Celebrated for having some of Europe’s most distinguished architecture and famous for its multitude of long-standing grey-stone buildings, Aberdeen is always an interesting place to visit.‘The Granite City’ has a rich arts and culture scene too, and many activities to enjoy.
With plant based food becoming a rising trend, Aberdeen has also seen some great vegan and vegetarian restaurants open up. As well as witness other eateries diversify their menus to accommodate those of us who don’t want to eat meat. Now it’s no longer hard to find great vegetarian food in Aberdeen!
Since we know this city well, we’ve picked out what we believe are the seven best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Aberdeen for food and dining experiences. Expect classic Italian dishes to tangy Caribbean fare, and everything in between!
Some restaurants on our list do serve meat as well. However because they have an excellent selection of vegetarian, gluten free and plant-based dishes, we just had to include them.
The Seven Best Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants In Aberdeen: The Best Plant Based Food Around!
1. Bonobo Café
Fun, bright, colourful, friendly and cosy are what makes Bonobo stand out amongst other vegetarian restaurants in Aberdeen. The food is pretty damn good too!
Their excellent selection of delicious 100% vegan fare, as well as the vibrant mural paintings ranging from turquoise and teal to pink, makes Bonobo an easy pick for our list.
Known as being the very first vegan café in Aberdeen, this spot is sure to impress thanks to the excellent service, incredible food choices and their tranquil rooftop garden which includes an organic vegetable patch which just adds to the overall charm.
You’ll find excellent flavours in each dish here, but we highly recommend trying their Bonobo Fry Up which includes vegan sausages, hash browns, vegan dippy yolk, mushrooms and other delicious sides. It’s their tasty vegan take on the classic British breakfast and we think it’s better than the original.
Some of our other top picks include their Seitan Kebab, the Aberdeen famous ‘Bonobo Mac’, and their Tofu Benny – a bagel packed with spinach, smoked tofu, seitan bacon and hollandaise sauce.
And if you’re on the lookout for some excellent coffee, Bonobo is very passionate about their energy boosting beverage selection! You can enjoy a cup of locally roasted coffee beans here, all served with sustainable milk substitutes.
However, if you’re not a fan of coffee, worry not – Bonobo makes some of the most indulgent Deluxe Hot Chocolate. We also recommend their tasty Turmeric Latte and Matcha Latte.
This vegan restaurant in Aberdeen also holds charitable events and meditation events so there’s plenty going on away from the kitchen too. Bonobo is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Address: 73-75 Skene St, Aberdeen AB10 1QD
2. Roots
A hearty plant-based burger is always a crowd-pleaser – at least it is for us! And the fusion of soft brioche bun, perfectly seasoned patty, and caramelised onion that Roots put together just can’t be beat in Aberdeen.
However this plant based food truck doesn’t just excel at burgers. They also dish up incredible vegan fish & chips and scrumptious loaded fries. All of that is served on the sandybeach at Footdee – a quaint traditional fishing village at the East End of Aberdeen’s harbour.
Of course a trip to the beach isn’t complete without a classic Fish & Chips, so we have to recommend getting their vegan version of this quintessential British dish. This spot has plenty of outside seating, but if it’s a bit windy you can grab your food to go.
Other recommendations include their vegan Roots Classic Cheese & Bacn’ comprising of a patty, cheese, homemade bacn’, caramelised onion and crack sauce. Other dishes worth trying are their Hot Wings and Roots Signature Loaded Fries.
But if you’re feeling adventurous, why not try their Roots Bloody Roots Special. That’s their special burger which changes daily so you’re never quite sure what you will get.
And to complete your beach trip, why not grab one of their delicious vegan milkshakes too! Those milkshakes alone are a good enough reason for Roots to be on our list of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Aberdeen.
This vegan food truck in Aberdeen serves fish and chips just on Thursday from 5pm to 8pm. But is also open for other food orders on Friday and Saturday from 11am to 6pm, and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.
Address: Beach Blvd, Aberdeen AB11 5DN
3. Foodstory
Whether you’re on the lookout for a quick bite before heading to work, or want to have a leisurely day eating some delicious food and drinking a coffee while reading your book, Foodstory will be the perfect stop.
Why? Because this intimate café is made for chilling out in! Their casual yet eclectic décor – mismatched chairs, bare walls, exposed pipes and raw wood furniture – all create a laid-back and industrial feel. It’s the sort of place you walk into and then instantly feel like staying for a while.
Foodstory also showcases creative artwork by their in-house artist and sometimes even has occasional live music.
But what’s really worth mentioning is that they have three different plant based menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner! They’re also very good at catering to other dietary requirements too.
For breakfast, this zero waste café makes an exceptional ‘Everything Toast’. That toast is packed with baked beans, tofu, mushrooms, pesto, pea ‘avocado’ and many other delicious ingredients. As for lunch, we recommend trying their Hot Pot or even their creative Lunch Special, all served with a healthy side salad.
Their interesting dinner menu includes a tasty Teriyaki Tofu with Back Sesame Sushi Bowl, Vegan Nut Roast Bowl and even a Sharing Plate – the perfect pick when catching up with friends as it gives you all the chance to sample their tasty dishes
Of course we have to mention Foodstory’s double baked vegan almond croissants which are particularly popular with regulars. They even have a dairy free and gluten free cinnamon bun that’s well worth trying too.
This spot is an easy addition to our list of the best vegetarian restaurants in Aberdeen. Foodstory is open on Monday from 8:30am to 3pm, from Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30am to 8pm, and Sunday from 10am to 3pm.
Address: 11-15 Thistle Street, Aberdeen AB10 1XZ
4. BioCafe
Whether you’re vegan or vegetarian, we believe you shouldn’t have to compromise when it comes to eating out. And by no means is BioCafe a compromise as they offer up amazing vegan and vegetarian fare in a lovely relaxed atmosphere.
The large windows and various plant pots around the café, coupled with the friendly staff, give this place a homely vibe. The laidback layout of the café also includes different seating options – perfect for grabbing food with friends or enjoying your book and a coffee on their comfortable sofas.
Their large menu includes diverse choices, so whether you’re after some sandwiches, bagels, waffles, burgers or buddha bowls, BioCafe has it all!
But what would we recommend? Well, when it comes to their breakfast menu, their Scrambled Tofu Tacos or Peanut Butter & Banana Waffles are great choices. But don’t be afraid to try their new dishes on offer – we enjoyed their Sharing Breakfast Board and NY Style BBQ Jackfruit Bagel.
As for brunch or lunch, their Overloaded Hot Dog, Falafel Wrap and Korean Kimchi Burger stood out the most – expect a burst of flavour in each bite. Their newer addition – the Fishless Burger is also worth a try for the unexpected fusion of tartar sauce, avocado, vegan fish fillet and pickled red cabbage.
Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, gluten intolerant or diabetic, this amazing cafe makes sure to cater to most dietary requirements. And on top of that their sweet treats are all prepared without any refined sugar, so no need to worry about unhealthy choices. With that the case why not indulge! We’re sure you’ll be impressed by their dessert options, especially the gluten free vegan pancakes.
This vegetarian-friendly restaurant is open from Monday to Friday from 9:45am to 5pm, on Saturday from 9:45am to 4pm and on Sunday from 11am to 4pm.
Address: 39 Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen AB25 1NQ
5. 8848 Restaurant
What better way to spend an evening with family and friends than enjoying some delicious Nepalese and Indian food!
That’s what you can do at 8848 Restaurant, and while this place isn’t solely vegetarian, they do offer a nice selection of vegetarian dishes – from tasty starters, thalis served with an assortment of vegetarian dishes to try to the delightful desserts. After all, Indian and Nepalese cuisine is famous around the world for their vegetarian food.
Some of the most popular starters here include their Northern Style Manchurian, Sweet Potato and Pakora Kale Chat, and Hara Bhara Paneer which is prepared with marinated paneer, bell peppers, tomato and red onion.
As for the mains, vegetarians won’t be disappointed with the Nepalese Thali comprising of lentils, rice, mixed vegetable, saag paneer and rice pudding. It is definitely a great way to get acquainted to Nepalese cuisine.
However we highly recommend calling and ordering in advance as this traditional Nepalese dish may take up to an hour to prepare! This spot has many other vegetarian options on offer too, which can be made vegan upon request.
This restaurant is open from Monday to Friday from 2pm to 9:30pm, Saturday from 2pm to 9:45pm and on Sunday from 2pm to 9pm.
Address: 347 Union St, Aberdeen AB11 6BT
6. Rustico
Who doesn’t like some classic Southern Italian cuisine? Now we know that pizza comes to mind when mentioning Italian food but this family-run establishment knows not only how to make creative pizzas, but also delicious pasta, starters and delectable desserts.
The vintage feel of this restaurant with the exposed beams, large windows, red and white checkered tablecloth, hanging pictures and welcoming service creates an authentic charm and will make you feel like you’ve been transported to rural Sicily.
As for the food, Rustico has loads of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options on their menu, as well as with their daily specials too. We highly recommend their Bufala alla Roccoco as a starter – which includes sweet roasted peppers with buffalo mozzarella and balsamic dressing. If you fancy a hearty pasta, the Linguine al Pesto Siculo is one of the best we’ve tried in Aberdeen. This dish comprises of aubergine, sun-dried tomatoes, pine kernels, grilled peppers, fresh basil and parmesan cheese.
As for Italy’s most famous export – the pizza – we recommend Rustico’s Quattro Formaggi Pizza of the PrimaveraPizza which is prepared with aubergine, courgette, peppers, artichokes and rocket.
This restaurant is open from Tuesday to Thursday for lunch from 12pm to 2:30pm and for dinner from 5pm to 10:30pm. As for Friday and Saturday, Rustico is open from 12pm to 10:30pm and is closed on Sunday and Monday.
Address: 62 Union Row, Aberdeen AB10 1SA
7. Tango Turtle
This colourful and upbeat vegetarian-friendly restaurant in Aberdeen offers Caribbean inspired comfort food in a vibrant and art-filled setting. Sounds like good fun right?
Located within walking distance from Aberdeen’s Maritime Museum, Tango Turtle is the perfect stop for lunch or dinner after exploring the Granite City. The exposed brick walls, fun paintings, as well as friendly and chilled out staff just add to the Caribbean vibes of this spot.
Although not solely vegan or vegetarian, Tango Turtle has some great vegetarian options which is why we had to include it on our list of the best vegetarian restaurants in Aberdeen.
Some of out top veggie recommendations are their Creamy Jerk Spiced Mushroom, Plantain And Halloumi Burger, as well as the Chickpeas & Okra Callaloo – which is a Caribbean staple vegetable dish made from chickpeas and lady fingers. Their tasty Pepperpot Rundown prepared with pepper, sweet potato, peas, leafy greens and coconut sauce is a popular among regulars too.
In addition to their taste-packed food, Tango Turtle is very reasonably priced and their ‘Bring your own Booze’ concept always makes for a cheaper evening than many other restaurants in the city!
This Caribbean restaurant in Aberdeen is open from Monday to Thursday from 4.30pm to 10.30pm, Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 11pm and on Sunday from 12pm to 9pm.
Address: 9a Little Belmont St, Aberdeen AB10 1JG
