Best Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Manchester (2026 Guide)

Best vegan restaurants Manchester travellers and locals love combine creativity, value, and serious cooking. From Bundobust’s vegetarian Indian street food to Wholesome Junkies’ plant-based comfort food, the Allotment’s bottomless brunches, Purezza’s vegan pizza, and the Northern Quarter’s clutch of vegan cafés, Manchester is one of the UK’s best cities for plant-based eating.

This guide covers the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Manchester for 2026 — fine-dining tasting menus, casual street food, brunch destinations, and the cuisines (Indian, Italian, American, Asian) that work particularly well in plant-based form. Every entry includes location, signature dishes, price guidance, and our take on which travellers each suits.

For broader food coverage, see our main Manchester food guide, our cheap eats guide, and our Curry Mile guide.

Manchester’s Best 100% Vegan Restaurants

1. Wholesome Junkies (Northern Quarter)

A 100% plant-based comfort-food restaurant — truffle burgers, kimchi “chik’n,” beefless patties stacked high, mac ‘n’ cheese, loaded tater tots, Korean tofu poppers, salt-and-pepper “wings.” Cult following.

Cost: £15–25 per person.
Best for: Vegan comfort food cravings.

2. Purezza (Northern Quarter)

The UK’s first fully plant-based pizzeria. Authentic Italian pizza using vegan mozzarella alternatives, plus pasta, salads, and cocktails.

Cost: £15–25 per person.
Best for: Vegan Italian cravings.

3. The Allotment (Stockport)

Vegetarian fine dining — bottomless brunch all day, sustainable sourcing, seasonal menus. Serious vegetarian cooking.

Cost: £30–55 per person.
Best for: Special-occasion vegetarian dinners.

4. Lotus Plant Based Kitchen

Plant-based Chinese cuisine. No onion or garlic (owner’s beliefs); extensive dim sum, sharing platters, rice and noodle dishes, hot pots. Huge menu.

Cost: £20–35 per person.

5. V Rev Vegan Diner (Northern Quarter)

American-style vegan diner — burgers, hot dogs, mac ‘n’ cheese, milkshakes. Long-running Manchester vegan favourite.

Cost: £15–25 per person.

6. 8th Day Cafe (All Saints)

The Eighth Day cooperative café has served Manchester for decades. Since 2020 fully plant-based — pies, pastas, tagines, salads, fresh seasonal cooking. Cafe and shop combination.

Cost: £8–15 per person.
Best for: Casual, ethical dining.

7. Earth Cafe (Northern Quarter)

Manchester’s longest-running vegetarian café. Buddhist-Vietnamese influenced cooking, great-value lunchtime specials. Northern Quarter institution.

Cost: £8–15 per person.

8. Gooey (Northern Quarter)

Mostly known for cookies and French toast, Gooey’s vegan crispy tofu sando has become legendary. Excellent vegan brunch options.

Cost: £10–18 per person.

Manchester’s Best Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants

9. Bundobust

The gold standard for Indian vegetarian. Bhaji butty, vada pav burger, beer pairings, dal, chana masala. Mostly vegan-friendly. Multi-location.

Cost: £15–25 per person.

10. Mowgli (Northern Quarter)

Indian street food with extensive vegetarian and vegan options. Distinctive small-plate format.

Cost: £25–35 per person.

11. Dishoom (Spinningfields)

Bombay-inspired Indian cooking with a large dedicated vegan menu. The bacon naan can be substituted with veggie alternatives; great vegan breakfast options.

Cost: £20–35 per person.

12. Kabana (Levenshulme)

Pakistani vegetarian curry house. Authentic, very low prices, Manchester local institution.

Cost: £8–14 per person.

13. This & That (Northern Quarter)

The legendary “rice and three” cafe — most curries are vegan-friendly. £6 for a full meal.

14. Chit N Chaat (Curry Mile)

Indian street food in a vibrant Curry Mile setting. Strong vegetarian and vegan menu.

15. Maray Manchester

Mediterranean-influenced small plates with strong vegetarian options. Specialises in modern vegetarian cooking with a Levant influence.

16. Salt and Pepper

Northern Chinese cooking with strong vegetarian options.

17. Momo Shop (Northern Quarter)

Nepali-inspired dumplings (momos) and gyoza with creative sauce options. Mix-and-match format. Good for vegan and vegetarian.

Manchester’s Best Vegan Brunch Spots

18. Federal Cafe (Northern Quarter)

The Australian-style brunch institution has strong vegan menu options including vegan smashed avo, French toast, breakfast bowls.

19. Pollen Bakery (Ancoats)

Vegan pastries and bread; brunch plates with strong vegan options.

20. Foundation Coffee House

Bright, plant-filled cafe with extensive vegan menu options.

21. Trove (Levenshulme)

South Manchester’s brunch favourite has strong vegan-friendly menus.

22. Pot Kettle Black

Reliable brunch with vegan options including vegan eggs Benedict alternatives.

23. Ezra & Gil

Australian-style brunch with strong vegan options across both locations.

Manchester Vegan Food by Cuisine

For Vegan Indian Food

Bundobust, Kabana, This & That, Dishoom, Mowgli, Chit N Chaat. Indian cooking is naturally vegan-friendly thanks to dal, chana, and sabzi traditions.

For Vegan Italian Food

Purezza (the UK’s first fully plant-based pizzeria), Manchester’s other Italian restaurants typically have vegan options.

For Vegan Asian Food

Lotus Plant Based Kitchen (Chinese), Pho No. 1 (Vietnamese pho with tofu), Momo Shop (dumplings).

For Vegan American Food

V Rev Vegan Diner (burgers, hot dogs), Wholesome Junkies (loaded comfort food), Almost Famous (vegan burger options).

For Vegan Brunch

Federal, Foundation, Pollen Bakery, Trove, Ezra & Gil, Pot Kettle Black, Gooey.

For Vegan Comfort Food

Wholesome Junkies, V Rev Vegan Diner, 8th Day Cafe.

For Vegan Fine Dining

The Allotment (Stockport), occasional vegan tasting menus at Mana, Higher Ground.

For Vegan Cafe Casual

8th Day Cafe, Earth Cafe, Idle Hands.

Manchester’s Best Vegan Sweets, Cakes & Bakeries

24. Pollen Bakery (Ancoats)

Vegan croissants, sourdough, pastries, cakes. The vegan options are as good as the regular menu.

25. Hands (Northern Quarter)

Vegan-only bakery. Cakes, pastries, brownies, cookies — all 100% plant-based.

26. Plant N.Q. (Northern Quarter)

Vegan cake shop and cafe with great selection.

27. The Wonder Inn (Multiple)

Vegan-friendly cafe with cakes and brunch, cooperative business.

Manchester Veganuary Tips

January is “Veganuary” globally, and Manchester restaurants get particularly creative for the month:

Vegan menus expand at most restaurants — even non-vegan venues add 4–8 dedicated vegan options.
Vegan tasting menus appear at higher-end restaurants.
Veganuary deals at Wholesome Junkies, V Rev, Bundobust.
Local press coverage highlights new vegan openings.
Bring your appetite — Manchester is one of the UK’s best Veganuary destinations.

Tips for Vegan Visitors to Manchester

Where Plant-Based Travellers Should Stay

Native Manchester (Ducie Street Warehouse) is near several vegan spots and the Northern Quarter scene. Wilde Aparthotels St Peter’s Square is walking distance to Bundobust, Earth Cafe, and Wholesome Junkies.

Vegan Dining Tips

HappyCow.com is the global vegan restaurant directory and lists Manchester’s vegan options with reviews and verified ratings.
Always confirm vegan options when booking. Most Manchester restaurants are accommodating, but don’t assume.
Many Indian and Asian restaurants offer fundamentally vegan dishes (lentils, vegetable curries, tofu). Ask about ghee or butter use.
Bundobust is widely recognised as Manchester’s best Indian-vegetarian operation.

Vegan Drinks

Beer is generally vegan but some cask ales use isinglass (fish-based clarifying agent). Most Manchester craft beer is vegan; older traditional cask ales may not be. Wines vary; ask the bar.

Vegan Cocktails & Coffee

All Manchester cocktail bars accommodate plant-based requests. Most coffee shops have plant-based milk options (oat, almond, soy, coconut).

Sample Vegan Manchester Day

Breakfast: Vegan crispy tofu sando at Gooey (£10).
Lunch: Bhaji butty at Bundobust (£8).
Afternoon: Coffee + vegan brownie at Hands (£8).
Dinner: Plant-based pizza at Purezza (£15).
Late drinks: Cocktails at the Refuge by Volta (£15 for two cocktails) — tell them vegan.
Total: ~£56 for a full vegan-only day.

Manchester Vegan Restaurant Profiles

Wholesome Junkies in Detail

Wholesome Junkies opened with a clear concept: take everything you love about junk food and make it 100% plant-based, without sacrificing the comfort. The Northern Quarter site is intimate and busy. The truffle burger has become Manchester’s most-discussed plant-based burger; the kimchi “chik’n” sandwich is another standout. Sides like loaded tater tots, mac ‘n’ cheese, and Korean tofu poppers expand the menu beyond burgers. Cocktails are entirely plant-based.

Purezza in Detail

Purezza claims the title of UK’s first fully plant-based pizzeria, and the Manchester branch in the Northern Quarter delivers authentic-tasting Italian pizza without dairy or meat. The vegan mozzarella alternative is house-developed; the dough is fermented for 24+ hours; the toppings are creative without compromising the pizza-purist’s expectations. Pasta dishes, salads, antipasti, and cocktails round out the menu.

The Allotment in Detail

The Allotment in Stockport is one of the UK’s best vegetarian fine-dining restaurants. The seasonal menu changes monthly, drawing on local growers and the chef’s allotment. The bottomless brunch deal is exceptional value (£35–55 for unlimited drinks plus large or two small plates). Smart-casual atmosphere; book ahead for weekends. About 15 minutes from central Manchester by train.

Bundobust in Detail

Bundobust is a multi-location Indian-vegetarian restaurant (London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, and beyond). The Manchester city centre branch is widely loved. The “bhaji butty” — onion bhaji in a butter naan — is the iconic order. The vada pav vegetarian burger is also legendary. Beer pairings (Bundobust runs its own beer programme) elevate the experience beyond typical Indian cooking.

Manchester’s Best Vegan Cooking Classes & Tours

Looking to learn vegan cooking? Manchester has several options:

The Allotment cooking classes — Stockport-based vegetarian fine-dining restaurant offers occasional cooking workshops.

Northern Quarter vegan food tours — Several walking tour operators run vegan-focused food crawls of the Northern Quarter.

Lotus Plant Based Kitchen events — Occasional Chinese vegan cooking demonstrations.

HappyCow Manchester meet-ups — The vegan directory’s local meet-ups happen regularly.

Manchester’s Vegan Shopping

For self-catering vegans staying in aparthotels:

Unicorn Grocery (Chorlton) — One of the UK’s biggest vegan and vegetarian-friendly grocers. Cooperative business, extensive plant-based selection.

The Wonder Inn (Multiple) — Vegan-friendly cafe-grocer hybrids.

Whole Foods Market — UK chain with strong vegan selections.

Manchester city centre supermarkets — Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, M&S all have strong vegan sections.

Manchester Vegan Events Calendar

Veganuary (January) — Citywide promotion of vegan menus.

VegFest Manchester (variable dates) — Vegan festival with food vendors and workshops.

HappyCow Manchester meet-ups — Regular vegan dining meet-ups.

National Vegetarian Week (May) — Many restaurants run vegetarian specials.

Earth Day (April) — Some vegan restaurants run sustainability events.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manchester vegan-friendly?

Yes — extremely. Manchester ranks among the UK’s best vegan cities, with multiple 100% plant-based restaurants, strong vegan menus at most mainstream venues, and a thriving Veganuary scene each January.

What’s the best vegan restaurant in Manchester?

Wholesome Junkies, V Rev Vegan Diner, Purezza, Lotus Plant Based Kitchen, and the Allotment all rank among Manchester’s best. Bundobust is the best vegetarian Indian option (mostly vegan).

Are Manchester pubs vegan-friendly?

Many are. The Marble Arch, Edinburgh Castle, the Refuge, and most modern gastropubs offer vegan menus. Traditional heritage pubs may have limited vegan food options but offer vegan beer.

Where can I find vegan brunch in Manchester?

Federal, Foundation Coffee House, Pollen Bakery, Trove, Ezra & Gil, Pot Kettle Black all have strong vegan brunch options.

Is the Curry Mile vegan-friendly?

Yes — most Curry Mile restaurants have strong vegetarian and vegan menus. Indian and Pakistani cuisines accommodate plant-based eating naturally.

What’s Veganuary in Manchester like?

Manchester’s Veganuary scene is one of the UK’s best — expanded vegan menus at most restaurants, vegan tasting menus, special events, and active local vegan community.

Are Manchester’s vegan options expensive?

Vegan options span every budget. £6 at This & That, £15–25 at most casual vegan restaurants, £30–55 at fine dining. Vegan options are no more expensive than equivalent non-vegan dishes at Manchester restaurants.

Final Thoughts

Manchester is one of the UK’s best vegan and vegetarian dining cities. From legendary Bundobust to Wholesome Junkies, V Rev, the Allotment, Purezza, and an ever-growing scene of plant-based brunches and street food, Manchester rewards plant-based travellers more than almost any UK city outside London. Plan a vegan-focused itinerary, take advantage of Veganuary deals if visiting in January, and explore the city’s exciting plant-based scene.

For more, see our main Manchester food guide, our brunch guide, our Curry Mile guide, and our cheap eats guide.