The best vegetarian restaurants in the world

• Café Gratitude in Los Angeles, USA
• Cookies Cream in Berlin, Germany
• Hiltl in Zurich, Switzerland
• LockCha Tea House in Hong Kong
• Vegie Bar in Melbourne, Australia
• Teresa Carles in Barcelona, Spain
• Terre à Terre in Brighton, UK
• Plant Food and Wine in Los Angeles, USA
• Paradiso in Cork, Ireland
• Tian in Vienna, Austria
• Mildreds Soho in London, UK
• Joia in Milan, Italy
• Plant in Cape Town, South Africa
• Spirit in Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Millennium in San Francisco, USA
• Avatara in Dubai, UAE
• Ark in Copenhagen, Denmark
• Avelo in Toronto, Canada
• Buenos Aires Verde in Buenos Aires, Argentina

If the buzz of plant-based meals is any indication, meat-free eating is more popular than ever before. With as many as 1.5 billion vegetarians estimated worldwide, more and more omnivores are turning fully veggie due to a mix of environmental concerns, health implications, and ethical reasons. What’s more, eating vegetarian—or even vegan—is easier today than it ever was before. Take a look at some of these tasty, award-winning herbivore restaurants to see how tantalizing vegetables can really be!

Café Gratitude in Los Angeles, USA

For California foodies in the know, Café Gratitude is the place to go for plant-based dining. With five locations in the state, Café Gratitude brings locally sourced vegan meals, and plenty of gluten-free options, to Californians’ plates. With the ethos that food is medicine, this restaurant serves up such delectable-sounding treats as the “I Am Fortunate” shiitake mushroom tartine, and the “I Am Glorious” blackened tempeh Caesar wrap.

Cookies Cream in Berlin, Germany

This hard-to-find restaurant kick-started modern vegetarian and vegan fine dining in Germany back in 2007, and in 2018 Cookies Cream was awarded a Michelin star. And it’s no wonder, with their tasting menu which features six to seven courses of scrumptious-sounding plant-based dishes presented for that enviable “wow” factor.

Hiltl in Zurich, Switzerland

Not only is this Swiss restaurant a European culinary favourite, it is also the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world. Hiltl in Zurich opened in 1898 and has remained a beloved vegetarian institution since. Featuring a 100-dish buffet, Hiltl dishes up Mediterranean-, Asian-, Indian- and Swiss-influenced veggie meals in a bright and airy space that is nearly always buzzing with activity.

LockCha Tea House in Hong Kong

The place to go to pair amazing tea with all-vegetarian dim sum is LockCha Tea House in Hong Kong. Opened in 1991 as a teahouse known for its quality Chinese teas, the flagship teahouse is now serving up a curation of 100-plus teas and freshly made dim sum in an oasis-like setting.

Vegie Bar in Melbourne, Australia

Established in 1988, Vegie Bar has become an iconic destination in Melbourne. Offering vegetarian and vegan dishes with a predilection for organic and local produce, the funky Vegie Bar has a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The eclectic menu showcases everything from pizzas to dahl, tacos, and pad thai, proving that nearly everyone will find something that fits their taste.

Teresa Carles in Barcelona, Spain

One of the most popular vegetarian restaurants in Spain, Teresa Carles is a mainstay destination. It opened in 1979 featuring Catalan-inspired cuisine and now has grown to 140 employees and three other sister locations.

Terre à Terre in Brighton, UK

Serving up unique and creative dishes, Terre à Terre is a pioneer in vegetarian fare in Britain. Opened in 1993, it is still one of the most successful and exciting vegetarian and vegan restaurants in not only Brighton, but all of Britain. With their focus on creativity, ethical sourcing of ingredients, and minimizing food waste, it’s no wonder that Terre à Terre is a mecca for the veg-loving crowd.

Plant Food and Wine in Los Angeles, USA

This restaurant in L.A. is a fully vegan eatery with an ever-evolving menu. Featuring such delicious-sounding items as harissa cauliflower and tempeh & root vegetable pie, Plant Food and Wine dishes up something for even the most sophisticated California palate. They also offer gluten-free, nut-free and soy-free options!

Paradiso in Cork, Ireland

Most people think of corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes when they think of Irish food. Well, Paradiso in Cork, Ireland, with their vegetable-forward menu, is quickly changing that stereotype. Opened in 1993, Paradiso serves up a menu of small plates built for sharing featuring nine savoury dishes each focused on a seasonal vegetable. This iconic Irish institution was refurbished in 2009 but has retained the charm and culinary talent that has earned them international acclaim.

Tian in Vienna, Austria

This Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant serves up eight courses meant to surprise and delight patrons. Tian in Vienna has a fondness for rare and almost forgotten vegetables, such as robuschka (a type of beet), and incorporates them in interesting organic-focused dishes.

Mildreds Soho in London, UK

This popular fixture in Soho is a fully plant-based and internationally inspired restaurant. With a flair for colourful and quirky meals, Mildreds, which opened in 1988, is nestled in an 18^th-century townhouse. But their dishes, which feature such offers as a goji quinoa bowl and Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, is anything but dated.

Joia in Milan, Italy

The first European vegetarian restaurant to receive a Michelin star, and still the only one in Italy with a star, is Joia in Milan. Opened in 1996, this elegant space offers an à-la-carte menu with three types of tastings.

Plant in Cape Town, South Africa

From its humble beginnings in 2013, Plant has always maintained the principles of living a compassionate lifestyle without hurting animals. Plant was one of Cape Town’s first vegan cafés and is still going strong, serving up for South Africans everything from crepes to dim sum to plant burgers in a lovely bright café.

Spirit in Rotterdam, Netherlands

A buffet restaurant, Spirit, is one of the best fully plant-based restaurants in the Netherlands. Serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it boasts a menu that is completely organic and vegetarian. There’s an eclectic variety of dishes on offer, including chickpea soup, banana pancakes, and sweet potato tempura.

Millennium in San Francisco, USA

Since 1994, this 100% vegan restaurant has been serving up a constantly changing menu that is not only gourmet and sophisticated but also local, sustainable, and creative. Millennium in San Francisco is a rustic yet modern space with an entirely dairy-free dessert menu. So try the grilled king trumpet mushroom with cashew butter, the pumpkin curry, or bay leaf crème brûlée while you still can!

Acorn is an award-winning plant-forward restaurant in the heart of Vancouver. Catering to vegan and gluten-free diners, this funky destination focuses on local sustainable ingredients and fostering close relationships with area farmers and foragers. Be sure to try the cavatelli with porcini and ricotta, or the beer-battered halloumi!

Avatara in Dubai, UAE

Dubai’s first and only all-vegetarian restaurant, Avatara, is focused on Indian dishes sourced locally. There’s a 15-course tasting menu with dishes that each tell a story, such as turnip steak with chili curry and jackfruit momos.

Ark in Copenhagen, Denmark

This Michelin Green Star restaurant brings a depth of flavour to the Danish streets. Ark in Copenhagen creates a seasonal menu that makes local mushrooms shine with rich flavour. This vegetarian restaurant believes in saving the planet through plant-based eating.

Avelo in Toronto, Canada

Avelo is at the epicentre of the vegetarian scene in Canada’s largest city. This fully herbivore restaurant is nestled in a Victorian heritage building in downtown Toronto and offers patrons a non-traditional menu centred around plants. At Avelo, diners are served a five- or eight-course menu featuring delicate dishes and plenty of surprises—you don’t know what each course is until it’s served!

Buenos Aires Verde in Buenos Aires, Argentina

In a country that is known for meat-heavy dishes, Buenos Aires Verde curates an organic, all-vegetarian menu which includes raw options. Adventurous diners can try a raw lasagna with cashew cheese or a quinoa and millet seed burger. Argentinians will leave Buenos Aires Verde not even missing the meat!