Melbourne isn’t just one of the world’s most liveable cities — it’s also a genuine paradise for plant-based eaters. With a food culture that prizes creativity, quality, and a healthy dose of irreverence, Melbourne has cultivated one of the most exciting vegan dining scenes on the planet. From laneway espresso bars to fine-dining institutions, this city does it all, and it does it exceptionally well.
Whether you’re a long-time vegan or simply plant-curious, Melbourne will surprise and delight you at every turn. The city’s inner suburbs — Fitzroy, Collingwood, Carlton, Brunswick — buzz with independent restaurants that have made plant-based eating their entire identity, not just a side note. Here are nine of the best vegan spots to add to your Melbourne itinerary.
Best Vegan Restaurants in Melbourne
1. Smith & Daughters — Plant-Based Fine Dining Done Legendarily
If there’s one name that put Melbourne’s vegan dining scene on the international map, it’s Shannon Martinez, and Smith & Daughters is her masterpiece. Originally launched on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, the restaurant has since moved to a sleek new home in Collingwood — but the spirit remains the same: bold, unapologetically flavourful plant-based cooking that refuses to play it safe. Think silky pastas, smoky mains, and desserts that would fool even the most committed carnivore. Shannon’s cooking draws from Latin American, Spanish, and Italian traditions, remixing them through a fully plant-based lens with extraordinary skill. Whether you’re settling in for a leisurely dinner or dropping in for a quick bite, Smith & Daughters consistently delivers one of the most memorable meals in Melbourne — vegan or otherwise.
💡 Tip: Book well in advance — Smith & Daughters is one of Melbourne’s most sought-after tables. Check their website for the latest menus and seasonal specials before you go.
📍 107 Cambridge St, Collingwood VIC 3066 | Collingwood | ☎️ (03) 9123 1712 | 🌐 smithanddaughters.com | 📸 @smithanddaughters
2. Red Sparrow Pizza — Melbourne’s One and Only Vegan Pizzeria
Pizza and veganism were once considered uneasy bedfellows, but Red Sparrow Pizza has comprehensively demolished that myth. Tucked away on Rose Street in Fitzroy — one of Melbourne’s most vibrant and creative neighbourhoods — this fully plant-based pizzeria slings some of the most satisfying pies in the city. The bases are perfectly charred, the toppings are inventive without being gimmicky, and the vegan cheese? Nothing short of outstanding. Red Sparrow has even added a rooftop bar to the mix, making it the perfect spot to linger over a glass of natural wine and another slice. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget you’re eating plant-based at all — because the food is simply that good.
💡 Tip: Head up to the rooftop bar for drinks before or after your pizza — the views over Fitzroy are a treat. Walk-ins are welcome but bookings are recommended on weekends.
📍 60 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065 | Fitzroy | ☎️ (03) 9318 8501 | 🌐 redsparrowpizza.com | 📸 @redsparrowpizza
3. Green Man’s Arms — The Fully Plant-Based Pub
Lygon Street in Carlton is one of Melbourne’s most iconic dining strips, and nestled among the trattorias and espresso bars is something truly special: a fully vegetarian and vegan pub. Green Man’s Arms is exactly what it sounds like — a proper, welcoming pub with ice-cold pints on tap and a menu that proves beyond all doubt that comfort food doesn’t need meat. The eggplant schnitzel has become something of a local legend, and the sticky date pudding is the kind of dessert you’ll be thinking about for days. The atmosphere is warm and unpretentious, the staff are passionate about what they serve, and the beer garden is the ideal place to spend a lazy Melbourne afternoon.
💡 Tip: The Sunday roast is a Melbourne institution at Green Man’s Arms — plant-based comfort food at its very best. Turn up hungry and order the eggplant schnitzel while you’re at it.
📍 418 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053 | Carlton | ☎️ (03) 9347 7419 | 🌐 greenmansarms.com.au | 📸 @greenmansarms
4. Funghi e Tartufo — Italian Magic on Hardware Lane
Tucked away on Melbourne’s iconic Hardware Lane — a cobbled alleyway right in the heart of the CBD — Funghi e Tartufo is the kind of discovery that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled upon something secret and wonderful. This 100% plant-based Italian restaurant has taken everything that makes Italian food great — the richness, the generosity, the soul — and reimagined it without a single animal product in sight. The lasagne is phenomenal, the arancini are crispy perfection, and the truffle pappardelle will have you wondering why you ever bothered with the real thing. The setting, with its European laneway ambiance, only adds to the romance of the whole experience.
💡 Tip: Hardware Lane comes alive at night, so make an evening of it. Ask your server about the seasonal specials — the kitchen loves to play with truffles and wild mushrooms.
📍 60 Hardware Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000 | CBD | ☎️ (03) 9670 9939 | 🌐 funghietartufo.com.au | 📸 @funghi_e_tartufo
5. Vegie Bar — The Fitzroy Icon Since 1988
Long before plant-based eating became a cultural movement, Vegie Bar was already doing it on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. Open since 1988, this legendary restaurant has fed generations of Melburnians with its eclectic, global menu of vegetarian and vegan dishes. The menu spans everything from Mexican burritos and Japanese udon to laksa and wood-fired pizza — there’s something for every mood, every craving, and every budget. It’s the kind of place where you can drop in solo for a quick lunch or settle in for a long dinner with a big group, and the laid-back, colourful atmosphere makes everyone feel right at home. If you’re only going to eat at one restaurant on this list, Vegie Bar makes a very strong case for itself.
📍 380 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065 | Fitzroy | ☎️ (03) 9417 6935 | 🌐 vegiebar.com.au | 📸 @vegiebar
6. Shu Restaurant — Modern Vegan Sichuan with a Chef’s Hat
Shu takes its name from the ancient name for Sichuan Province in southwest China, and it wears that heritage with enormous pride. Located on Johnston Street in Collingwood, this award-winning restaurant has earned a chef’s hat for its innovative approach to vegan Sichuan cuisine — a bold, fiery, deeply complex culinary tradition that translates beautifully into plant-based cooking. The signature offering is a 10-course vegan degustation that takes you on a journey through the flavours of Sichuan: numbing spice, fermented depth, and brilliant umami at every turn. The unlimited yum cha sessions are equally beloved and represent some of the best value dining in Melbourne. This is destination dining for serious food lovers.
💡 Tip: Book the 10-course degustation for a truly special occasion — it’s one of Melbourne’s most unique dining experiences. The yum cha sessions are walk-in friendly and equally unmissable.
📍 147 Johnston St, Collingwood VIC 3066 | Collingwood | ☎️ (03) 9090 7878 | 🌐 shurestaurant.com | 📸 @shu.restaurant
7. Ballard’s — Beer Garden Vibes and Brilliant Casual Food
Thornbury might not be the first suburb that springs to mind when you think of Melbourne dining, but Ballard’s is reason enough to make the trip north. This much-loved wine bar and casual restaurant on High Street has earned a devoted following for its relaxed atmosphere, well-curated natural wine list, and seriously good plant-based food. The beer garden is the kind of spot you find yourself returning to again and again — especially on a sunny Melbourne afternoon when there’s nowhere else you’d rather be. The menu changes with the seasons but always leans into bold, satisfying flavours: think crispy bites, hearty small plates, and the occasional knock-your-socks-off special. It’s the perfect neighbourhood spot that just happens to be worth travelling across town for.
💡 Tip: Ballard’s doesn’t take card payments for small orders, so it’s worth bringing some cash. The natural wine list is exceptional — ask the staff for a recommendation.
📍 915 High St, Thornbury VIC 3071 | Thornbury | ☎️ +61 406 095 604 | 🌐 ballards.com.au | 📸 @ballards915highst
8. Monk Bodhi Dharma — Specialty Coffee in a Hidden Laneway
Melbourne takes its coffee seriously — more seriously than almost any other city on earth — and Monk Bodhi Dharma is one of the finest expressions of that obsession. Hidden away in a laneway behind Carlisle Street in Balaclava, this micro coffee roastery and café is the kind of place you feel genuinely lucky to have found. The specialty coffee is exceptional, drawing on single-origin beans roasted in-house, but the food is just as worthy of your attention. The plant-based brunch menu is creative and nourishing: think silky umami mushrooms, hearty Buddha bowls, and baked goods that vanish from the counter by mid-morning. It’s the perfect Melbourne morning sorted — remarkable coffee, beautiful food, in a setting that feels like a well-kept secret.
💡 Tip: Arrive early — the baked goods sell out fast and the best seats in the laneway fill up quickly on weekends. This is a cash-friendly spot so check before you go.
📍 Rear, 202 Carlisle St, Balaclava VIC 3183 | Balaclava | ☎️ (03) 9534 7250 | 🌐 monkbodhidharmacafe.com.au | 📸 @monkbodhidharma
9. Very Good Falafel — Brunswick’s Beloved Plant-Based Institution
Sometimes the simplest things are the most satisfying. Very Good Falafel, on Sydney Road in Brunswick, does one thing brilliantly — and that thing is falafel. Every ball is made fresh to order: crispy on the outside, fluffy and herb-speckled within, and absolutely packed with flavour. Stuff them into a pillowy pita with housemade hummus, pickled vegetables, and a generous drizzle of tahini, and you have one of Melbourne’s most joyful eating experiences — at a price that won’t make a dent in your wallet. The queue moves fast, the staff are warm and efficient, and the whole operation feels like a tiny, perfect piece of Middle Eastern food culture transplanted to one of Melbourne’s most diverse and exciting streets.
💡 Tip: Very Good Falafel doesn’t have a phone — just walk in. They close on Sundays, so plan your visit for a weekday or Saturday. Get there before the lunch rush for the freshest falafel.
📍 629 Sydney Rd, Brunswick VIC 3056 | Brunswick | 🌐 verygoodfalafel.com | 📸 @verygoodfalafel
Tips for Vegan Travellers in Melbourne
Melbourne’s inner suburbs are incredibly walkable and well connected by tram, making it easy to restaurant-hop between Fitzroy, Collingwood, and Carlton in a single day. The city’s tram network is free in the CBD, so use it to hop between Hardware Lane for lunch at Funghi e Tartufo and the Brunswick Street strip for dinner at Vegie Bar without spending a cent on transport. Most restaurants are very accommodating of dietary requirements, and many menus are already fully or predominantly plant-based — so you’ll rarely need to make a fuss.
When it comes to everyday eating, Melbourne is a dream. Virtually every café in the city offers plant-based milk alternatives (oat milk is king here), and supermarkets stock an impressive range of vegan products. The Queen Victoria Market, open several days a week in the CBD, is a fantastic place to pick up fresh produce, artisan bread, and specialty vegan products. If you’re self-catering or just want to build a plant-based picnic for the Yarra riverbank, it’s absolutely the place to start. Melbourne rewards the curious, adventurous eater — and if you’re vegan, it might just be the best city on earth for you.
Have you visited Melbourne on a plant-based trip? I’d love to hear your favourite spots — drop them in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melbourne good for vegans?
Yes. Melbourne is one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world, with dedicated vegan restaurants and vegan-friendly cafes across the city, and this guide rounds up the best places to eat.
What is the best vegan restaurant in Melbourne?
Smith & Daughters is one of the standout vegan spots in Melbourne, alongside Red Sparrow Pizza and Vegie Bar. The full guide covers each with addresses, tips and what to order.
What vegan food is Melbourne known for?
Melbourne is famous for its cafe and coffee culture, so expect outstanding vegan brunches plus creative global plant-based cooking across the city.
Is Melbourne easy to visit as a vegan?
Yes. With spots like Smith & Daughters and Red Sparrow Pizza, plus plenty of vegan-friendly options, eating plant-based in Melbourne is easy whether you are visiting for a weekend or longer.