Edinburgh’s a student town with a wide and varied population. One positive side-effect of this is that we’ve always had decent vegetarian options. Now there seems to be a growing trend towards eating vegetables and going vegan, there are even more options. We’ve done a couple of vegetarian round-ups in the past but it’s time for a fresh look.
Beetroot falafel with wheat salad, hummus and flat bread at Earthy.
Restaurants (dinner)
David Bann’s
56-58 St Mary Street
The closest we get to fine vegetarian dining in Edinburgh. An elegant yet cosy dining room and a menu where V means vegan. A cheerful mix of internatinal flavours and dishes. I’ve enjoyed both Asian noodles in broth and burritos here.
Kalpna
2-3 St Patrick Square
Vegetarian Indian. The small dining room is glamorous with its dark walls decorated with glittering mosaics. A good range of interesting dishes including thali. I love the dosa.
Dosa. But not the dosa they serve at Kalpna – this is from Ambar. This is vegetarian dosa though, and it was nice. (I particularly like the coconut chutney and the sweet potato filling was fab.)
Henderson’s Salad Table & Restaurant
94 Hanover Street
The original Henderson’s breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet with salads, hot and cold dishes, some vegan, most vegetarian. A recent re-fit sees this cellar space brightened and fresher. We’ve enjoyed the spinakopita, Thai burger and plate of salads.
Henderson’s Vegan Restaurant
Thistle Street
Intimate vegan restaurant. Seasonal ingredients and global flavours. Small dishes like olives and grilled polenta to start, or hearty salads and dishes that can be served large or small. Informal, tasty dining.
Novapizza Vegetarian Kitchen
42 Howe Street
Intimate Italian with vegetarian and vegan menues. Mostly serves pizzas and pastas. Tiny and friendly place that was busy when we were there. We enjoyed gnocchi with cheese and tomato sauce and fancied the look of the aubergine pizza.
Paradise Palms with food by Lucky Pig
41 Lothian Street
Cocktails and vegan soul food in funky Hawaii-inspired setting. We enjoyed the chilli with corn bread and the burger. Will be back for pulled jack fruit and another Boulevardier. Good for groups and has some outdoors seating. Also a venue – things happen here.
Chilli with sweet potato and corn bread at Paradise Palms.
Cafés (lunch, snacks and cake)
Hendersons’s Holyrood
67 Holyrood Road
Vegan street food+. Welcoming interior of mix and match furniture. We’ve enjoyed the seitan doner and the Philly ‘steak’ sandwich, they also do salad boxes and wraps. The first place in Edinburgh I’ve seen that serves seitan. A great place for lunch that sadly closes at 17:00.
Holy Cow
34 Elder Street
Vegan burgers, sandwiches, smoothies and cake. A small, downstairs café with white walls and blond wood tables. We’ve enjoyed buckwheat bread with beetroot hummus with carrots and pumpkin seed, and red velvet cake.
Buckwheat bread with beetroot hummus and carrots from Holy Cow.
Veggie-friendly
Not 100% veggie or vegan but with more than one token option. There are loads of these – here are three I enjoy.
- Edinburgh Larder Cafe, 15 Blackfriars Street: salads and sandwiches that makes you happy to be alive. Also a deli. Few seats but good for take-away.
- Earthy, 33-41 Ratcliffe Terrace: cakes, quiches and fabulous salads in generous servings. Great outdoors seating in the summer.
- Hula Juice Bar, 103-105 West Bow: breakfast, lunch and snacks for juice, fruit and veg lovers.
- Union of Genius, 8 Forest Road: soup and bread and the occasional stew. And not lying about the genius. Few seats but good for take-away.
Have I missed something you think the world/Edinburgh should know about? Email me!
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