Edinburgh’s vegan scene is seriously underrated and we need to talk about it π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώπ± From award-winning plant-based Italian to Scotland’s first vegan Mexican and MICHELIN Guide-listed dining, the Scottish capital punches well above its weight. The city has a warmth and community feeling to its plant-based scene that makes it feel genuinely special β these are independent, passionately-run restaurants and cafΓ©s, not chains, and that makes all the difference.
Most of the action is concentrated in the southside and New Town, with a few excellent spots in Leith and the centre. Here’s my guide to the best vegan and plant-based restaurants in Edinburgh.
Best Vegan Restaurants in Edinburgh
1. The Vegan Sora β Award-Winning Plant-Based Italian
The Vegan Sora on Causewayside is Edinburgh’s crown jewel of plant-based dining β a 100% vegan Italian restaurant that has been voted Scotland’s best vegan establishment by the Oceanic Awards 2025. The pizzas here are exceptional: properly Neapolitan in style, with beautiful charred bases, house-made plant-based mozzarella, and seasonal toppings that change throughout the year. The pasta is equally outstanding, with rich, deeply flavoured sauces that honour Italian tradition while being entirely animal-free. A genuinely world-class restaurant that could hold its own in any Italian city.
π 19-21 Causewayside, Edinburgh, EH9 1QF | π thevegansora.com | πΈ @thevegansora
2. Antojitos β Scotland’s First Vegan Mexican Street Food
Antojitos holds the honour of being Scotland’s first fully vegan Mexican street food operation, and it has built a devoted following across Edinburgh and Glasgow with its loaded tacos, burritos, and Mexican street food done with real authenticity and heart. You’ll find them at Edinburgh Street Food and various pop-up locations β check their Instagram before visiting for the latest schedule. The jackfruit carnitas taco and the habanero salsa are both legendary in Edinburgh’s vegan community, and the atmosphere at their locations is always buzzing and welcoming.
π‘ Tip: Antojitos also has a permanent cantina at Edinburgh Palms (Antojitos Cantina) β check their Instagram for the latest locations and hours before visiting.
π Edinburgh Street Food & various locations | π antojitos.uk | πΈ @antojitostruck
3. Holy Cow β All-Day Vegan Brunch in New Town
Holy Cow on Elder Street in New Town is one of Edinburgh’s most beloved vegan spots β a 100% vegan, dog-friendly cafΓ© that serves outstanding burgers, soups, open sandwiches, cakes, and hot and cold beverages throughout the day. The burgers are particularly good: proper, satisfying, and creative, with house sauces and fresh toppings. The soup of the day is always a comforting choice, and the cakes are legendary. It’s the kind of neighbourhood cafΓ© that becomes a habit rather than an occasional treat, and the staff are genuinely some of the warmest in the city.
π 34 Elder Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3DX | π holycow.cafe | πΈ @holycowedinburgh
4. Henderson’s β MICHELIN Guide-Listed Since 1962
Henderson’s is a genuine Edinburgh institution β a vegetarian and vegan restaurant that has been nourishing the city since 1962 and is now listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Located on Barclay Place in the Bruntsfield area, Henderson’s offers a beautiful, relaxed dining room and a menu that draws on seasonal Scottish produce to create vegetarian and vegan dishes of real depth and character. The weekend brunch is particularly special, and the dinner menu showcases vegetables in their most thoughtful and satisfying form. This is the restaurant to visit if you want to understand what 60-plus years of plant-based cooking wisdom looks like.
π 7-13 Barclay Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4HW | π hendersonsrestaurant.com | πΈ @hendersonseatbetter
5. Black Rabbit β Vegan Deli & Cheese Shop in Bruntsfield
Black Rabbit on Brougham Street in the Bruntsfield neighbourhood is the kind of vegan deli that makes you want to move to Edinburgh immediately. This small, beautifully curated shop stocks an extraordinary selection of vegan cheeses β artisan, aged, and genuinely remarkable β alongside vegan charcuterie, deli products, sweet treats, and specialty coffee. Whether you’re putting together a picnic for the Meadows or stocking up on provisions for the week, Black Rabbit is an essential stop. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
π 33 Brougham Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9JT | π blackrabbitedinburgh.co.uk | πΈ @blackrabbitedinburgh
6. Pulse β Sustainable Plant-Based Kitchen on Lothian Road
Pulse is a plant-based sustainable kitchen and eatery situated inside the beautiful St John’s Church on Lothian Road β a unique and special setting that makes lunch here feel like more than just a meal. The menu centres on wholesome, home-cooked plant-based food with a strong focus on sustainability and zero-waste cooking. It’s the perfect spot for a slow, nourishing lunch in the heart of Edinburgh, and the warm atmosphere of the church setting gives it a genuinely distinctive character. Open Thursday to Sunday.
π 1 Lothian Road (St John’s Church), Edinburgh, EH1 2AB | π pulsehomecooking.com | πΈ @pulsehomecooking
7. Chapter One Coffee β Vegan & Woman-Owned Micro Roastery
Chapter One Coffee is Edinburgh’s only fully vegan, woman-owned micro roastery and coffee shop β a beautifully passionate project that roasts its own beans and serves them alongside a changing menu of vegan cakes, pastries, and light bites. The coffee here is exceptional: complex, carefully sourced, and prepared with real expertise. The cakes change seasonally and are always impressive. A calming, creative space that feels genuinely independent and personal β exactly the kind of place Edinburgh’s vegan scene is built on.
π Edinburgh | π chapterone.coffee | πΈ @chapteronecoffee
8. FacePlant β 100% Vegan Brunch in Leith
FacePlant on Duke Street in Leith is a 100% vegan brunch spot that has been quietly building one of the most devoted followings in Edinburgh since 2017. Open Thursday to Sunday, the menu is creative and satisfying β think beautiful brunch plates, inventive flavour combinations, and consistently excellent cooking. The dog-friendly policy and no-bookings approach give it a relaxed, drop-in feel that’s very welcome. The weekend queue is a testament to just how good the food is: arrive early or expect to wait, and it’s absolutely worth it.
π 37 Duke Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8HH | πΈ @faceplantfoods
9. Soul Vegan β Malaysian Plant-Based Flavours
Soul Vegan on West Richmond Street brings something genuinely unique to Edinburgh’s plant-based scene: Malaysian-inspired vegan cooking that is bold, fragrant, and deeply satisfying. The laksa, the nasi lemak, and the rendang are all plant-based interpretations of Malaysian classics, executed with real skill and a deep understanding of the cuisine’s complex spice palette. Rated 4.9 out of 5 by its customers and growing fast, Soul Vegan is the kind of spot that makes you want to eat Malaysian food every day β and feel great about doing so.
π 46 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DZ | π soulvegan.uk | πΈ @soul_vegan_paradise
Tips for Vegan Travellers in Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s vegan scene is concentrated across several neighbourhoods, with the Southside (Causewayside, Bruntsfield, and the Meadows area) offering the highest density of great spots. The Vegan Sora and Henderson’s are both worth booking in advance for dinner. For a casual morning, Holy Cow and FacePlant are both brilliant choices. Black Rabbit is the essential deli stop for provisions, artisan cheese, and specialty coffee. Antojitos locations vary β always check their Instagram before heading out. And don’t miss Soul Vegan if you want something genuinely different: it’s one of the most exciting things happening in Edinburgh’s food scene right now.
Have you eaten vegan in Edinburgh? Let me know your favourite spots in the comments!