The last couple of years saw the closure of some of Dublin's best vegan / veggie establishments, like Kale + Coco, The Vegan Sandwich Company and Sova Vegan Butcher. Not great news for the plant based peeps, but we're here to assure you that there are still loads of great options out there, and most of them aren't strictly veggie. From casual cafés to fine dining experiences, we've rounded up the go to list for meat and dairy free meals...
Cafés
Bang Bang, Dublin 7
Bang Bang is among the cooliest cafés in Phisborough, with consistently good coffee, sweet treats and sambos, and they're always thinking of the meat
and dairy free brigade. Each day they have different veggie and vegan options that are always killer, like falafel sandwiches and veggie brunch burgers.
Little Bird Café and Yoga, Dublin 8
No prizes for guessing the two activities taking place in this spot - yoga and food, what's not to like about that combo. Little Bird is a neighbourhood café in Dublin 8, with all food made on site using seasonal, mostly organic ingredients. Their menu is all vegetarian with plenty of vegan options so you can enjoy a feast after you’ve worked through your sun salutations. Our pick is the mushroom toast with a spiced carrot dip and toasted hazelnuts.
It's A Trap, Aungier Street
It's A Trap is a fully plant based café on Aungier Street serving cakes, toasties and wraps which we can hardly believe are all vegan. They're famous for their cinnamon buns (check out their ASMR video), which they took three years to create the perfect recipe for. Shhh - the meat eaters will never know.
Urban Health, Ranelagh
Just at the triangle in Ranelagh you'll find Urban Health - a health conscious café with plenty of options for all the veggies and vegans out there. Allergens are clearly listed on the menu and they have everything you could ever want to eat pre-dinner including granola, porridge, açai bowls, breakfast wraps, scrambled eggs (or tofu) on toast, salads, pancakes, toasties and waffles. They also offer juice cleanses, if you're feeling up for the detox.
The Fumbally, Dublin 8
The Fumbally Café is a true community of food lovers who come together to make delicious things. As well as a café and shop, the premises hosts classes, workshops, supper clubs - you name it, they’re probably doing it. The menu is always creative and chefs are generally given free rein, which has led to a number of our favourite products coming out of their kitchen (looking at you Harry’s Nut Butter). It’s not totally vegetarian but has a nice mix of meaty and vegetarian dishes with options to veganise some menu items.
Casual Bite
Brother Hubbard, various locations
Brother Hubbard was one of the first cafés to fill the brunch gap that foodies were crying out for in Dublin when it opened in 2012. Since then, many others have opened but Brother Hubbard have kept their loyal following and reputation. Their bread and (dairy-free) butter is breakfast and lunch, but they've also branched out to dinner in two of their locations. Yves is their pop-up in Ranelagh, with a focus on French and Spanish cuisine, while dinner at their Capel Street location keeps in line with their Middle Eastern influence. There are tons of vegetarian and vegan options across their menus for all your meat free needs.
Pho Kim, Dublin 1
Parnell Street restaurant Pho Kim are a family run restaurant who moved to Ireland in the 70's, and have been serving up some of the best Vietnamese food in Dublin since 2012. They have a full vegan/vegetarian menu to cater to the herbivores, from spring and summer rolls to a veggie Bánh xèo.
Govinda's, Dublin 1
The veggie Mecca of Dublin has been operating since 1997 with a Hare Krishna centre upstairs, but has long been a food attraction for non-Hare Krishna followers. Govinda's vegetarian and vegan Indian-inspired food is served buffet style, and is some of the best value around with very generous portions for €10 - €15 a plate.
Shouk, Drumcondra
Shouk is the type of place to bring your meat eater friends and family members to surreptitiously sneak some more veggies into their life. They serve up authentic Middle Eastern food in a funky space, and while there is meat on the menu, the vegetarian and vegan offerings take the biscuit. Order the 'Middle East Feast’ (vegetarian and vegan options available) so you can try a bit of everything – a steal at €35 per person when you see the amount of food that arrives.
Umi Falafel, various locations
Umi Falafel is a mainstay of unfussy Dublin eateries at this stage, consistently delivering top quality food at very good prices. Their main offering is (you guessed it) falafel, and apart from a bit of cheese (halloumi cheese fries anyone?) the menu is predominantly vegan. It’s always a great option for a quick bite and they now have six locations in Dublin - three in the city centre, and one eacin Rathmines, Drumcondra and Ballsbridge.
Nutbutter, Grand Canal Dock & Smithfield
A Californian-inspired menu made with local Irish ingredients is right up our street, and Nutbutter gave us just that. Largely plant-based, their menu will make your mouth water with fresh and healthy tacos, rice bowls and salads, plus there's a plant-based soft serve for dessert.
Lucky Tortoise, Temple Bar
Lucky Tortoise in Temple Bar is a straight up vibe - where you can get all sorts of delightful dim sum, from okky, to bao buns, dumplings to ramen. If you're feeling adventurous (or indeed, indecisive) - opt for their "all in" menu which is also available vegan or vegetarian. And at €26 a head, it's one of the best value meals in the city.
Cornucopia, Dublin 2
An institution since 1986, we can’t imagine a list of vegetarian restaurants without the only decent option for Dublin’s non-meat eaters for many years. Cornucopia operates cafeteria style, serving plentiful hot dishes and salads in their spacious yet cosy restaurant. They operate every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so tonne of opportunities to get your veg on.
Kerb, Foxrock
Kerb was opened by owner Shona McCabe after years of working in restaurants across Australia and New Zealand, picking up inspiration from the diverse cuisines there. On returning home she decided to focus on giving Middle Eastern food a modern, healthy twist, with a focus on kebabs, using the best of Irish ingredients. Kerb opens for breakfast and lunch with plenty of options for both veggies and vegans, and they have some of the best coffee in the locality.
Maneki Sushi, Dawson St
On Dawson Street, amidst the suit shops and string of bars that may as well all be Café en Seine, is Maneki Sushi, a cute little sushi spot that comes with a separate plant based menu. From vegan squid rings to Japanese hot pot, vegetarians and vegans won't go hungry here, and with on site karaoke you'll have an excuse to work up an appetite.
Street Food
Dosa Dosa, Grand Canal
Dosa Dosa started as a food truck in January 2020 (possibly the worst timing in history) but they made it work touring around Dublin serving Southern Indian dosas to the masses, and they did it so well they're now operating from two permanent locations - The Place Food Yard at Grand Canal Street, and The Crossings in Adamstown. They have a great variety of vegetarian and vegan food at excellent value, and we love their vegan potato masala dosa which will set you back just under a tenner.
Janet's, Eatyard
Eatyard is generally a treasure trove for vegetarians and vegans, and Janet's should be one of your top stops. Within their small range of dumpling and bao buns they've included some very tasty vegan options so no one's left out, and we love their vegan gyoza, aswell as the tofu bao.
Shaka Poke, Blackrock & Baggot Street
We've been big fans of Shaka Poké since their festival and food market stall days, and we were thrilled when they set up permanent shop in Blackrock Market, and then expanded to Baggot Street last year. Somewhere specialising in Hawaiian raw fish might not be the obvious place to look for vegan food, but their ‘No Catch’ menu item omits any fishy additions, and they also have beetroot and marinated hoisin tofu to bulk out your bowl.
Fast Food
Token, Smithfield
The arcade restaurant we all know and love has some of the best vegan fast food the city has to offer. Token have created a menu where pretty much everything that's available for meat-eaters is also available for vegans, including their nuggs, mac and cheese and even the garlic mayo, so you can feast freely before you work it all off on the dance machine.
McGuinness's, Camden St
McGuinness's is the vegan go-to post club haunt to chow down in after a night on the dance floor, or after a few too many Shirley Temples. With all the usual chipper fare for carnivores, they also have a separate vegan menu that includes the legendary Philly cheese steak made with seitan and cashew cheese. Who said vegans don't like to party?
The Saucy Cow, Temple Bar
We love the story behind The Saucy Cow and totally understand where owner Roisin Lawlor got her inspiration – on her return from New York she was pleased to see an array of new vegan items on menus but nothing with sauce which can be tricky to ‘veganise’. She took matters into her own hands, creating a range of sauces and from there a vegan fast-food stand, then restaurant, serving burgers, fries and desserts. Read our two minute review of The Saucy Cow here.
V-Face, Stoneybatter
Another option for when you're craving a durty burger and fries, V-Face describe themselves as "Animal Burgers made with Plants" and we would have to agree with them on this - these burgers are animal and we would easily choose one of these over a traditional meaty burger if we were in the area. Not to mention they have ice cream sambos, and six different flavours of milkshakes. Winner winner, seitan dinner.
Flip Burger, George's Street Arcade
Flip Burger (the brainchild of another vegetarian favourite Blazing Salads) opened in January 2020 after they received really positive responses to their vegan and vegetarian burgers at music festivals. They have a variety of plant-based patties served on organic seeded buns, and we loved them when we visited - particularly the focus on vegetables as opposed to pretending to be meat. Blazing Salads have now shut their Drury Street shop (hello Mani Pizza) and are in here too.
Special Occasions
Fallon & Byrne, Dublin 2
While the Exchequer Street location is home to one of our favourite food halls to roam around and a cosy wine cellar, Fallon & Byrne's upstairs restaurant is where you’ll find their best vegetarian offerings. There's a full plant-based menu available, using all of the great produce from the supermarket below, and with ex-Allta head chef Hugh Higgins now working there in development, we'd wager it's better than ever.
Glovers Alley, Dublin 2
Michelin-starred Glovers Alley has both a full vegetarian and vegan tasting menus, and is no doubt the boujiest on this list. With vegan dishes such as ‘beet tartare, hazelnut and dill’ and ‘mango, pineapple, lemon verbena and mint’ we would be tempted to forgo the carnivorous tasting menu for the veggie option ourselves. Priced at €120 per person it's one for those celebration occasions, but we reckon veggie tasting menus don't get better than this.
Delahunt, Camden St
We love restaurants that rise to the challenge of preparing a vegetarian tasting menu, and Delahunt does exactly this, but you need to pre-order so they can prepare. They say they can accommodate most dietary requirements and food allergies with a good bit of notice, and rightly so when punters are paying €80 a head. Another one for the special occasion list, but you won't be disappointed.
3 Leaves, Blackrock
Indian restaurants are usually a solid option if you're dining with vegetarian friends, and 3 Leaves in Blackrock is one of our most loved. They're closed Monday - Wednesday, with only two dinner services on Thursdays and Fridays, and we love their ‘Taster Thali’ menu, which there are vegan and vegetarian versions of. If you haven't already been it will take about two seconds for you to realise what all the fuss is about.
Glas, Dublin 2
Glas was once the only fully veggie restaurant in Dublin to make it onto the Michelin Guide (they haven't been included since 2023), and their menu changes seasonably (be sure to get the polenta fries if you can catch them). There's enough cheese on there to keep the non-vegans happy, and the terrace outside is a dream on a sunny day.
Gursha, Dublin 2
Gursha started as an Ethiopian supper club, holding intimate evenings in the Cloud Café on North Strand Road. Luckily for all of us they moved into a permanent premises on Poolbeg Street, and don't expect demand to lapse anytime soon. Ethiopian cooking and curries use very few meat products due to religious practices, so Gursha is naturally vegetarian and mostly vegan bar a bit of egg.
Big Fan, Dublin 2
Another cuisine that tends to work well for your vegetable loving friends is Chinese, and Big Fan on Aungier Street are really going the extra mile for meat-free dining (heaf chef Alex's Mum is vegan so he's used to getting creative with vegetables). Their aubergine and beyond meat bao are every bit as good as the more traditional pork, the okra in ponzu sauce is outrageous, and you'll be thinking about the enoki mushrooms with garlic and chili for a long time after you've left.
Hang Dai, Camden Street
With a separate meat-free menu (you need to ask for it), Hang Dai is a solid option for the veggie and vegan diners. Their salt and chilli tofu is insane, and we've been stalking the nameko mushrooms with truffle rice for months. No need to feel like you're missing out here when you're giving the meat a miss.
The Merrion Hotel, Dublin 2
If you're feeling foncy, get your glad rags on and head to The Merrion Hotel for a meal in their Garden Room. Best-selling cookbook author Holly White has collaborated with them on a vegan menu that changes with the seasons, and they have some interesting options including a green gazpacho with a chipotle crema, a cauliflower steak with roasted red pepper and olive salsa, and a strawberry mousse with vanilla sable for dessert. Ring a ding ding.
Did we miss your favourite place for vegan or vegetarian food? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.
