The best vegan restaurants in Bristol

Eat out in the world’s vegan capital - Bristol! In a recent worldwide survey (by foodie website Chef’s Pencil), the city topped the list of vegan-friendly cities! So we've put together a list of the best vegan restaurants in Bristol to enjoy a plant-based meal.

Restaurants | Street food/stalls| Cafes | Pop-ups | Other

Restaurants

• Pieminister 

Bristol-born Pieminister has just added two new vegan numbers to their popular pie range. The latest, Chooks Away, is a meat-free take on a classic chicken pie made with tofu and seitan ‘chicken’ in a smoked garlic and sherry sauce. While Kevin (named after Kevin Keegan - cockney rhyming slang for vegan) is filled with mushroom, tomato, red wine and thyme. Order a Mother Earth: a vegan pie on a bed of vegan-cheesy champ mash with garden peas, finished with a parsnip and kale fritter.

Image - Pieminister

• Woky Ko: CARGO & Woky Ko: Kauto

This casual Asian diner was started by Larken Cen (winner of MasterChef finalist). Woky Ko: Cargo is based down on Wapping Wharf, serving up bao and noodles next to Bristol Harbourside while Woky Ko: Kauto, on Queens Road, is an extension of its CARGO sibling, set over two floors and serving ramen, bao and sharing plates. At each you’ll find lip-smackingly good, fun vegan dishes to get stuck into.

• Thali

Thali Restaurant is inspired by the heart and soul of India, offering a range of vegan, gluten free and vegetarian options. With quirky decor & delicious dishes, this buzzing local chain of two restaurants (Easton and Montpelier) is equally suited to groups, families or for a romantic dinner.

• Masa + Mezcal

This Mexican cantina on Stokes Croft has a dedicated vegan menu, including tacos, tostadas, grilled dishes and nibbles. Make sure you try the cocktails or mezcal tasting flights too!

Image - Masa + Mezcal

• The Stable

Diners following a vegan diet can eat with ease at The Stable in Bristol. Simply choose from any of the vegetarian options on the menu and the chefs will make a simple swap for a vegan-friendly cheese to make it completely animal-free. Try the Hazelnutter vegan pizza - you won’t regret it.

• No.1 Harbourside 

Part of a small family of local, sustainable restaurants (the others are The Canteen and the Old Market Assembly) this lively waterfront independent includes tasty vegetarian and vegan dishes on its healthy, seasonal menu. Their drinks list includes a few vegan options, too.  

Image - No.1 Harbourside

• Bella Italia  

With a branch in Bristol Shopping Quarter, Bella Italia has created an entire vegan menu with multiple options on almost all courses (try spiralised veg with lentil and mushroom ragu). 

• Suncraft 

From the same team behind Gallimaufry (on the other side of the Gloucester Road), this bright young thing, is 100 per cent vegan (eat in or take away), mostly gluten-free, and the head chef is ex Ivy Brasserie in Clifton. Dishes are mostly Asian-inspired (Gochujang stew with Korean rice cake, Spiced potato and spinach cakes, black masala dumplings and the like). Add local craft ales, vegan wines and tables made of recycled yoghurt pots. 

• Za Za Bazaar

The ‘World banquet bar’ in the UK’s largest restaurant – a 1000-seater mammoth based on a multi-cultural street market – has plans to add a dedicated vegan section to its vast buffet of world cuisines. A case of watch this space…  

Image - Za Za Bazaar

• Revolucian de Cuba

Bristol Harbourside’s sizzling Latino restaurant has added a choice of vegan specials to their Cuba-inspired menu: try sautéed tofu with Romesco, Arroz con Padron (aromatic rice with spinach, Padrón peppers and hazelnuts), Paella Vegano or delicious beetballs (beetroot, coriander and mint). 

• Fi Real 

An Old Market newby, this is vegan and veggie Caribbean style: Jerk tofu and spicy kale, okra and butter beans, yam stew, a side of plantain and a tropical smoothie. All locally sourced, organic and mostly gluten free. 

• Root

Josh Eggleton’s (of Michelin-starred gastro pub The Pony and Trap) innovative veggie-focused restaurant in Wapping Wharf is not strictly vegan but makes vegetables the heroes of the menu, and puts meat and fish on the side. This small-plates menu includes beetroot with blackberries, hazelnuts and seaweed and cauliflower pakora with plums and cashew milk and the restaurant gets rave reviews from guests who delight in the chefs having fun with food.

Image - Root (Credit: Jon Craig)

• Flow

Hidden down a flight of stairs near Bristol coach station just across from the Bear Pit, this vegetarian restaurant creates food that belies its surroundings. With an emphasis on local and seasonal ingredients, this is sophisticated vegan dining with vegan-friendly wines and good service.

• Wagamama

Wagamama launched their vegan menu last year to high praise from both vegans and meat-eaters alike. It’s as extensive as the regular menu and so tasty that they believe it’ll inspire non-vegans to 'menu hop' from time to time!

• Yakinori

Aiming to be as colourful and varied as their regular menu, Yakinori have created a fantastic vegan menu with an abundance of options for all courses. The pumpkin katsu curry is not to be missed!

• Quay Street Diner

Quay Street Diner is a vibrant Californian diner inspired by the sunshine and fresh produce of the American Golden State. The menu offers diner classics burgers and authentic tacos, with lots of exciting veggie and vegan options. 

Image - Quay Street Diner

• Pizzarova

Pizzarova specialises in handmade sourdough pizza. You'll find restaurants on Gloucester Road and Park Street and a takeaway kiosk at Wapping Wharf. Build-your-own extremely more-ish pizza with the option of vegan cheese and call ahead to check if they've got gluten-free dough prepared.

• Oowee Vegan

Masters of concocting fully stacked 'dirty burgers' and loaded fries, Oowee have now turned their hand to vegan fast food made from meat imitation products plus vamped-up veggies such as buffalo cauliflower. And it's not just for vegans! Oowee hopes burger fans will give their vegan diner on Baldwin Street a try or that you'll be tempted by a kebab from the new Oowee Vebab shop in Montpelier.  

Image - @Oowee_Vegan 

• The Burger Joint

This gourmet build-your-own burger restaurant has oodles of vegan options, from patties to toppings and sauces.

• Koocha Mezze Bar

Just off Gloucester Road – Bristol’s ‘independent quarter’ – this sociable, vegan mezze bar showcases plant-based Persian cuisine (think eggless kookoo, veggie fritters, spicy rice balls and beetroot dip). All dishes are designed to share and go down awfully well with a house gin cocktail.

• VX Bristol 

Vegan junk food? Surely not. But, yes, this Bedminster outlet proves that ‘a vegan lifestyle doesn’t have to be boring’. Along with its older London sister, VX claims to be the UK’s first chain of cruelty-free food shops. Order a vegan burger, soya steak, a classic Cheesie Toastie (toasted artisan bread with Jeezo cheese and organic mock meat), a Hotdog (organic sausage with ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut) or a Vego chocolate milkshake. 

• Las Iguanas

Bringing Latin American food, drink and vibes to the UK, Las Iguanas divide their menu up by country, and vegans will be pleased to hear that they are catered for in every cuisine. They’ve even taken on the tricky area of vegan puds and come up trumps with not one but four options!

Street food/stalls

• Vegan & Wellbeing Markets (Mondays, St Nicholas Market)

Have a wander through St Nicholas Market on a Monday for the Vegan and Wellbeing market. You’ll find a mix of street food, producers and vegan beauty products, delicious Dal from The Thali Cafe, vegan cheeses, raw cakes, scummy vegan burgers, gut-friendly slaws, fermented foods, plant-based sandwiches and lots more! 

• Eat a Pitta

Some say they make the best falafel in Bristol…go judge for yourself and pick up a rainbow-coloured salad box from one of their stalls (you’ll find them at St Nicholas Market, Gloucester Road, Broadmead and Queens Road). With a fully vegan menu (minus the tahini) you can order it all.

• Gopal’s Curry Shack

This snug little eatery, housed in a refurbished shipping container lovingly prepares delicious Indian vegan street food with fabulous West Country, seasonal produce to create vibrant modern dishes. Some of the menu’s triumphs are wild garlic pakoras, creamy coconut and seasonal vegetable curry and parsnip and ginger pakoras.

Image - Dal at Gopal's curry shack, credit Shonette Laffy, @shonette_

• Vegan Vend

The first vegan vending machine of its kind in the UK is based at The Island, Nelson Street (look out for the yellow palm trees) and offers a variety of sandwiches, wraps and tasty treats.

• House of Veg

A vegan street feast and market that takes place at the Pennywell Project (close to Bristol Shopping Quarter). The next date is yet to be announced - keep an eye on their website for details. 

Image - @thespotlessleopard

Cafes

• The Vegetable Diva

The Vegetable Diva serves creative vegetarian and vegan food such as seasonal curries, fresh salads and pastries that you can have to eat in or takeaway. This Harbouside café and deli is a zero waste, packaging-free zone - take along your own container or rent a tiffin box for takeaways, or make the most of the pedal-powered tiffin delivery service. 

• Folk House Cafe

Hidden away in a corridor off Park Street, is the Folk House Cafe. Here, the wholesome menu changes with the seasons, and features everything from soups to pizzas, salads, stews, bakes and cakes, catering for almost every dietary need. They also have a well stocked bar selling local ales, wine, a huge array of soft drinks plus teas and coffees.

• Friska

Friska offer a huge range of vegan lunch options including wraps, hotpots, pho and sandwiches, and with all of them coming in at under £6 you certainly get a lot of bang for your buck. They’ve also got plenty of vegan-friendly drinks on offer, including milk alternatives.

• Cafe Kino

Cafe Kino is an ethical, community-focused vegan and vegetarian cooperative café in Stokes Croft offering delicious wholesome, ethically-sourced food. The food and kitchen is 100% free of animal ingredients, with the only animal-derived produce onsite being organic dairy milk, which is provided as an option in hot drinks. The team care about the environment and the majority of their menu is organic, sourced locally and handmade. Try the burgers made with British grown badger beans or falafel (created with UK-grown fava beans) or treat yourself to one of the scrumptious cakes.

• Better Food Co. Wapping Wharf

The cafe in this organic health food store serves a superb slap-up organic brunch offering until 4pm each day (3pm on Sundays). Go for Avocado Guacamole on Hobbs Quern Toast, Leaves and Tamari Pumpkin Seeds, or a Full English Vegan equivalent. Vegans are very well catered for here with tasty sharing platters and sweet treats as well fresh organic juices, teas and coffees. Afterwards you can stock up on organic, locally-sourced vegan food and household products in the shop.

Image - Better Food Co.

• Earthcake 

Co-founder and head baker, Gerzson turned vegan while working in Michelin-starred restaurants as a pastry chef. Then came this south Bristol enterprise: Earthcake bakes everything from Coffee and Toffee cake to Victoria sponge and Black Forest gateau, plus a sumptuous afternoon tea, all without a trace of eggs or dairy.  

• Eat Your Greens

A fully vegan café in Totterdown with amazing breakfasts and roasts dinners. It also makes a very cosy place for dinner in the evenings - perfect for date night!

Image - @Shonette_

• East Village

This very slick café in Clifton Village creates extremely Instagrammable food and has a fully vegan menu. Go for great cake, breakfasts and lunches.

• Taste of Napoli

This family-run Italian café in Broadmead is handy for a post-shopping spree refuel. Here you'll find a selection of vegan homemade pizza, breakfast pastries and cakes and it's also worth knowing they also do Aperol Spritz evenings!

• Pret A Manger

Pret have four vegetarian sites across London, so it’s no surprise that they have an abundance of veggie and vegan options available in all their cafes. 

Pop-ups

• Bun Fiction at Kong's

A well known face on the street food market scene, Bun Fiction have taken up residence at Kong’s of King Street to bring you their gourmet vegan sandwiches, dirty fries, and 'currywurst'. Proving that vegan food isn’t all salads and raw veg, these guys are pioneers of plant-based junk food, and they even do a fully vegan roast service on Sundays!

Image - @BunFiction

• Pie Baby at The Golden Lion

Pie Baby are the creators of delicious vegan pies with a kiwi twist, hitting the Bristol food scene with a residency at The Golden Lion Pub on Gloucester Road. Go fill your pie hole with vegan pies including delights such as 'Cheesy Rider' - Macaroni and cheese, 'El Fuego Bandida' - Mexican bean chili and 'Stroganoff Molotov' - Mushroom Stroganoff, the perfect accompaniment to an ale!

• Pepe Nero at Beer Emporium and The Full Moon

These pizza pop-ups at two Bristol pubs feature a broad selection of vegan options. All of Pepe Nero's pizza bases, tomato sauce, toppings and vegetables are freshly made and organic and the whole range of ingredients - dairy, dairy free, any meat, or meat free - are prepared using different utensils such as knives and chopping boards, to avoid any kind of cross-contamination in respect of any religion, ethical reasons, intolerance, or simply a lifestyle choice.

Other:

•  Vegan Chocolate Workshop at The Chocolate Tart

Spend three hours crafting your own handmade chocolates using delicious house 70% dark chocolate. Take home everything you make!

• Bristol Dal Festival

Save the date (1-10 February 2020) for the next Bristol Dal Festival - a week-long celebration devoted entirely to this lentil-based, international dish, plus peas, beans and pulses.  

Image - Bristol Dal Festival

• The Bristol Food Tour

All tour routes can be tailored to vegan dietary requirements, but look our for specific vegan tours taking places throughout the year.

• Bristol Breweries

Most breweries in Bristol produce predominantly vegan beer, with the exception of some stouts and a few others.

Read more:

• Vegan dining on a budget in Bristol
• Vegetarian eateries in Bristol

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