Gone are the days when veganism was looked at with an uncomfortable and strange bias. As society has progressed, people have started realising the importance of a more inclusive and responsible plant-based food culture. And this new sensibility is clearly visible in Sydney’s food scene, with the rise of new vegan food spots…
Across the city, chefs are treating plant-based cooking with the same seriousness usually reserved for premium non-veg food. Different venues offer different vegan dining experiences, with some offering fine dining and others providing a more casual setup. From degustations to burgers dripping with smoky sauces, these are some of the best places to eat vegan food in Sydney right now….
Clearview Glass Boat Cruising Restaurant
Location: Departs from King Street Wharf 5, Darling Harbour
The Clearview Glass Boat is Sydney’s newest and only glass boat dining cruise, offering diners 360° views of Sydney Harbour attractions, including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Luna Park and many others. The floor-to-ceiling windows frame the harbour from every angle.
What makes the experience refreshing for diners is that the vegan menu is carefully curated by the Executive Chef and prepared fresh on board. It is also one of the very few dinner cruises in Sydney to offer a full four-course vegan meal. From Pear Carpaccio and Cauliflower Steak to Italian Gnocchi and a delicious Passionata, the lineup is impressive.
Yellow Restaurant
Location: Potts Point
Yellow Restaurant is located inside the historic Yellow House in Potts Point and is one of Sydney’s leading plant-based fine dining experiences. The restaurant describes its approach as “botanical cuisine”, with no animal products on the menu at all. The dishes are built around heirloom vegetables sourced from regional producers, alongside a menu that changes seasonally.
The highlight is the six-course degustation, which is quite rare in Sydney (especially for vegans). This includes dishes such as crisp polenta with avocado salsa and capers, artichoke tart, pine mushroom with purple daikon and macadamia, grilled Dutch carrot with chickpea and kumquat, and many more. There is also a three-course lunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays for those who do not want to go all the way with the degustation experience.
Soul Burger
Multiple locations: Glebe, Newtown, Randwick
Soul Burger has been 100% plant-based from the very beginning, and again, nothing on the menu has ever contained animal products. The restaurant makes it clear that comfort food does not require compromise. Their range includes classic cheeseburger-style options, southern fried chicken-inspired burgers, smoky barbecue flavours and spicy combinations layered with pickles, vegan mayo and loaded fries. The bacon-style additions are also very popular.
Now wait wait… why are there mentions of chicken, bacon and meat in a vegan restaurant? Don’t worry! These dishes are designed to look and taste like meat while remaining completely plant-based. That’s it!
Golden Lotus
Location: 341 King Street, Newtown
Golden Lotus is a Vietnamese restaurant that has been entirely vegan since opening, drawing inspiration from the founders’ upbringing in Saigon. The setting is calm, with deep green walls and traditional flower paintings signed by a Buddhist monk, alongside a glowing pink sign that reads “Veganism is magic” — well, who would have thought?
The pho here is the standout dish and has earned excellent reviews. The broth is made using around ten varieties of fresh vegetables simmered for more than ten hours. Rice noodles, tofu or vegan chicken, bean sprouts, Vietnamese basil and a lime wedge complete the dish. Beyond the pho, the menu also includes vegan laksa, yellow noodle soup, vermicelli noodle salads with pickled carrot and Vietnamese mint, vegan duck pancakes, summer rice paper rolls and more.
The restaurant only accepts walk-ins and does not take reservations.
Gigi Pizzeria
Location: 379 King St, Newtown
Newtown’s King Street gets another standout venue with Gigi Pizzeria, a proud member of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN). This spot follows traditional wood-fired Neapolitan methods while keeping the entire menu plant-based.
The vegan menu goes far beyond basic vegetable toppings. There are pizzas layered with plant-based mozzarella, truffle oil, roasted potatoes, mushrooms, artichokes and spicy salami alternatives. It is the balance between the crust, sauce and toppings that makes the pizzas memorable. So, for anyone still convinced that vegan pizza cannot compete with traditional versions, Gigi changes that opinion within a single meal.
Sydney’s vegan dining scene keeps getting better, with more creativity, quality and great flavour than ever before. Whether you want a glamorous night on the harbour or a quick burger fix, these places prove that plant-based eating can be exciting and satisfying. So, choose your green!
