Categories > Other Services

5 Best Vegetarian Restaurants In Edinburgh

8 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Edinburgh

How We Picked

Vegetarian Dishes

We assessed the quality and selection of vegetarian meals in each restaurant.

Restaurant Staff

Customers always deserve great service, so we also looked at the responsiveness and demeanour of each restaurant’s staff. 

Prices

We looked at the prices in each vegetarian restaurant to let you know which ones have high-quality yet reasonably-priced dishes.

Ambiance

We also measured the aesthetic of each vegetarian restaurant to let customers choose which setting they’d prefer to dine in.

1. David Bann Restaurant

David Bann Restaurant's Homepage

Vegetarian Dishes: Quinoa, Aubergine and Saffron Kibbeh, Dumpling with Dashi Consommé, Butter Bean Stew with Moroccan Croquette, and Corn Bread, Sri Lankan Beetroot and Mushroom Curry, Chocolate Cake with Plum and Port Compote

Website: http://www.davidbann.co.uk/

Address: 56-58 St Mary’s St, Edinburgh EH1 1SX, United Kingdom

Contact Details:  +44 131 556 5888

Operating Hours: Mon-Sun: 12–10 PM

Google reviews score4.7/5
Yelp reviews score4/5
Score consistency4.6/5
Total Reviews4.43/5
Vegetarian Dishes4/5
-Quality3.5/5
-Selection4.5/5
Restaurant Staff5/5
-Responsiveness5/5
-Demeanour5/5
Prices(A higher score means better value)4/5
Ambiance4/5

Pros

  • Licenced vegetarian restaurant 
  • Open all week
  • Has a set menu
  • Has vegan beer
  • Offers online gift vouchers

Cons

  • Reports of bland food
  • 10% service charge for tables of 6 or more

David Bann Restaurant is a licenced vegetarian restaurant which incorporates unique, global flavours into their vegetarian dishes. Unlike other places, they are also open all week, which busy vegetarians would surely appreciate.

We like how they infuse flavours from different cultures to elevate their vegetarian meals. Some of their popular offerings include Dumpling with Dashi Consommé, Sri Lankan Beetroot and Mushroom Curry, and Butter Bean Stew with Moroccan Croquette.

They also offer a set menu at daytime until 4:30 PM, Mondays to Fridays, and for groups of 6 and up every evening. A two-course meal costs £20.50 and a three-course one is £25.50, which we think are highly reasonable prices.

If you haven’t tried vegan beer yet, then here’s your chance. They offer a one-of-a-kind Barney’s Not Milk Stout, which is a coffee and vanilla dessert beer.

Also, if you want to surprise your vegetarian loved ones, you can purchase one of their gift vouchers online, priced at £25, £50, and £100.

Unfortunately, some customers have complained that the meals they received were quite bland. This is a bit surprising since they are known for their bold flavours.

Also, a 10% service charge will be automatically added to tables of 6 or more. While this is optional, those who did not receive good service would have to go to all the trouble of having it taken off their bill.

2. Paradise Palms

Paradise Palms' Homepage

Vegetarian Dishes: Lucky Cheeseburger, BBQ Brisket Bun, South by Southwest Burger, Cajun Pulled Jackfruit Fries, Skinny Fries, Chipotle Mac & Cheese, Buffalo Cauliflower, Padron Peppers, Seitan Wings, Chocolate Brownie

Website: https://www.theparadisepalms.com/

Address: 41 Lothian St, Edinburgh EH1 1HB, United Kingdom

Contact Details:  +44 131 225 4186

Operating Hours:

  • Mon-Thurs: 4 PM–1 AM
  • Fri-Sun: 1 PM–1 AM
Google reviews score4.5/5
Trip Advisor reviews score4/5
Score consistency4.7/5
Total Reviews4.4/5
Vegetarian Dishes4.5/5
-Quality5/5
-Selection4/5
Restaurant Staff5/5
-Responsiveness5/5
-Demeanour5/5
Prices(A higher score means better value)5/5
Ambiance4.5/5

Pros

  • LGBTQ-friendly venue
  • Known for their vegetarian burgers and fries
  • 2017 Winner Scottish Food Awards – Best Vegetarian
  • Enforces several policies to help with sustainability efforts
  • Hosts weekly DJs every Friday and Saturday night plus live gigs 
  • Available for charity, fundraising, or social activities 

Cons

  • Loo is not wheelchair-accessible
  • Discretionary 10% service charge for tables of more than 4

Paradise Palms is an LGBTQ-friendly vegetarian restaurant with an eclectic and festive aesthetic. We think this venue is perfect for a night out with friends since they close quite late at 1 AM.

On top of that, they host weekly DJs every Friday and Saturday night plus occasional live gigs. This is great for those who love listening to great music while chowing down on yummy vegetarian food.

Speaking of food, this spot is famous for their delicious vegetarian burgers and fries. You don’t have to take our word for it, though –  their 2017 Best Vegetarian win at the Scottish Food Awards more than speaks for itself.

All of their burgers are 100% plant-based, which vegetarians would surely appreciate. Some of their famous dishes are their Lucky Cheeseburger, their BBQ Brisket Bun, and their Cajun Pulled Jackfruit Fries.

We also admire this place for their numerous efforts to achieve sustainability. For instance, they run on 100% renewable energy, cook with biofuel gas, enforce strict recycling and waste reduction measures, and source materials from ethical suppliers!

Unlike other restaurants, they are also very open for collaborations related to charity, fundraising, or social activities, which we highly commend.

Sadly, their loo is not wheelchair-accessible since it is located on another level.

Also, while others add an optional service charge for groups of 6 and above, they add theirs for groups of 4 and more.

3.  Hendersons

Hendersons' Homepage

Vegetarian Dishes: Nibbles Board, Scotch Broth, Arancini, Corn Brûlée, Heritage Potatoes, Rainbow Carrots, Cauliflower Jerk Steak, Henderson Haggis, Henderson Nutloaf, Salad Platter, Herby Polenta, Homemade Deluxe Affogato, Apfelstrudel

Website: https://www.hendersonsrestaurant.com/

Address: 7-13 Barclay Pl, Edinburgh EH10 4HW, United Kingdom

Contact Details:  +44 131 202 1635

Operating Hours: Mon-Sun: 12 PM–10 PM

Google reviews score4.7/5
Trip Advisor reviews score4.5/5
Score consistency5/5
Total Reviews4.7/5
Vegetarian Dishes5/5
-Quality5/5
-Selection5/5
Restaurant Staff4.5/5
-Responsiveness5/5
-Demeanour4/5
Prices(A higher score means better value)5/5
Ambiance5/5

Pros

  • Family-run established business since 1962
  • Sources their ingredients locally, seasonally and organically
  • Has garnered several industry awards
  • Elegant and tastefully decorated space
  • Has a private dining area
  • Can be booked for catering events

Cons

  • Requires a deposit for for groups of 5 and up
  • Reports of several customers feeling rushed

As a family-run established business since 1962, Hendersons has been one of the go-to vegetarian restaurants in Edinburgh. They are known for sourcing their ingredients locally, seasonally, and organically.

In fact, due to these conscientious efforts, they won Business Eye’s 2018 Green Family Business of the Year, as well as Family Business of the Year of 2016. These awards show how passionate they are in what they do.

This passion actually shows in their elegant and tastefully-decorated space. You can tell that they’ve put in a lot of thought and effort into their design details – from the neutral colours and rough walls, to the elegant lighting and wooden furniture.

If you are planning a private party or event for a group of 6 to 18, this restaurant has a beautiful private dining area.

This restaurant also offers catering services, which can be convenient for those who want a vegetarian-forward menu for their event. It’s reassuring that they’ve had experience with catering for weddings, private dinner parties, and corporate events.

Unfortunately, unlike other restaurants, they do require a deposit for groups of 5 and up. This gets taken off each persons’ bill at the end of the meal.

Also, several customers have reported that while the staff was friendly and accommodating, they felt a bit pressured to finish their meals.

We agree that this could actually ruin one’s dining experience, especially those who want to leisurely enjoy their time together.

4. Susie’s Vegetarian Kitchen

Susie’s Vegetarian Kitchen's Homepage

Vegetarian Dishes: Meze, Vegeburger, Enchilada, Falafels, Macaroni Cheese, Broccoli Cheese, Triple Cooked Chips, Sweet Potato Fries, Hummus

Website: http://susiesvegkitchen.com/

Address: 27A Marchmont Rd, Edinburgh EH9 1HY, United Kingdom

Contact Details:  +44 131 466 4873

Operating Hours:

  • Friday: 5 PM–8 PM
  • Saturday: 5 PM–1 AM
Google reviews score5/5
Trip Advisor reviews score5/5
Score consistency5/5
Total Reviews5/5
Vegetarian Dishes4/5
-Quality5/5
-Selection3/5
Restaurant Staff5/5
-Responsiveness5/5
-Demeanour5/5
Prices(A higher score means better value)5/5
Ambiance5/5

Pros

  • Famous for their meze
  • Has highly competitive prices
  • Offers customisable gift vouchers
  • Well-known for their catering services

Cons

  • Only open two days in a week
  • Limited selection of dishes
  • 10% service charge is automatically applied

Susie’s Vegetarian Kitchen is a no-frills vegetarian restaurant that serves simple, delicious vegetarian food. This simplicity is reflected in their stark green shop front and all white interior.

This restaurant is famous for their meze, a pastry roll with ricotta, leek, and basil. It also comes with falafels, ratatouille, hummus, and rice pilaf.

We are happy with their highly competitive prices since their main dishes only cost £11.40 each. They manage to maintain quality and flavour with each dish even with a reasonable price tag, which is impressive.

Unlike other restaurants, their gift vouchers are customisable. This means you can apply any value you like – you can even include a message for the recipient!

For those planning a special gathering or event, do note that this place is well-known for their catering services. They can do everything – from small parties with food only supplied to large events with everything arranged to your liking. 

Since a large chunk of their time is spent catering, their vegetarian restaurant is only open twice a week. Those who would like to dine here should book in advance since they are quite popular.

They also have a more limited selection of dishes compared to other restaurants, with only three main dishes to choose from.

Another downside is that they apply a 10% service charge automatically. This applies to all orders, unlike other restaurants who typically apply this only to groups.

5. Kalpna

Kalpna's Homepage

Vegetarian Dishes: Tandoori Mix, Sev Dahi Puri, Pakora, Dosa Masala, Dum Aloo Kashmiri, Char Tarake Paneer, Thaali Raj Bhog, Saam Savera, Palal Paneer Dosa, Bhindi Masala, Daal Makhani, Dum Aloo Gobi

Website: http://www.kalpnarestaurant.com/

Address: 2-3 St Patrick Square, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9EZ, United Kingdom

Contact Details:  +44 131 667 9890

Operating Hours: Mon-Sun: 12 PM–2 PM, 5:30 PM–10 PM

Google reviews score4/5
Trip Advisor reviews score4/5
Score consistency5/5
Total Reviews4.33/5
Vegetarian Dishes4.75/5
-Quality4.5/5
-Selection5/5
Restaurant Staff4/5
-Responsiveness3/5
-Demeanour5/5
Prices(A higher score means better value)3.5/5
Ambiance5/5

Pros

  • Family-run restaurant for over 40 years
  • Received several recognitions
  • Known for their unique take on Indian street food
  • Reasonable prices
  • Has a lunch buffet option
  • Has a set menu available

Cons

  • Steep service charges
  • Long wait times

Kalpna is a family-run restaurant which has been operating for over 40 years. If you are craving for delicious, vegetarian Indian food, we think this is the best option for you.

We appreciate the various recognitions they have received over the years. These serve as proof that they excel in what they do.

They were finalists in the 2019 Scottish Asian Food Awards for South Indian Restaurant of the Year and the 2020 Scottish Curry Awards for Most Wanted India Restaurant of the Year. This speaks volumes of their commitment to raising the bar.

They are also well-known for their unique take on Indian street food. Some of their bestsellers are their Pakora, a deep fried vegetable dish with tamarind date sauce; and Sev Dahi Puri, crispy puri topped with honey-flavoured yoghurt.

Compared to other restaurants, they are reasonably priced as well. For instance, their main dishes cost £9.95 while other restaurants’ main dishes are priced higher.

Unlike other vegetarian places, they also offer a lunch buffet option. For £8.99/head, customers can have 2 salads, 2 chutneys, 2 starters, bread, 3 curries, and 2 rice.

For large groups, their set menu is also quite popular. For £18.00/person, you can have all-you-can-eat and choose from various dishes such as poppadoms and pickles, starters, 4 main courses, naans, pulao rice, and plain rice.

On the other hand, they have steep service charges and have been known to charge 12.5% for a single diner.

Customers have also reported their unusually long wait times. Some even said it took them an hour to deliver the food even though there were only two tables to serve at the time.

6. Seeds For The Soul Ltd

Vegetarian Dishes: https://www.seedsforthesoul.co.uk/menu-1

Website: https://www.seedsforthesoul.co.uk/

Address: 167 Bruntsfield Pl, Edinburgh EH10 4DG, United Kingdom

Contact Details:  +44 7389 899394

Operating Hours:

Monday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM; 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM; 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM; 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM; 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Google reviews score4.8/5
Yelp reviews score5/5
Score consistency4/5
Total Reviews4/5
Vegetarian Dishes4/5
-Quality5/5
-Selection4/5
Restaurant Staff5/5
-Responsiveness5/5
-Demeanour5/5
Prices(A higher score means better value)4/5
Ambiance5/5

Pros

  • Accommodates food delivery services
  • Versatile array of menu selections
  • Creative and healthy food options

Cons

  • Strict cancellation rates

Seeds For The Soul Ltd is a company that provides clients with exemplary food and menu selections that are ideal for individuals looking for vegan-friendly food and ones excellent for a healthier lifestyle.

We like that they can offer clients various dishes such as burgers, tachos, wraps, and smoothies, which are integrated with plant-based ingredients and superfoods.

We like that interested clients can easily book a reservation with them readily on their website to which clients can be assured that they will be highly accommodated during their said date.

Note though that they do employ a strict cancellation policy in which all reservations of 6 people above would require an individual deposit per head to confirm the slot.

Overall, with their highly competitive and creative team of cooks and personnel, excellent array of Vegan-friendly food menus, and assistive website, we highly recommend interested clients to check them out.

7. The Cellar Door

Vegetarian Dishes: Spring Green Risotto, A Vegetarian Taste of Scotland 6-Course Menu, and more

Website: https://www.thecellardooredinburgh.com/

Address:

44 – 46 George IV Bridge

Edinburgh, EH1 1EJ

Contact Details:  0131 226 ‍4155 | [email protected]

Operating Hours:

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
Closed

Wednesday & Thursday
4PM – 9PM

Friday & Saturday
4PM – 10PM

Google reviews score4.3/5
Yelp reviews score4/5
Score consistency4/5
Total Reviews4/5
Vegetarian Dishes4/5
-Quality4/5
-Selection4/5
Restaurant Staff4/5
-Responsiveness4/5
-Demeanour4.5/5
Prices(A higher score means better value)4/5
Ambiance5/5

Pros

  • Vegetarian and Vegan dishes (and indicated in the menu)
  • Locally sourced ingredients
  • Great service

Cons

  • Closed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
  • Overpriced
  • Small portions

The Cellar Door is unique in a way because of its location—hidden beneath the George IV Bridge.

If you’re looking for a restaurant that will offer the best of Scotland, we think this is it. This is the place to go.

We love their seasonal tasting menus—rightfully called the Taste of Scotland—and how they give their guests the best they can offer.

We think it’s fantastic that they source their ingredients locally, and from sustainable producers of course.

Another thing we like about them is how they cater to all culinary and dietary requirements. It’s also very convenient that they’ve indicated on their menus which dishes are Vegetarian, Vegan, and so on.

Their dishes are beautifully presented and are delectable, as we would expect.

However, we’d have to admit that their portions are quite small so it appears that their food is a tad bit overpriced.

They have a wonderful staff that’s very welcoming and attentive.

Overall, we think it’s worth trying!

8. The Pakora Bar

Vegetarian Dishes: Pakoras, Spring Rolls, Curry, Dhal

Website: https://thepakorabar.co.uk/

Address: 111Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AU, United Kingdom

Contact Details:  0131 202 5200 / [email protected]

Operating Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 12:00NN – 9:30PM

Google reviews score4.6/5
Yelp reviews score5/5
Score consistency4/5
Total Reviews4/5
Vegetarian Dishes4/5
-Quality5/5
-Selection5/5
Restaurant Staff5/5
-Responsiveness5/5
-Demeanour5/5
Prices(A higher score means better value)4/5
Ambiance5/5

Pros

  • Accommodates private functions 
  • Wide array of modernized Punjabi dishes offered
  • Accommodating and prompt customer service

Cons

  • Online reservation of functions needs email inquiries

The Pakora Bar is a place where customers can experience eating and dining authentic and traditional Punjabi dishes and cuisines that are further integrated with modernized and contemporary food ideas and tastes.

Community-centered and family-friendly, we like that their dishes are made with the freshest selection of ingredients to ensure that customers get the best and most delectable dining experience of the said cuisine.

From curry dishes to paneer kathi rolls, the venue itself presents an exemplary way to enjoy the said meal wherein clients are offered alfredo dining as well along with private function rooms among others.

Note though that clients cannot book a reservation for such services readily on their website to they may need to reach out to them via email for more information on that. 

Nonetheless, with their stunning and accessible venue at the heart of Edinburgh, accommodating and professional customer service, and delectable Punjabi dishes, we highly recommend interested clients check them out.

FAQs on Vegetarian Dishes

Related topics