These vegan restaurants will have everyone at the table fighting for the last spoon.
Sydney has had a booming vegetarian dining scene for quite some time, but recently we’ve seen herbivore foodies searching for something more… ethical. Enter the vegan dining circuit. Today there is certainly no shortage of venues offering plant-based menus around the city; from vegan Yum Cha to Mexican and Italian restaurants offering all of our favourite dishes, minus the meat and animal products. Whoever said you can’t be vegan and a foodie will be eating their words, or their mung beans, as we’ve put together this list of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney.
INDU, CBD
If you’re after an authentic Sri Lankan feast showcasing seasonal flavours and heart-warming spices, look no further than INDU. Hidden on Angel Place in the CBD, step into their dimly lit dining room and be transported to Sri Lanka as the aromas take you back to your fondest travel memories. Their menu boasts a large number of vegan options that give even the staunchest of meat-eaters food envy. From Amma’s famous daal with red lentils, mustard seeds and fresh ground coconut to the devilled pumpkin with ginger, coconut chutney and crispy shallots, you’ll be in vegan heaven, but there’s also a number of meat options to make it the perfect choice for a multi diet friend group. Find out more here.
Gigi’s Pizzeria, Newtown
Operating as a 100% plant-based pizzeria in the vegan hotspot of Newtown, Gigis is a must-visit for vegans and carnivores alike. With no mozzarella, salami or pepperoni in sight, you’ll feast on delicious woodfired pizzas that are true to the traditional Neapolitan style we know and love. Feast on the likes of the Marinara Tradizionale, a stone-roasted pizza topped with San Marzano tomato, garlic and fresh oregano, or the Funghi e Radicchio, made with swiss brown mushrooms, dairy-free blue cheese, parsley, radicchio and roasted walnuts. The creative and reasonably priced selection of pizzas makes Gigis one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney. Find out more here.
Yulli’s, Surry Hills
As far as vegan-friendly restaurants in Sydney go, Yulli’s is one of our absolute favourites. The Crown Street stalwart has been serving up delicious vegan eats for years, delighting Sydney diners with innovative fusion dishes that pack a flavourful punch. Expect tapas-style share plates with an Asian twist, including everything from San Choy Bow with five-spice tofu to Zucchini Flowers filled with beetroot and truffle oil plus so much more. You’ll also find a selection of vegan-friendly wines on the menu and a lavish banquet menu for just $44 per person. Because no one should be left hungry, they also offer a dedicated gluten-free menu to feed your coeliac friends. For beer lovers, head to their Alexandria brewery to experience an all-vegan menu of bites along with a rotating selection of Yulli’s brewed beers on tap. Find out more here.
Alibi Bar and Kitchen, Woolloomooloo
Alibi is the latest vegan restaurant to arrive at designer hotel Ovolo Woolloomooloo. As the brainchild of famous vegan chef Matthew Kenney, expect an exciting and unique dining experience that is a true celebration of plant-based food. From beetroot tartare to char-grilled okra and smoky eggplant, expect to dine on creative and memorable dishes that you will want to tell all your friends about. The bespoke cocktail menu takes its inspiration from local and international flavours, serving up signatures like the Rhubarb and Rose Martinez, and old favourites like the Manhattan and Espresso Martini. Alibi is the ideal place to impress, challenge, and welcome your senses to the world of plant-based fine dining. Find out more here.
Yellow, Potts Point
Yellow is the renowned vegan restaurant and wine bar nestled amongst the leafy streets of Potts Point. Opened by Brent Savage and Nick Hildebran from Bentley Restaurant + Bar, Monopole and Cirrus, Yellow takes inspiration from the European dining scene, with an added vegan twist. The heroes of the award-winning menu are unique, heirloom vegetables grown by local suppliers; enjoy dishes like globe artichoke with whipped dutch potato, and red clover sprouts with cultured cashew and pumpernickel. As one of the best vegan fine dining restaurants in Sydney, you can indulge in an outstanding 6-course tasting menu for $105 per person, with the option of adding matching wine or non-alcoholic drinks to complement your vegan bites. Find out more here.
Mark and Vinny’s, Surry Hills
“Don’t be upsetti and eat some spaghetti”; words to live by, vegan or not! This lively spaghetti and spritz bar is the perfect spot for both vegan and non-vegan friends to dine together, with the menu offering 50/50 plant-based and meat options. Situated on buzzing Waterloo Street in Surry Hills, this neighbourhood gem dishes up old-school pasta classics alongside modern variations. Their famous vegan egg yolk is sure to fool even the most trained eye, so be sure to order the charcoal bucatini to try it for yourself. They also serve up a delicious Lasagne Vegana, with semi-dried tomato and mushroom ragu, truffle bechamel, plant-based mozzarella and basil pesto, because no one should miss out on lasagna. Find out more here.
Golden Lotus, Newtown
It wouldn’t be a list of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney without mention of Newtown institution Golden Lotus. The Vietnamese eatery serves authentic dishes from Saigon, minus the meat and animal products. On the 100% plant-based, colourful and vibrant menu you’ll find dishes like vegan duck pancakes to vegan chicken or tofu pho and our personal favourite, the combination laksa. This affordable vegan-friendly restaurant is a must-visit for plant-based folk. Find out more here.
Bad Hombres, Surry Hills
For our margarita and taco-loving friends, Bad Hombres is our go-to for vegan Mexican. You will find all of the cuisine’s best dishes on the menu, from nachos and chips guac to Birria tacos and quesadillas. With a Mexican-inspired cocktail menu and natural wine selection mixed with a party playlist, you will want to stay for hours. Find out more here.
Don Fred, Newtown
Nestled in the heart of Newtown, Don Fred offers a refreshingly familiar take on vegan dining. Forget mock meats and trendy reinventions; here, Lorenzo Petrachi, inspired by his Nonna and honed by global culinary adventures, reimagines classic Italian comfort food with a plant-based flourish. Don’t expect tofu masquerading as meatballs; instead, savor “Polpetz Focaccia” – plump, flavorful lentil and mushroom “meatballs” nestled in pillowy focaccia – or “Fried Konjamari,” tempura-battered pumpkin blossoms bursting with creamy cashew ricotta. The menu brims with shared plates, perfect for lingering conversations over frozen Aperol spritzes while the warm, bustling interior evokes the inviting glow of an Italian trattoria. Find out more here.
Frequently asked questions:
What is the best vegan fine dining restaurant in Sydney?
To enjoy vegan fine dining, visit Yellow in Potts Point, Alibi Bar and Kitchen in Woolloomooloo or Indu in the CBD.
What is the best casual dining vegan restaurant in Sydney?
Yulli’s in Surry Hills offers a delicious vegan casual dining menu, as well as Golden Lotus in Newtown and Soul Burger (multiple locations).
What is the best vegan Yum Cha restaurant in Sydney?
For the best vegan Yum Cha in Sydney, visit Green Gourmet in St Leonards.
What is the best vegan Italian restaurant in Sydney?
For vegan pizza, be sure to visit the 100% plant-based Gigi’s Pizzeria in Newtown, and for vegan pasta, try Mark and Vinnys in Surry Hills.