9 of the very best vegan-friendly restaurants in Joburg

Vegans, your time has come! Gone are the days when you had to scour menus, making do with a lacklustre platter of overboiled veg. Joburg is now sprouting a host of new eateries specialising in fresh and absolutely delicious vegan fare, and you’ll find them all here in our list!

Leafy Greens Café
Visiting this country café in Muldersdrift feels like a holiday. The emphasis here is firmly on health: from the relaxed setting to the organic ingredients inspired by seasonality, you’ll feel glowing and vital even before you’ve enjoyed your meal – the decadence of the desserts notwithstanding!

Conscious 108
Small and intimate, Conscious 108 attracts its fair share of non-vegans, who swear that they can’t tell the difference between the dairy- and egg-free desserts and cakes. The Buddha bowls are also popular (we like the So Yum Bowl with mushroom coconut curry), all at great prices.

The Greenside Café
Patrons love to watch the passing parade on Greenside’s busy Gleneagles Road from the café’s patio while indulging in a bit of “junk food”: think bacon and cheeseburgers (with tofu bacon), pizzas, and ice cream and hot chocolate sauce.

Free Food
Located on Corlett Drive, Free Food’s menu is crammed with organic delights: breakfast tempts with creamy millet porridge with a sprinkle of apple and dates for sweetness; wraps feature fillings like falafel and Thai stir-fry, and there are loads of burgers, salads and bamboo bowls to choose from. It’s the dessert menu that really grabs us, though, with options like chocolate orange walnut ice dream and vermicelli pudding.

The Vintage Kitchen (pop-up –011 888 6714 )
Popping up in Linden every weekend, The Vintage Kitchen’s menu changes from week to week, depending on what’s ripe and ready in the garden. Fridays are Pizza and Documentary Night; Saturdays are for burgers, and on Sunday, a three-course feast is served. Booking is essential.

Fresh Earth Café
One of the first businesses to pioneer conscious eating in Johannesburg, Fresh Earth is part of a food store bursting with all manner of organic goodies – so whatever you’ve enjoyed from the menu (including favourites like the mushroom and walnut salad or Californian burger), can be easily replicated at home once you’ve stocked up on ingredients.

Simply Divine
This homely little eatery tucked away in the Blairgowrie Plaza, is ideal if you’re in the mood for a quick bite or looking for a new spot for family takeaways. The burgers and curries are said to be excellent, and there’s also a wide range of vegan bakes.

Bella Anima
Brand new in Sunninghill, Bella Anima puts an Italian spin on vegan. There’s a broad and exciting menu, ranging from starters like pesto mushrooms and a trio of bruschetta with marinated brinjals and capers, peppers and olives and tomato and basil, to burgers (try the Bella Burger with mushroom salsa and cashew cream) and specialities like risotto.

Fruits and Roots
The daily buffet is a major attraction at this ‘old faithful’ Bryanston; although it changes daily, you can count on a selection of soups, salads, quiches, curries and baked goods. Alternatively, browse the extensive menu, where highlights include scrambled organic tofu breakfast and sweet chilli mock chicken salad.

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