From Sunday roasts and spicy curries to pizzas and burgers smothered in “cheese,” vegan food has never been tastier. Indeed, the significant rise in the number of vegans in the UK has resulted in a rush by cafes and restaurants to meet the demand. To celebrate World Vegan Day, we’ve rounded up the best spots across the country to enjoy a seriously delicious, and cruelty-free, meal.
Purezza, Brighton
Image credit: Purezza/ via Facebook
Craving a vegan pizza? Brighton’s Purezza has you covered. The UK’s first wood-fired vegan pizzeria’s thin-crust sourdough pizzas are made with fresh dough each day, while “mozzarella†is made using a blend of rice milk, chickpeas and olive oil. Raw cashew cheeses, a ricotta style cheese and a creamy coconut cheese are also available. Better yet, every pizza is customizable - build one from scratch or add your favourite toppings to any pizza on the menu. Did we mention they deliver?
Purezza can be found at 12 St James's St, Brighton BN2 1RE
Cook Daily, London
Image credit: BOXPARK Shoreditch/ via Facebook
Vegan food gets a trendy, East London makeover at Cook Daily. Loved by JME, Skepta, Emeli Sandé, and Professor Green, the BOXPARK stalwart has expanded to meet the increasing demand of hungry vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Offering the familiarity of comfort food with an international twist, the fast pace Vegan joint serves a range of healthy, fragrant Southeast Asian bowls. Try the signature ‘High Grade’ - stir-fry veggies with hemp oil in a smokey sweet n sour bbq sauce, or Skepta’s favourite, the ‘Hard Bowl’ - a spicy Caribbean, Jamaican/African dish with yams, plantains and acke. Make sure to grab a loyalty card as well - we guarantee you’ll be back to sample the entire menu.
Cook Daily can be found at BOXPARK Shoreditch, 48, 2-4 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6GY
Café Kino, Bristol
Image credit: Café Kino/ via Instagram
Bristol is a vegan’s paradise, with a smattering of cafes and restaurants catering to a plant-based diet. For delicious and ethical vegan food, you can’t beat Café Kino. The vibrant, non-profit café-bar’s menu is 100% vegan and features handmade burgers, falafels, fresh salads and cakes. As a community space, Café Kino also displays the work of local artists, and hold various events throughout the year.
Café Kino can be found at 108 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3RU
The Warehouse Cafe, Birmingham
Image credit: The Warehouse Café/ via Facebook
Take a seat at The Warehouse Café and tuck into some brilliant organic vegan dishes. Despite being Birmingham’s original vegetarian restaurant, the seasonal menu is also extremely vegan-friendly with a plethora of vegan dishes on offer, from a spicy thali to a very decadent chocolate brownie. The café has also recently launched a ‘Vegan Sunday Roast’ menu, featuring soy versions of toad in the hole, wellington and beef pot stew.
The Warehouse Café can be found at 54-57 Allison St, Birmingham B5 5TH
Mono, Glasgow
Image credit: Mono/ via Facebook
Situated in Merchant City, Mono is not only heart of Glasgow’s independent music and arts scene, but also a hotspot for vegan food. Designed to appeal to all tastes, the adventurous home cooked vegan fare is all freshly made and completely free of animal produce. Try the to-fish ‘n’ chips, a falafel burger or a very dreamy vegan mac and cheese. Serving food until 11pm, grab a bite to eat and have a few drinks in the bar before catching what is sure to be a spectacular live performance.
Mono can be found at 12 King Street, Glasgow Metropolitan Area G1 5RB
V Rev Vegan Diner, Manchester
Image credit: V Rev Vegan Diner/ via Facebook
Vegan food isn’t just salads and raw vegetables. At V Rev Vegan Diner, you will find a menu that satisfies any junk food craving with a range of burgers, hot dogs, sarnies and loaded fries - all of which are 100% vegan. Seitan and soy substitutes are used to form the ‘beefy’ patties, while the CHKN burgers consist of homemade fried chkn seitan. Go all out and pair your meal with an insanely good Cookies ‘n’ Creem milkshake - vanilla soft serve ice creem blitzed up with Oreo cookies, and topped with whipped 'creem.' With such an enticing menu, it isn’t hard to see why V Rev is winning over even the fiercest of carnivores.
V Rev Vegan Diner can be found at 20-26 Edge St, Manchester M4 1HN
Anna-Loka, Cardiff
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Cardiff is home to some terrific vegan eateries, including Milgi and The Vegetarian Food Studio (the spicy Atom Bomb is exceptional). However, for healthy, wholesome comfort food, look no further than Anna-Loka - Cardiff’s first 100% vegan café. The extensive menu features delicious alternatives to classic dishes, including tofish & chips, a smokey rashers bap, and a signature nut or seitan Sunday roast. Wash your meal down with a vegan milkshake, or give into temptation and sample one of their decadent cakes.
Anna-Loka can be found at 114 Albany Rd, Cardiff CF24 3RU
David Bann, Edinburgh
Image credit: Stacy Spensley/ via Flickr
Named the UK’s ‘Most Vegan-Friendly City’, Edinburgh is teeming with excellent options for a tasty vegan meal. While Henderson’s Bistro is a local gem and serves a fantastic vegan haggis, neeps and tatties, for something slightly more upmarket, David Bann is a standout. Although the Edinburgh institution is primarily a vegetarian restaurant, the inventive, globally inspired menu offers plenty for vegans to enjoy. Favourites include the Thai fritters and a stellar rhubarb with coconut and oat milk pudding.
David Bann can be found at 56-58 St Mary's St, Edinburgh EH1 1SX