Here's where to find vegan food in Newcastle
Plant-based eating has become far more popular in recent years, and the Newcastle dining scene has taken notice. Gone are the days where the only vegan options on the menu were a bowl of chips or a boring salad. Now, there are so many places to eat that have a substantial vegan offering.
Here's our guide to the best spots for vegan food in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, from cafes to restaurants and pubs.
Cafes
Expect vegan smoothies, acai bowls, and more wholesome goodness on the menu at Akuna Cafe in Merewether. Perch yourself on a table outside and soak up the sunshine while you enjoy your vegan goodies.
Where: 40 Patrick St, Merewether
While the menu at Autumn Rooms changes regularly, you can always expect to find a number of vegan options. At the moment, the spiced granola bowl is a must-try.
Where: 127 Darby St, Cooks Hill
Head on over to Carrington to visit Cafe Inu and check out their dedicated vegan menu.
Where: 43 Denison St, Carrington
This Merewether local has a decent plant-based offering on its menu and with a location a short stroll from the beach, it’s a favourite in Newcastle.
Where: Shop 1/88 Mitchell St, Merewether
The Junction’s doughnut spot is home to some of the most epic sweet creations, and the vegans are well looked after with their current vegan pump up the jam doughnut.
Where: Shop 17/200 Union St, The Junction
Estabar is a local favourite, right across the road from Newcastle Beach. The menu changes up pretty frequently, but you can usually expect a few vegan options. We love the creative use of local ingredients and house-made items like labna.
Where: 61 Shortland Esp, Newcastle
Equium Social has stacks of vegan options on the menu, and plenty of its non-vegan menu items can be made vegan on request. The menu is focused on crafting creative dishes with seasonal produce, and it never disappoints.
Where: 1-5 Maitland Rd, Mayfield
This harbourside coffee spot serves up a collection of in-house vegan pastries, sweets, and gelatos (which make for delicious vegan shakes and smoothies), as well as a selection of vegan pastries from Oh My Days. They also boast a vegan banh mi, vegan toasties, and vegan poke bowls.
Where: 292 Wharf Rd, Newcastle
Could food that is sugar free, dairy free, gluten free, vegan, paleo-proof, organic, and nutritious taste delicious? Well, take a visit to Mama P in Charlestown and you'll discover for yourself that it's possible.
Where: 142 Pacific Hwy, Charlestown
Mockingbird is known for its creative takes on classic breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes, so you can expect the same from its vegan menu items.
Where: 131 Beaumont St, Hamilton
This light-drenched inner-city cafe is a favourite for nourishing, plant-based food. Pretty much everything on the menu is vegan – keep an eye out for its delicious weekly specials too.
Where: 227 Hunter St, Newcastle
Slingtown is a local institution, and for good reason. Formerly known as Suspension, this cafe has stood the test of time due to its quality coffee and delicious food. The menu changes often, but you should always be able to find a few vegan options on the menu.
Where: 3 Beaumont St, Islington
This cafe in The Junction never disappoints with its cosy indoor and outdoor settings, good old-fashioned quality service, and a good spread of vegan options.
Where: 52 Glebe Rd, The Junction
This community-minded cafe is a lovely spot in quiet Blacksmiths and serves up a delicious wholefood plant-based menu.
Where: 6 Mitti St, Blacksmiths
Villa Lane Cafe has a large selection of acai bowls, nearly all of which are vegan. What better way to soak up all Redhead has to offer than grabbing an acai bowl and devouring it at Redhead Beach.
Where: 105 Cowlishaw St, Redhead
Pubs and restaurants
In the heart of Newcastle West, you’ll find authentic Mexican street food with two vegan fillings available on the menu – fajita (capsicum, spinach, potato, and onion) and Soyrizo (tofu mince).
Where: 11 Steel St, Newcastle West
Authentic Thai takeaway with a whole dedicated vegan menu? Yes, please! You'll find Bangkok on Darby towards the Hunter Street end of town, bursting with colour and flavour. There are also plenty of gluten-free options available.
Where: 9 Darby St, Newcastle
Serving Italian soul food in the heart of Newcastle, Bella Italia’s extensive vegan menu is a must for those chasing an authentic Italian feast. Entrees, pizza, pasta, and desserts are all done vegan, so this menu will leave you spoilt for choice.
Where: 545 Hunter St, Newcastle
Ginger Meg's delicious pan-Asian menu can be enjoyed by everyone, with plenty of vegan options available.
Where: 212 King St, Newcastle
HUMBUG serves up Italian-inspired fare with an Asian twist, and it's some of the most interesting food on the Newcastle dining scene. The restaurant has a dedicated vegan menu that's just as good as its omnivorous offering (please note, vegan menu is only available on request with prior notice).
Where: 87-89 Hunter St, Newcastle
The Kingfish might be a seafood restaurant, but did you know they have vegan options too? Not only does The Kingfish have vegan phish and chips but there's even a vegan basket for two that includes salt & pepper squid, tempura prawns, battered phish, butter lettuce, hand-cut chips, vegan tartare, and tahini dressing.
Where: Unit 19/15-17 Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle
Located at the University of Newcastle, Kumache serves up South American street-food that's full of flavour. The best part? The majority of the menu is plant-based.
Where: Shipping Container 2, Drama Lawn, University of Newcastle, Callaghan Campus
Settle in for an Asian feast at Light Years Asian Diner on Darby Street. The menu is designed for sharing, and thankfully there's a stack of vegan options like miso caramel eggplant, wild truffled mushroom dumplings, and cumin-spiced cauliflower.
Where: 5-7 Darby St, Newcastle
Vegan pizza can be tough to get right. Luckily, the pizza whizzes at Masa Madre have made it their mission to create vegan pizza that actually tastes like pizza, resulting in three vegan options on the menu.
Where: 40 Railway St, Wickham
MEET may be known for its Brazilian meat, but its Churrasco feast is available for vegetarians and vegans too. Who said plant-based eaters had to miss out on all the fun?
Where: 9 Darby St, Newcastle
Joining the vegan pub gang is The Nags Head Hotel in Adamstown. This menu is a bit of a hidden gem outside of Newcastle's CBD but definitely worth checking out. The vegan menu is separate from the main dinner and lunch menus, so be sure to ask for a vegan menu on arrival.
Where: 272 Brunker Road, Adamstown
This popular East End Asian restaurant has a decent vegan offering, with dishes like turmeric cauliflower tempura, cabbage and shiitake dumplings, and pumpkin yellow curry all being vegan.
Where: 169 Hunter St, Newcastle
RASCAL is known for serving up American-style burgers at its Newcastle and Charlestown burger joints. With several vegan burgers on the menu, those eating plant-based won't have to miss out on all that finger lickin' goodness.
Where: Ground Floor 1/266 King St, Newcastle | Level 02, Shop 2000, The Corner Precinct, Charlestown Square
Most vegans know that finding ramen without meat, either on top or in the broth, can be a struggle. Not any longer – Susuru offers a vegan shoyu ramen, plus other options like their vegan bento box and vegan gyoza.
Where: 140 King St, Newcastle
Vego’s
Newy’s first and only vegetarian fast-food outlet has a whole range of vegan options that will undoubtedly satisfy those Saturday arvo burger and chippy cravings.
Where: 82 Maitland Rd, Islington
Wests Bistro's
Across each of Wests 5 Clubs you can try their $14.90 Seasonal Savvy Savers meals which also feature their plant-based options such as the plant based burger and chips or plant based crumbed schnitzel, chips, and salad, available Monday to Thursday lunch and dinner. (Full Members Only)
Where: Wests New Lambton (The Bistro) | Wests Nelson Bay (Bay Brasserie) | Wests Cardiff (The Kitchen) | Wests Mayfield (Cast Iron Kitchen) | Wests City (32 Degrees South).
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