Gone are the days when vegan food meant settling for a side salad. Cape Town’s restaurants are serving up everything from loaded burgers and wood-fired pizzas to fresh sushi, decadent desserts and beautifully plated fine dining, all without the animal products. Whether you’re vegan full-time or just keen to try something different, this guide has you covered. We’ve done the digging to find some of the best vegan restaurants in Cape Town and around the city, so you can spend less time searching and more time enjoying your next meal.
Cape Town’s Vegan Restaurant Scene – A Guide for International Visitors
If you’re planning a trip to South Africa and worried about finding plant-based dining options, Cape Town will surprise you. The city has become Southern Africa’s vegan food destination, with everything from casual cafes serving cold-pressed juices to formal restaurants offering creative plant-based tasting menus. For travellers accustomed to limited options in meat-focused culinary cultures, the diversity here is genuinely remarkable.
The vegan restaurant scene in Cape Town isn’t niche or apologetic. It’s woven into the fabric of the city’s food culture, catering to committed vegans, flexitarians, and the simply curious. Whether you’re visiting for a long weekend or basing yourself here for weeks, there’s more than enough to eat.
Where to Start
Nourish’d Café & Juicery
Nourish’d Café & Juicery occupies a different space in the ecosystem. This zero-waste café and juicery has become known for its cold-pressed juices and minimalist, chic interior design. With locations in Observatory, Kloof Street, and Green Point, it serves as both a breakfast spot and a lunch destination. The menu leans healthy, think the CBD Peppermint Crisp smoothie and a homemade lentil and beetroot patty burger. Prices sit between R100 and R150 per person (roughly £5–8), making it accessible for daily visits. They’re open Monday to Sunday, 8:30 am to 4 pm, and accept online orders through their website.
Website: https://nourishd.co.za/
Address: 177 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
Restaurant-Style Dining
The Conscious Kitchen
For those seeking a more formal vegan restaurant experience, The Conscious Kitchen on Kloof Street in Gardens offers a fine-dining-style experience. Described by regulars as “a slice of Bali in the heart of Cape Town, it offers a serene atmosphere with organic, sustainably sourced produce wherever possible. The menu runs both day and night options, all entirely plant-based. The holiday season sees special releases like their pâté. Beyond food, the space stocks skincare and home décor and hosts wine pairing events with House of Pinotage. Sunday to Wednesday they’re open 8 am to 6 pm; Thursday to Saturday, 8 am to 10:30 pm.
Website: https://www.theconsciouskitchen.co.za/
Address: 34 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
The Vegan Butcherie
The Vegan Butcherie in De Waterkant takes a deliberate approach to plant-based eating. Led by a chef with over five years’ experience in vegan meat alternatives, it produces bacon, pastrami, and chicken sausage from mushrooms, soya, and gluten-free flour, all carefully spiced. It’s a takeaway establishment primarily, though you can order online or through Mr D Food delivery. Beyond food, they sell vegan recipes and cookbooks. Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 9:30 pm, at 13A Dixon Street.
Website: https://theveganbutcherie.co.za/
Address: 13A Dixon St, De Waterkant, Cape Town, 8001
Casual and Neighbourhood Spots
Wild Eatery
Wild Eatery operates two locations: District Six in Cape Town and Somerset West. This vegan restaurant focuses on falafel wraps and salad bowls, with strong delivery partnerships through Uber Eats and Mr D Food. A meal costs R50–100 per person (£3–5), making it the most budget-conscious option on this list. District Six location opens Monday to Friday, 10 am to 3:30 pm, with Saturday service available. Outdoor seating creates a relaxed atmosphere.
Website: https://www.wildeatery.co.za/
Address: 59 Harrington St, District Six, Cape Town, 7925
Pizzasaurus
Pizzasaurus in District Six fills a specific niche well: wood-fired vegan and vegetarian pizza. The menu extends to pasta, light meals, and starters, with plant-based cheese and a notable calzone featuring egg, cheese, vegan bacon, tomato, and mushroom. Available through Mr D and Uber Eats. Monday to Thursday, 10 am to 9 pm; Friday to Saturday, 10 am to 10 pm, at 103 Harrington Street.
Website: https://pizzasaurus.co.za/
Address: 103 Harrington St, District Six, Cape Town, 8001
Neighbourhood Discoveries
Hang Ten Café
Different areas of Cape Town host their own vegan restaurants, each with distinct character. Hang Ten Café in Muizenberg operates from the Balmoral Building on Beach Road, capturing the local surf culture while serving sweet and savoury crepes alongside solid vegan options like Green Thai Veg Curry. Open from 6:30 am to 6 pm daily, it draws locals and tourists alike. The location itself, steps from the beach, justifies the journey for many visitors.
Address: Balmoral Building, 62 Beach Rd, Muizenberg, Cape Town, 7945
Spirit Café
Spirit Café in Constantia Village, opened by Kate Ball in 2015, serves vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free meals alongside smoothies and fresh juices. Prices run R100–150 per person. Thursday to Sunday hours vary: weekdays 8 am to 4:30 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 2 pm. The neighbourhood location makes it feel more like stumbling onto a neighbourhood favourite than visiting a tourist destination.
Website: https://www.spiritcafe.co.za/
Address: Shop 10A, Constantia Village Courtyard, Constantia Main Rd, Constantia, Cape Town, 7806
Blended Health Café & Catering
Blended Health Café & Catering in Glencairn offers ocean views from a location that has earned a strong local reputation. Open daily 7 am to 4:30 pm at 13 Glen Road, it provides both café dining and deli options, with catering available through their Blended Trailer for events. Instagram and Facebook activity keeps visitors informed of menu changes and specials.
Website: https://blendedbar.co.za/
Address: 14 Glen Road Glencairn, Simon’s Town, 7975
Whole Earth Café & Accommodation
Whole Earth Café & Accommodation in Scarborough, operating 8:30 am to 4 pm daily, stocks falafels, marinated olives, hummus, and a notable “Whole Bowl” dish. The inclusion of accommodation makes it useful for visitors planning a quieter day outside central Cape Town. Homemade desserts and fresh juices are worth seeking out.
Website: https://www.wholeearthcollection.com/
Address: Erf 257, 96 Main Rd, Scarborough, Cape Town, 7975
Less Obvious Options
The Sunshine Food Sprouting Co
The Sunshine Food Sprouting Co at Three Anchor Bay focuses entirely on organic, plant-based food. The menu emphasises sprouts like alfalfa and sunflower microgreens alongside red veggie burgers. Open 9 am to 8 pm daily, it accepts takeout, delivery, and dine-in orders, making it flexible for different travel styles.
Address: 2 M61, Three Anchor Bay, Cape Town, 8005
Mary-Ann’s Natural Emporium
Mary-Ann’s Natural Emporium near Somerset West has operated since 1991, run by the Shearer family. It stocks homemade sweets, snacks, dried fruits, nuts, and grains, with grab-and-go frozen vegan meals for travellers. Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, it functions more as an artisanal food shop than a traditional restaurant, useful for self-catering or picnic supplies.
Website: https://mary-anns.co.za/
Address: House 1st Floor, Triangle, 1 Urtel Cres, Somerset West, Cape Town, 7130
Wildsprout
Wildsprout operates two locations (Kenilworth and Constantia Village), offering vegan, gluten-free, and healthy food with particular attention to sweets and cakes. Prices sit at R100–150 per person. Both locations offer shopping, delivery, Wi-Fi, and outdoor seating. Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm; Saturday to Sunday, 8:30 am to 3 pm. Orders through their website or Uber Eats work smoothly.
Website: https://wsprout.co.za/
Address: Shop 1, Constantia Village Courtyard, Constantia, Cape Town, 7708
Practical Notes for Visitors
Pricing across vegan restaurants in Cape Town typically ranges from R50–150 per person (roughly £3–8). Even the more upmarket spots remain affordable by North American and UK standards. Most offer card payment, though having cash is occasionally useful for smaller establishments.
Booking ahead isn’t always necessary but is sensible for dinner service at Plant Café or The Conscious Kitchen. Lunch crowds do build, particularly at popular spots like Nourish’d on weekdays.
The concentration of vegan restaurants in and around Kloof Street (Gardens area) makes that neighbourhood efficient for restaurant-hopping if you’re basing yourself centrally. District Six holds several clusters—Pizzasaurus and Wild Eatery sit near each other—allowing walkable exploration.
Most establishments offer delivery through Uber Eats or Mr D Food, useful if you’re staying in accommodation without kitchen facilities. Cold-pressed juices and smoothies are nearly universal, making these cafes reliable stops when you want something lighter than a full meal.
Cape Town’s vegan restaurant landscape reflects genuine demand rather than tourism marketing. The scene exists because locals support it, which typically signals quality and authenticity. For international visitors, this means finding good food without the sense of eating from a limited “special diet” menu, you’re simply eating what much of the city eats.
