With superb locally grown, seasonal, natural Irish foods, and an array of eateries and healthy food outlets serving them all over the island, it’s good to know there will be all sorts of vegan and vegetarian eating out possibilities no matter where a journey in Ireland may take you.
The Irish vegan and vegetarian scenes are probably most popular in Dublin, but great choices can be found in all the other big cities on the island such as Cork and Belfast – plus there is a huge range of vegan and vegetarian gems just waiting to be discovered right around the country.
Starting in Dublin, moreish dishes are served up in the likes of Sova Vegan Butcher, a great place to go for a sit down meal in an all-vegan restaurant. Glas Restaurant on Chatham Street makes heroes out of Irish vegetables and serves vegan wine, while Veginity, ideal for dinner for two, fuses global gourmet flavours to create a unique food experience. Also check out Cornucopia, and the Vegan Sandwich Co who feature the highest quality plant-based ingredients.
In Belfast’s buzzing Cathedral Quarter, the options include 2Taps, boasting one of the city’s largest outdoor terraces, and Buba where half the menu is dedicated to vegans and the word is the cauliflower kebab and filo vegetable pie are to die for. You can tuck into the all-vegan menu at Home Restaurant, while vegetarian and gluten free choices can be found at Harlem in Bedford Street.
Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way is rich in vegan and vegetarian foodstuff. In County Clare for example, the Sweet n Green healthy food café has plenty of vegan and coeliac choices bursting with flavour, and don’t miss the special eco destination of Hotel Doolin, which has been shortlisted in this year’s V Awards. Its in-house Glas restaurant, Fitz’s Pub and the Stonewall Pizzeria are all super vegan friendly – the hotel even has vegan wedding package for couples getting married.
Those with a sweet tooth should seek out the likes of Hazel Mountain Chocolate in County Galway, where the dark vegan chocolate bars and hazelnut spreads are outstanding, and if travelling to Sligo – city or county – on the Wild Atlantic Way, make for Sweet Beats. This planet-first café and eco-shop is focused on making plant-based cuisine more accessible. It also specialises in fermented drinks, raw cold pressed juices, superfood smoothies, super salads, raw cakes and bars.
If your adventure to the Emerald Isle draws you to the celebrated Causeway Coastal Route, vegan and vegetarian friendly restaurants in the area will include the Tartine Distillers Arms, located close to the Old Bushmills Distillery and the Giant’s Causeway. Babushka and Ocho Tapas, both in the seaside resort of Portrush, and The Walled City Brewery in Derry~Londonderry will also keep your plant-based lifestyle going.
The award-winning Hidden City Café can be also be found within Derry~Londonderry's historic walls. Home to the largest plant-based menu in the Walled City if not the North West, this family-run café specialises in locally sourced wholesome food, with fair-trade coffee, organic teas and craft beers. On the menu you'll find a huge and eclectic variety of local produce, delicious salads, gourmet sandwiches (with imaginative fillings including seitan teriyaki and aduki bean bacon), speciality hot foods and an array of vegan cakes. Open late on Friday and Saturday evenings for sharing Chat Plates, delicious cocktails, craft beers, choice wines and great spirits, this gem is not to be missed.
At the other end of the island, the vegan-vegetarian food scene in the city of Cork has ramped up considerably in the last few years, with Café Paradiso, for instance, attracting international acclaim for its innovative and groundbreaking vegetable cuisine. Among the many other options in Cork, look out for vegan restaurant 143V, the 100% plant-based street food at Vegan KO and Iyers Café, a vegetarian café serving south Indian food and snacks.
A highlight of a trip to Cork is a wander around the city’s famous English Market, and My Goodness, an excellent vegan stall in the market, will keep you fuelled up with tasty food to make you feel good.