Must-try vegetarian restaurants and cafes
Vegan is one of the country’s biggest food trends. According to Roy Morgan Research, the proportion of Kiwis who say the food they eat is all, or almost all, vegetarian has grown 27% since 2011. With the plant-based movement gaining more momentum each year, vegetarian and vegan eateries are sprouting up in every major city to cater to the demand.
While many restaurants and fast-food chains have stepped up to offer more plant-friendly options, we’ve found some of the best all veggie venues that will be sure to tempt your taste buds.
Jeremy Dixon took a leap of faith when he opened his café. But he saw a gaping hole in the healthy food offerings of Auckland, and now Revive is part of a thriving empire. Their two locations in the city centre offer overflowing, colourful salad bars and hot meal specials that change daily. Jeremy has also created a range of Revive Cookbooks so you can create his delicious food at home.
If you’re looking for food without added refined sugar and animal products, this café is a must. Everything in there, including the tables and chairs, is locally sourced. They have a full breakfast and lunch menu, with a daily selection of delicious baked goods and healing elixirs available. They make cakes to order and can also cater for office lunches and events too. Everyone here prides themselves on their innovative and on-trend approach to plant-based dining.
Boquita is all about nourishing – nourishing the planet, nourishing you, and nourishing those who grow your food. The delicious Mexican-inspired menu is plant-based and put together with locally sourced ingredients from suppliers who care about our planet. Eat healthy tacos and feel good about looking after the Earth.
Although you might not immediately know it, this Christchurch café is completely vegan. The small Asian fusion menu is comprised entirely of plant-based items, favouring quality over quantity. The owners also secretly love it when customers really enjoy their meal and don’t even notice the menu contains no meat or dairy. All food at The Origin is handmade from scratch on site, and the café’s calming, minimalist Scandinavian interiors will keep you in your seat long after your meal has ended.
The menu at this Napier establishment uses primarily local, ethical, sustainable and organic wholefood ingredients. All food is produced onsite daily, so you’ll be getting the freshest of the fresh. The café is attached to a superb health food store, with lots of international and specialty foods and vegan options.
While Queenstown doesn’t appear to have one fully-fledged vegetarian or vegan restaurant (hello business opportunity!), there are plenty of great spots offering plant-based menus and dishes. Try Habebes for some cheap and cheerful Middle Eastern fare, or Thaitanium because they have an extensive collection of vegetable-based dishes (and they have a punny name). For something sweet, head to Vudu Café & Larder for their famous cakes.
While many restaurants and fast-food chains have stepped up to offer more plant-friendly options, we’ve found some of the best all veggie venues that will be sure to tempt your taste buds.
1. Auckland
Revive CaféJeremy Dixon took a leap of faith when he opened his café. But he saw a gaping hole in the healthy food offerings of Auckland, and now Revive is part of a thriving empire. Their two locations in the city centre offer overflowing, colourful salad bars and hot meal specials that change daily. Jeremy has also created a range of Revive Cookbooks so you can create his delicious food at home.
2. Tauranga
The Nourished EateryIf you’re looking for food without added refined sugar and animal products, this café is a must. Everything in there, including the tables and chairs, is locally sourced. They have a full breakfast and lunch menu, with a daily selection of delicious baked goods and healing elixirs available. They make cakes to order and can also cater for office lunches and events too. Everyone here prides themselves on their innovative and on-trend approach to plant-based dining.
3. Wellington
BoquitaBoquita is all about nourishing – nourishing the planet, nourishing you, and nourishing those who grow your food. The delicious Mexican-inspired menu is plant-based and put together with locally sourced ingredients from suppliers who care about our planet. Eat healthy tacos and feel good about looking after the Earth.
4. Christchurch
The OriginAlthough you might not immediately know it, this Christchurch café is completely vegan. The small Asian fusion menu is comprised entirely of plant-based items, favouring quality over quantity. The owners also secretly love it when customers really enjoy their meal and don’t even notice the menu contains no meat or dairy. All food at The Origin is handmade from scratch on site, and the café’s calming, minimalist Scandinavian interiors will keep you in your seat long after your meal has ended.
5. Napier
The Wholefood KitchenThe menu at this Napier establishment uses primarily local, ethical, sustainable and organic wholefood ingredients. All food is produced onsite daily, so you’ll be getting the freshest of the fresh. The café is attached to a superb health food store, with lots of international and specialty foods and vegan options.
6. Queenstown
VariousWhile Queenstown doesn’t appear to have one fully-fledged vegetarian or vegan restaurant (hello business opportunity!), there are plenty of great spots offering plant-based menus and dishes. Try Habebes for some cheap and cheerful Middle Eastern fare, or Thaitanium because they have an extensive collection of vegetable-based dishes (and they have a punny name). For something sweet, head to Vudu Café & Larder for their famous cakes.
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