The best vegan places in Edinburgh

No vegan guide is complete without a mention of Holy Cow. A snug eatery offering organic vegan savoury and sweet dishes, the café boasts innovative plates that will work to tantalise your tastes bud. The outside is fairly unassuming – but don’t be put off! This place is super popular. Why not try one of their ‘Muu’ burgers, which come in a range of different flavours like Thai Carrot and Vietnamese Tofu. Happily, the restaurant also specialises in vegan desserts: leave some space for their fruity cheesecake, you won’t regret it.

Fancy a bit of (vegan) fine dining? Then head to David Bann, well-known in the city for its unusual, tasty dishes and high-quality service. The interior is warm and cosy; the perfect atmosphere for a celebratory dinner or lunch. The menu draws on food from far and wide, including the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia. Start with the Chickpea and Cashew Koftas which come with a light banana chutney and follow it with the Quinoa Salad with Walnut and Pomegranate. Order the Ginger and Lime Ice Cream with Ginger Cake for dessert and thank us later.

We promise Kalpna will satisfy even the most ardent meat-lovers amongst us. Local and Indian vegetarian cuisine is what this place does best. There’s a real focus on locally sourced, freshly prepared ingredients wherever possible. Kalpna has won several awards and with good reason: their Thaali are practically famous, all adorned with mini dish selections of Lentil Daal, Palak Paneer, Pakora and Mushroom Curry. The prices are more than affordable (starters begin at £4.95) and the service is always warm and friendly.

Sometimes you don’t feel like something too fancy, you just want homely and comforting dishes designed to fill you up. Why should vegans miss out? Happily, Paradise Palms is Edinburgh’s go-to restaurant for all things soul food. The venue also frequently hosts live music, dance nights, book clubs, dating evenings and much more – so you’re bound to be entertained! Sit back on one of their uber-comfy chairs and tuck into some vegan mac n’ cheese, nachos and heavily-filled burgers. With an extensive cocktail menu too, Paradise Palms is the perfect destination to catch up with friends and let your hair down.

This swish art deco-inspired bar just along from the top of Princes Street is a great choice for some January scran. It’s a little bit dark and a little bit moody, with jewel tones, lashings of gilt and sassy booths just made for date night or a catch-up with the girls. And while the cocktail menu is one of its biggest draws, Voodoo Rooms packs a punch when it comes to its food offering. Book a table in the velvet-curtained boudoir beside the bar and tuck into vegan delights such as “haggis” taco with sweet chilli sauce, whisky mayo and pico de gallo; a feather-light watermelon and cucumber salad, with dairy-free feta, strawberry and balsamic glaze; crispy tofu in breadcrumbs with katsu curry sauce, pak choi and fragrant rice; and a pud of poached pears with chocolate ice cream (don’t worry, there’s no cow in this cream). There are tons of fun plant-based beverages too, including the Blind Pilot (Ocho Reposado Tequila with Amaro, Montenegro, Aperol, lemon, Absinthe and foamer) and the Armed Strobbery (strawberry-infused Flor de Caña 4 Rum, with El Bandarra Rojo Vermouth, basil and lime).

Exclusively vegan, this Bruntsfield eatery serves up brekkie, lunch and dinner daily (with a couple of hours closing in the afternoon), although be aware that the kitchen closes at 8.30pm. Start the day with some pancakes and a sun salutation smoothie, tuck into a nourish bowl after noon and complete your day’s dining with a supper of plant-based ‘Juicy Marbles’ fillet steak. There’s a kids menu too and lots of gluten-free options. Seeds For The Soul has an army of devotees, with TripAdvisor reviewers making comments such as: “food was 10/10”, “one of the best restaurants in the city” and “the staff were super friendly and inviting and the food was absolutely delicious. Would 100% come back again.”

With food available Thursday to Sunday until 2am, this is the place to come if you need a feed after a night on the tiles. And it’s on Cowgate, so a stone’s throw from many of the city’s most popular clubs and pubs. Despite being named after a bovine, the restaurant, which specialises in grills (you can smell the smoke on the way in), has plenty of plant-based dishes to tempt you. Order up some cauliflower wings with sweet chilli sauce; an avo salad; and a Moving Mountains burger with fries. And if you’re a large group, the venue can cater for you with a choice of tailored packages.

Sora Lella claims to be the first 100% vegan Roman restaurant in the city, so of course, you have to check this one out on your vegan travels. It’s run by a family, all of whom are vegan themselves, so they understand the challenges in finding great, authentic food without animal products. And the menu is huge, so you can really go to town, instead of being presented with limited options. You won’t miss out on favourites like carbonara, quattro formaggi pizza and tiramisu here. Plus the wine is all vegan and organic too. If you’re bringing kids, they can eat at a 30% discount with a smaller portion and there’s a full gluten-free menu for a carb fix.

A trailblazer in the city, Novapizza was the first meat-free Italian restaurant and pizzeria to launch in Edinburgh back in 2015. And just two years after its inception, the eatery was awarded The Scottish Food Awards & Academy Vegetarian Gold Medal. Novapizza’s highlights include homemade pizza crafted using signature dough, the Oreo cheesecake and vegan chocolate artisan desserts. Like Sora Lella, it’s run by a Roman family and includes lots of gluten-free options. Pair your meal with a good wine, or a cocktail such as the Negroni Sbagliato (bitter, sweet vermouth and prosecco), or the Raspberry Spritz (Edinburgh Raspberry Liqueur, prosecco and soda).

Leithers looking for some tasty January food should pay a visit to The Black Fox. Here you can grab some “wee bites” of courgette with dairy-free pesto, cauliflower with buffalo sauce, or some onion rings dusted in cajun spice. And if you fancy a juicy, dirty burger, sate your desires with a Cowboy cauliflower burger on a bed of lettuce and tomato, topped with buffalo sauce and lime and coriander “mayo”; or an ‘I Am the Walrus’ courgette burger complemented by rocket, vegan pesto and caramelised onion jam. There are daily specials and some Foxy cocktails featuring quirky ingredients such as liquidised oats and caramelised white chocolate crumb (vegan, naturally.)