The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne’s celebrated culinary scene is as diverse as it is inclusive. Whatever you get, you know it’ll be good—and the increasingly delicious vegetarian fare on offer is no exception. Forget ‘Meatless Monday’. This city is home to the kind of restaurants that will have even the most devoted of carnivores going plant-based every night of the week with a plethora of vegetarian and vegan options.

From wine bars to fancy eateries, these are the best vegetarian restaurants in Melbourne. 

ONDA

ONDA Bar & Eatery is a certified vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant in Richmond, serving up Latin American-inspired flavours with a warm, homey twist. True to its name (Onda means “vibe” in Spanish), the team delivers good energy through soulful meals and familiar hospitality. Highlights include calamari fritos with vegan chipotle mayo, smoky Elotes with jalapeños and paprika salt, and buffalo cauliflower coated in spiced chipotle glaze. For a satisfying plant-based main, try the whole roasted eggplant, and finish with the sweet and zesty Picarones. At ONDA, it’s all bueno.

280 Bridge Road, Richmond

Smith & Daughters Social Club

Shannon Martinez has revamped Smith & Daughters into the vibrant Smith & Daughters Social Club, and it’s a must-visit for plant-based eaters. The new menu shines with playful offerings like the ever-so comforting oyster mushroom skewers and a brussel sprout slaw.

The mac and cheese is as good as the real deal, and the BBQ ‘brisket’ needs to be sampled. It all just works—the cocktails are amazing, too! Don’t miss out on dessert—the rhubarb cobbler is a delicious surprise that will leave you wanting more.

107 Cambridge Street, Collingwood

Horn Please 

Step into a vibrant world of flavour at this hip eatery, where Sanskrit writings and patterned tiles set the scene for inventive Indian cuisine. Horn Please offers an array of vegan and vegetarian delights, including crispy samosas, Colonel Tso’s cauliflower bites, and onion bhajis topped with mango powder and paired with tangy tamarind chutney.

Savour comforting dishes like creamy palak paneer, hearty dahl, and chana masala, all perfectly complemented by fresh mozzarella or cottage cheese naan and fragrant coconut rice. This place is a must-visit for anyone exploring the best vegetarian restaurants in Melbourne!

167 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North

Ballard’s 

With its cosy vibe and lively beer garden, this 100% plant-based casual eatery is an easy pick for the best vegetarian restaurants in Melbourne. The menu at Ballard’s is always a delightful surprise, changing daily to showcase the freshest seasonal ingredients.

Indulge in mouthwatering creations like confit cherry tomato arancini, tender blackened mushroom ribs, and creamy smoked mushroom gnocchi that make each visit feel like a culinary adventure. Just be sure to save room for their irresistible, often nostalgic desserts, including vanilla slice or rich dark chocolate brownie.

Sitchu Tip: Follow them on social media for updates, and prepare for a unique dining experience that celebrates the art of plant-based cuisine.

915 High Street, Thornbury

Maha

For a culinary adventure into the depths of fine dining, Maha is a must-visit destination in Melbourne. This vibrant Middle Eastern gem, led by chef Shane Delia, tantalises with inventive vegetarian dishes like Pekmez-glazed Yin Barun pumpkins and the best whipped hummus imaginable. Pair it with their fluffy high-rise focaccia for a true taste sensation.

21 Bond Street, Melbourne 

Lankan Tucker

Looking for a breakfast spot that serves some of the best vegan and vegetarian food in Melbourne? Look no further than Lankan Tucker. Tuck into a mouthwatering tofu scramble on roti or indulge in their Village Breakfast, a delicious mix of egg, green chilli, and coconut sambals paired with creamy pumpkin curry. Pair your meal with their nostalgic iced Milo and add a couple of espresso shots for a “dirty” twist.

This is modern Sri Lankan done right, guaranteed to satisfy your cravings! 

Carlton

Sister of Soul

True to its name, this vegan and vegetarian cafe has a whole lot of soul, contributing to St Kilda’s community gardens in between nourishing its locals with wholesome, delicious food. Many of the dishes have become staples for their loyal fan base, like the green Thai curry, green gyoza dumplings, and rainbow veggie bowls.

This is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Melbourne for a delicious, guilt-free feast, and with dining deals almost every day of the week, it’s great for the bank account, too.

73 Acland Street, St Kilda

Attica

A fixture on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list since 2010,  Attica is a must-try for all foodies. Serving up inventive tasting menus that push the culinary boundaries, each dish features local, underrated ingredients like bunya nuts and murnong. Vegetarians need not miss out on the elevated fine dining experience, with the chefs more than happy to cater to vegetarians and make delicious substitutions.

Be sure to call ahead and let them know of any dietary restrictions to ensure your experience is as amazing as possible.

74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea

Red Sparrow Pizza

Red Sparrow has mastered the art of plant-based meats (and cheese and dairy-free products for vegans) with options for chick’n, pepperoni and bacon that look just like the real thing. They’re guilt-free additions to your cheesy slice of vegetarian pizza.

For a hearty dose of veggies, try the Verde pizza topped with spinach, kale pesto and broccolini, then treat yourself to a Notella pizza topped with chocolate and hazelnuts.

406 Smith Street, Collingwood (moving to Rose Street, Fitzroy)

Patsy’s

We’re accustomed to the idea of pairing wine with food, but what about the other way around? Wine bar Patsy’s flips the script by choosing a drop and then creating a dish around it. The wines are primarily small-scale and European, while all the dishes are vegetarian, proving that there’s more to pairing than ‘red with steak’ and ‘wine with seafood’.

The cosy, blue-walled dining room is made for intimate catch-ups, while the secluded courtyard beckons on balmy summer nights.

213 Franklin Street, Melbourne

Lona Misa

Shannon Martinez, the queen of Melbourne’s vegan scene, opened a blockbuster venue in South Yarra’s sleek Ovolo Hotel. Lona Misa is an all-day, plant-based diner that transforms from cafe to restaurant and wine bar with ease.

Start the morning with coconut yoghurt granola and huevos rancheros, or book in for luxurious Latin-inspired dinners and cocktails. Martinez continues to wield her kitchen magic by creating vegan versions of Moqueca (Brazilian seafood stew), ‘meatballs,’ one of the best guacamoles outside of Mexico and creamy flan for dessert.

234 Toorak Road, South Yarra 

Vegie Bar

One of the originals and best, Vegie Bar has been Melbourne’s mainstay for all things meat-free since 1988.

Set in a converted warehouse on Fitzroy’s bustling Brunswick Street, this local institution serves up classic vegetarian fare (think pasta bakes, pizzas, stir-fries and tagines) that’s so in demand, you’ll likely have to wait for a table. Have a sweet tooth? End the meal on a high note with their lush desserts that range from apple crumble to a decadent triple-chocolate brownie.

380 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Green Man’s Arms

Green by name and green by nature, this friendly neighbourhood pub in leafy Carlton is entirely vegetarian and plant-based.

Visitors won’t be missing steaks and parmas when they’re being offered pistachio parpadelle, crispy cauliflower nuggets and lush salads, with much of the produce coming directly from the owners’ Yarra Valley farm. To drink, there are plenty of craft brews and even kombucha on tap, while regular live DJs and Sunday sessions keep the place lively and always a top pick.

418 Lygon Street, Carlton

Moroccan Soup Bar

Like the decor, the flavours at beloved Moroccan Soup Bar are rich and warm thanks to the likes of bubbling tagines, handmade bread and their legendary chickpea bake, in which crispy, brown butter-brushed flatbread is layered with garlic yoghurt and tahini, toasted chickpeas and smatterings of smoked paprika.

The result is a festival of texture and flavour, as filling as it is addictive. With a verbal menu, each visit is something of a surprise. Expect a line of hungry patrons eagerly clutching their Tupperware (post-meal takeaway is encouraged).

47-51 Boundary Road, North Melbourne

Very Good Falafel

Sometimes, it pays to stick with one thing and do it well. And in the case of Very Good Falafel, they do it very, very well. Crunchy and hot on the outside, fluffy and fragrant on the inside, have them in an Israeli-style pita or as a platter with dips and a selection of colourful daily salads.

Owners Louisa and Shuki started out making handmade falafels on the farmer’s market circuit (with chickpeas grown by Louisa’s dad) before opening this warm, welcoming spot in Brunswick, a now-bustling hotspot for vegetarian fare in Melbourne.

629 Sydney Road, Brunswick

Now that you’ve taken a seat at some of the best vegetarian restaurants in Melbourne, it’s time to discover even more dining inspiration with our roundup of not only the best new cafes and restaurants in Melbourne.