Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Glasgow

Published by: BouncePosted
Best vegetarian restaurants in Glasgow

Scotland hasn't always enjoyed the best reputation for food. And Glasgow, in particular, has been known for its astonishingly unhealthy dietary preferences. There was a time in the city when about the only vegetable you would see on a plate would be deep-fried within an inch of its life and served as an accompaniment to some equally unhealthy meat dish.

But Glasgow has changed and continues to change. This industrial city has been a center of immigration for decades, and that cultural mixing has had a powerful effect on the food culture of the city. Plus, as Glasgow reinvents itself as a cultural and entertainment hub, the city's food options have expanded accordingly. It's no longer the struggle it once was to find vegetarian or entirely vegan meals in the city, and there's a vegan or vegetarian establishment around just about every corner. In fact, in a startling reversal of the way things used to be, Glasgow has been called the most vegan-friendly city in the UK by PETA thanks to the wealth of vegan restaurants in Glasgow.

If you're hunting for delicious food in Glasgow, it won't be hard to find. And if you're trying to eat plant-based and meat-free, the vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Glasgow can help you chow down on delicious vegan and vegetarian food while you're in the city.

To make things easier, don't forget to drop off your bags at a Bounce luggage storage in Glasgow before you visit. That way, you can travel light as you eat your way through the city, sampling all the best vegetarian and vegan food it has to offer.

To get you started on your plant-based adventure, check out some of the restaurants below.

Meat-free Glasgow restaurants

Glad Cafe

What's it like:

Much more than just a mere café, Glad Café functions as a nonprofit arts hub, and the popular food business it provides serves as a way to fund artistic programs in its beautiful café/performing arts venue. Therefore, this is not only one of the vegan restaurants in Glasgow to try delicious vegan food, but it's also a place where you can be entertained while you dine by the latest up-and-coming artists in Glasgow's thriving cultural life.

But ultimately, this is an article about the food. Located in the south side of the city, Glad Café is operated by a team committed to plant-based eating that also runs The Flying Duck and Hug and Pint, other top locations for vegan food in the city. That means there's no questioning their credentials when it comes to providing excellent vegetarian and vegan food.

Our recommendation:

Since this is one of the best vegan restaurants in Glasgow, you can't really go wrong. However, a great place to start is the vegan and vegetarian brunch which has made the café legendary among herbivores in the city. The Asian-inspired menu brings exotic flavors to Scotland's biggest city, and it's no wonder this café has become one of the most popular places for healthy and hearty meals for those who don't eat meat.

Location:

1006A Pollockshaws Rd, Glasgow

The 13th Note

What's it like:

Glaswegians don't do things by halves. After all, why simply have one of the best vegan restaurants in the city when you could also make it a performing arts venue? At least, that's the philosophy behind The 13th Note, a vegetarian café and live music venue close to the city center.

The 13th Note provides open mic nights, concerts by local up-and-coming musical acts, quizzes, and other fun activities. But what earns them a spot on this list is their vegetarian and vegan menu. Both the food and the drinks here are completely free of all animal products, making this one of the best entirely vegan restaurants in Glasgow. This vegan eatery focuses on comfort food, and is especially known for its vegan breakfast which provides the perfect hangover cure if you've overindulged the night before. Meals are served upstairs, while the basement downstairs is reserved for the often raucous shows that take place here. This Glasgow institution is also dog-friendly, so you can bring your four-legged friends to breakfast here. Plus, as you would expect from a music venue, this vegan café bar may have the best jukebox in the city.

Our recommendation:

No prizes for guessing what the star of the menu is here. The vegan breakfast is legendary among plant-eaters in the city, and has brought many vegetarians back from the brink after a long night out in the pubs of Glasgow.

Location:

50-60 King Street, Glasgow

The Red Onion

What's it like:

Not a specifically vegan restaurant in and of itself, The Red Onion does have a separate vegan menu, which includes a vegan tasting menu so you can try the latest and greatest innovations the cooks have been working on. What sets this restaurant apart is its focus on traditional and classic Scottish cuisine with a vegan and vegetarian twist. That, and their innovative approach to food makes this a fantastic place for herbivores to eat while in the city. If you're looking for something a little more gourmet and upscale rather than the usual casual cafés, this is the place to come. And because they do serve meat and animal products as well, it's a great option if you're traveling in a mixed group.

Our recommendation:

The menu here often changes according to what's in season and the whims of the chef, so you'll have to come with an open mind. The haggis bon bons are an especially unique menu item, and definitely one worth trying if they're available when you visit.

Location:

257 W. Campbell Street, Glasgow

Vegan restaurants in Glasgow

Rose & Grant

What's it like:

Part of the problem of traveling while vegetarian, let alone vegan, is not getting to try traditional local dishes. So many cuisines around the world are based around meat, so plant eaters often get left out of the fun of trying different foods around the world.

Maybe that used to be the case in Scotland, too. But thanks to some of the most innovative vegetarian restaurants in Glasgow and other cities, you can tuck in to classic Scottish favorites while maintaining a meat-free diet. Rose & Grant is a deli café with a rustic interior that offers a wide range of different foods, including some traditional Scottish delicacies. This dog-friendly café also offers a gluten-free menu if you're trying to watch your intake.

Our recommendation:

Vegan bacon sandwiches and a fully vegan traditional Scottish breakfast, complete with delicious vegan square sausage, are some of the most popular items here, and are guaranteed to start off your day in traditional Scottish style. But don't neglect their incredible pastries, many of which are gluten-free and make great vegan options for breakfast or an after-dinner treat. Pair a pastry with one of their exquisitely-made coffees if you want something lighter than a classic Glasgow fry up.

Location:

27 Trongate, Glasgow

Stereo

What's it like:

Yet another in a surprisingly long list of music venues that double as vegan restaurants, Stereo is located on the ground floor of the Daily Record building right in Glasgow city center. The menu here is an intriguing fusion of Asian, Latin American, and classic junk food, which makes this a great place to visit if you're in the mood for something new.

As you'd expect from a live music venue, the vibe here is most definitely casual and come-as-you-are. Shows take place downstairs while the vegan restaurant is upstairs, so you can easily go from one to another and enjoy some entertainment with your food.

Our recommendation:

The Buffalo cauliflower wings are an excellent choice if you're craving classic pub food without meat. In fact, this vegan restaurant excels at providing classic pub fare with a vegetable-based twist.

Location:

22 - 28 Renfield Ln., Glasgow

Serenity Now

What's it like:

Amusingly named after a famous catchphrase from TV show Seinfeld, Serenity Now provides a fabulous vegan brunch spot that is the perfect place to recover from a long night out. You'll find all your favorite breakfast foods here, like avocado toast, French toast, and huevos rancheros. They also offer more substantial sandwiches, mac & cheese, and other delights.

Visit in the summer, and you'll find this busy café spilling out onto the pavement. Located in Glasgow's West End conveniently close to some of the best nightlife spots in the city, this casual café is dog-friendly and a welcoming place to start your day.

Our recommendation:

Tuck into a vegan Reuben sandwich for a hearty lunch that will keep you going as you explore the city.

Location:

380 Great Western Road, Glasgow

Mayze

What's it like:

This vegetarian café earns points for its commitment to replicating meat dishes in a plant-based way. Famous for their homemade sausage substitute Sosig, they also have such culinary delights as vegan haggis and bhacon, plus tofeggs for those who want a scramble but don't want to consume real eggs. That makes this the perfect place for a vegan-friendly fry-up in Glasgow.

Our recommendation:

Vegan haggis. Need we say more? After all, you're visiting Scotland. It would be a shame not to try the national dish, and this restaurant offers a great vegan take on it.

Location:

974 Argyle St., Glasgow

Vegetarian food in Glasgow

Picnic

What's it like:

This delightful little vegan café features a bright, colorful interior that is just the thing you need to wake you up. An excellent choice of both breakfast and lunch, Picnic has been a feature of the city since 2016. They only use biodegradable and recycled packaging for their food, proving their commitment to ecological sustainability as well as healthy and cruelty-free eating.

Our recommendation:

As well as offering a full cooked breakfast on the weekends, Picnic focuses on healthy whole foods designed to provide maximum nutrition without sacrificing taste. Try their Tuno Melt for a light lunch sandwich that will keep you going as you explore Scotland's biggest city.

Location:

103 Ingram St., Glasgow

Soul Food Kitchen

What's it like:

This 100% vegan restaurant provides healthy eating that doesn't feel or taste like healthy eating. This bright and clean space is devoted to providing excellent food with the perfect balance of nutrients to keep you fueled up. Along with classic food on the go like bagels and wraps, they have an enviable selection of cakes and pastries, many of which are gluten-free so that everyone can indulge. You'll also find a selection of burgers and a healthy take on mac & cheese known as mac & greens.

Our recommendation:

Check out the MacSoul burger for a decadent smoky barbecue burger that's much better for you than it tastes.

Location:

973 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow

Ranjit's

What's it like:

Along with great vegan and vegetarian food, one thing that isn't hard to find in Glasgow is Indian food. This Indian restaurant offers hearty Punjabi food that's completely vegetarian, making it an absolute must-visit for fans of Indian dining in Glasgow. In Merchant City, you'll certainly have your pick of curry houses. This one goes above and beyond with the astonishing variety and quality of what it offers.

Our recommendation:

Since everything on the menu here is totally vegetarian, you can't really go wrong. But the paneer pakora are especially well done, and the perfect start to any meal.

Location:

607 Pollockshaws Road, Glasgow

Conclusion

From being something of a culinary wasteland, Glasgow has reinvented itself is one of Europe's top cities for vegetarian and vegan food. And in its own way, that reinvention mirrors the wider regeneration the city has gone through. This former industrial town has become a great place to visit and have fun, and all the incredible food options are part and parcel of that.

So drop off your bags at a Glasgow luggage storage and get ready to enjoy the best vegetarian and vegan food Glasgow has to offer. When you see everything there is to enjoy here, you'll be glad you did.

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