Edinburgh is one of the top destinations on peoples travel list when thinking about a city break. As many people these days have taken the decision to follow a vegan diet, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at what eating out options there are for Vegans visiting the city. Five years ago there were only a handful of vegetarian restaurants and just one fully vegan restaurant. Nowadays there are plenty of vegan and vegan-friendly eateries in Edinburgh, and as a result, it is now difficult to decide where to try first.
With so many quality options available how do first-time visitors to the city, who may only have a couple of days to explore, pick somewhere to eat. So, to help you we have put together a list of the top five must visit vegan restaurants in Edinburgh.
Beetroot Sauvage
Beetroot Sauvage is a community space that doubles as a vegan café located in the old earthy building close to Ratcliffe Terrace on the South side of the city. In the upstairs of the building, there are weekly yoga classes, meditation sessions, and numerous other events focusing on wellbeing. Downstairs is the domain of Marie-Annes vegan café that offers a wide range of options for even the most discerning palette.
Outside, there is an attractive garden space that opens up to provide an extra dining area in the summer. Out there you can relax during the long summer evenings and maybe enjoy a fresh pizza from their outdoor Pizza Oven.
Hendersons of Edinburgh
Henderson Vegan was the first completely vegan restaurant in the city. Even though there are now lots of vegan eating establishments in the city, Hendersons is still at the forefront of the Vegan scene. Despite being the most established vegan restaurant in Edinburgh there is no danger of complacency setting in.
To keep the menu fresh and exciting Hendersons are continually experimenting with new ideas and techniques. When visiting Edinburgh Hendersons should be right at the top of your list of vegan restaurants to try.
Holy Cow
Right around the corner from Edinburgh bus station is Holy Cow, one of the most popular Vegan Cafes in the city. Although it has a wide and varied array of imaginative vegan dishes, it is probably best known for offering a range of mouth-watering burgers and cakes.
Because the menu is always based on seasonal ingredients, it changes constantly during the year. However, you can be rest assured that it will always be vegan and alongside this, they also offer at least a couple of gluten-free dishes too.
Naked Bakery
Naked Bakery is a small café where you will come across some of the most decadent and attractive vegan food you will ever find. Owner Louise openly admits she tries to create edible art, and in that respect, she doesn’t disappoint.
This includes things such as candyfloss cupcakes decorated like unicorns, and dainty little macaroons in all the colours of the rainbow. Despite having built their business on sweet treats like doughnuts and pastries, they have since increased their range of savoury options to include things like mac ‘n’ cheese, beyond burgers, a full vegan brunch, and pink hummus on toast.
Seeds for the Soul
A charming little café serving completely vegan breakfasts, lunches, and a range of sweet treats, Seeds for Soul is renowned for providing good food made from organic ingredients. All their dishes are made from scratch on the premises, and they clearly label naturally gluten-free options and those that can be made gluten-free on request.
They offer great options for both breakfast and lunch including meat-free sausages and sweet pancakes.
This is just the tip of the iceberg where vegan dining is concerned in Edinburgh, so, if you want to be able to get about the city easily and visit all these different places why not take advantage of the inexpensive car hire in Edinburgh City Centre.