10 Best Vegan Venues in Vancouver

​Going vegan was one of the best life choices I've made, both environmentally and ethically. Living in Vancouver has made the choice almost effortless, as more and more new vegan restaurants and venues are opening shop. Here is a list of my 10 best!

Donuts:

My first donut after going Vegan was from Cartems Donuts, and now it's become my weekly indulgence. My favourites: Vanilla Bean, Smoked Maple Walnut, Apple Fritter, and Early Grey! They have monthly specials, cinnamon buns, and vegan milk choices for latte's. I also take a ton of bookstagram photos here! With locations on West Pender, Main Street, and West Broadway. 

Photo by Mariah Millie Photography

Cinnamon Buns:

I only recently came across The Gluten Free Epicurean bakery late last year, located at Fraser & Kingsway. I love cinnamon buns, and these are the best! This place has so many delicious pastries, cookies, bars, and treats. The interior and exterior are blog-worthy, with big bright windows, and a Fort Langley feel. 

Pizza:

Virtuous Pie, hands-down my favourite place to eat for brunch, lunch and dinner. Even carnivore's will leave satisfied and impressed. My go-to's: Superfunghi, Ultraviolet, and Los Tacos pizza creations. They also serve ice cream, salads, and the best vegan chocolate-hazelnut breakfast calzone I've ever had. 

Latte's:

Dalina. The home of many bookstagram shots on their amazing patio. This place has all the feels of downtown New York. It's not only a great coffee location with dairy-free milk on tap, it serves food, drinks, and includes a small grocery area. It's the best place to stop in Gastown for your caffeine fix, and it's around the corner from vegan gelato (need I say more?)

49th Parallel Coffee Roasters has one of the best house-made almond milk's I've ever had. It also helps that all of their locations have unique interior's for bookstagram photos. My favourite locations are West 4th and Main Street. 

Gelato:

The one 'taste' I've really missed since going vegan was hazelnut hedgehog's, so to my surprise, I stumbled across UmaLuma Dairy-Free Gelato on East Pender this past summer, and found the best gelato ever. Other favourite flavour's include: Lavendar Dream, Caramel Sea Foam, Mucho Matcha, and Coffee Toffee.

Dinner:

I love Heirloom Vegetarian on West 12th for both brunch and dinner. The staff are excellent, the food is incredible, and the setting reminds me of Cafe Gratitude in LA (a must). The "KFC" Korean Fried Cauliflower, The Tacos G, and the Smoked Mushroom Penne are amazing. 

Cactus Club Cafe's test kitchen at Broadwash and Ash  recently introduced a Vegan Tofu Bowl with soy chilli tofu and kale goma-ae. It's incredible! Here's to hoping Cactus Club adds more vegan options to their menu. 

Vancouver has some incredible Mexican restaurants, but nothing beats Bandidas Taqueria  for their full vegetarian menu in East Van. They have All Day Breakfast, Brunch, Nachos, Soups, Dinner, and Dessert. They have the tastiest tortilla soup I've ever had.

MeeT! The first time my friend asked me to 'meet her at MeeT in Gastown, I assumed it was spelt 'Meat', and reminded her I had recently gone vegan... oops. This place is filled with deep-fried goodness. Where else can you get hot chiggin' things that taste and look like chicken wings, poutine, sweet-chili cauliflower, artichoke & spinach dip, desserts... I could go on forever. Super casual, unique interior, and lots of choice! They recently opened in Yaletown, and the original is on Main Street. Oh, did I mention they make their own ginger beer and kombucha!?