No, I’m not vegan and I will not be going vegan for January, or for 2020; and I’m not suggesting you should or shouldn’t. However, I think we can all make little changes in our lifestyles which can have a positive impact on the earth and our environment. I’m 110% for sustainability and being a conscientious consumer. (If it wasn’t for the fact that I like meat and enjoy eating steak, I’d say I actually eat vegan most of the time). So in honor of the massive moment “Veganuary” has become, I’ve constructed a mini guide to vegan restaurants and vegan food around Dublin. I hope this guide can give you a list of where you can start when it comes to eating vegan, and more plant-based in general. Enjoy!

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Vegan Restaurants in Dublin

1. Happy Food

Hands down my favorite vegan spot in Dublin. A yoga studio and vegan cafe, Happy Food is nestled within an alley off Camden Street. Their menu is extensive and every dish is mouth-watering. I am always just so amazed how much flavor is in every one of their dishes! They truly match the taste of the original dish, and some of them even taste better. I especially love eating here after a yoga class of course, but I also love to grab a bite to eat with coffee so I can do work on my computer (many blogs written there!).

2. Sova Vegan Butcher

Also in the Camden area, off of Pleasant Street, this quaint restaurant has one of the most unique menus and is perfect for brunch or lunch! I say their menu is unique because it offers a smaller selection of dishes, but the most eclectic kind. From a traditional Irish breakfast to Italian and Mediterranean inspired dishes. Their ingredients are fresh and their menu changes seasonally, so you’re guaranteed to always have a fun experience trying any of the dishes at Sova!

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3. Happy Pear

With two locations in the northern part of Dublin county, and its first location in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, this restaurant has got to be one of the most famous vegan spots in Ireland! Their counter service cafes offer a variety of dishes which allow you to mix-and-match what’s on your plate. They are always switching up their main dishes, so every time you visit it’s something new! I can’t forget to mention their incredible vegan desserts: My favorites are the carrot cake and vegan snickers bar! At their Dublin airport location, the options are a bit more limited but still delicious, and a healthy alternative before your travels! What’s even better is that The Happy Pear even sells some of their meals and products such as pesto and hummus at their cafes, and in SuperValus across Ireland.

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4. Cornucopia

A very busy place in the heart of city centre. This restaurant offers counter service as many places across Dublin. So, much like Happy Pear, you can peruse dishes from through the glass and pick & choose which ones you’d like on your plate. Prices thus vary according to what you choose. This makes it an ideal option for going with friends with various dietary needs – there is a little bit of everything for anyone! Plus, Cornucopia makes their food daily, and you can definitely taste the freshness.

5. Blazing Salads

I have a confession to make…I have yet to try this place. So I’ll let Vogue do the talking for me on this one, as they describe this restaurant well: “This family-run ‘wholefoods deli’ and cooking school uses organic, fair-trade, cooperatively-produced ingredients for one of the best salad bars in the city, as well as soups and pastries. There’s a rotating menu daily based on what’s fresh and what’s in season, but some favorites include the veggie curry with cashews, and the ‘creamy’ broccoli soup.”

There are also some amazing vegan food vendors across Dublin city which set up at various food markets: Shoots & Roots, Veginity, and Vish Shop. After you visit one of these places, grab some vegan donuts at Rolling Donut or try Arctic Stone’s vegan rolled ice cream! If you’re craving a burger, Bujo & Bobo’s vegan burgers will definitely hit the spot!

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There are even some great restaurants which cater to meat-eaters and vegans alike. Places like Govinda’s, Sprout, Cocu, Umi Falafel, Brother Hubbard, The Fumbally, Two Pups and Eathos have extensive vegetarian menus with vegan options.

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Vegan Food Brands

Trying not to eat out as much? Lucky for you we live in an era of boundless options in the supermarket so you can prepare your own vegan food! I’m sure you’re already familiar with the plethora of non-dairy milk options out there. At nearly any big grocery store you can buy soya, almond, coconut and oat milks from brands such as Alpro, Koko, and Oatly. Many companies are even becoming solely focused on catering to vegan consumers. These brands include Quorn and Tofoo, which make meat substitutes such as tofu, sausages, burgers, falafel, etc. And even companies which don’t solely market to vegans are starting to catch onto the trends! Goodfellas’, found in Tesco, also makes a vegan pizza now! And for a taste of the classic are sausage rolls, you can find vegan ones made by Tesco & Linda McCartney.

To support local Irish companies, try the vegan food products made by Strong Roots, Pure & Simple, Eden, Wicked, and Oumph. All of these brands can be found at Tesco, and some health food stores across Dublin. 

The vegan dessert selection has also improved across health food stores and big name grocery stores across Ireland. One of the companies which first came out with more “healthy” vegan dessert options is the Irish company, Nobo. They create divine ice cream AND chocolate flavors. Definitely try one of their products next time you come across them! More recently, bigger name brands such as Ben & Jerry’s, Halo, and Magnum now sell vegan ice cream products. Even though I’m all about being healthy, I still can’t refrain from devouring a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, especially when it’s vegan!

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We are certainly living in the right decade with all these vegan options! Though there are so many more restaurants, stores and brands I can mention which offer wonderful vegan options, these are just some of the top recommendations I can make for you. Whether you are vegan or not and participating in Veganuary, I challenge you to try one of these restaurants and/or products by the end of the month. I’m sure there’s no better time than now, since many places will be using “veganuary” for promotional purposes.

If you give any of these a try, let me know which ones, and if you have a favorite! And if I’ve missed any of your favorites, also feel free to let me know in the comments below 🙂