These are the best restaurants for vegans in Melbourne

Led by chef Dennis Yong, Parcs is an eco-conscious extension of the Windsor Hotel Group (which includes Sunda, Aru, etc). In line with its sustainable ethos, the kitchen is low-waste and predominantly vegan with an emphasis on preserved and fermented foods. Mushrooms are marinated in housemade hot sauce, deep-fried and served with funky preserved tofu cream for dipping; youtiao are spread with smoky sunchoke puree and sprinkled with moromi zaatar and even many of the beverages are fermented in-house.

​​Though Maha is by no means a plant-based restaurant, its vegan-tasting menu is a siren call for meatless diners – and well worth the $150 price tag. It consists of an elaborate meze spread plus mains such as Turkish red lentil dumplings and, of course, an aromatic Middle Eastern-inspired dessert to end the meal. If that’s a bit rich for your taste, though, there’s also a ten-dish soufra menu for $95 a head.

Shannon Martinez’s beloved Spanish-inspired restaurant closed briefly when the eatery changed locations last year, but now it’s back and better than ever. The Mediterranean-leaning menu highlights the breadth of vegan food and showcases Martinez’s housemade range of mock meats and non-dairy cheeses. Choose from the à la carte menu, which features the likes of 'lamb' ragù and braised Persian 'pork' meatballs, or splash out with the $95 nine-dish chef’s table.

Red Sparrow is an all-vegan pizzeria that does away with the below-average-vegan pizza stigma by making its own mock meats (try the pepperoni) and cheeses (witch-crafted with coconut oil and tapioca) that could fool your everyday omnivore. It's a glorious thing to pick up a slice of fresh-out-the-woodfired-oven margherita, and not be confronted by an unlikeable vegan cheese. Red Sparrow's version sees vegan creamy white fior di latte sitting atop a tangy, slightly-sweet San Marzano tomato base that calls for applause. The crust is thin, lightly charred and just the right amount of chew. 

Shimbashi is slinging housemade soba noodles, made from 100 per cent premium Tasmanian buckwheat, across Melbourne with outposts cropping up in Collingwood, Northcote and Carlton North. And a large portion of the menu at Shimbashi happens to be vegan-friendly. The vegan teriyaki tofu bento box, vegan tempura, vegan tororo mushroom soba and a vegan red dragon soba are just some of the options. Bonus tip: all the meals on the menu are gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free.

Inspired by the owner’s Sichuan upbringing, Shu celebrates regional Chinese cooking with an experimental, plant-based twist. At $45 a head for five courses or $75 for ten, Shu offers one of the cheaper vegan set menus around. The delicate dishes such as vegan prawn, mince and sticky rice wrapped in cabbage leaves or congee-inspired risotto with black truffle, rival what you’ll find on pricier tasting menus.

Pinchy’s may be known for its seafood and rooftop locale overlooking Bourke Street, but the ocean-inspired vegan offering ensures no one gets left out. Charred lion’s mane mushrooms stand in for lobster in the restaurant’s signature rolls and carrots make a convincing tuna tartare replacement in the savoury cornettos, which come topped with wasabi mayo and jalapeño salsa. There’s also endless sparkling on offer, of course, adding to the luxe factor.

You might not know Mathew Guthrie or James Langley, but there’s a good chance you’re familiar with some of their past haunts – namely, Panama Dining Room, St Jude’s Cellars and Pizza Mine Libre. Now, they’re back with business partner Clinton Trevisi for Patsy’s, a natural wine bar that happens to be vegetarian. Though the whole menu isn't plant-based, there are plenty of vegan-friendly options on offer.

Glou originally made waves as a low-waste natural wine bar (all wine is on tap and served in reusable bottles) but it has received even more acclaim since adopting an entirely plant-based menu developed by chef Yolanda Wheelan. If you’re the snacky type, go for the vegan cheese plate that comes with Sichuan pickles, mushroom pate, candied almonds and house-made tarragon chips. It’s substantial enough to tide you over through a glass or two until Wheelan’s luscious desserts inevitably call your name.

The $335-a-person cost makes Lume’s plant-based set menu one of the priciest around but if you’ve got the budget for it, it’s a vegan idyll. Here, fruit and veg are given the star treatment while maintaining a semblance of the beautiful produce they began as. Begin with items such as the delicate pea and rhubarb tartlet and potato that’s woodfired until creamy. Then, beetroot is glazed and celeriac is charred to draw out the natural sweetness, encouraging even the pickiest eaters to enjoy their vegetables.

This vegetarian and vegan dining institution has existed for more than two decades, and it just seems to keep getting more popular. It's always busy here, and it's the quality of the plant-based food that keeps crowds coming back for more. The specials boards are updated frequently and always worth the time to read – perennial favourites on the regular menu include the 'mostly greens' stir-fry, a bean burrito served with the works, and some mighty fine vegetarian pizzas for under a tenner.

This tiny Japanese café may be small, but it's mighty. This joint specialises in healthy Japanese options, with a range of proteins of the day that include vegan options such as nasu dengaku (miso-glazed eggplant) with a range of pickles and wild rice. Japanese curries are made from scratch, and the vegan ramen is one of the best in Melbourne. 

Built in 1854, the Cornish Arms was once a favourite for gold diggers (of the literal variety) and has been a mainstay of Brunswick social life for over a century. And the team get top marks for inclusive pub meals. There's a dedicated vegan section ensuring your craving for fish and chips, souvlaki and a parma are met without any animal products going into them.

This Brunswick Street spot is slinging some of the tastiest plant-based desserts going around. We're talking soft serve, gelato and cakes, plus maca fudge bars, matcha almond tarts and bounty bites. On the drinks menu, you'll find spiced mylks, cold-pressed juices, smoothies and thick shakes (all vegan, of course). The best part? Girls and Boys is right next door to Vegie Bar, which means you can grab the perfect after-dinner sweet treat after feasting on hearty vego meals. Popular gelato flavours include honeycomb and cookie dough, hazelnut brownie, and sticky date and almond praline. 

This boho-chic all-day restaurant serves simple Lebanese with plenty of pickles and very little fuss. This is everything a neighbourhood restaurant should be. It's loud, and it’s BYO, with service that's personal if a little bit shambolic during peak times. Vegans get a solid look-in here. Green beans are liberally sluiced in a jammy reduction of olive oil, chilli and garlic, and falafel balls are soft, fragrant pucks made with a green and yellow split pea base for a sweeter spin on the chickpea classic. We’re also keen on a squishy, cumin-y plate of cauliflower florets and eggplant fried with dukkha. 

Part juice bar, part café, Combi is the kind of eatery where every single menu item has at least one superfood (but the more, the better). The café specialises in organic vegetarian and vegan feed, and there are a variety of thick-cut toast toppings and super bowls. However, the smoothies are the main event here. These resemble freakshakes but are definitely more healthy – many of the superfood smoothies taste too good to be healthy but are indeed packed full of healthy fruits, seeds and nut mylks.

Home is your new home for rainbow-hued juices, healthy snacks and plant-based lunches. Pop in on your lunch break to try the vegan bibimbap or a falafel bowl. Everything is made with plenty of love in-house (including some very addictive kimchi) and there's even vegan wine on tap if you fancy a tipple!

Say what you want about this fast food joint, but one thing is for sure, Lord of the Fries were well ahead of the times offering tasty vegan food long before it was cool. More than just chips in a cone, Lord of the Fries offers burgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese balls, onion rings and so much more.

There are more than 200 outposts of this all-vegan eatery worldwide, and it’s not hard to see why. The price is right, for a start – and while the fitout isn’t anything fancy, the real reason you come to this (mostly) pan-Asian restaurant is for the mock meat. Dishes range from ‘ham’ sushi and deep-fried ‘prawns’ to Southern-fried ‘chicken’. Want to try it at home? Loving Hut has a wide grocery selection, where you can stock up on mock meat and other vegan ingredients.

Meet Rufio: a Latin-fusion and 100% gluten free restaurant, bar, and rooftop. Opt for the full vegan set menu to taste some of the most colourful plant-based fare in Melbourne, from chargrilled arepas with pickled jalapenos to wild mushroom tostadas with potato, avocado and dill.  The passionfruit coconut panna cotta with yuzu Arroz con Leche, raspberry sorbet and pistachio is a standout.