Planning a trip to the historic city of Edinburgh, Scotland, and looking for some delicious vegan eats? Well… be ready to be blown away by all your choices! Edinburgh is PACKED with incredible vegan and vegetarian options! Here are 10 fantastic vegan-friendly restaurants in Edinburgh to feed that hunger monster of yours.
Have you ever visited a new city or explored a new destination, only to find there’s absolutely no vegan options? Or only has one — maybe two — options throughout the entire place, not the mention the options are absolute rubbish?
I know I have… and it’s real disappointing.
When I visit a new place and there’s no vegan options available, it makes me want to crawl under a rock and just bawl my eyes out. Fortunately, visiting Edinburgh makes me want to do the opposite.
The amount of vegan food in Edinburgh is absolutely mind-blowing!
Instead of wanting to crawl under a rock, I want to climb to the highest mountain top and tell the world how awesome the vegan eats in Edinburgh are!
But, turns out, I’m not that athletic and I’m not really into hiking.
So I turned to my computer and am now telling the internet about it instead!
Vegans rejoice! 🙌🏼 The opportunities to eat mouth-watering plant-based meals in Edinburgh is phenomenal.
While meat-filled haggis, Scotch pie, and minced meat may come to mind when you think of Scotland, there’s many more vegan options than you’d expect…
Imagine cheeeeezy pizza topped with savory smoked seitan, perfectly fried chik’in wings with delectable dipping sauces, hearty chili with creamy guac, and unbelievable vegan cheesecake that’ll make your mouth water.
The possibilities are endless!
I highly recommend the city of Edinburgh if you’re searching for a new place to explore, while simultaneously eating your heart out with amazing vegan eats. You won’t be disappointed!
**Psst, don’t skip out on the end of this blog post! There you’ll find my personal recommendations on the best vegan brunch & breakfast, best vegan haggis, and the best budget vegan food in Edinburgh!**
10 FANTASTIC VEGAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
Black Rabbit
A favorite amongst vegan locals, Black Rabbit is a fairy new vegan cafe in Edinburgh that’s serving up omnivore favs with a cool vegan twist!
Such as a “egg and bakon” breakfast bagel, an interesting, but insanely delicious thing called a “cruffin” (muffin + croissant); haggis and cheese toasted sandwich, BLT, and even tasty treats like cakes, cookies, and more.
If you’re looking for a place to grab a sweet treat or a simple, yet amazing, vegan brekkie, this is the place to go!
When I visited last, I wasn’t able to snag a seat (it’s a small cafe) but I had one of their egg + bakon rolls to go and it was amazing!
The bakon was especially impressive, so definitely give it a try if you’re passing through Edinburgh and looking for some crazy good vegan eats.
Check out the Black Rabbit Menu here.
Address: 33 Brougham St, Edinburgh EH3 9JT
Holy Cow
A small, independent, family-owned cafe centrally-located in New Town, Holy Cow is one of the best plant-based places to eat in Edinburgh dishing out 100% vegan burgers, tasty open sandwiches (like a ruben!), hearty soups, and fresh salads.
Not only is this place perfect for a vegan lunch, but it’s chill and relaxing atmosphere is a great place to just hang out and have a cup of coffee!
Dan and I stopped by for lunch whilst in the city and we both loved it! Dan had the three cheese melt and I had the vegan CBLT (vegan cheddar, tempeh bacon, lettuce, and tomato).
Both were delicious and, as always, we had to end the meal on a sweet note! We tried the vegan red velvet cake and literally devoured it in seconds.
Open Monday-Thursday 12 pm to 10 pm and open Friday-Sunday 10 am to 10 pm, serving up a wide variety of seasonal menu items. Everything is homemade and prepared fresh, even their homemade vegan mayo!
Take a look at the Holy Cow menu here.
Address: 34 Elder St, Edinburgh EH1 3DX
Dishoom
If you want to have more than just good vegan food in Edinburgh… head to Dishoom. Eating at this magnificent restaurant is a full-out experience!
And a mind-blowing experience at that.
From the moment you step in line (which is always out the door) to the moment you’re finished eating every delicious morsel of food on your plate, Dishoom serves up a stellar dining ordeal.
While waiting for your table, you can sip on a steaming cup of chai tea — with oat milk if you please — or coffee, or heck, when they shuffle you in to wait downstairs at the bar, sip on a refreshing alcoholic drink!
But the food — OH the food! — is where the real party starts.
From the vegan Beyond Sausage naan roll and vegetable samosas or the bountiful vegan Bombay platter and vegan akuri, you can stuff your face with incredible vegan Indian food at Dishoom in Edinburgh.
Hands down, one of my favorite vegan restaurants on this list! Especially if you’re looking for some vegan breakfast in Edinburgh.
Take a look at the Dishoom vegan menu here.
Address: 3a St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2BD, United Kingdom
Sora Lella Vegan Restaurant
A cult favorite for vegans in Edinburgh, Sora Lella is a vegan Italian restaurant is the best place in Edinburgh to satisfy all of your Italian cravings!
Whether you want pillowy gnocchi, rich penne alla vodka, fresh bruschetta, cheese-filled calzones, creamy tiramisu, or something else, you can find the perfect, most delicious Italian fare at Sora Lella.
Give is a whirl for yourself when you’re next in Edinburgh and searching for the best vegan Italian food!
View Sora Lella’s website here for more info.
Address: 13a Brougham St, Edinburgh EH4 9JS
Auld Hoose
Did someone say vegan pub food???
One of the best vegan meals I’ve ever eaten in the world came from this little place!
A savory 5-bean chili topped with delicious vegan cheese and creamy guac, paired with a side of crispy tortilla chips. It was heeeeaven. (And definitely not healthy!)
Dan had the vegan hot dog topped with the 5-bean chili and a side of french fries. Safe to say, he was nearly drooling when I paused his eating to take a picture of it!
The Auld Hoose is a sweet pub serving up Edinburgh’s largest nachos and a huge selection of vegetarian and vegan pub grub.
While the pub isn’t strictly a vegetarian or vegan restaurant, most of its menu is either vegetarian and vegan, with a few carnivorous dishes here and there.
This fantastic vegan pub in Edinburgh also carries an awesome selection of beers on tap! Can’t go wrong with some hearty pub food and a nice cold beer to wash it down with, am I right or am I right?
Check out the Auld Hoose’s website here.
Address: 23-25 St Leonards Street, Edinburgh EH8 9QN
Once you’re done eating all the best vegan food in the city, don’t forget to do everything on my list of the top 30 things to do in Edinburgh!
Makars Mash Bar
Craving some creamy mash topped with savory haggis and drowning in a creamy peppercorn sauce? Head to Makars Mash Bar in Edinburgh Old Town!
A favorite among both tourists and locals, this gourmet mash bar is the perfect place for potato lovers. Even better, though this place is just vegan-friendly restaurant in Edinburgh and still serves meat, they’re moving towards a mostly (or fully) plant-based menu! Which is super exciting.
View the Makars Mash Bar menu here.
Address: 9-12 Bank St, Edinburgh EH1 2LN
Novapizza
Ever crave a greasy, cheesy, comforting pizza? Cause I know I do.
And when Dan and I craved some good old fashioned greasy and unhealthy pizza, Novapizza was the ultimate answer. No doubt, it more than satiated our need!
As simply a restaurant with vegan options in Edinburgh, we expected an “eh” pizza with vegan cheese that doesn’t really taste like cheese and a minuscule amount of vegetable toppings since we’re “veggies”…
What we got was a hot, spicy pizza topped with bubbly, creamy vegan cheese and huge circles of smoked seitan “pepperoni.”
It was unforgettable.
Novapizza has tons of amazing vegetarian and vegan pizzas on their menu. And I’m sure each and every one of them are spectacular! So, if you’re searching for vegan pizza in Edinburgh, this is the place to get it.
SO GOOD!
Check out their vegan menu here.
Address: 42 Howe St, Edinburgh EH3, UK
Heading to Eastern Europe soon? Check out my vegan food guide to Bratislava HERE!
Hendersons Vegan Restaurant
A 100% vegan restaurant since July of 2015, Henderson’s Vegan serves up some tasty eats and delicious treats in Edinburgh.
Hendersons is passionate about having a place where vegans can feel at home, knowing everything they’ll be eating and drinking is cruelty-free and vegan — this includes everything from the comfort meals to the wines and beers.
And one of their best and most popular comfort meal?
Their spectacular vegan Haggis. An absolute food masterpiece that’ll make your mouth water and your tummy happy!
While trying Hendersons, Dan ordered the vegan Haggis and I ordered the linguine. While my linguine was sadly low on the flavor scale, the vegan Haggis sky rocketed to the top!
Highly recommended if you’re looking to try some Haggis but follow a veggie path.
Additionally, I’ve heard Hendersons also serves up the best vegan breakfast in Edinburgh, including some awesome vegan pancakes, so definitely check that out if you’re in town!
Check out their vegan food here.
Address: 25c Thistle St, Edinburgh EH2 1DX
Wanderlust Cafe & Bistro
Looking for a mouthwatering vegan breakfast in Edinburgh? Or a savory crepe? Head to Wanderlust Cafe and Bistro on the Royal Mile!
With an entirely separate vegan menu, in addition to their regular menu, it’s the perfect place for both meat-eaters, mostly plant-based peeps, and vegans to come together.
Personally, Wanderlust Cafe is my top choice for breakfast in Edinburgh! With a full vegan Scottish breakfast, waffles, bagels, breakfast rolls, porridge, and more vegan dishes, you can fill up before exploring this vibrant city. (Psst, have you checked out my top 30 things to do in Edinburgh?)
You can find the Wanderlust Cafe & Bistro menu here.
Address: 274 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8AA
Want to see the BEST vegan eats in Canggu, Bali, Indonesia so you can get inspired to visit? Click HERE!
Lucky Pig at Paradise Palms
The Lucky Pig at Paradise Palms is a quirky little cafe serving up comforting vegan soul food like hearty burgers, perfectly fried chik’in wings, filled-to-the-brim sandwiches, creamy mac and cheese, and gnarly nachos.
It’s vegan junk food paradise!
On our last day in Edinburgh, Dan and I ate our hearts out here. While Dan ordered the buttermilk fried seitan with two vegan dipping sauces, I ordered the vegan mac and cheese.
Although, we definitely didn’t hesitate trying each other’s meals!
The buttermilk fried seitan was perfectly cooked with a delectably spicy breading. And paired with chipotle mayo and ranch dressing, it was over the top! The vegan mac and cheese though… unbelievable.
Melty, gooey, comforting cheesiness topped with crunchy breadcrumbs. I still dream about it.
No doubt, this is one of the best vegan cafes in Edinburgh! You should most definitely check it out if you get the chance.
Check out the Lucky Pig at Paradise Palm’s food menu here.
Address: 41 Lothian Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HB
Best Vegan Brunch/Breakfast
Without a doubt in my mind, the BEST vegan brunch in Edinburgh has to be Dishoom.
With a separate vegan menu, unlimited oat milk chai lattes, reasonable prices, and mind-blowingly awesome service, this is the ultimate breakfast/brunch place to fuel up before a big day in Edinburgh.
Best Vegan Haggis
If you’re on the hunt for the best vegan haggis in Edinburgh, head to Hendersons or the Auld Hoose!
Hendersons has perfected their notorious vegan haggis since 1962 and it is bursting with flavor. Not to mention, it comes with a side of mash and red wine gravy. Yum!
The Auld Hoose’s vegan haggis is only on their breakfast menu (which is served until 3pm) and comes as a mushroom, fried tomato, and haggis roll!
Best Cheap Vegan Food
If you’re traveling Edinburgh on a budget but still want to eat some mouthwatering vegan food in this ridiculously awesome plant-based city, head to the Wanderlust Cafe & Bistro.
For under £10, grab yourself a breakfast roll, homemade soup and bread, nachos, or a vegan wrap.
(Psst, if you’re on a budget, take a look at my blog post on the best 3 free tours in Edinburgh HERE!
So, there you have it!
The top 10 vegan friendly restaurants in Edinburgh, as well as my personal recommendations for certain vegan food items you might be looking for.
Have you eaten at any of the vegan restaurants and cafes in Edinburgh mentioned above? If so, what was your favorite? Let me know in the comments!
Sophie xx
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Anna
March 31, 2018 7:14 amMouthwatering pictures!!! How much do vegan portions usually cost there? Nothing fine dining type but just hearty and healthy meals =)
The Wanderful Me
April 2, 2018 6:03 amThey were all awesome! Some restaurants were a bit more than others but most were under £10 for a relatively huge portion! 🙂
Maike
March 31, 2018 7:22 amGreat post! I am not vegan but all these restaurants sound great. I am going to Edinburgh for the first time in 2 weeks and will definitely try some of these places.
The Wanderful Me
April 2, 2018 6:04 amThat’s awesome! Definitely try some of these places, they’re all delicious! Especially the Auld Hoose — it’s one of my favorites for comforting pub food 😉
Elica
April 1, 2018 2:49 pmThis is perfect! I wish I could have read this before my trip to Edinburgh! I have a similar post for vegan restaurants in SoCal if you’re interested!! I’ve seen that you’ve been to California 🙂 🌱
The Wanderful Me
April 2, 2018 6:05 amI’m so glad you liked it — thanks for reading! I love California and can’t wait to get back, I’d definitely be interested in reading about some vegan restaurants there!
Kat
December 7, 2023 12:24 amI’m visiting Edinburgh in May to attend my best friend’s wedding and I’m looking for things to do and places to visit but I was greeted by your blog which features VEGAN lifestyle! You wouldn’t be able to imagine how happy I am. Now I wanna fast forward to May.