If you’re a vegan, you’re probably no stranger to being asked: “But, what do you eat?” Insert eye roll here. Despite popular belief, vegans don’t survive solely on kale, lettuce, and Oreos. In fact, Melbourne is blessed with a booming vegan cafe and restaurant scene which rivals any “normal” restaurant the city has on offer. From plant-based veggie bars to mock meat specialists, Melbourne has a truly dedicated selection of ‘to die for’ (but no one had to) eating options for vegans. So whether you’re a flexitarian, hardcore vegan, or even just a little more health-conscious, we have rounded up the best vegan restaurants Melbourne has to offer.
1. Vegie Bar
Vegie Bar has been serving its vegan and vegetarian delights to Melburnians for more than two decades. One of the most popular vegan eateries in the city, it sits right in the heart of Fitzroy and is always booming. Its high quality and an extensive variety of plant-based foods keep diners coming back time and time again. There is an ever-changing specials board as well as some yummy regular menu items.
Location: 380 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
Website: www.vegiebar.com.au
2. Matcha Mylkbar
This health-conscious cafe should send its competitors green with envy, serving up delicious emerald goodies. Not only does Matcha Mylkbar boast bright green matcha lattes and a selection of delicious smoothies, but it also has an extensive vegan menu. With their unusual vegan poached ‘egg,’ soy chicken burger, and creamy pumpkin gnocchi, even your non-vegan mates will be itchy to try it. They also house a dreamy range of vegan-friendly slices and sweet treats.
Location: 72A Acland St, St Kilda, Melbourne
Website: www.matchamylkbar.com
3. Yong Green Food
Another favourite vegan restaurant in the heart of Fitzroy, Yong Green Food, specialises in creating organic, mostly raw dishes from cuisines all over the world. They are also more than happy to cater to any dietary requirements and food intolerances. Their extensive raw menu includes raw nachos, a nutty burger, and the incredibly innovative ‘rawsagne.’ They also offer a selection of yummy desserts such as pecan pie, cheesecake, and carrot cake.
Location: 421 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
Website: www.yonggreenfood.com.au
4. Sister of Soul
Nestled away in the bayside area of St Kilda is beach vegan eatery, Sister of Soul. This delightful vegan and vegetarian cafe offer an all-day breakfast as well as a yummy selection of lunch and dinner foods. Our favourites include their delicious deep-fried eggplant, tempeh massaman curry, and big vegan breakfast. But, that’s not all. They also offer some seriously sweet goodies such as their unique version of rocky road complete with their housemade marshmallow.
Location: 73 Acland St, St Kilda, Melbourne
Website: www.sisterofsoul.com.au
5. Serotonin Eatery
Burnley’s hidden treasure, Serotonin Eatery offers an abundance of tasty vegan options, including sweet treats and savoury dishes. The always-smiling staff is always willing to accommodate any dietary requirements and help you choose! With offerings including the likes of the Smiling Smashed Avo and Raw Green Protein Bowl, they understand the challenge. You can also enjoy a cheeky peanut butter or ginger latte while you eat.
Location: 52 Madden Grove, Burnley, Melbourne
Website: www.serotonindealer.com
6. Transformer
Transformer is Vegie Bar’s bigger sister that’s older and age but, also and thankfully, bigger in size. It boasts an entirely vegetarian menu with classic ingredients such as roast cauliflower and grilled king oyster mushrooms. There is also a large selection of vegan choices available, but most items on the menu can be changed to accommodate also.
Location: 99 Rose St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
Website: www.transformerfitzroy.com
7. Red Sparrow Pizza
A vegan pizzeria, what a wonderful world, well city, we live in. The angels at Red Sparrow Pizza specialise in creating vegan-friendly wood-oven pizzas. The truly surprising and delightful thing is that the pizzas are equally as (vegan) cheesy and delicious as what the non-vegan folk call ‘real pizza.’ They have an extensive range of entirely vegan-friendly pizza options, which will rival any pizzeria in Melbourne.
Location: 406 Smith St, Collingwood, Melbourne
Website: www.redsparrowpizza.com
8. Trippy Taco
Trippy Taco has set up shops in Fitzroy and St Kilda, so they are catering to both sides of the city’s vegan needs. They are entirely vegetarian, with vegan alternatives available for every item on the menu. They offer delicious vegan-style Mexican food that doesn’t compromise on flavour or cheesiness. Favourite dishes include scrambled tofu and soy cheese breakfast burritos, vegan tacos, and cheesy vegan quesadillas.’
Location: 234 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
Location: 6 Acland St, St Kilda, Melbourne
Website: www.trippytaco.com.au
9. Shakahari
Considered the most innovative vegan restaurant in Melbourne, Shakahari has been catering to the vegan needs of Carlton locals since 1972. Fusing traditional Indian and Japanese dishes with vegan cuisine, they offer an extensive selection of flavour-filled eats. This includes a delicious laksa and a variety of other spicy curries. We love the bite-sized fried avocado wedges and the krub phom dumplings packed with sweet corn, mushroom, pumpkin, and walnuts.
Location: 201-203 Faraday St, Carlton, Melbourne
Website: www.shakahari.com.au
10. Smith and Daughters
Mo Wyse and chef Shannon Martinez, the brains behind Smith and Daughters are indeed pioneers of Melbourne’s vegan food culture. Fitzroy’s first all-vegan Latino restaurant, Smith and Daughters, opened two years ago and has since been a booming success. This is in no small amount due to Martine who serves up some of the most real-tasting imitation meat in the city. His soy, mushroom, wheat protein, and plant root creations, such as the chipotle chicken burger or the garlic prawns, taste just like the real thing.
Location: 175 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
Website: www.smithanddaughters.com
11. Neko Neko
Fitzroy really is the vegan capital of Melbourne, boasting the most extensive selection of green eateries in the city. However, Neko Neko is not just another cruelty-free cafe to grab a bite at in Fitzroy. It is a Japanese restaurant offering vegan-friendly Raman. Finally, all the veggies lovers out there can partake in the deliciousness that is Ramen noodle soups. Neko Neko, which stands for cat cat, offers a hearty selection of soups full of mushrooms and their special egg-free noodles. They also offer a vegan Okonomiyaki which switches out the traditional eggs for cashews cream. Genius.
Location: 83A Smith St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
Website: www.NekoNeko.com
12. Loving Hut Melbourne
Located in Richmond, Loving Hut actually has over 200 franchises worldwide. And with its well-priced and massive range of delicious vegan bites, it is easy to see why. It is a pan-Asain-style restaurant which specialises in mock meats. Favourite fake meat treats included ‘ham’ sushi and deep-fried ‘prawns’ and Southern-fried ‘chicken.’ If you love what you taste, and we guarantee you will, they even offer a grocery section. This means you can stock up on your favourite mock meaty treat and other vegan ingredients.
Location: 10/242 Victoria St, Richmond, Melbourne
Website: www.lovinghutmelbourne.com.au
13. Moroccan Soup Bar
What is particularly cool and original about Moroccan Soup Bar is the spoken menu. This means, there is no set menu, and the selection changes daily. You can only order what is being prepared for that day. However, rest assured you’ll have plenty to choose from. Generally, the offering includes large plates of dips and curried vegetables paired with a massive stack of pita bread. For just $17 you can treat yourself and your mates to a shared three-course meal, or for even only $20, you can go for the banquet.
Location: 183 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy, Melbourne
Website: www.moroccansoupbar.com.au
14. Mama Rumaan
Docklands restaurant, Mama Rumaan offers up vegan-friendly Middle Eastern cuisine. Yes, that’s right, this is not a drill. Vegan-friendly Middle Eastern cuisine is officially a thing, and thank the gods of food. It has all the fragrant, herby and spicy deliciousness that you can expect from traditional Middle Eastern food. Our fave is Mama’s Old Spice Rice which is full of peas, slivered almonds, sultanas, and potato. But we also love the Roast Pumpkin Bourani served with sumac, yoghurt dressing, and mint.
Location: t10/161 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, Melbourne
Website: www.mamarumaan.com.au
15. Billy and Lucy Botanic
Opening their doors in only March this year, Billy and Lucy have certainly already made their mark on the Melbourne vegan scene. Owned and operated by two passionate vegans, everything they sell is entirely organic and made from scratch, right down to the butter and Vegemite. Our favourite dishes include the sweet potato gnocchi with thyme and cauliflower puree, also buckwheat crepes with hazelnut sauce, hazelnut praline, and poached pear.
Location: 350 Nicholson St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
Website: www.billy-and-lucy.business.site
FAQs
Where can I buy vegan food in Melbourne?
If you’re looking for vegan food in Melbourne, there are lots of places you can go. Try Vegie Bar and Yong Green Food in Fitzroy, Matcha Mylkbar or Sister of Soul in St Kilda, or Serotonin Eatery in Burnley.
Is Melbourne vegan-friendly?
Melbourne is vegan friendly, with lots of vegan cafes and restaurants available, plus venues that offer a mix of vegan and meat-based dishes to cater to everyone.
Is there a Michelin star vegan restaurant?
There is only one vegan restaurant that has been awarded a Michelin Star. It belongs to Origine Non Animale (ONA), run by Claire Vallée, in the small village of Arès, near Bordeaux, France.
Why are vegan restaurants so expensive?
There are a few reasons than vegan food can be quite expensive. Firstly, veggies tend to be costly, especially if they’re not in season. Vegan “meat” is also pricey because it’s not subsidized; it’s a free market meaning brands need to maximize profit or fail. Plus, compared to the animal meat market, vegan meat still tiny (though growing), which means producers are less able to achieve economies of scale. There’s also a lot more research and development required to create meat alternatives, which costs money. Finally, as with any restaurant, your meal price also includes rent, labor, supplies, delivery, and overall dining experience.
Alexandra Linde is an experienced writer holding a bachelor's degree in Journalism. She is the owner of Alexandra McKiterick Creative and has expertise in travel, fashion, fitness and lifestyle. Alex has previously written for Flightcenter, Travello, and Backpacker Deals.
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