Top vegan-friendly restaurants across the country
Over the last decade, there has been a gradual rise in the number of vegan-friendly restaurants and outlets across the globe and evidently, also in South Africa. Considering that South Africa is “the biggest consumer of meat (excluding seafood) per capita in Africa,” it’s quite a significant shift in consumer behaviour. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most vibrant vegan-friendly restaurants across the country to make the shift towards conscious cuisine more of a delicious reality.
Top vegan-friendly restaurants in Cape Town
Scheckter's Raw, Sea Point
Sheckter’s Raw is all about offering natural, authentic, honest, plant-based, cruelty-free, and nutrient-dense food. Inspired by New York’s whole foods movement, Sheckter’s sources the best fresh ingredients and creates imaginative and delicious dishes that they believe “should look good, taste good and do good.” Their beautifully presented meals are bursting with superfoods that leave your body feeling healed and your conscience clean.
Contact: 021 434 1364
Location: 98 Regent Road, Sea Point
Operating hours: Monday – Sunday, 08:00 – 21:00
Nourish'd Café & Juicery, Gardens
Located high up on Cape Town’s iconic Kloof Street, Nourish’d is a plant-based and zero waste café on a mission to prove that delicious food can be wholesome for your body whilst also being good to the planet. Their zero-waste ethos and focus on sustainability aims to raise awareness about the planet’s ecological crisis, as they redefine the meaning of feel-good food one yummy dish at a time. They’ve also opened up two additional stores – one in Observatory (186 Lower Main Rd) and one in Green Point (2 Hill Rd).
Contact: 064 755 2431
Location: 177 Kloof Street, Gardens
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 7:30am – 4:30pm
Top vegan-friendly restaurants in Pretoria
Blos Café , Olympus
Located in the lush, green suburb of Olympus, Blos Café is a multi-faceted establishment that offers a luxury bed and breakfast, function venue, bakery (open from Monday – Sunday) and restaurant. The restaurant has many sections that are surrounded by nature. The upstairs balcony is our favourite, especially on a summery day. While they aren’t a vegan or vegetarian restaurant, their vast array of vegan and vegetarian options earn them a spot on this list. In addition to their vegan desserts, vegan pizza and vegetarian and vegan charcuterie-style boards, many of their meat options can be swapped out for vegan options. They also have multiple gluten-free options and of course, the all-day breakfast – available on weekdays – make for many return guests.
Contact: 012 991 1790
Location: Plot 66, C/O Olympus Rd & Leander Street
Operating hours: Monday – Saturday, 07:00 – 23:00 | Sunday, 07:00 – 15:00
Top vegan-friendly restaurants in Joburg
The Fussy Vegan, Greenside
We love accolades. Hence, the fact that The Fussy Vegan has won the award for “Best Vegan Restaurant in Joburg” more than once was enough to sway us. Well, that, and their delicious menu of course, which includes various creative plant-based twists of classic dishes. This includes the Tofu Facon Sub, the Tofu Buddha Bowl and the Breakfast Burrito. They’re all about making mouthwatering vegan cuisine sans pretense. And, because of their advocacy for animal welfare and ethically produced ingredients, we’re labeling theirs conscious cuisine. While their Greenside store provides the option for a sit-down restaurant experience, their CityRock and Blairgowrie stores are mainly for takeaway, pickup and delivery.
Contact: 067 342 8604
Location: 34 Gleneagles Road, Greenside
Operating hours: Monday – Saturday, 10:00 – 19:00 | Sunday, 10:00 – 16:00
Fresh Earth Café , Blairgowrie
Located in Blairgowrie, Fresh Earth Café offers a holistic approach to healthy food. While not exclusively vegan, their menu offers tons of vegan and vegetarian options, all made fresh from scratch using quality ingredients that are as close to nature as possible. Their daily harvest table is a buffet of exciting salads, artisanal baked goods and various stews which you can enjoy as a sit-down meal or a quick takeaway. They also have their own retail store where, in addition to fresh produce, they sell natural body and beauty products.
Contact: 011 646 4404
Location: 74 Hillcrest Avenue, Blairgowrie
Operating hours: Monday – Friday, 07:30 – 17:00 | Saturday 07:00 – 17:00 | Sunday, 07:00 – 15:00
Top vegan-friendly restaurants in Durban
The Vegan Chef, uMhlanga
One of the only 100% vegan outlets on our list, as well as in uMhlanga, is The Vegan Chef. This place is all about preparing delectable gourmet and artisanal vegan food that is both good for their customers and the planet. Whether you’re sitting down at one of their TVC outlets or restaurant partners (they’ve opened a new store in Hyde Park just a while ago) or buying their frozen convenience range in-store, delivering exceptional plant-based food in the most sustainable way is at the core of everything they do.
Contact: 072 117 8550 or info@theveganchef.co.za
Location: uMhlanga, The Pearls Mall
Operating hours: Online store always open. Call for restaurant hours.
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