The 30 Best Vegan Restaurants In The World

13. Joia, Milan, Italy

Joia, the first vegetarian restaurant in Europe to win a Michelin star, has been pushing the boundaries of fine dining since its conception in 1989. Chef Pietro’s avant-garde cooking style is based on the philosophy of “natural cuisine,” using only organic produce with no meat. Now, Head Chef Sauro Ricci has taken up the mantle while Pietro teaches worldwide. Joia offers casual bistro-style dining at the front of the restaurant, with the fine dining restaurant behind.

You can try a taste of the menu during lunch or sign up for the full 16-course “Zenith” tasting menu at dinner to be fully immersed in Joia’s local food philosophy. The menus change depending on what is seasonally available; most of their ingredients come from small local farms around Milan. If you want to try an extensive seasonal menu that is innovative and unique, head to Joia.

12. GrÓ§n, Helsinki, Finland

GrÓ§n is not specifically a vegan restaurant, but they offer a seasonal vegan menu based on organic Scandinavian produce. Their focus is on sustainability, working with local and wild produce as well as seasonal options, and they don’t use anything outside its natural growth season. In winter, they only use ingredients they’ve preserved in-house to continue serving delicious food when little is growing. Their tasting menu has up to 12 courses, and is a true delight, featuring dishes like pumpkin porridge and grilled Jerusalem artichoke. You might even enjoy one of their trial dishes, like vegan Brie cheese! If you want to try vegan food emphasizing incredible quality and seasonality, you’ll love visiting GrÓ§n.

11. Balwoo Gongyang, Seoul, South Korea

Balwoo Gongyang serves a unique variety of vegetarian/vegan cuisine: Korean temple cuisine. This cuisine shares the history of nearly 2,000 years of Korean Buddhism. Plus, it focuses on simple, high-quality dishes made with 100% domestic, organic ingredients. Their recipes also avoid the “five pungent vegetables”: garlic, green onion, onion, leek, and wild chive, making Balwoo Gongyang a truly unique dining experience. They offer a variety of seasonal tasting courses based on the five categories of food in Buddhism. If you want to try a special type of cuisine that highlights traditional recipes and methods, you can’t go wrong with Balwoo Gongyang. Keep reading for the top ten vegan restaurants worldwide.

10. TIAN, Vienna, Austria

TIAN believes that healthy, vegetarian food is integral to a good quality of life. They work hard to provide extraordinary vegan cuisine using seasonal ingredients, including rare vegetables and fruit. Their menu is primarily vegetarian, but all courses can be ordered vegan. They offer both 6- and 8-course menus for lunch and dinner, and you can also get drink pairings for an additional cost. Some examples of their dishes include Radicchio Rosa, Beni Wild Harvest, and their Jerusalem Artichoke. TIAN’s look and feel are overtly modern, and every meal is immaculately plated, feeding your eyes as well as your stomach. Their cordial and enthusiastic staff is at the center of their unique experience, and you won’t want to miss out on their creative offerings.

9. Pied a Terre, London, UK

Here is a top vegan restaurant in London. Founded in 1991, Pied a Terre is the longest-standing independent restaurant with a Michelin star in the UK. Their latest award was the No1 vegan tasting experience in the UK, a testament to the exacting standards for all their dishes. While not specifically a vegan restaurant, Pied a Terre offers plant-based menus at all lunch and dinner services, from their full 10-course tasting menu to their four-course lunch option. You can also order a la carte from their menu. Or, add a wine flight pairing to your tasting menu for an additional fee. Their vegan menu includes dishes like a Waldorf Grumolo salad or a baked soybean terrine, with a variety of desserts available. If you want to experience classic French dining with a Greek twist, you must visit Pied a Terre.

8. Elizabeth’s Gone Raw, Washington, DC, USA

When you go to Washington DC to visit historical landmarks, check out this vegan restaurant as well. Elizabeth’s Gone Raw is a unique vegan restaurant open three nights a week. They offer a six-course vegan tasting menu inspired by owner Elizabeth Petty’s plant-based food journey during her experience with breast cancer. Their menu focuses on seasonal organic products and offers organic and biodynamic wine pairings at an additional cost. They take extreme care with everything from the ingredients to the presentation, and plates are works of art. You can also add a vegan cheese course to your tasting menu. Popular dishes include kale chips, parmesan ravioli, and rhubarb ginger ice cream. Elizabeth’s Gone Raw offers a truly unique, contemporary vegan dining experience that you can’t miss. However, they don’t often have space for walk-ins, so make sure to reserve your table in advance.

7. Yellow, Sydney, Australia

If you have the chance, go to this vegan restaurant in Sydney. Yellow is a plant-based restaurant inspired by the contemporary European dining scene, serving creative vegan dishes in an informal atmosphere. They serve a six-course vegan tasting menu at an affordable price. Plus, this vegan restaurant offers both wine pairings and non-alcoholic pairings for an additional cost. Though they don’t have any a la carte options, their tasting menu provides a variety of unique dishes.

You can try salted and fermented heirloom carrots with harissa oil and wild fennel or a buckwheat blini with pine mushroom and kelp. Their wine offerings reflect the Australian and international wine scenes, featuring familiar wines next to small brands and organic wines. Their menu focuses on heirloom veggies grown by local suppliers, and the chef, Brent Savage, won “Chef of the Year” in 2015. Yellow offers a truly artful vegan dining experience in Sydney and is a must-try if you’re in the city.

6. Gauthier Soho, London, UK

Gauthier Soho, run by vegetable enthusiast and award-winning chef Alexis Gauthier, offers exquisite French gastronomy with a vegan twist. Alexis uses his 25 years of experience to his advantage, creating refined, luxurious vegan menu items that don’t use any animal products. Gauthier Soho offers two tasting menu options, Petit and Grand, which change depending on the seasonal produce available. The Petit menu offers seven courses; while the Grand menu has 10, and each can have a wine pairing at an additional cost. With dishes like wild garlic and rocket focaccia, a variety of canapes, and a “composition of dark chocolate,” Gauthier Soho leans into the French fine dining experience with gusto. You won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind vegan offer. Continue reading for the top five best vegan restaurants in the world.

5. Daigo, Tokyo, Japan

Daigo restaurant is one of the most beautiful dining options on this list, offering Kaiseki-style vegetarian and vegan dishes served tea ceremony style. Since 1950, Daigo has been taking advantage of the abundance of Tsukiji market to create stunning seasonal menu offerings. Some meals use small amounts of egg or bonito flakes. So, they request that you call ahead if you want a completely vegan experience. With four different tasting menu options and a focus on stunning seasonal cuisine, Daigo truly lives up to its 2 Michelin star rating. Some dishes include carrot and burdock soup with deep-fried potatoes and soba noodles with green onions, Japanese mustard, and seaweed. While they are a little expensive, the truly unique take on traditional Japanese cuisine, which incorporates Western vegetables and techniques, is well worth the splurge. Get your reservations in early because they can fill up quickly.

4. Kajitsu, New York City, USA

Kaijitsu – a name that means “fine day” or “day of celebration” – serves vegetarian/vegan shojin cuisine, considered the foundation of all Japanese cooking. They also have a Kaiseki-style tasting menu emphasizing fresh, seasonal ingredients. Even their dishware is carefully selected to fit their space, with some pieces created over 200 years ago! Their 10-course Omakase menu changes monthly based on what seasonal produce is available. Example dishes include Kuchidori, Kajitsu’s signature dish, which is sesame tofu seasoned with horseradish and served in a crispy rice wafer.

They’ve also served shiitake mushroom jelly with sesame tofu sauce, charcoal grilled fennel with fava beans, and seasonal desserts. Their sake pairings are subtle, high-quality offerings that emphasize the flavor of the dishes, and they serve green tea sourced from a 300-year-old tea maker in Kyoto. New York is a food-lover’s paradise, with a nearly overwhelming array of options, but you would be remiss in your vegan dining experience if you missed out on Kajitsu.

3. Vege Wonder, Beijing, China

Vege Wonder in WF Central, a trendy dining destination in Beijing. The modern vegetarian restaurant offers a unique take on Chinese vegetarian meals, choosing to ignore “mock meat” entirely in favor of getting the most out of seasonal vegetables available in China. They use familiar veggies in unique ways and often feature mushrooms in their meals. For example, by replacing meat with the mushrooms’ natural umami flavor. It’s important to note that their menu is plant-based but not vegan; however, the dishes can be made vegan upon request. Their innocuous name hides a passionate fine-dining experience in a modern setting and is definitely a stop to add to your list if you’re in Beijing! Don’t miss the chance to try this Michelin Star restaurant’s innovative take on plant-based cuisine.

2. Anastasia, Tel Aviv, Israel

Anastasia is the first vegan cafe in Israel, founded in 2014 by friends Roi Ezer and Tamar Ayalon. They emphasize fresh, quality raw materials, don’t use sugars or white flours in their dishes and seek to make vegan food accessible. Anastasia wants to dispel the myth that vegan food must be expensive and can’t taste good. They’ve even established the first vegan factory in Tel Aviv to produce all the raw products they use in the restaurant. They serve various dishes, from breakfast cereal to sandwiches to main dishes like bechamel cream fettuccine and roasted vegetable curry. Many of the options on their menu are gluten-free. They make their own vegan cheeses, yogurt, and sauces as well! Anastasia is a vegan oasis in Tel Aviv, and you simply must eat there if you’re in the area. Can you guess where the top vegan restaurant is globally?

1. ONA, Arès, France

Last but not least, ONA is truly a passion project for founder and head chef Claire Vallee. They opened it in 2016 after over 100 people donated to her crowdfunding campaign and the laborers that joined her workfunding efforts. The vegan restaurant’s menu is seasonal and experimental. More importantly, Claire takes pride in involving her entire team in the menu’s conception and execution. The restaurant has earned a Michelin Star not only for its food; ONA has also received the Michelin Green Star for the restaurant’s gastronomy and sustainability efforts. The restaurant has over 100 varieties of edible plants on its green terrace, uses renewable energy, and has a compost system to minimize waste truly. ONA is a genuinely unique gastronomic vegan experience driven by a desire to highlight the delicious flavors of organic produce. If you have the opportunity to attend the Odyss dinner menu, don’t miss it!