Whether it be because the rising cost of living is making meat more expensive, or simply because people are wanting to adopt a healthier lifestyle, vegetarianism is on the increase in Sydney.
To support this surge, more and more vegetarian restaurants are popping up all over the city. To the point where there are now several excellent options available in any given suburb.
This means that from Woolloomooloo and Surry Hills to Enmore and Glebe, there are several places available to enjoy meat-free and plant-based food.
Whether your preferred genre is French, Chinese, Middle Eastern or Mexican, all of them offer outstanding quality meals and exceptional service.
With that in mind, next time you are out in the city, here are the 10 best vegetarian restaurants in Sydney to go to.
1. The Gantry
Nestled within the heart of the CBD at Dawes Point, it is worth visiting The Gantry for its fantastic views alone. This takes in a magnificent sweep of the Opera House and iconic harbour which provide a thrilling backdrop in which to dine.
The food menu itself is exceptional. Incorporating a delightful tasting menu that features such delights as a hearty winter vegetable salad that comes with the most divine charred leeks you could ever wish to taste, as well as wakame cream.
For those with a sweet tooth, you’ll want to keep some room for their Chocolate dessert offering, which comes with dulce de leche, cocoa nibs and buckwheat.
Known for: harbour views, tasting menu
Address: 11 Hickson Road, Dawes Point NSW 2000
Phone: +61 02 8298 9910
Trading Hours: Thurs 5 pm – 10 pm Fri – Sun 11.30 – 4 pm 5.30 – 10 pm
2. Yellow
No list of Sydney’s best vegetarian restaurants would be completed without reference to Yellow.
Located in Potts Point, this refined bistro can be found in the landmark yellow house building on MacLeay Street.
Unleashing their creativity to full effect, Yellow transforms the most unassuming vegetables into a sensational gastronomic meal that bursts with vibrancy, texture and flavour.
Offerings like watermelon radish, which is served with lemon and hazelnut and toasted pumpkin, beans and capers ravioli sing from the menu.
For dessert, their caramelised pear with nutty crumble and an oaty mousse is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
A meal here is a true culinary experience, which you can enjoy in a relaxed and ambient setting.
Known for: liquorice bread, tempura Jerusalem artichoke,
Address: 57 MacLeay Street, Potts Point NSW 2011
Phone: +61 02 9332 2344
Trading Hours: Wed – Fri 5 – 11 pm Sat – Sun 12 – 2.30 pm, 5 – 11 pm
3. Alibi Bar & Kitchen
Situated in Woolloomooloo, the Alibi Bar & kitchen is the kind of restaurant that breaks down barriers.
After a meal here, even the most passionate of meat lovers will admit that a meal does not need to have meat in it to be delicious.
Marrying the concept of clean eating with a desire to produce the tastiest food they can, these guys offer a scintillating menu of vegan and plant-based dishes.
Think broccoli steak served with sumptuous walnut cream, cashew parmesan and chimichurri or kimchi dumplings which come with a bold red cabbage puree and delicate ginger foam.
When it comes to dessert you would be well advised to treat yourself to a slice of chocolate pumpkin pie, which is accompanied by lashings of cardamom cream, coconut and a rich crust of chocolate.
Given such an enticing menu, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place to eat a vegetarian meal in Sydney.
Known for: three pumpkin gnocchi, kim chi dumplings,
Address: 6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
Phone: +61 02 9331 9088
Trading Hours: Mon – Sun 1 – 9 pm
4. Shenkin Kitchen
If you are looking for a tasty vegetarian dish with all the comforts of a home-cooked meal, you should make a point of heading over to Enmore.
There you’ll find the Shenkin Kitchen, a fabulous family-run business that presents a menu inspired by old family favourite recipes.
There are plenty of vegetarian options on it including Shakshuka, their house speciality. This comprises nicely spiced vegetables, slow-cooked for up to seven hours before finally being garnished with poached eggs and dished up in a warm pita.
Alternatively, their eggplant teriyaki and oyster mushrooms grilled are sure to please even the most discerning of palates too.
Whatever you choose to eat, few restaurants prepare their meals with as much love and soul as they do at Shenkin Kitchen.
Known for: avocado falafel, shakshuka,
Address: 129 Enmore Rd, Enmore NSW 2042
Phone: +61 02 8959 8266
Trading Hours: Mon – Sun 7 – 3 pm
5. Badde Manors
Nestled in a quiet cosy corner of Glebe Point Road resides the impressive Badde Manors.
Renowned for dishing up some of the most delicious vegetarian food in the city, their menu draws inspiration from all over the world.
Covering the Mediterranean, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, their meticulously curated plates will take you on a journey around the world.
The vegetarian quiches, sweet potato pastry rolls and Haloumi wraps are all recommended. While you should also save some room for their cherry strudel, ricotta cheesecake and vegan brownies when it comes to dessert.
Known for: vegetarian quiches, halloumi wraps
Address: 37 Glebe Point Road, Glebe NSW 2037
Phone: +61 02 9660 3797
Trading Hours: Mon – Sun 7.30 – 6.30 pm
6. Bodhi
The CBD is full of wonderful restaurants and Bodhi on College Street ranks up with the best of them.
A decorated and much-heralded restaurant among foodies, city workers and food critics alike, this well-established venue specialises in Pan-Asian and Yum Cha cuisine.
One of the key elements of their success is their consistency. It doesn’t matter when you come here or how busy they are, the food is always cooked perfectly.
The presentation is pretty mint too. So much so that it’s almost a shame to ruin it by eating.
Try the dumplings and steamed buns and be prepared to do a little happy dance. We highly recommend the smoked chilli beetroot and soy and broccoli, ginger and carrot dumplings.
Known for: faux Peking duck, dumplings
Address: 2/4 College Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: +61 02 9360 2523
Trading Hours: Wed – Sun 11 – 3 pm 5 – 10 pm Tue 5 – 10 pm
7. Thievery
If you get your culinary thrills from the flavours of Middle Eastern cuisine then you will love what’s on offer at Thievery.
Another Glebe-based establishment, this buzzy venue spans two levels. Despite this, it is worth booking in advance if you intend to head there with family or friends, as it is always busy.
One quick swizz of the menu will reveal why. It’s full of mouthwatering dishes like sweet confit leeks, Tumeric Baghrir, BBQ Broccolini, baba ganoush dumplings and Aphrodite halloumi. Which collectively are as exciting and exotic as they are delicious.
The venue also has an excellent drinks menu to accompany their meals with too.
Known for: Aphrodite halloumi, baba ganoush dumplings,
Address: 91 Glebe Point Road, Glebe NSW 2037
Phone: +61 02 8283 1329
Trading Hours: Wed – Thurs 5 – 9.30 pm Fri – Sat 12 – 9.30 pm Sun 12 – 8 pm
8. Bad Hombres
Surry Hills has some very good vegetarian restaurants including the much-loved Bad Hombres on Reservoir Street.
Fully vegan, their Mexican-inspired menu will take your taste buds to new gastronomic heights. With inventive options like stir-fried, Peruvian-style oyster mushrooms, ‘crocante’ eggplant tacos and the lip-smacking charred corn being particular standouts.
Almost as good as the food is the vibe here, which is warm, inviting and congenial. Just like a Mexican-inspired restaurant should be.
Known for: Bad Hombres cauliflower, eggplant tacos
Address: 40 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: +61 0405 274 515
Trading Hours: Tues – Sun 5 pm – 9 pm
9. Two Chaps
An institution in Marrickville, Two Chaps dishes up an exceptional range of vegetarian dishes utilising a ‘from scratch’ philosophy. This sees them hand-make all of their breads and pastries.
Predominantly a daytime eatery, they dish up a fabulous range of vegetarian delights for breakfast, brunch and lunch. These include their awesome mushroom burgers which are Panko crumbed and their signature sourdough crumpets.
On Fridays and Saturdays, they open for dinner. Presented a tasty selection of main meals that include pasta dishes and salads.
Head on over to Chapel Street to taste their wonderful food for yourself.
Known for: sourdough crumpets, mushroom burgers
Address: 122 Chapel Street, Marrickville NSW 2204
Phone: +61 02 9572 8858
Trading Hours: Mon – Thurs 7.30 – 3 pm Fri – Sat 7.30 – 3 pm 6 pm – 10 pm Sun 8 – 3 pm
10. Yulli’s
Yulli’s is another exquisite vegetarian restaurant in Surry Hills that offers an elevated dining experience.
Situated on Crown Street, its food menu focuses on the flavours of Mexico, Morocco and Asia. This takes the diner on a fantastic tour of some of the world’s best gastronomic regions, the likes of which
will take your taste buds pleasantly by surprise.
Their zucchini flowers are incredible, whilst you’ll never be able to get enough of their beetroot truffle cream.
You will also love their lavash bread, which is housemade, as well as their crispy wasabi cauliflower, which is just spectacular.
If you do intend to come here, you’d be well advised to bring your fat pants.
Known for: zucchini flowers, beetroot truffle cream
Address: 417 Crown Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: +61 02 9319 6609
Trading Hours: Tues – Sun 12 – 9.30 pm Mon 5 – 9.30 pm