicate, Kebabs have been off the menu for most plant-based diners. Kevabs in Brunswick is a true wonder, offering top-notch kebabs, boreks, HSP's and more—utilising all non-animal ingredients and even they're free from soy, gluten, and nuts making it an absolute mecca for dietary restricted Melburnians. Hands down, one of the best vegan restaurants in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.
Evies Disco Diner
FITZROY
Evies Diner is the colourful converted warehouse diner in Fitzroy, and along with its seriously good vibes it also has one hell of a vegan-friendly menu. The American and Tex-mex style menu includes a range of spanking plant-based options including hots dogs, burgers, nachos and burritos.
Best Vegan Pizza Restaurants
Red Sparrow
Collingwood & Prahran
Vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike will be flocking like sparrows into Red Sparrow. Melbourne’s first dedicated vegan pizzeria, Red Sparrow has a completely plant-based menu, with dairy-free cheese substitutes (you won’t miss the dairy) and mock meats including beer-infused bratwurst. Gluten, soy and nut-sensitive foodies will also be catered for. Red Sparrow is now open for business.
Shop 225
PASCOE VALE SOUTH
The Pascoe-Vale favourite is also famed for its vegetarian and vegan offering, with the majority of the menu offering a plant-based version. The traditional Italian pizzeria has classical and inventive takes on authentic slices—like the Contadina and Nutella calzone. Shop 225 also has its coeliac accreditation, making it widely popular for its dietary offering.
Primo
NORTHCOTE
A top choice for any plant-based pizza enthusiast, Primo in Northcote has some of the best vegan pizza in Melbourne. The casual diner on High street has crafted several tasty options including the Westgarth with Roasted pepper, confit zucchini, eggplant, vegan fior di latte. They’re also coeliac accredited so there’s plenty of gluten-free options.
Have you heard? Shannon Martinez is opening a mammoth new vegan venue, check it out.
Image credit: Annika Kafcaloudis