UK: Bristol's vegan foodie spots based on vegan and non-vegan reviewers

From bristolpost.co.uk

Some of the best vegan and veggie foodie spots we've visited - and more on our list this Veganuary

For many, January epitomises healthy eating, detoxes, diets and new starts. One popular pastime nowadays stems around the month of Veganuary, where people dedicate an entire month to eating plant-based produce - and fortunately for those of us here in Bristol taking on the challenge (or reward depending on your preferences) there's plenty of vegan restaurants and cafes in the city to enjoy.

And this comes almost a year after BristolLive reported that the 12 months prior had seen a vast number of incredibly popular vegan cafe and restaurant venues close their doors for good. So it just goes to show that the need for vegan and plant-based eateries is still there.

We've compiled a list of some of those we've visited, and some our readers - both vegan and non vegan - have enjoyed recently...

Koocha Mezze

Where is it: 203B Cheltenham Road, BS6 5QX

You may have spotted the Koocha Mezze Bar building on Cheltenham Road - a teal blue colour with flowers and leopards/cheetahs painted as a mural on its frontage. Opening back in 2018, Koocha Mezze serves up a menu of Persian and Middle Eastern cooking, all made with plant-based ingredients that both vegans and non-vegans can enjoy.

The idea behind this venue is that guests can eat, drink and socialise without having to review each and every detail on the menu, making for a more stress-free experience. What's more, Koocha Mezze Bar also has a menu of signature cocktails and mocktails inspired by the Middle East, as well as gins, beers, ciders, wines, and soft drinks, too.

During our visit in 2024, one BristolLive reporter described it as being "truly unique" adding: "It may not be the cheapest vegan place around but the unique dishes have been put together with care and attention and the friendly service and comfortable interior makes it a pleasant experience for all."

East Village Cafe

                                            East Village Cafe in Clifton(Image: East Village Cafe/Instagram)

Where is it: Boyce's Avenue, Clifton, BS8 4AA

Situated in the heart of Clifton Village, East Village Cafe is a family owned plant-based cafe that serves up a selection of sandwiches, pastries, and homemade cakes. There's also a wide range of seasonal drinks, iced coffees, smoothies, natural rainbow lattes, teas, and coffee from Stokes Croft's Triple Co Roast.

Everything on the menu is 100 per cent plant-based. There's even a vegan chocolate range, and a selection of eco-friendly homeware and gifts to peruse. What's more, you can bring your well-behaved dog with you to the cafe, to enjoy what's on offer together.

Google reviewers have described it recently by saying: "Cute plant based cafe bursting with life, atmosphere, energy. Very busy place but didn't wait too long for a table and the service was prompt given how busy it was. Nice shop indoors too. Recommend the mushrooms on toast!"

A second added: "My only complaint is that they need more seating because people love it so much that there is never anywhere to sit! Food and drinks are all plant based and everything is delicious."

VX Bristol

Where is it: 123 East Street, Bedminster, BS3 4ER

Described as a 'vegan junk food, coffee and grocery shop' in Bedminster, VX claims to be the first 100 per cent vegan boutique in the UK, the first outlet to stock many of the biggest vegan brands and import many new products, the first all-vegan clothing line in the UK, and the first chain of vegan shops in the country. VX offers a full junk food menu, which features two sizes of kebabs, burgers and more, plus, an array of vegan cheeses, and indulgent French patisserie, too.

One non-vegan BristolLive reporter visiting in 2024 said: "Vx, which is open from Tuesday to Sunday, is a quirky but chilled place to be. The mix of a convenience store, clothes store and a cafe provides a refreshing experience away from the mundane eatery. The menu is positioned above the till area so it was easy to work out what I fancied. So far, so good.

"I really have to praise the staff at Vx for not only being so friendly but being so fast as well to prepare everything. I don’t even think I was sat down for five minutes when the milkshake and the mac and cheese came out.

"The most astonishing thing was that at no point would I have known that everything I consumed was vegan. The milkshake tasted amazing, the mac and cheese was filling and could resemble a tasty side in a restaurant (both worth every penny), suddenly the tag of it being vegan food and drink just felt irrelevant - it is a great meal. End of.

"Vx Bristol is proud to be a vegan shop, it showcases being vegan everywhere you look, and the idea of vegan junk food creates a wonderful experience for all, vegan or not. The food and drink can also be served to go and it has a great range of options, including breakfasts, burgers, burritos and hot drinks which you’d find at any café.

Cafe Kino

Where is it: 108 Stokes Croft, St Paul's, Bristol, BS1 3RU

This vibrant non-profit vegan cafe-bar and community meeting place found itself launching a Crowdfunder in order to save it from closure in 2024 following the pandemic's aftermath, rising costs and mounting debts - but it is, at time of writing, still standing. And it's no surprise when you read that in 2022, when BristolLive visited, describing it by saying: "I approach vegan breakfasts with as much enthusiasm as I would a trip to the dentist but the one served at Cafe Kino was a revelation.

"Best of all, I didn’t have that usual heavy feeling after eating a ‘proper’ full English so I can see the benefits. Okay, it’s quite not enough to turn a committed carnivore like myself into a vegan evangelist - or should that be ‘vegangelist’? - but if there is a better meat and dairy-free breakfast in Bristol at the moment, I’d like to hear about it."

                      Cafe Kino on Stokes Croft occupies the site of a Victorian butchers and provisions store(Image: Bristol Live)

More recently, this former butchers and grocers site has been described by diners as: "Excellent vegan food - my favourites are the bean burger and curly fries, English breakfast, and their cakes. Non-vegan friends enjoy it here too and have suggested it. Servers are generally friendly. I have also enjoyed events here downstairs in the past."

Root

Where is it: Unit 9 Cargo 1, Gaol Ferry Steps, BS1 6WP

Sister restaurant to Root in Wells, and part of The Pony Group (think The Pony Chew Valley's Josh Eggleton), Root at Wapping Wharf's Cargo development is described as being a "modern, veg-led" restaurant serving up sharing plates on the banks of Bristol's historic harbour.

Opening back in 2017, owners Josh Eggleton and Luke Hasell (of Story Butchers and Valleyfest) wanted to create a 'forward-thinking' restaurant that 'championed local suppliers and producers', and led with a 'more veg, less meat' ethos.

One Google reviewer said: "Ate here on a sunny Monday evening. Busy and buzzy. What an amazing place! I'm happy to eat anything, but have a strong preference for vegetable based dishes. I'm not vegan and I'm not vegetarian. Didn't know there was a name for it, and now there is: Root! Terrific food, lovely service and such a relaxed vibe. I will remember this place for a long time. Lucky Bristol!"

Oowee Vegan

Where is it: 65 Baldwin Street, BS1 1QZ

While the original Oowee Diner restaurant on Picton Street venue in Montpelier, described by the team behind the Oowee brand as 'the place where it all began', shut for good in September, the 'original' Oowee vegan branch on Baldwin Street remains. Dubbed 'an easy-going stop for plant-based vegan fast food', reviewers have said: "Food was incredible! There's not enough vegan fast-food places about, but Oowee definitely shows why we need more."

                                                                    Oowee Vegan(Image: Publicity pic)

Another said: "Regularly order from here and it's always amazing, even my non-vegan partner loves the burgers and Mac and cheese. " And a third wrote: "Wow, I mean wow. As an Australian, I keep gaslighting myself when I walk into vegan venues. Oowee Vegan Baldwin was exceptional.. The menu was so comprehensive and inclusive."

Eat a Pitta

Where is it: St Nick's Market (BS1 1LJ), Broadmead (BS1 3EA), Gloucester Road (BS7 8AD), Clifton Village (BS8 4BX) and Queens Road (BS8 1QE)

Some reviewers have even gone so far as to say that Eat a Pitta does the best falafels in the city, but whatever your thoughts it is safe to say that this name has plenty to offer the vegan palate. Founder Dan developed the 'perfect' falafel recipe from his grandma Yolande's kitchen, bringing it to St Nicholas Market with the help of The Princes Trust, back in 2011.

                                                       Eat a Pitta at St Nicholas Market(Image: James Beck/Freelance)

One review online reads: "As the title suggest I've eaten at Eat A Pitta many, many times... St. Nicks, Gloucester Road, Broadmead and Park Street - so that says something in itself about how good I think it is. In fact I created Falafel Friday in our office - which occasionally changes day but nobody's perfect. So top line is it's great. Go there."

VeBurger

Where is it: Unit 22, Cargo 2, Museum Street, Bristol, BS1 6ZA & 105 Whiteladies Road, Redland, BS8 2PB

VeBurger initially opened a Bristol branch in January 2022 and has since opened more branches at Wapping Wharf and Whiteladies Road, with a simple vision to bring 'delicious, affordable plant-based food that tastes just like the classics'. The 100 per cent plant-based menu here aims to 'deliver all the flavour without compromise'.

Recent online reviews include one which says: "Very decent food, best vegan burger I've had. As a quick summary, price is on the costlier side but no different than other burger places I've been to, food was overall very good and a quality replacement for both beef and dairy products, and the location was interesting but good.

"To start, I'm not a vegetarian exactly. However I am looking to cut meat out during my day-to-day eating and leave the meat for special occasions. I also love greasy food and have been craving a good burger for a while. Overall, I enjoyed it thoroughly, and plan to return sooner rather than later."

Honest Burgers

Where is it: Unit SU71, Glass Walk, Cabot Circus, Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3BQ and 21, off Clare St, Corn St, Bristol BS1 1XA

BristolLive recently reported that Honest Burgers would be opening at The Mall Cribbs Causeway in early 2026 - marking its third venue in the city/region. Predominantly located in London, and founded in Briston in 2011, it serves up a menu of beef burgers, smashed burgers, halal chicken burgers, vegetarian and plant-based vegan burgers, alongside its own homemade rosemary salted chips and beers from local breweries.

One review said: "Went on a Saturday at about 6pm without booking, service was pretty quick, staff super friendly and not awkward about dietary restrictions. Amazing plant (beyond) burger with la vie bacon and the fries were fantastic too. Really generous portions! Opted for no bun although gluten free was available just out of preference."

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/bristols-vegan-foodie-spots-based-10740541

Meera Sodha’s vegan recipe for roast swede and purple sprouting broccoli curry

From theguardian.com

Earthy, sweet swede soaks up a curry sauce like a champion, and this ginger, tomato and coconut number is no exception 

As a day-in-day-out home cook, there is no more welcome tool in my dinner toolbox than a bung-it-in-the-oven dish. A second necessary tool in the month of January is the ability to dispose of or transform a swede into an evening meal. For the uninitiated, when roasted, the swede, that pretty, purple-creamed, dense little ball, is part-creamy, part carrot-like in nature, and earthy and sweet in flavour. It also takes to big-flavoured sauces such as this tomato, ginger and coconut curry like a chip to vinegar and couples up well with its seasonal pal, fresh, crunchy purple sprouting broccoli.

 Photograph: Louise Hagger/The Guardian. Food styling: Emily Kydd. Prop styling: Jennifer Kay. Food styling assistant: Eden Owen-Jones

Roast swede and purple sprouting broccoli curry

I use Mutti tomatoes, which are very finely chopped and which transform into a sauce much quicker than general chopped tomatoes. Other brands are available, of course, and may label their finely chopped tomatoes as rustic pomodoro.

Prep 15 min
Cook 1 hr 10 min
Serves 4

2 medium swedes (or 1 large swede; 1.2kg), peeled, halved and cut into wedges of 2cm at their widest point
Rapeseed oil
2 tsp fine sea salt
1 large onion (or 2 medium ones), peeled and finely sliced
6 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
6cm x 2cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and very finely chopped (45g)
1½ tsp kashmiri chilli powder
1 tsp ground turmeric
400g tin finely chopped tomatoes, or rustic pomodoro
2 400ml tins coconut milk
400g sprouting broccoli, florets kept whole, the rest cut into 2cm pieces
20g bunch Thai basil, leaves picked
Rice or flatbreads, to serve

Heat the oven to 220C (200C fan)/425F/gas 7. Toss the swede wedges with three tablespoons of oil and three-quarters of a teaspoon of salt, then spread out on an oven tray and roast for 35-45 minutes, turning once halfway, until soft, tender and golden at the edges. Remove, and leave the oven on.

While the swede is roasting, put four tablespoons of oil in a wide, ovenproof frying pan on a medium heat and, when hot, add the onion and one and a quarter teaspoons of salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is soft and turning golden brown, then stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for another two minutes. Add the kashmiri chilli and turmeric, then tip in the tinned tomatoes and coconut milk, cook for 10 minutes more, and take off the heat.

Add the broccoli and roast swede to the curry sauce, stir to coat, then pop the pan in the oven for 15 minutes, until the broccoli is tender and everything is well coated in the sauce.

Finely slice the Thai basil leaves, fold half of them into the curry, then scatter the rest over the top. Serve warm with rice or flatbreads.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/jan/10/vegan-roast-swede-purple-sprouting-broccoli-curry-recipe-meera-sodha

What Really Happens When You Go Plant-Based

From plantbasednews.org

Science suggests the benefits of a plant-based diet don’t take months to appear, they can begin within hours of the very first meal 

Most people assume dietary change takes months or even years to make a difference. But research suggests the body can respond far sooner than that. Scientists now show that many of the benefits of a plant-based diet can begin within hours of the very first meal, affecting inflammation, blood sugar control, and circulation almost immediately.

Plant Based Science London, known for its YouTube channel, recently explored this timeline in a video that breaks down what happens to the body after one hour, one day, one week, and beyond. The channel focuses on compressing complex nutrition research into accessible, evidence-based videos, often highlighting findings from peer-reviewed studies and leading plant-based physicians.

Drawing from medical literature and real-world research, the video outlines how a whole-food, plant-based diet can impact inflammation, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, heart disease, and even sexual function. Here is what the science shows.

Within one to two hours

            Fibre-rich fruits and veggies can help lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar within weeks - Media Credit: Adobe Stock

One of the fastest changes occurs at the level of inflammation. The video highlights a pro-inflammatory signalling molecule called interleukin-18, or IL-18, which plays a role in destabilizing atherosclerotic plaques and is a strong predictor of cardiovascular death.

“In this study, interleukin-18 levels of inflammation in the body changed after a single meal,” the narrator says. “Participants who ate the plant-based meal had around a 20% drop in IL-18 levels within hours.”

Fibre-rich plant foods also help stabilize blood sugar. By slowing glucose absorption, they reduce insulin spikes and help the body release insulin more effectively after meals.

Dr. Hana Kahleova of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine explains just how quickly this can matter for people with diabetes. “Within a few days of starting a whole-food, plant-based diet, you may be able to significantly reduce your insulin dose or medication,” she says.

Studies comparing plant-based meals with meat-based meals in people with type 2 diabetes show greater insulin secretion, higher levels of GLP-1, and improved beta-cell function after the vegan meal.

Within one to two weeks

Cholesterol levels can shift rapidly when animal products are removed. In The Game Changers documentary, firefighters who ate only plant foods for one week saw clear reductions in cholesterol.

Cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn explains why this happens so quickly. “A total immersion into a whole-food plant diet can result in a rapid drop in your total cholesterol as much as 100 mg/dl,” he says.

Because these changes can be dramatic, experts recommend making dietary changes under medical supervision, especially for those taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Blood pressure often improves within days. Dr. Kahn notes, “A single week of eating a totally plant diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes can often reduce blood pressure by 10 mmHg or more and allow medications to be reduced.”

In one study highlighted in the video, participants saw average blood pressure drops of 19 points after just 14 days.

Weight loss often follows. PCRM research shows average weight loss of about one pound per week on a whole-food, plant-based diet. Dr. Kahleova adds, “That means that after one year, you could be some 52 pounds lighter, with only one change.”

Within two to eight weeks

Media Credit: Adobe StockPrepping a whole-food, plant-based meal can trigger rapid health benefits, including a significant reduction in inflammation within just hours

Heart disease-related chest pain, known as angina, is often linked to restricted blood flow. According to the video, symptoms can begin easing within weeks of switching diets.

Dr. Kahn says patients have reversed heart disease symptoms in as little as three weeks. “You can experience rapid, profound changes, including angina symptoms dropping by as much as 90 percent,” he says.

These improvements reflect better endothelial function and increased blood flow as artery-clogging foods are removed.

Red meat and egg yolks increase production of TMAO, a gut-derived compound linked to cardiovascular disease. Dr. Kahn explains, “TMAO promotes clogged arteries, organ scarring, and blood clotting and predicts a worrisome outcome in many disease states.”

Research shows that switching to a whole-food, plant-based diet can normalize elevated TMAO levels in as little as four weeks.

Within six weeks

Sexual dysfunction is often an early sign of vascular disease. As circulation improves, sexual function can improve as well.

The video references the well-known experiments from The Game Changers, where participants experienced improved erections after plant-based meals. Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn says improvement can occur “anywhere from one to six weeks.”

The same circulatory benefits may apply to women, as atherosclerosis also restricts blood flow to pelvic arteries.

Within one year

Over time, a whole-food, plant-based diet may stop the progression of atherosclerosis. The research cited shows that artery hardening can be halted, and in many cases partially reversed, as blood vessels regain flexibility and narrowing begins to open.

Taken together, these findings help explain the long-term benefits of a plant-based diet, from metabolic health to cardiovascular function. According to Plant Based Science London, the body does not wait months to respond. For many people, meaningful changes begin far sooner than expected.

For more plant-based health and nutrition content, visit Plant Based Science London’s YouTube channel.

https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/food/what-happens-when-you-go-plant-based/

‘We were as stuffed as the dumplings’: a tour of Warsaw’s top vegan restaurants

From theguardian.com

By Rachel Dixon

Poland’s capital is now rated above cities like San Francisco and Copenhagen for its vegan options. We sample plant-based schnitzel, ramen and, of course, pierogi

Pinny on, hands dusted with flour, I rolled out dough, cut it into circles, added a spoonful of filling and sealed it into little parcels. I was getting stuck into a dumpling cooking class in one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world. Making gyoza in Tokyo, perhaps? Wontons in Singapore? Potstickers in Taipei?

In fact, I was preparing pierogi in Warsaw. Friends who associate Polish cuisine with stews and sausages were surprised to hear it, but vegan food has proliferated across the country over the past 20 years. Happy Cow, the veteran vegan restaurant guide, now consistently ranks Warsaw in its top cities globally – last year it was in 11th place, ahead of Bangkok, San Francisco and Copenhagen.

Food for thought: ‘Warsaw has 34 vegan restaurants, rising to 80 if you include vegetarian restaurants with vegan options.’ Photograph: Krivinis/Getty Images

Poland may be best known for its meat dishes, but fungi and vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage, beetroot and cucumbers have long been central to its food culture. Agnieszka Skrodzka, a Warsaw tour guide specialising in plant-based food, says it is far easier to avoid meat than mushrooms – as she found out when she recently developed a mushroom allergy. As Karol Adamiak, a chef from Warsaw, wrote in the Guardian last year: “Veganism represents a return to Poland’s peasant roots, and a more conscious and healthy way of eating.”

I was inspired to visit Poland after I wrote about holidaying as a vegan last summer, and several readers recommended the country. One sang the praises of Gdańsk, and I was also tempted by Kraków, but Happy Cow’s findings were hard to argue with: Warsaw has an impressive 34 vegan restaurants, rising to 80 if you include vegetarian restaurants with vegan options, and another 200-odd “vegan-friendly” places.

                                               Peerless pierogi, the dumpling that is emblematic of Polish cuisine

Challenge accepted: my sister and I set about eating as much as humanly possible in three days. We started with vegan versions of traditional Polish dishes, including huge plates of pierogi with spinach and tofu (£7) and potato pancakes with crispy oyster mushrooms (£8) at Vege Miasto, the oldest vegan restaurant in the city. Comfort food such as soy schnitzel with mash and beetroot (£8) at Veganda, and Silesian potato dumplings with soy meat, gravy and fried onions (£8) at Lokal Vegan Bistro, helped us cope with the bitter cold of a Warsaw winter.

Then we went global. First, a colourful meze platter for two (£17.50) at Falla, a Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant that also has branches in Gdynia, Poznań, Wrocław and Katowice. Next, brimming bowls of noodle soup (£10) at Vegan Ramen Shop, which has three outlets across the city. Our favourite variety was the tan-tan men: a creamy, spicy broth made from tahini, chilli oil, black vinegar and Sichuan peppercorns. We also scoffed a mound of spaghetti “carbonara” with vegan bacon and artichokes (£8) at Lokal, and a classic crispy tofu burger (£9) at Veganda. Finally, we squeezed in brunch at Bistro Jaskółka – I sampled shakshuka with tofu scramble and my sister heroically worked her way through the fry-up (both about £7).

There were many other highly recommended restaurants we simply couldn’t fit in, either due to our schedule or our bellies – I was particularly disappointed not to try a platter of plant-based sushi at Vegan Sushi Bar.

Even our hotel, Puro Stare Miasto, had three vegan dishes on the à la carte breakfast menu; I loved the porridge with forest fruit compote, olive oil and herbs. This Scandi-style hotel group (at Polish prices) has branches in Warsaw, Gdańsk, Kraków, Łódź, Poznań and Wrocław, plus Budapest and Prague.

                                      No beef with this: Silesian potato dumplings at Lokal Vegan Bistro. Photograph: Rachel Dixon

To work up an appetite for our next meal, which was never far away, we walked all over the city: through the charming Old and New Towns, along the Royal Route, up to the 30th-floor viewing platform of the Stalinist Palace of Culture and Science (in the lift, admittedly), and around lovely Royal Łazienki Park. We visited some revitalised former industrial spaces, such as the Norblin Factory and the Warsaw Brewery, now full of cafes, restaurants and shops. At the Museum of Modern Art, we saw a fascinating exhibition called The Woman Question, featuring 150 female artists from Artemisia Gentileschi to Cindy Sherman (until 3 May).

And, of course, we learned to make our own pierogi. Pierogi & More runs cooking classes that cater to all; our group consisted of us two vegans, three vegetarians and five meat-eaters. We all made a simple flour and water dough, then added our own fillings: the vegan ones contained mashed potato and beans, and chickpeas and lentils, with various herbs and spices. The most challenging part, and the most satisfying, was attempting different ways of sealing and folding them. We started with classic half-moons with crimped edges, and moved on to more complex shapes, such as mini cornish pasties with a pleated “crust”, and ring-shaped tortellini.

The only potential downside was the communal taste-test afterwards: as every vegan knows, everyone wants to try yours, but you can’t try theirs. In our case, it was for the best: this was just elevenses and we had lunch scheduled afterwards. The couple of pierogi I did gulp down, topped with slow-cooked onions, were delicious.

Is Warsaw really one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world? In my brief experience, yes – and I live in the top-ranked city (London) and have visited seven of the top 10. The food is also far more affordable than in most of the other highly rated cities.

By the end of our vegan eating odyssey, much like the dumplings, we were stuffed. But in for a penny … We grabbed a takeout box of pastries from Baja, a vegan patisserie, to sustain us on the journey home. It turns out there’s always room for a Lotus Biscoff doughnut.

The trip was provided by the Warsaw Tourism Office. Doubles at Puro Stare Miasto from about £85 (413 złoty)

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/jan/09/warsaw-poland-vegan-restaurants-foodie-city-break