Cardiff's Best Veggie & Vegan Eateries 2020

The veggie and vegan food scene in Cardiff has completely taken off in recent times, with deliciously diverse meat-free eateries popping up left right and centre. The benefits of eating less meat as part of a standard diet have been widely documented, and so it's brilliant that nowadays in the Welsh capital, abstaining from meat doesn't have to mean forgoing the flavour.

Here, we've picked the very best vegetarian and vegan Cardiff restaurants where you can be guaranteed a meat-free meal that's still gosh-damn delicious. If you're after something a little bit nawty but still plant-based, check out our vegan junkfood guide.

Blue Honey Local

Blue Honey Local is a quirky music-orientated lounge space where you can get delicious coffee, yummy cakes, and many different types of plant-based treats. Blue Honey Local is the funky little brother of Blue Honey Night Cafe - essentially the best of Blue Honey Night Cafe, with amazing music and chill vibes until late in the night... You can keep the fun going indefinitely (well, almost).

Blanche Bakery (Roath)

Devilishly delicious cakes, warm doughnuts glazed to within a sugary inch of their lives, and some of the finest cruelty-free cupcakes you're ever likely to go weak at the knees over... this is Blanche Bakery. What started as a passion project with an ethical message (striving to create cruelty-free food that everyone can enjoy without compromising on taste or quality) has quietly grown into one of Cardiff's bootstrapped foodie success stories. Blanche Bakery's 100% soya free and 100% vegan treats can now be found at their permanent Roath home.

Anna Loka (Albany Road)

Cardiff’s first ever 100% vegan restaurant is run by cheerful chappie, Adam, who also happens to be a Hare Krishna monk. He’s here to offer customers compassionate food choices without compromising on quality or taste – and if the Trip advisor reviews are anything to go by, it’s working. Even the most militant of meat eaters will be licking their plates after a meal here.

Herbivore @ Embassy Café (Cathays)

Herbivores, rejoice! This meat-free haven is the holy grail of vegan cuisine, with home-grown food kept at delightful prices. You can find Herbivore at their pop-up at Embassy Café and at other excellent indies around the city, serving vegan treats daily from their kitchen and hosting monthly events with unique menus for meat-eaters, veggies and vegans alike. Ingredients are delivered straight from the garden and onto your plate, beautifully presented and a far higher quality than the modest price tags suggest. These guys regularly go on working holidays to Sicily to discover new ingredients and flavour combos, so you can always be sure of exciting new treats on the menu,

Kemi's (Pontcanna)

For some of Cardiff’s most Instagram-worthy salads, look no further than this cafe in the heart of Pontcanna. Kemi’s is owned by, well, Kemi (a woman whose zest for life is evident in the food that she serves) and run by Patrick (with a heart of gold and a passion for fantastic food to match). This little gem is a great place to work, chill out or simply to get some inspiration for your packed lunch. We wish Kemi, Patrick and Co could come and cook for us every day…

The Greenery Kitchen (Cardiff Market, City Centre)

The Greenery Kitchen, located in Cardiff Indoor Market, is a fully plant-based kitchen serving delicious lunch, drinks and plant-based patisserie. If you fancy a healthy, seasonal and locally inspired vegan meal, head over to The Greenery Kitchen. Other than whipping up seriously tasty treats for your lunchtime involvement, they're also known for using CBD in their menus and offering a range of CBD infused drinks. Once there you'll encounter friendly staff, who work tirelessly to provide you with creative and nutritional recipes. Sit back and enjoy a lovely meal, surrounded by a serene atmosphere with a rustic look.

Wild Thing (Clare Road)

Wild Thing is on a mission to save the planet: this lovely and cosy cafe is 100% vegan, low waste and ethical. The team will ensure you get your 5-a-day with their delicious, hearty and veggie-packed dishes. At Wild Thing, you'll find no such things as single-use containers or wasted food: these guys even redistribute all their leftovers. All of Wild Thing's menu offering is sourced from ethical and local suppliers, their coffee is roasted in Cardiff by the lovely people at Hard Lines, and their cakes are as healthy as can be. You can't go wrong with these guys!

ATMA (City Centre)

One of the original stalwarts of Cardiff's veggie and vegan scene, Atma still remains a sacred space where conscious living combines itself with wholesome and nutritious food. Run by the Hare Krishna's of Cardiff Atma is more than just a conscious living lifestyle lounge. Serving an Ahimsa vegetarian and vegan menu, Atma’s mission is to satisfy the bodies, minds and souls of the people of Cardiff. Or in other words, to make everyone happy. With devotional Dahl and supreme subji's, Atma's food will revive the soul and satisfy your appetite!

Madhav (Riverside)

Sitting on the corner of Lower Cathedral Road, Madhav has been serving authentic Indian food to Cardiff’s Riverside community since before most of us here at Wriggle were even born. Opened well over 30 years ago by Pushpa Gaikwad from Maharastra (the capital of which is Mumbai, a.k.a. Bombay), Madhav was run as a delicatessen/mini-market for many years before expanding into a great veggie café/restaurant. Tuck into tasty Indian street food-style dishes like masala dosa (rice pancakes with spicy potatoes), wada sambar (dhal dumpling) and mixed vegetable curry. Before you leave, pick up some authentic ingredients from the mini-market to experiment with in the kitchen when you get home.

Vegetarian Food Studio (Penarth Road)

This family-run joint is Mecca for Cardiff’s veggies and just a stone’s throw from the city centre. The kitchen cooks fresh and authentic Indian dishes; if you want tasty, cheap and filling grub, you’ve come to the right place. The restaurant is un-licenced so try a mango lassi or the exotically named disco coffee (although it’s BYOB and there’s a corner shop two doors down if that really doesn't tickle your pickle). Portions are big, so you might have to ask for a doggie bag, but the restaurant also does takeaway if you prefer to veg out in the comfort of your own home.

Crumbs Kitchen (City Centre)

Crumbs has long been a popular haunt for Cardiff’s vegetarians. Located in one of the capital’s bustling Victorian arcades, entering this family-run cafe is like stepping into someone’s kitchen. Crumbs serves up healthy but hearty comfort food – think salad bowls, baked potatoes and generous portions of veggie curry with brown rice – so a trip here is the foodie equivalent of a big hug. Everything is vegetarian with plenty of vegan and gluten free options; cakes, hot drinks and fresh juices, plus porridge and eggs on toast for breakfast. Perfect for a quick shopping pit stop or for whiling away an afternoon by getting stuck into a good book.

Published -1st January 2020

2 March