Since the turn of the century, the number of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney has increased exponentially. To the point that there seems to be a new one opening up every day.
Long gone are the days when a Nicoise Salad, or a plate of vegetables, were your only choices when eating out.
Instead, the Emerald City now boasts a massive range of restaurants that are either fully fledged vegan or veggie or devote significant parts of their menu to these types of dishes.
Often offering sumptuous, clean and nutritious meals that champion the best in local, sustainable and seasonal produce, these venues take your dining experience to the next level.
So next time you are out on the town, whether it be for date night, a celebration or a simple catch-up with family and friends, here are 10 of the best healthy vegetarian cafes and restaurants in Sydney you should pay a visit to.
Two Chaps
If you are after top-quality vegetarian food, it’s hard to look beyond Two Chaps.
Located in Marrickville, this trendy ‘from-scratch’ cafe is renowned for making all of its delicious pastries and bread by hand. The smell of which is enough to drive you crazy with gastronomic desire.
Open predominantly from breakfast to lunch, you can delight your taste buds with their signature sourdough crumpets – which are served with a delightful parmesan custard and plum relish.
Their banana smoothie bowls and panko crumbed mushroom burgers are divine too, while their hash browns are also definitely worth coming here for.
On Fridays and Saturdays, they are also open for dinner. Serving up a terrific range of options that include mouthwatering pasta dishes and salads.
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
The Gantry
Recently bestowed the recognition of one Chef Hat from the Good Food Guide, The Gantry is the kind of restaurant that instantly impresses you from the second you get in there.
For a start their location is outstanding, occupying a terrific position in Dawes Point that showcases wonderful views of the Sydney Opera House and the dazzling harbour.
Their service is world-class too. Being efficient, courteous and highly professional. While their decor and atmosphere also make for a pleasant dining environment.
In terms of their food, their vegetarian menu is impeccable. With dishes like Black Lip Abalone and Wollemi Duck, Western Australian Marron Port and Lincoln Arrow Squid being particular standouts.
For dessert, the Valrhona Guanaja Dark Chocolate is an absolute must.
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
Yellow
A real favourite in Potts Point, Yellow is a much loved bistro that has a very high approval rating from locals.
Set within a converted 1950s art gallery, which you might recognise as the iconic yellow house building on MacLeay Street, the restaurant skilfully takes ordinary vegetables and transforms them into dishes that are bursting with colour, flavour, texture and vibrancy.
Well known for its tempura Jerusalem artichoke and unique liquorice bread, you will marvel at the quality of the food here.
Try the watermelon radish with lemon and hazelnut, or the toasted pumpkin ravioli with capers and beans, and prepare to be blown away.
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
Shenkin Kitchen
If you are into home-style cooking then you’ll want to pay a visit to the Shenkin Kitchen.
A family-run business in Enmore that serves up dishes taken from old family recipes, it presents a culinary experience that has been inspired by the flavours of Europe and the Middle East.
Set within a trendy, rustic space that includes homespun decor and streetside tables, the menu here boasts such delights as grilled oyster mushrooms and teriyaki eggplant.
However, for a real treat, be sure to try their legendary Shakshuka. A delicious dish full of vegetables and aromatic spices that has been slow-cooked for up to seven hours, before being garnished with
poached eggs and presented with a side of pita bread.
Your taste buds will think they have died and gone to heaven.
Address: 129 Enmore Rd, Enmore NSW 2042
Phone: +61 02 8959 8266
Trading Hours: Mon – Sun 7 – 3 pm
Thievery
The locals in Glebe have long since championed Thievery in Glebe as being one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Sydney.
Sprawled across two floors, this buzzy restaurant has an infectious atmosphere which always makes for a terrific date night or evening out with friends.
Its highly accomplished menu features a range of classic and inventive Middle Eastern dishes. This includes the likes of baba ganoush dumplings and its delicious BBQ Broccolini, which comes with burnt honey, labneh and za’atar. Both of which, you won’t be able to get enough off.
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
Alibi Bar & Kitchen
If you are looking for a restaurant that offers clean eating, without neglecting its obligations to taste, then Alibi Bar & Kitchen is the place to go.
A stalwart in Woolloomooloo, the venue offers a plant based and vegan menu of dishes that are not only beautifully plated but also have perfectly balanced flavour profiles.
Curated by Matthew Kenney, a critically acclaimed, plant based chef who boasts a worldwide reputation for excellence, diners here get to enjoy innovative tasting menus and delightful high teas.
Some ‘must have’ dishes include the southern chick’n burger, herbivore dumplings and stuffed savoy cabbage. Although frankly, whatever you order here is pretty much guaranteed to be delicious.
Be sure to leave some room for dessert, which includes options likes maple pecan angipane and pumpkin chocolate pie, that will make your mouth sing with joy.
Address: 6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
Phone: +61 02 9331 9088
Trading Hours: Mon – Sun 1 – 9 pm
Bad Hombres
No list of the best vegetarian restaurants in Sydney would be complete without Bad Hombres.
Situated in Surry Hills, this all-vegan venue is renowned for its relaxed, laidback atmosphere, cool decor and superb range of Mexican-inspired share plates and dishes.
Among the many delights you can treat yourself to, are its Peruvian style stir fry oyster mushrooms, ‘crocante’ eggplant and charred chipotle mayo corn.
As well as their food offerings, the venue is well known for its delicious range of cocktails too.
Address: 40 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: +61 0405 274 515
Trading Hours: Tues – Sun 5 pm – 9 pm
Yulli’s
Yulli’s is another well thought of vegetarian restaurant in Surry Hills.
Passionate about offering their diners a creative menu of vegan and gluten-free dishes, most of their cuisine is Asian-inspired. Although they do have a few Moroccan and Mexican-influenced choices too.
Served within a warm, inviting, albeit slightly quirky dining room, their crispy wasabi cauliflower, which comes with alfalfa sprouts and kimchi, is something everyone should order.
Their filo pastry fried zucchini is incredible too, as is their tempura broccolini. Both of which are perfect as a light meal with one of their diverse range of craft beers.
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
The Grand Palace
When it comes to a fine dining vegetarian experience, few venues in Sydney can match The Grand Palace.
Tucked away in a basement within the CBD, this superb Indian restaurant provides a regal interior in which to dine, as well as a gastronomic treat for all your senses.
Whilst it is a great place to eat dinner, it is well worth going there for lunch to experience their ‘Vegan Eats’. A delicious selection of sumptuous dishes that includes puffed Khasta Kachori, Palak Kofta and Coconut Sorbet, all of which will put you in a food coma.
If you do go there for your evening meal, there are plenty of other vegetarian and fish dishes available. As well as a good selection of meat dishes for those in your party who are carnivores.
Address: Basement/261 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: +61 2 8021 7696
Trading Hours: Mon – Fri 12 – 3 pm and 5 – 10 pm Sat – Sun 5 – 10 pm
Bodhi
A veritable institution in the city, Bodhi can easily lay claim to being one of Sydney’s best vegetarian restaurants.
Located on college street, in the heart of the CBD, this distinguished and award winning venue was launched in 1988. Operating for three generations, it has forged a fantastic reputation for serving up a wonderful selection of Pan-Asian and Yum Cha cuisine.
Their dumplings and steamed buns are particular crowd favourites, not least because they come in brilliant combinations like beetroot and chilli smoked soy, and also broccoli, ginger and carrot.
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
Cafe Sydney
If you love to eat wholesome and tasty vegetarian food, against a backdrop of spectacular harbour views, then the rooftop restaurant of Cafe Sydney is somewhere you should definitely head to.
Situated within Customs House, in the heart of Circular Key, the food offering and service here matches the magnificence of the views.
Offering the likes of Coffin Bay octopus, Humpty Doo Barramundi rock and pacific oysters and Morton Bay Bugs that are so fresh, you’ll think they literally just came out of the water, the culinary expertise of the chefs here, is evident in every dish they plate up.
As well as their terrific selection of vegetarian meals, the restaurant offers some fabulous meat options too, as well as a robust wine list of renowned Australian labels.
Address: Level 5 Customs House, 31 Alfred St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9251 8683
Trading Hours: Mon to Sat 12 to 10.30 pm, Sun 12 to 4 pm
Gigi Pizzeria
There used to be a time when the only vegetarian pizzas you could get in Sydney were marinara or margherita. Nowadays that has all changed, thanks to establishments like Gigi Pizzeria.
Situated in Newtown, this vegan-friendly pizzeria presents a fabulous range of woodfired Napoli-style pizzas and calzones, all of which come with vegan-only toppings.
This includes the Melanzane, which comes with San Marzano tomato, as well as grilled eggplant and tree nut ricotta, amongst other toppings, and the Cavolo, which features cauliflower puree, cauliflower, capers and artichokes.
Reasonably priced and always perfectly cooked, the venue boasts a buzzy, rustic-chic setting, with a great atmosphere, that makes for a delightful place to eat.
Address: 379 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Phone: (02) 9557 2224
Trading Hours: Mon – Fri 5 – 9.30 pm, Sat – Sun 12 to 9.30 pm
Badde Manors
Over in Glebe, Badde Manors is a lovely place to score some exceptional vegetarian fare.
Offering a menu that is influenced by the flavours of the Middle East, Mediterranean, Asia and Latin America, if you like to eat with your eyes first, this place well and truly has you covered.
Among their most popular, thoughtfully crafted range, you’ll find delicious veggie quiches, mouthwatering halloumi wraps and the incredibly moreish sweet potato pastry rolls.
If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to try their awesome vegan brownies, as well as their cherry strudel and ricotta cheesecake, which is so good, you’ll struggle to resist the urge to order a second piece.
Address: 37 Glebe Point Road, Glebe NSW 2037
Phone: +61 02 9660 3797
Trading Hours: Mon – Sun 7.30 – 6.30 pm
Soul Burger
For many people, the hardest thing about becoming a vegan or vegetarian is that they used to have to miss out on having a decent burger.
But this is now a thing of the past thanks to highly accomplished venues like Soul Burger.
Located in Glebe, they offer a fantastic range of vegan patty burgers that are every bit as big and deliciously as any meat one you can find in the city.
Have a go at the Sumo burger, which is an eye-popping construction of a plant based, pepper-spiked sausage, roasted red capsicum, chargrilled field mushrooms and salad, and you’ll see what we mean.
Address: 111 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe NSW 2037
Phone: (02) 7226 5180
Trading Hours: Sun to Thurs 11 – 9 pm, Fri – Sat 11 to 10 pm
Eden
Founded in 2019, Eden is a 100% plant-based restaurant that strives to reinvent vegetarian food by highlighting flavours from all around the world.
Situated in the heart of Bondi Beach, the cafe presents a wide range of vegan and veggie dishes including a delectable range of burgers and pizzas, as well as some of the most succulent fish tacos you could ever hope to taste.
As well as the food, the venue also offers sensational views of the iconic beach. It’s also a pet-friendly venue, which means you can bring your pooch along with you.
Address: L106/180 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Phone: 0406 630 660
Trading Hours: Mon – Closed, Tues – Fri 5.30 – 9.30 pm, Sat – Sun 12.30 pm – 10 pm
Bentley Restaurant
Arguably the most distinguished of all vegetarian restaurants in Sydney, Bentley Restaurant + Bar is a multi-award winning venue that serves up an exquisite fine dining experience.
Situated in the heart of the CBD, the restaurant has a dedicated vegetarian tasting menu that will make you forget your love of meat for the night.
Artistically presented, their upscale menu of contemporary Australian cuisine has been curated by its highly acclaimed Head Chef Brent Savage. (The flavours of the Aquna Murray Cod will blow your mind!).
It’s also been superbly paired with an eclectic range of boutique wines from Nick Hildebrandt’s world class international selection.
Address: 27 O’Connell St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 8214 0505
Trading Hours: Sun – Mon Closed, Tues – 5 pm to 12 am, Wed 12 pm – 12 am, Thurs – 5 pm to 12 am, Fri – Sat 12 pm to 12 am