What better way to kick-start this blog than with a little guide to my current home, Belfast!
When I moved to Belfast a year ago it was a bit of a daunting task finding great places to eat vegan. But after some digging, I discovered some real gems. And boy, have the options only become more exciting over the last year.
Belfast is truly flourishing in the very best way. Every week it seems there is a new restaurant or coffee shop opening. My stomach has been very happy at this news… my wallet, not so much. But eh, my wallet is such a boring so-and-so.
It’s also been named best place to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet, in case you need more reasons to visit! The city is constantly buzzing while just a half hour away, you’ll find some of the most stunning scenery – it’s the best of both worlds if you ask me.
So, here are some of my very favorite places to dine vegan in Belfast. Happy eating, fellow wanderers!
HOT TIP: Make sure you book a table in advance! I can tell you from experience, it can be quite difficult to get a table at some of these places without a booking – especially on weekends. Not impossible, just difficult!
Jumon
Fountain Street, Belfast, BT1 5ED
Jumon is relatively new to Belfast, but it didn’t take long for it to become one of my favourites! As soon as I read the menu was all Vegetarian/Vegan I was sold. If South-East Asian food is your bag, then Jumon is your place. Believe me when I say, the Nem and Sayur Lodeh are dishes you wont regret ordering.
Yugo
3 Wellington St, Belfast BT1 6HT
This place is a real beauty… I’d visit Yugo every single week if I could! They offer a Vegetarian & Vegan menu and it does not disappoint. The massman curry is simply superb, and the hand cut chips with togarashi seasoning are just… MWAH! If you’re a cocktail kind of person, then Yugo has you sorted – a not-to-be-missed dining experience in Belfast (if you ask me).
Ginger Bistro
68-72 Great Victoria St, Belfast BT2 7AF
Ginger Bistro was the first place I dined in Belfast, and it still holds a special place in my heart to this day. They’ve had a bit of a makeover and expansion since my first visit – which is great since the place is ALWAYS busy – and its truly a wonderfully relaxed dining experience. While they don’t have an exclusively vegan menu, there are a number of options to be found on the ‘Vegetarian Menu’ – each as delightful as the next.
Oh! Donuts
55 Upper Arthur St, Belfast BT1 4HG
I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was to find this place has vegan donuts! I’m a bit of a donut fiend, and had been sorely deprived of my oh-so-favorite sweet treat. They usually have at least two types of vegan options available – my favorite being the lemon poppyseed. The other vegan options I’ve sampled (hibiscus and choc-coconut) have been just as delicious though. Oh! and if you want a coffee to go with that donut, they have oat milk on offer… need I say more?
Home Restaurant
22 Wellington Pl, Belfast BT1 6GE
Home Restaurant is one of those places that everyone just LOVES. As the name suggests, its a lovely homely experience with just good ingredients. The miso broth, salt and pepper tofu, sweet potato curry, falafel – all of these dishes are just beaut. If you’re looking for an option that will satisfy vegans and non-vegans alike, well, you can’t go wrong with Home.
Cyprus Avenue
228-230 Upper Newtownards Rd, Belfast BT4 3ET
Let’s take a little trip over to East Belfast! Named for the nearby street – made famous by the Van Morrison song of the same name – Cyprus Avenue offers a full vegan menu, which always makes me super happy! The red lentil dahl is a true delight, if you ask me. Oh, and for you early birds, they also offer vegan breakfast dishes.
General Merchants
481 Upper Newtownards Road & 361 Ormeau Road
As an Australian, I’m naturally drawn to General Merchants. The antipodean-inspired restaurant just gets me. I mostly visit GM for breakfast, but I hear the dinners are just as delightful. No matter what time you visit, you’ll always find a thoroughly delicious vegan option – let me just give a little shout out to their next-level mushrooms on toast! *heart eyes emoji*
Kaffe-O
Donegall Square North; Botanic Ave; Ormeau Road
If you find yourself looking for somewhere to grab a quick coffee, the nordic-inspired Kaffe-O is the place. They have a range of plant-based milks available (including Oatly!) as well as some vegan treats such as brownies. They have two cafes (Ormeau Road and Botanic Avenue), but you’ll also spot a little hole in the wall right opposite City Hall – at Donegall Square North – where they serve takeaway.
Do you have any other recommendations to add to this list? Tell me in the comments!
