Vegan Brooklyn is, quite simply, one of the best places to eat plant-based in the world. Across the borough’s endlessly creative neighbourhoods you’ll find James Beard–nominated Ethiopian, the first authentic Dominican plant-based kitchen, kosher fine dining, plant-based butcher shops and late-night smashed burgers — all entirely free of animal products. It’s a place where culture, community and incredible food come together, and where vegan eating is anything but an afterthought.
Whether you’re after soulful Caribbean comfort food, communal Ethiopian platters, a cosy bagel-and-coffee morning or an indulgent burger to end the night, Brooklyn has a plant-based spot that delivers with flavour and heart. Here are nine of the best vegan restaurants and cafés in the borough. Let’s dig in.
Best Vegan Brooklyn Restaurants
1. Ras Plant Based — James Beard–Nominated Vegan Ethiopian
Ras Plant Based has become one of Brooklyn’s most celebrated vegan destinations, earning a James Beard nomination as the first fully organic vegan Ethiopian restaurant in New York City. Set in the heart of Crown Heights, this stylish spot reimagines traditional Ethiopian cooking entirely plant-based, using organic ingredients and time-honoured spice blends to build layers of deep, complex flavour. Diners gather around communal platters piled with colourful stews, lentils and vegetables scooped up with spongy injera, a shared, hands-on way of eating that feels both convivial and grounding. The kitchen’s commitment to organic sourcing and authentic technique sets it apart, delivering food that is as nourishing as it is bold. There’s a full bar too, making it a great choice for a relaxed dinner with friends over Ethiopian-inspired cocktails. The warm, design-forward space reflects the care that goes into every dish. Whether you’re a longtime lover of Ethiopian cuisine or trying it for the first time, Ras offers a standout introduction that proves plant-based food can be both deeply traditional and genuinely exciting.
💡 Tip: Come with a group and order a combination platter so you can sample a range of stews and lentils scooped up with injera. It’s open Mon–Wed 12–10pm, Thu–Fri 12–11pm, Sat 11am–11pm and Sun 11am–10pm, in Crown Heights. Reservations are a good idea for weekend dinners as it gets busy.
📍 739 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238 (Crown Heights) | 📞 (718) 622-6220 | 🌐 rasplantbased.com | 📸 @rasplantbased
2. Reverie — Vegan & Kosher Shared Plates and Cocktails
Reverie is where imagination meets fine dining, a fully vegan and kosher-certified restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart of Williamsburg. Led by acclaimed chef and restaurateur Guy Vaknin, the menu draws on global flavours and is designed for sharing, so you can graze your way through inventive plates while working through an impressive list of craft cocktails. The plant-based dishes are polished and creative, spanning influences from around the world and plated with real elegance, proving that vegan food belongs firmly in the fine-dining conversation. Being kosher-certified as well as fully vegan makes it a rare and welcoming spot for diners with multiple dietary needs, without any compromise on flavour or ambition. The cocktail programme is a genuine highlight, with thoughtful, beautifully balanced drinks that match the food’s sophistication. The atmosphere is stylish and buzzy, ideal for a special night out or a celebratory dinner. For anyone who wants to experience just how refined and imaginative Brooklyn’s vegan scene can get, Reverie delivers an unforgettable, thoroughly modern dining experience.
💡 Tip: Go for a spread of shared plates and pair them with a craft cocktail or two — the drinks programme is a highlight. Dinner runs Tuesday–Sunday from around 4:30pm, with weekend brunch service, and it’s closed Mondays. It’s fully vegan and kosher-certified, so book ahead for weekends.
📍 135 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249 (Williamsburg) | 📞 (347) 384-2513 | 🌐 reveriebrooklyn.com | 📸 @reveriebrooklyn
3. Next Stop Vegan — The First Authentic Dominican Plant-Based Kitchen
Next Stop Vegan holds a special place in the plant-based world as the first authentic Dominican vegan restaurant, bringing Caribbean comfort food to Brooklyn Heights with heart and serious flavour. Established in 2016, this beloved spot recreates the rich, soulful dishes of the Dominican Republic entirely without animal products, delivering the kind of hearty, satisfying meals that taste like home cooking. The menu leans into Latin and Caribbean classics, reimagined with plant-based sazon so authentic that even sceptics are won over. Expect generous, deeply seasoned plates that celebrate the culture and traditions behind them, made with genuine care. It’s a warm, welcoming place with a huge following, and it has grown into one of the most diverse plant-based menus you’ll find anywhere. Whether you’re craving something comforting and familiar or eager to explore Dominican cuisine for the first time, Next Stop Vegan makes it easy and delicious. This is Caribbean comfort food done right, proving that plant-based eating can be every bit as rich, cultural and soul-satisfying as the originals.
💡 Tip: Come hungry and dive into the Dominican and Caribbean comfort classics — the plant-based sazon is what people rave about. It’s in Brooklyn Heights and open roughly 11am–9pm most days (later at weekends), so it’s great for a hearty lunch or dinner. Portions are generous, so consider sharing.
📍 88 Livingston St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (Brooklyn Heights) | 📞 (917) 966-6066 | 🌐 nextstopvegan.com | 📸 @nextstopvegan
4. Bunna Cafe — The Original Plant-Based Ethiopian
Bunna Cafe is the original plant-based Ethiopian restaurant in New York, a Bushwick institution that has been serving communal platters, injera and traditional coffee ceremonies since 2011. This Black-owned spot is a cornerstone of the neighbourhood’s vegan scene, beloved for its warm hospitality, vibrant flavours and genuine sense of community. Everything is meant for sharing, with heaps of spiced vegetables, lentils and stews served atop tangy injera that you tear and scoop by hand. The name “bunna” refers to coffee, and the restaurant honours that with a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, a fragrant, ritual experience that’s well worth timing your visit around. Beyond the food, Bunna doubles as a bar and music venue, giving it a lively, welcoming energy that keeps regulars coming back year after year. It’s the kind of place where the food, the culture and the atmosphere come together into something special. For an authentic, joyful introduction to vegan Ethiopian dining in Brooklyn, Bunna Cafe remains the beloved original.
💡 Tip: Order a large combination platter for the table and time your visit for the weekend coffee ceremony (held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5pm). It’s in Bushwick and open most days from noon, with hours varying, so check ahead. It’s Black-owned and doubles as a bar and music venue.
📍 1084 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237 (Bushwick) | 📞 (347) 295-2227 | 🌐 bunnaethiopia.net | 📸 @bunnacafe
5. Garden Carver — Plant-Based Butcher Shop & Café
Garden Carver flips the traditional butcher shop on its head, operating as a fully plant-based butcher and café in the middle of Williamsburg. This inventive spot crafts its own vegan meats and comfort-food classics, serving up hearty fare like vegan meatball heroes and a Sunday gravy that would make any Italian-American grandmother proud. The concept is as clever as it is delicious: all the nostalgia and heft of a classic deli or butcher counter, reimagined entirely without animal products. You can grab plant-based cuts to cook at home or settle in at the café for a satisfying meal, with wine available to round things out. The menu leans into rich, familiar comfort food, the kind of dishes that prove vegan eating doesn’t have to mean giving anything up. It’s a welcoming, characterful place that has quickly earned a devoted local following. For anyone craving indulgent, meaty-tasting plant-based food with a real sense of fun and craft, Garden Carver is a Williamsburg gem that delivers on every front.
💡 Tip: Don’t miss the vegan meatball hero, and if you’re in on a weekend, the Sunday gravy is a must. It’s open seven days — roughly Mon–Thu 10am–8pm, Fri–Sat 9am–9pm and Sun 9am–8pm — in Williamsburg. You can also pick up plant-based cuts to cook at home.
📍 187 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Williamsburg) | 📞 (917) 909-0558 | 🌐 gardencarver.com | 📸 @gardencarver
6. Healthy As A Motha (HAAM) — Caribbean Plant Cuisine
Healthy As A Motha, also known as HAAM Caribbean Plant Cuisine, brings bold, vibrant Caribbean flavours to Williamsburg with a menu that blends Dominican and Trinidadian influences. What began as a ghost kitchen has blossomed into a fully-fledged restaurant with a huge and devoted following, drawn in by the punchy, deeply seasoned plant-based cooking. The kitchen celebrates the diversity of Caribbean cuisine, weaving together the culinary traditions of different islands into dishes that are rich, warming and full of personality. Everything is entirely plant-based, so you can explore the whole menu freely, from hearty mains to soulful sides. The flavours here are anything but timid, delivering the kind of spice and depth that Caribbean food is famous for, all without a trace of animal products. It’s a lively, feel-good spot that has become a real fixture of the Williamsburg vegan scene. For a plate of bold, satisfying Caribbean plant cuisine that tells a story with every bite, HAAM is a standout worth seeking out.
💡 Tip: Explore the Dominican-meets-Trini menu and don’t shy away from the boldly spiced dishes — that’s where HAAM shines. Hours run roughly Mon–Thu 4–10pm, Fri from noon and weekends 11am–late, in Williamsburg, though they can vary, so check before you go. It’s 100% plant-based.
📍 234 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Williamsburg) | 📞 (212) 271-0110 | 🌐 haamnyc.com | 📸 @healthyasamotha
7. Familiars — Bed-Stuy’s Vegan Coffee & Bagel Shop
Familiars is a dreamy little vegan coffee shop tucked into Bed-Stuy, beloved for its fresh-baked bagels, locally roasted coffee and effortlessly good vibes. This cosy, 100% vegan spot has built a loyal neighbourhood following by doing the simple things exceptionally well: warm, chewy bagels made fresh every day, thoughtful sandwich fillings and cups of locally roasted Honeymoon Coffee to fuel your morning. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, the kind of place where you can settle in with a coffee and a bagel and feel instantly at home. It’s a lovely reminder that vegan food doesn’t need to be complicated to be brilliant — sometimes a perfectly made bagel and a great flat white is all you need. There are pastries and other vegan snacks on offer too, plus gluten-free bagel options for those who need them. Open daily for breakfast and lunch, Familiars is an ideal stop for a laid-back morning or a mid-day break. For cosy, community-minded vegan coffee culture in Brooklyn, it’s a genuine gem.
💡 Tip: Get a fresh-baked bagel sandwich with a cup of the locally roasted Honeymoon Coffee — gluten-free bagels are available too. It’s open every day 8am–3pm in Bed-Stuy, so it’s best for breakfast or an early lunch. Arrive earlier in the day for the fullest selection of bagels and pastries.
📍 94 Ralph Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221 (Bed-Stuy) | 📞 (347) 295-2574 | 🌐 familiarsbk.com | 📸 @familiarsbk
8. Aunts et Uncles — Plant-Based Café & Concept Shop
Aunts et Uncles is pure Brooklyn: a plant-based café and concept shop in Flatbush that fuses food, culture and community into one deeply local experience. Founded by a creative duo, it’s as much a lifestyle destination as it is a place to eat, pairing a fully vegan menu of craveable comfort food with a curated retail space stocked with fashion and goods. The food is unapologetically flavour-forward — the team likes to say they’re in the flavour business, not just the vegan business — and the plates deliver on that promise with satisfying, soulful dishes rooted in Brooklyn’s food culture. The vibe is stylish and welcoming, a genuine community hub where good food meets good design and conversation flows freely. It’s the kind of spot that captures the creative, culturally rich spirit of the borough, drawing a loyal crowd that comes for the food and stays for the atmosphere. For a taste of authentic, plant-based Brooklyn that goes beyond the plate, Aunts et Uncles is an essential stop.
💡 Tip: Come for the flavour-forward comfort food and leave time to browse the concept shop’s curated goods and fashion. It’s in Flatbush and open roughly Sun–Wed 10am–8pm and Thu–Sat 10am–10pm, with weekend brunch a highlight. Hours can shift, so it’s worth checking their Instagram first.
📍 1407 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226 (Flatbush) | 📞 (347) 295-0001 | 🌐 auntsetuncles.com | 📸 @auntsetuncles
9. Fatboy’s Vegan Burgers — Smashed Burgers, Open Late
Fatboy’s Vegan Burgers is Bed-Stuy’s go-to for seriously indulgent, plant-based smashed burgers, served up late every single day. This is unapologetic comfort food at its finest: thin, crispy-edged smashed patties, gooey vegan cheese and all the loaded toppings, stacked into burgers that rival any meat version for sheer satisfaction. The menu is built around bold, craveable flavours and the kind of juicy, messy, hands-on eating that makes a great burger so much fun. With generous late-night hours, it’s a rare and welcome find for vegans looking for a satisfying meal after a night out, when most kitchens have long since closed. The plant-based focus means you can order anything on the menu without a second thought, and the burgers have earned a devoted local fanbase. It’s casual, flavour-packed and endlessly indulgent — exactly what you want from a great burger joint. For proof that vegan fast food can be every bit as decadent as the original, Fatboy’s hits the spot every time.
💡 Tip: Order a loaded smashed burger — they’re the whole point and they’re seriously indulgent. It’s open roughly 1–11pm daily in Bed-Stuy, making it one of the better late-night vegan options in the area. It can get busy, and preorders by phone are sometimes possible, so call ahead if you’re in a hurry.
📍 537 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216 (Bed-Stuy) | 📞 (718) 484-0191 | 🌐 fatboysveganburgers.com | 📸 @fatboysveganburgers
Tips for Vegan Travellers in Brooklyn
Brooklyn is huge, so it helps to plan your vegan crawl by neighbourhood. Williamsburg alone packs in Reverie, Garden Carver and HAAM, making it easy to combine several spots in one outing, while Bed-Stuy pairs Familiars for a morning bagel with Fatboy’s for a late-night burger. For Ethiopian, you’re spoilt for choice between Ras in Crown Heights and Bunna in Bushwick, and a trip out to Flatbush for Aunts et Uncles or Brooklyn Heights for Next Stop Vegan rounds out the borough beautifully.
Opening hours vary a lot between spots — some cafés close mid-afternoon while others run late into the night — so it’s always worth checking each venue’s website or Instagram before you set out. Several of the most popular restaurants take reservations, which is well worth doing for weekend dinners. The subway makes hopping between neighbourhoods straightforward, and apps like HappyCow are handy for confirming a spot is still operating, since the scene moves fast.
If you love eating your way around a city, vegan Brooklyn is one of the most rewarding places to do it. Have you explored the borough’s plant-based scene, or are you planning a trip? For more plant-based travel inspiration, check out our vegan guide to Seoul, and let me know your favourite Brooklyn spot in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brooklyn good for vegans?
Absolutely — Brooklyn is one of the best places in the world to eat vegan. The borough is packed with fully plant-based restaurants spanning Ethiopian, Caribbean, Dominican, fine dining, comfort food and café culture, many of them award-nominated and beloved well beyond the local community.
What is the best vegan restaurant in Brooklyn?
It depends on your mood. Ras Plant Based is a James Beard–nominated standout for Ethiopian, Reverie offers refined vegan and kosher fine dining, and Next Stop Vegan is a must for Dominican comfort food. For something more casual, Fatboy’s smashed burgers and Familiars’ fresh bagels are hard to beat.
What vegan food is Brooklyn known for?
Brooklyn’s vegan scene is famously diverse, showcasing plant-based takes on Ethiopian injera platters, Dominican and Caribbean comfort food, Italian-American classics, fresh bagels and indulgent smashed burgers. The borough’s culinary creativity means you can find almost any cuisine reimagined without animal products.
Is Brooklyn easy to visit as a vegan?
Very. Vegan spots are spread across neighbourhoods like Williamsburg, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights and Bushwick, all well connected by subway. Planning by area makes it easy to combine several venues in a day — just check opening hours in advance, as some cafés close in the afternoon while others stay open late.