Vegan Guide to Vienna: BEST trendy restaurants, cafes and everything in-between

Morning: Where to eat a plant-based breakfast and lunch

La La Cafe

A must visit when you’re in Vienna is the La La Cafe. And it had to be first on my Vegan Guide to Vienna! Whether it’s for breakfast or lunch this plant-based restaurant is a gem. Situated in the centre of bustling Vienna, it’s a great place to start your day, or to pop into for lunch while you’re exploring.

The menu offers an abundance of plant-based dishes. From loaded smoothie bowls and nice creams, to gourmet toasts and savoury buddha bowls. Portion sizes are big here. Certainly you get what you pay for, so don’t go overboard with ordering. We took two smoothie bowls (green and acai) with avocado toast to share and it was more than enough food.

As for drinks the options are endless, from hot and iced wellness lattes with a range of plant-milk options. and juices and teas. You can also take snacks to go from the fridge on the back wall, like chia puddings, brownies and bliss balls.

What makes the experience so lovely, apart from the food is the interior of this cafe; it’s as cute as they come. The style is pink and girly with a 1950’s retro vibe. It’s definitely picture perfect for an insta snap with your girls.

Swing Kitchen

Most of us have tried the beyond meat burger at fast food chains by now, but have you ever tried a 100% plant-based fast-food restaurant? Where you can taste EVERYTHING on the menu? Swing Kitchen is the first Viennese fast food join to offer a 100% plant-based menu. If you’re looking for vegan comfort food this is your place. Think burgers, sweet potato waffle fries, and Schnitzel wraps. And you won’t believe these dishes are vegan they taste SO much like the real thing. (Truly, I had to Google it numerous times after eating chick’n nuggets and thinking maybe I accidentally ordered real chicken. Thankfully a quick DM back from Swing Kitchen confirmed that yes, the restaurant is 100% plant-based and it really does taste just like chicken! haha).

With numerous locations around Vienna it’s a great place to go when you need tasty vegan sustenance pronto! It’s cheap and quack, and a great option to takeaway for a picnic outside during the summer months.

The interior is pretty trendy too for a fast food joint. With fresh herbs on the tables, one-speed bikes as decor, and brick walls, you can’t help but think that Vienna’s got food and style all figured out. Why can’t McDonalds look like this!? It was a pleasure to see a vegan fast-food joint killing it in this bustling city.

Afternoon: For coffee and vegan snacks

Balthasar

If you’re into good coffee, you’re going to want to check out Balthasar. When it comes to coffee, the staff at Balthasar are not messing around. Think drip coffee, or infused iced-coffees that steep for 6-12 hours. A lot goes into sourcing their beans and finding blends that are ultra unique and naturally sweet.

Now, if you’re not so knowledgable on coffee don’t let that deter you from a visit. The staff at Balthasar are SO friendly and non-judgemental. They’re happy to help you choose the style of coffee that suits your preference. And they will even go through a list of questions and recommend what they think you might like. (With a follow up to your table to make sure you like it!).

With plant-based milk options you can happily sip their picture perfect lattes, (I recommend taking a flat white with oat milk). And if coffee isn’t your thing they also offer Champagne  by the glass (for a decent price too!). As if I could love this cafe any more.

And, I LOVE the ambiance in this cafe. It’s sort of hipster meets chic. You’ll find old herringbone wood floors and artistic walls, intricate tiling along the bar, and eclectic decor like their gold ruffled lighting. Honestly…this place is as cool AF. Trust me when I say it’s a must visit. Which is why it’s made the list in my Vegan Guide to Vienna.

Veganista

Truly one of the most memorable finds during our summer Europe trip was Veganista in Vienna. A plant-based ice cream bar offering handmade vegan ice-cream in an abundance of unique flavours. From lavender to matcha, and cookies and cream.

Veganista was started by two sisters with the goal to make the best vegan ice cream,  and I must say they achieved it. We were blown away by just how tasty this vegan ice cream was. Veganista is hands down the most similar in taste and texture to real ice cream.

This ice cream bar is sort of famous in Vienna, and I had multiple people recommend to visit (for good reason!). Due to its popularity the joint has expanded its locations around the city, so keep your eyes peeled for one near you.

It’s also owned by the same company as the  La La Cafe. And their flagship store is right beside the cafe. So enjoy a savoury dish at La La and head over to Veganista for dessert.

Evening: Where to eat a Plant-based Dinner

Cafe Ansari

Certainly, this picturesque restaurant is a head turner with its quaint and welcoming front patio. Cafe Ansari has all the feel good vibes. Think lush green planters, sweet candles on patio tables, and fairy lights. You’ll want to climb right into this garden party amidst the bustling city.

Cafe Ansari is not fully vegan, but has quite a few vegan and vegetarian options on the menu. Making it a great place to go with a mixed crowd of eaters. And the food is GOOD! In fact, we enjoyed eating here so much that we came for dinner AND breakfast the next day (ask for the polenta porridge with oat milk for brekkie). They have good coffee too!

Certainly this popular restaurant gets busy. So I recommend to book a reservation in advance, especially if you’re visiting Vienna on the weekend. It’s also just a 15 minute walk from Wasser Village if you’re into eclectic architecture.

Mochi

This Japanese restaurant is super popular with locals, You won’t want to miss out on a visit. Again, it’s not entirely vegan, but there are lots of vegetarian and vegan options, and they will even try to fulfill requests if made.

Their food is beautifully presented, and picture perfect.The restaurant is small, so I encourage you to book in advanced. Sit in the interior space and get swept away by the bustle of this lively restaurant Or, enjoy the outdoor patio in the front of the restaurant during the summer months. From salads to tapas and maki, there’s a lot of options to choose from. It’s hard not to fall in love with this restaurant.

Harvest Cafe Bistrot

Harvest Cafe Bistrot is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant offering soul food. The menu boasts regional and seasonal gastro-pub foods, and the environment is chill and relaxed. If you’re looking to get a real taste of how vegans in Vienna eat, this is your place among locals. Dishes are comforting and inviting, with an array of sweet treats and lots of drink options (alcoholic and non).

Das LOFT (for drinks)

I’m not usually big into night life, but Das LOFT is worth a cheeky glass and late night. Above this swanky hotel is an unforgettable rooftop bar and restaurant, which gives the best views in the city. And everyone in this space gets a good view. The bar is raised, giving you an unobstructed view from anywhere in the restaurant.

As for the ambiance? It’s chic AF. Certainly, Das LOFT is a place to dress up and be seen. But look up and take note of the drop ceiling above you, it’s a masterpiece with vibrant sunset tones of oranges, red, greens and blues. You can even see it from street level it’s so electric!

Definitely, this bar/resto is more pricey than my other recommendations, but it’s certainly not stuffy. People of all ages come to this bar for the views itself. I recommend to come for the sunset. Then, stay for an extra glass because as the lights go down, the music goes up and this bar comes to life. Plus the city lights of Vienna at night are enchanting and will want to see it. This bar/restaurant is not vegan, but they do have vegan options on their menu and snack bar if you get hungry.

So there it is, my Vegan Guide to Vienna! For the trendiest breakfast and lunch spots, cool cafes, and best places to go for dinners and drinks around this fabulous city. I must say, Vienna is one of the most plant-based friendly cities we visited during our summer in Europe, and I’m sure you will love it.  Whether you’re traveling alone, with other vegans, or all types of eaters – this list is sure to have something for you. And if you like this travel post, check out these travel guides:

• Paris Vegan Guide
• Vegan Guide to Marrakech
• Vegan Guide to Porto

Enjoy Vienna, and take me with you!