Pictured: Ther Gator Club
Adelaide’s vegan dining scene has come a long way from the days of limp salads and one lonely plant-based option tucked at the bottom of a menu.
From loaded yiros and American-style burgers to buttery pastries, Thai street food, handmade pasta and refined degustation menus, the city’s vegan and vegan-friendly venues are proving there’s far more to plant-based dining than people might expect.
Whether you’re chasing a quick coffee and pastry, a cosy brunch, a big dinner out or a sweet treat that just happens to be dairy-free, these Adelaide spots are worth adding to your list.
METTA SOL
Mettā Sol, meaning universal loving kindness by nature, is Goodwood’s go-to plant-based eatery. Not to be confused with an exclusively vegan shop, it identifies as ‘a plant based cafe with non-plant based options,’ serving up signature coffee, delicious eats and a warm community.
Cafe owner Cristhian hopes to create a place where people can come together, spread kindness and connect.
“Whether it’s stopping briefly on your commute to work, picking up your morning coffee and one of the many grab-and-go options available, or instead, pulling up a chair and enjoying your coffee and brekky in-house, we cater to both experiences,” they shared.
In collaboration with Lobethal-based Clara Cakes, Mettā Sol offers a delectable range of vegan pastries as well as other breakfast favourites. Think, overnight oats with coconut milk and berry compote, and Anna’s Vegan Toastie with sourdough, plant based cheddar cheese, king oyster mushrooms, mushroom pâté and crispy chilli oil. Getting creative with the drinks, you’ll find a colourful range of offerings like beetroot lattes, matcha, and a ‘Butterfly Pea Flower Latte.’
What: Mettā Sol Specialty Coffee
Where: 8b Goodwood Rd, Goodwood SA 5034
For more info, click here
STAZZI & CO.
If you frequent the festival scene, you’ve likely stumbled across the critically acclaimed greek eatery, Staazi & Co. This 100% plant-based eatery enjoys a day out just as much as customers enjoy their yiros and AB’s, and they were even voted Voted number five on Lonely Planets’ list of best vegan food trucks in the world.
What: Staazi & Co.
Where: 224 Grenfell St, Adelaide SA 5000
For more info, click here
THE GATOR CLUB
Located in Adelaide’s east, The Gator Club is a 100% vegan cafe home to Chlo’s Vegan Club, which serves as the base of operations for wholesaling vegan goodies across Adelaide cafes, private event cakes and wedding cakes/grazing tables.
Offering everything from cupcakes to brownies, Chlo’s Vegan Club proves that being vegan does not mean you need to give up the sweet treats you love. The Gator Club is also responsible for Adelaide’s first plant-based mobile cafe and coffee van – Later Gator Van. The Gator Club acts as the brick and mortar flagship for both Chlo’s Vegan Club and Later Gator.
What: The Gator Club
Where: 33 Payneham Road, College Park SA 5069
For more info, click here.
TWO-BIT VILLAINS
Situated above the historic Adelaide Arcade, Two-Bit Villains is a well-established Adelaide eatery known for their plant-based Americana cuisine.
If you think starting a plant-based vegan diet means giving up favourites like hot dogs, creamy milkshakes, and good old-fashioned cheeseburgers, think again. Two-Bit Villains’ diner and signature soda shop is serving up all things hearty and flavour-filled – their chilli dog with a steamed soy ‘dawg,’ with chilli con carne, tomato sauce and cheese, and their sweet potato pie with slow cooked lentil, potato, leek and tomato casserole are just two of the many mouthwatering options on offer.
What: Two-Bit Villains
Where: Adelaide Arcade, Shop 150, Level One, 111/117 Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000
For more info, click here
ZENHOUSE
A long-running plant-based favourite, Zenhouse brings vegan dining to West Hindmarsh with a menu built around nourishing Asian-inspired dishes, yum cha-style favourites and fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
“We believe that food is medicine, and we are proud to offer a menu that is not only good for the body, but good for the soul,” read their website.
Founded in 2006, the restaurant has built a loyal following for feel-good food that’s hearty, comforting and completely plant-forward.
What: Zenhouse
Where: 462 Port Road, West Hindmarsh SA 5007
For more info, click here.
VEGGIE VIE
Veggie Vie was in 2015 with the vision to entice people of all walks of life to eat, drink and relax in a warm and accepting atmosphere. They describe their food as “simple, honest and uncomplicated, and veggie-centric” and the popular spot has long served delicious burgers, salads, smoothies and more.
The establishment serves a selection of vegan delights like halloumi burgers, pumpkin and rice ball salad, tofu scramble, smoothie bowls, coffee, and plenty more.
What: Veggie Vie Cafe
Where: 16 McHenry St, Adelaide SA 5000
For more info, click here
JOY OF FLORA CAFE
Tucked away in West Croydon, Joy of Flora Cafe is a 100% plant-based cafe, kitchen and catering business with a warm community feel and a leafy secret garden.
The menu leans into brunch, lunch, raw cakes, baked goods and nourishing plant-based comfort food, with a strong local focus and plenty of room to settle in for coffee, lunch or something sweet. They ‘proudly make most of their food from scratch in house, with a few special items provided by local suppliers.’
What: Joy of Flora Cafe
Where: 8-16 Rosetta Street, West Croydon SA 5008
For more info, click here.
THE DUKE OF BRUNSWICK
The Duke of Brunswick might be best known as Adelaide’s certified gluten-free pub, but it’s also a handy spot for vegan diners, particularly those juggling multiple dietary needs. The Gilbert Street venue has a 100% gluten-free kitchen, with its menu clearly marking vegan and vegan-option dishes, making it a strong choice for groups where coeliac, vegan, vegetarian and allergy-friendly dining all need to be considered.
Expect proper pub food rather than a token salad, with vegan-friendly picks including corn ribs, fried dumplings, Thai noodle salad, vegan bangers and mash, chips, wedges, sweet potato fries and more, alongside vegan-option dishes like eggplant parmi, nasi goreng, open yiros and a vego burger.
What: The Duke of Brunswick
Where: 207 Gilbert Street, Adelaide SA 5000
For more info, click here.
2KW Bar and Restaurant
Vegan diners are well looked after here, with the team able to tailor complete ‘Let Us Feed You’ menus for vegan guests. Rather than treating vegan dining as an afterthought, the menu regularly features beautifully curated dishes that are either already vegan or can easily be adapted, giving plant-based diners the chance to enjoy the full experience.
The team takes dietary requirements seriously and can work with guests to create a generous, considered dining experience built around seasonal produce, thoughtful flavour combinations and beautifully presented dishes. For those wanting to settle in and let the kitchen take care of the ordering, the ‘Let Us Feed You’ menu is available for $90 or $115 per person, with vegan options able to be arranged.
What: 2KW Bar and Restaurant
Where: Level 8, 2 King William Street, Adelaide
For more info, click here.
If you’d like to suggest a vegan hotspot that should be added to the list, email [email protected].
