10 Vegan-friendly spots to dine (Photo Archive)
Veganism has become a popular lifestyle choice. Today vegans can breathe a sigh of relief as many restaurants offer more than a single, sad-looking salad.
Eating establishments have become incredibly creative with their selection of food and in how they present vegan and vegetarian food, luring even die-hard carnivores to try (and enjoy) a variety of great-tasting greens.
If you’re not yet convinced, here’s a list of a few Cape Town vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants for you to try:
1. Raw and Roxy Vegan Café
Raw and Roxy specialises in raw vegan food for those who are conscious foodies or simply want to try something new. All the meals here are prepared with no animal products, dairy or seafood, and with superfoods such as fruit, vegetables, coconut oil and matcha.
Address: 8 Hout Street, corner of Hout and Burg streets, Cape Town
Get connected: 0795996277; rawrawandroxy.wixsite.com
2. The Hungry Herbivore
The Hungry Herbivore is an artisanal 100% vegan and plant-based restaurant that wants guests to find comfort in food in a healthy way. If you have a sweet tooth and don’t want to feel guilty about what you nibble on, then the sweet treats at The Hungry Herbivore are for you.
Address: 11 Orphan Street, Cape Town
Contacts: 0214220347; thehungryherbivore.com
3. Lekker Vegan
Gone are the days of vegan food being boring and bland. We are all guilty of feeling peckish in the evenings but fortunately for us, Lekker Vegan offers healthy “junk” food until 3am on weekdays. Their offerings are vegan gourmet burgers, gatsbys, chips and soft serve ice cream.
Address: 37 Barrack Street, corner of Harrington and Barrack streets, Zonnebloem
Get connected: lekkervegan.co.za
4. Unframed Ice Cream
Unframed Ice Cream not only caters for dairy lovers, but vegans have a choice too. The vegan ice cream is so delicious that as a dairy lover you may not even realise you’re enjoying a vegan scoop. The flavours available sound dreamy: tumeric latte, caramelised banana, burnt white chocolate and Speculoos (a dutch shortbread biscuit).
Address: 45C Kloof Street, Gardens
Get connected: 0636010287; unframed.co.za
5. Plant Cafe
If you’re looking for an easy-going vibe with a strictly vegan breakfast option right up to 2pm, then visit the Plant Cafe. With a variety of vegan meals to choose from such as: sweet and sour tofu and potato steak served on ciabatta, just to name a few. The lunch menu is served until 6pm, with dinner served between 6pm to 10pm.
Address: 8 Buiten Street, Cape Town
Get connected: 0638231198; plantcafe.co.za
6. Jessy’s Waffles
Do you have a sweet tooth? Get your fix at Jessy’s Waffles with vegan and gluten-free waffles. At Jessy’s Waffles, you get the chance to build your own sweet or savoury waffles, by selecting your base, toppings, sauces and side of yoghurt, ice cream or coconut cream.
Address: 58 Barnet Street, Gardens
Get connected: 0874700139; facebook.com/jessyswaffles
7. Nourish’d Cafe and Juicery
Nourish’d in Cape Town is available in the CBD as well as in Lower Main in Observatory. This vegan-friendly eatery creates seasonal meals from products that are sourced from local farms. Here you will find wholesome fresh food, juices and smoothie bowls.
Address: Ground floor, 177 Kloof Street, The Old Garage on Hof Street, Gardens
Get connected: 0636481040; nourishd.co.za
8. Tobago’s Restaurant
Tobago’s Restaurant at the Radisson Blu Waterfront has introduced a vegan set menu accompanied by a glass of Protea wine. For mains there’s a dish with a Chinese flair; Pak Choi, Soba Noodle Stir-fry with ginger, chilli, garlic pan fried vegetables, sesame pak choi, soya soba noodles, bean sprouts and wasabi foam, which will definitely excite the taste buds.
Address: Waterfront, Radisson Blu Hotel, Granger Street
Get connected: 0214413414; radissonblu.com
9. Scheckter’s RAW Gourmet Health Food
Scheckter’s Raw is a raw, organic vegan and vegetarian restaurant that aims to take healthy and healing food to a whole new level. From pumpkin and matcha pancakes, burgers to poke bowls, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how full you feel after a meal.
Address: 98 Regent Road, Sea Point
Get connected: 0214341364; schecktersraw.com
10. Maharajah Vegetarian Restaurant
The Maharajah Vegetarian Restaurant is famous for its flavoursome vegetarian curry. The menu is filled with tasty options such as their chickpea and potato wraps, paneer butter masala and butter bean briyani.
Address: 6 Fountain Place, Rondebosch, Cape Town
Get connected: 0216857891; maharajahvegetarian.com