You might be doing your bit for the environment by skipping animal products, but finding vegan restaurants isn’t always easy.
Some places may only offer you a salad (and then the salad dressing has mayo!), or you are left nibbling on a side plate of chippies.
I know your struggles, which is why I decided to investigate some of the best vegan restaurants in the Mother City. I’m not strictly vegan myself, but I am more than happy to forego the meat most days, and practice meatless Monday religiously. Some of these restaurants cater to vegetarians too, and all of them promise you a delicious cruelty-free meal.
Table of Contents
1. Nourish’d Cafe and Juicery
Best for: Vegan breakfast and juices
Address: 177 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001 (also branches in Observatory [186 Lower Main Rd] and Green Point [2 Hill Road])
Contact: natasha@nourishd.co.za
Favourite dish: Moonshine Bowl
Nourish’d is one of my favourite early-morning breakfast spots when I am in Cape Town. It opens at 7.30 am, which means you can get there before the worst traffic starts spilling into Kloof Street.
Their zero-waste approach is evident in everything they do, from the utensils to the amazing vegan food and drinks.
The Moonshine Rainbow Bowl is (sadly) only available from 9.30 am, but it is stuffed full of goodness: the falafel gives you that protein kick while the kimchi is the perfect probiotic punch for your gut health.
Combine one of their toasties or smoothie bowls with a fresh juice and a rejuvenating “shot” of Jamu Asem and you are good to go for the whole day!
I just need to note, the last time I was there the service was a little bit slow. This is probably because I was there during the breakfast rush, but just know you might wait a bit for your food. It will be well worth it though.
Parking is also a bit tricky here (as it is everywhere else on Kloof Street), so if you see a spot – grab it!
2. The Sunshine Food Co Vegan Cafe
Best for: Vegan burgers
Address: 2 M61, Three Anchor Bay, Cape Town, 8005
Contact: thesunshinefoodco@gmail.com
Favourite dish: Charcoal Burger
You probably think a good, hearty vegan burger is nearly impossible to find. Well, look no further, The Sunshine Food Co Vegan Cafe is where it’s at.
The Charcoal Burger is my favourite of the burger options. It has a homemade patty and is served with avo, a delicious salsa and their famous sunshine lemon sauce.
But, if you want to go gluten-free, the Sunshine Bunless Burger is a great choice.
To quench my thirst, I often choose the Green Detox Juice since the green flavours work really well with the avo and microgreens in the burger.
The burgers might not be the biggest in Cape Town, but they pack a massive flavour punch.
The location on Main Road, Sea Point, means you won’t struggle to access this quaint seaside spot.
3. Plant Cafe
Best for: Gourmet vegan meals
Address: 87 Victoria Road, The Promenade, Camps Bay, Cape Town, 8000
Contact: pierre@plantcafe.co.za
Favourite dish: Dirty Mac and Cheese
Okay, so I know I said Plant is most popular for their plant-based gourmet meals, and I admit that mac and cheese isn’t everyone’s idea of gourmet, but once you tuck into the creamy, vegan sauce, you will feel like you’re dining in a five-star establishment!
Other dishes that are slightly more “gourmet” (but plant-based) include their Exotic Mushroom Rice Paper Roll, a Messe Platter, Vegan Bourguignon (fancy!) and Vietnamese Pho. They also have some more “eat it on a Sunday when you’re too lazy to cook” meals, like nachos, pizza and quesadillas.
The cafe’s central location right in the CBD makes it a great stop when you are exploring Cape Town.
Don’t want to leave the house? Don’t worry! Plant Cafe is also available on Uber Eats for when you really don’t want to do anything on a Sunday. If you do manage to drag yourself off the couch and through the doors, the restaurant also stocks some vegan supplies, like baking ingredients and milk alternatives.
4. Scheckter’s Raw
Best for: Nutritious meals
Address: 98 Regent Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8060
Contact: love@schecktersraw.com
Favourite dish: Pumpkin Pie Flapjacks
I went out of my way to eat at Scheckter’s Raw once I learned of its existence. Imagine my excitement: an organic, raw restaurant that serves vegetarian and vegan dishes… right there in Sea Point!
It felt unheard of.
Their menu is incredibly inventive, but everyone I spoke to raved about the famous flapjacks – I mean, they even have it on the menu as “Famous Pumpkin Pie Flapjacks“. These can also be ordered as a gluten-free version. The little pancakes are topped with banana, strawberry, cinnamon, turmeric (hello anti-inflammatory properties!) and organic agave, with a big scoop of vegan cashew ice cream.
My mouth is watering just remembering how delicious it was.
But, if sweet treats aren’t for you, they have a variety of other raw and vegan options.
When you’re on the verge of hangry, then their sweet potato gnocchi is perfect. But, if you want something a bit lighter, I highly recommend the Hut-Healing Bowl filled with all the good, tummy-healing ingredients (like hummus, beans, celery, probiotics and sauerkraut).
I went there over lunch on a weekend, and I admit, this wasn’t the best choice. Sadly, the service was painfully slow that day, but when the food finally arrived, I was very happy that I waited to be served. I’ve heard from those fortunate enough to sneak out during work hours that it is much less busy during weekdays.
5. Moro Gelato
Best for: Sorbet and vegan gelato
Address: 85 Regent Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8060
Contact: info@morogelato.co.za
Favourite dish: Gingerbeet (Beetroot, Ginger and Apple Sorbetto)
Even vegetarian and vegan eaters want to enjoy ice cream during those hot and windy Cape Town summer days!
Moro Gelato is your one-stop ice cream shop, but it is their sorbets that really steal the show.
I’m obsessed with their Gingerbeet sorbet, although the lemon sorbet is a close runner-up. The flavours are fresh and fruity, and the sorbet is the perfect accompaniment as you walk along the Sea Point promenade.
The (non-vegan) gelato uses traditional methods and seasonal ingredients, so no two visits to Moro Gelato will be the same.
6. BamBoo Plant Power
Best for: Vegan fast food
Address: 9 Long St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000
Contact: Online Contact Form
Favourite dish: Buffalo Cauli Wings
Those of you who’ve recently gone vegan, or only eat vegan on certain days, may miss those hearty, meaty dishes that only a fast food joint can provide.
Well, turns out even we vegans can enjoy junk food – without the junk!
BamBoo’s menu is free from any dairy, meat or egg products, and the dishes contain no saturated fats, cholesterol, refined sugars, animal fats, preservatives or artificial flavours.
I am convinced they use magic to make their food taste so good.
I’m obsessed with their Buffalo Wings. They’re crispy, spicy and sticky – just what you want them to be.
Desserts are also a hit at BamBoo. Whenever my friend from Joburg pops in for a visit, he insists we stop at BamBoo for their vegan Very Berry Cheesecake – and he’s not even vegetarian!
There are also plenty of gluten-free options available, or some of the items can be made gluten-free for an added extra cost.
Because it is on Long Street it can be impossible to find parking, and it also gets very busy over lunchtime. Go early, or get ready to take a walk along Long or Loop Street if you’re able to find a parking spot.
BamBoo is hands down one of my favourite “fast” food vegan restaurants in Cape Town.
7. The Conscious Kitchen
Best for: Comfort food
Address: 34 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
Contact: dana@theconsciouskitchen.co.za
Favourite dish: BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Tacos
Kloof Street is clearly a hotspot for the best vegan restaurants in Cape Town. So, if you happen to be grabbing a smoothie at Nourish’d, then The Conscious Kitchen is a 1 km walk downhill and perfect for lunch after exploring the shops along Kloof Street.
The Conscious Kitchen serves some of the best vegan comfort food around. All their food emphasises sustainability and eco-friendliness, which is awesome since it means you can tuck into their generous portions without any guilt!
The vibe of the restaurant is super chill – like if a hippie’s home and a yoga studio had a lovechild. Digital nomads work on wicker chair swings while diverse friend groups chat under the straw lights.
If you are in the mood for healthy comfort food, then their tacos, burgers, toasties and bowls are not to be missed.
8. Plushi
Best for: Vegan sushi and Asian takeaways
Address: 196 Victoria Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7925
Contact: hey@plushi.co.za
Favourite dish: Plushi Platter
So, plushi is a bit different – it isn’t exactly a sit-down restaurant. Instead, it is an online-only option where you place your order through their website and they deliver their creative plant-based sushi right to your door.
What I LOVE about Plushi (apart from the food, obviously) is the mystery that surrounds your order. Their “Platter of the Week” is different each week, which means almost every time you go on their website you are in for a new surprise. And you will almost always be excited by what you find.
When I ordered my first platter, I was gifted with a free dessert – apart from the sushi, the box also came with two beetroot brownies.
I must just note that these platters can include upwards of 20 pieces, so they’re best shared.
9. Honest Chocolate
Best for: Vegan chocolate and desserts
Address: 64A Wale St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000
Contact: cafe@honestchocolate.co.za
Favourite dish: Vegan chocolate cake
With Honest Chocolate, you can have your cake and eat it too!
This trendy spot is renowned for its handcrafted dark chocolate, but it also offers a variety of vegan (and non-vegan) options. It is one of the best places to stop in Cape Town if you want to ease your sweet cravings.
I have tried their dark chocolate a couple of times before, but their vegan chocolate cake was a real surprise. I honestly can’t figure out how they got it so moist and creamy without the use of butter, eggs or milk. All I know is, I go back again and again!
The shop itself is super cosy, and perfect if you want to work away from home for a bit.
But, the real secret to Honest Chocolate lays towards the back of the shop… The Gin Bar! You need to access this secret bar through Honest Chocolate’s doors, where you’ll find creative concoctions as well as wine and beer. Good thing gin is vegan too!
10. Unframed Ice Cream
Best for: Vegan ice cream
Address: 45C Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001 (another location in Woodstock [187 Sir Lowry Road])
Contact: Online Contact Form
Favourite dish: Vegan Sea Salt Chocolate
Unframed mission is to “bring a little more happiness to the world”, and let me tell you, once you take your first bite (or lick) of their vegan options, you will feel your sadness melt away like an ice cream on a hot day.
They’ve got vegan ice cream and sorbet, as well as dairy ice cream, so everyone will find a flavour they like here.
I’ve always loved dark chocolate with sea salt, so the vegan sea salt flavour was my top pick. But, I also tasted the vegan mint choc chip (this used to be my favourite flavour when I was a dairy-eating kid) and I really enjoyed it too.
The shop on Kloof Street is my regular stop, but they’ve also got a shop in Woodstock if you’re heading out to the Southern Suburbs.
It is a toss-up between Moro Gelato and Unframed when it comes to the best vegan restaurants in Cape Town that serve ice cream, so all I can say is that you should try both and make up your own mind!
FAQs
Is it difficult to find plant-based restaurants in the heart of Cape Town?
Definitely not! Even though a lot of Cape Town’s vegan and vegetarian restaurants are located along the seaboard, there are still plenty of options right in the CBD. Kloof Street especially boasts a wide variety of restaurants that are either purely plant-based or serve vegan food.
Are there any vegan restaurants in Cape Town that also cater to meat-eaters?
Just because someone is a meat-eater doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy a vegan dish. But if you’re dealing with a hard-core carnivore, then they’ll be happy to know that some restaurants in Cape Town offer both vegan and meat dishes. But, in most instances, these are regular restaurants that happen to be vegan-friendly.
Where can I find the best plant-based burger in Cape Town?
It’s not hard to find a good vegan burger in the Mother City!
The Sunshine Food Co. is renowned for its vegan burgers, but BamBoo Plant Power also has a vegan burger offering. Plenty of meaty establishments also offer vegan burgers, like The Dog’s Bollocks at YARD (Handcrafted Vag Burger), Royale Eatery (Vegan Royale Burger), Hudson’s Burger Joint (a variety of vegan burgers on the menu) and Jerry’s Burger Bar (Holy [Not] Cow Burger).
