Named the vegan capital of the world several times, it is no surprise Bristolians are spoilt for choice when they want to dine out while sticking to a plant-based diet. And so when Veganuary comes around each year there are no excuses.
Whether you choose a plant-based diet 365 days a year or are just trying to reduce the amount of meat you eat as the new year begins, you can find everything in Bristol you need to suit your cravings.
From Sunday roasts with all the trimmings, huge burgers with dirty fries, or even kebabs, we can get it all in this city as the vegetarian and vegan food scene in Bristol is growing and growing. Here are some of the tastiest meat-free eateries Bristol has to offer, this Veganuary and beyond.
READ MORE: Veganuary: Why turning vegan is always better for the planet despite what the meat die-hards say
Thali Cafe
64-66 St Marks Rd, Easton, Bristol BS5 6JH
12 York Rd, Montpelier, Bristol BS6 5QE
Although Thali serves a range of meat dishes, they are well-known for offering some amazing vegetarian curries and sides too. They launched 15 years ago selling street food at festivals, and despite some major changes to the company this year, Bristol is still home to two Thali restaurants in Easton and Montpelier.
Flow
8a Haymarket Walk, Bristol BS1 3LN
Flow's ever-changing menu only uses the best local ingredients and takes inspiration from a number of different cultures. You can tuck into dishes such as homewood halloumi with sticky dates, rye, parsnip, apple and bhajis or smoked paprika houmous with pickles, urfa oil and khorasan crackers.
Koocha
203B Cheltenham Rd, Cotham, Bristol BS6 5QX
Anyone who thinks vegan food is boring and flavourless needs to visit Koocha.
The Persian mezze bar opened in Zetland Road in June 2018, and immediately became a firm favourite among Bristol vegans and non-vegans alike.
Koocha serves a range of cocktails, mezze dishes and vegan kebabs as well as larger traditional dishes.
Bristol Live's reviewer Mark Taylor described it as a meal 'bursting with colour and flavour' and said it may just be 'the most exciting plant-based food in Bristol'.
Root
Unit 9 Cargo 1, Gaol Ferry Steps, Bristol BS1 6WP
Root does things very differently to most restaurants - and it does them well, if its rave reviews are anything to go by. Its main menu focus is on plant-based dishes, with a small selection of meat and fish plates available as sides. Some of the menu offerings include swede carbonara, charred hispi cabbage and mushroom risotto.
Fi Real
57 West Street, Old Market, Bristol BS2 0BZ
Described by many as the best vegan Jamaican restaurant in the UK, Fi Real serves authentic food from the Caribbean without the meat. To match the delicious food there's always a cracking atmosphere and top-notch service.
Vx Bristol
123 East St, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4ER
Vx Bristol claims 'a cruelty-free vegan lifestyle doesn't have to be boring' - and we agree. This vegan 'junk food' restaurant serves all your favourite meaty treats, but you can tuck in safe in the knowledge there's no animal products to be found in any of them.
Eat A Pitta
St Nicholas Market, All Saints Ln, Bristol BS1 1LJ
67A Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AD
3B Kiosk, Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3EA
21 Queens Rd, Bristol BS8 1QE
Eat A Pitta needs no introduction. The queues at lunchtime at its St Nick's stand are huge, but for good reason - its stuffed pittas with falafel and houmous will keep you full all afternoon long.
Baba Ganoush Kitchen
81 St Nicholas' Rd, St Paul's, Bristol BS2 9JJ
The St Pauls cafe has been a firm favourite with falafel lovers for some time. Baba Ganoush Kitchen has consistently strong reviews on TripAdvisor and Google for its reasonable prices, big portions and excellent service. The cafe serves colourful wraps filled with freshly prepared falafel, dips and salad, open Tuesday to Sunday.
Honest Burger
21, off Clare St, Corn St, Bristol BS1 1XA
Yes, we really are directing you to a restaurant which prides the quality of its meat so much that it opened its own butchers - but vegans are very much welcome at Honest Burger, in Clare Street. The burger restaurant launched its new 'like meat' vegan option in November, saying the 'Plant Burger' even sears like meat.
It got a five-star review from meat-eating reporter Tom Canning, who described it as 'juicy' and said it 'surpassed all expectations'.
Oowee Vegan
65 Baldwin St, Bristol BS1 1QZ
Arguably Bristol's filthiest burger chain, Oowee opened an all-vegan restaurant in Baldwin Street and it has been a hit ever since. It offers 'mind-blowing' junk food using a selection of meat imitation products as well as a range of dishes which are nothing like meat.
The menu includes the 'Smokin' Hot Cluck' which our reviewer said is the better choice over a seitan patty – you can read the full review here. Oowee has proved so popular, it's been named the best restaurant in Britain in the first-ever Deliveroo Awards.
Yafo
238 North St, Southville, Bristol BS3 1JD
The Middle Eastern restaurant launched in November 2021 taking over a former milkshake bar on North Street. The menu is 70% vegan and 30% vegetarian, specialising in homemade falafel and hummus plates.
Yafo also serves an impressive breakfast menu with Frena bread and eggs alongside bottomless brunch at the weekend. It's available seven days a week dine-in or takeaway.
Cafe Kino
108 Stokes Croft, Cotham, Bristol BS1 3RU
This not-for-profit vegan eatery has a keen ethical focus, with any money it makes going back into improving the cafe for both customers and staff. Some of its delicious menu items include a vegan BLT and a fantastic sharing platter of falafel, olives, houmous, pitta, tahini sauce and salad.
Bulrush
21 Cotham Rd S, Cotham, Bristol BS6 5TZ
Bulrush is one of the finest restaurants in Bristol, so it's only right that its vegetarian tasting menu is included in our list. You can enjoy exquisite dishes such as barbecued leek, baby turnips, chanterelle mushrooms and yeast and Montgomery cheddar with pickled carrots.
Om Burger
54 Stokes Croft, St Paul's, Bristol BS1 3QU
Nick Makin and Rory Perriment of Burger Theory joined forces to create a purely plant-based restaurant called Om Burger. The site in Stokes Croft serves purely vegan burgers and fries, including meat alternatives to chicken and beef alongside vegetable-based patties.
Om Burger also has a breakfast menu from breakfast muffins to American pancakes as well as a Full English. The restaurant is open seven days a week at varied times.
Poco Tapas, Stokes Croft
45 Jamaica St, Bristol BS2 8JP
The range of tapas plates on offer at Poco includes some fine veggie options alongside meat dishes, so it's the perfect place to visit if you're looking for somewhere which caters for everybody. Some of its most popular veggie treats include broad bean falafel with fava bean puree, harissa and pickles, along with Portuguese 'punched' potatoes with garlic, rosemary and your choice of either harissa or aioli.
Jerkd Vegan
Delivery only
Jerkd offer plant-based Jamaican inspired food whilst prioritising health; using unrefined sugar, non-GMO soy and unrefined flour and healthy oil.
They embody the vegan ethos of causing the least harm possible and apply it to all facets of the business.
Purezza
79-81 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AS
Purezza claims to be the original vegan and plant-based pizza restaurant serving bristol delicious doughy goodness from their restaurant on Gloucester Road.
Eden Cafe
10 Waterloo St, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4BT
Eden cafe regularly changes its menu in line with seasonal produce, offering the best and freshest dishes. Whether you're looking for afternoon tea, cocktails and cakes or a superfood smoothie - they are sure to meet your needs.
Future Donuts
26 Oxford St, Bristol BS2 0QT
Future Donuts are the top choice for your dessert desires. Offering tasty completely vegan donuts in an array of different flavours with a gorgeous range of toppings to match.
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