Inner city Sydney has an insatiable appetite for vegan foodie locales, from the likes of eclectic Newtown, to the alternative digs in Enmore and the outer rim of Sydney’s central business district; all within walking and accessible by quick and affordable public transport. The day’s stock-standard three meals are covered for any traveller, though inner city Sydney’s established vegan scene covers all the in-betweens, too.
When travelling to Sydney, vegan foodies must travel the extra ‘mile’ or so to experience all the vegan goodness that these foodie destinations have to offer. It’s not about where to go; it’s a matter of where to start! Here are my recommendations – all tried and tested – so you can spend a couple of days mapping out your own vegan foodie tour of inner city Sydney.
Lazy Vegan Brunches and Lunches
It’s the last place you want to see ‘butcher’ in print, but Suzy Spoons Vegetarian Butcher proudly claim the word in a compassionate light. I recommend heading there for an early-ish breakfast/brunch so you can keep travelling and eating later in the day. Vegan sausages, pepperoni, rashers, patties and roasts can be purchased here, though stay longer and order a fry-up of cauliflower and kale sausage, hash-browns, toast, grilled tomato and wilted spinach. Suzy Spoons will have you powering for the morning.
I never thought I would ever be eating vegan ‘fish’ and chips. It’s a reality at Bliss & Chips, where you can choose from ‘fish’ burgers, various deep-fried ‘seafood’ sides such as ‘crabsticks’ and ‘calamari’. Or, be a traditionalist and order a bliss and chips pack, a ‘fish’ fillet resting on a bed of crispy chips, pot of tartare sauce and lemon wedge. Just don’t go past a serve of crunchy sweet potato cakes (that’s scallops to Sydneysiders). Drinks and salads stand at the ready as well.
Dining Out for Vegan Dinner
Golden Lotus is a 100% all-vegan Vietnamese restaurant with all your favourite authentic Vietnamese flavours…and then some! This vegan Vietnamese dinner destination prides itself on fresh and healthy meals, accentuated by vermicelli noodle salad and Saigon fried spring rolls. Serve up all your dishes with brown and white broken rice, then finish up with a dessert serving of banana rolls with coconut cream and soy icecream.
The crowning glory of any vegan visit to King Street (nicknamed ‘Eat Street’) in Newtown requires a mandatory sitting at Gigi Pizzeria – all Italian pizzeria that has recently converted to an all-vegan experience. Though, this comes with a warning. Get in early, because you can’t book! Once you do secure a table, make your choices quick and swift, such as authentic Napoli flavours served up in crocchette di patate (almond coated potato croquettes), rucola mele e canella (salad of rocket, roasted apple, radicchio and pistachio) and a pizze handmade to strict Napoli traditions, then stone-roasted in a wood-fired oven. Specials are available daily though leave enough room for the incredible vegan dessert selection. My tip? Don’t stop at one – chocolate custard cannoli, and the classic tiramisu di Gigi. Bellissimo!
Delectable Vegan Sweets and Treats
Gelato Blue is a gelato and espresso bar transformed into an all-vegan gelato destination. Almost every gelato flavour has been considered, such as Carrot Cake, Vanilla Panna Cotta, Espresso Swirl, and Caramelised Fig bringing to walk-up customers a freezer cabinet bursting with house-made gelato. Free taste tests are available, too! Vegan waffle cones can be loaded with up to three scoops. Or, try a sundae, loaded with your gelato choices, and topped by a waffle cone, crushed peanuts and dripping with melted Belgian chocolate. And, then there’s the vegan cake cabinet…
Doughnut Time isn’t an exclusively vegetarian/vegan doughnut destination, yet they do stock a couple of delicious vegan doughnuts. Going by their tagline, it’s ‘always a good time’ when you can find a blueberry jam-filled, sugar-coated doughnut. It’s aptly named Blue Ivy. Oozing jam as you bite into one of these soft and fluffy rounds is assured.
If plant-based, organic and raw vegan is your fancy, head towards Enmore for Sadhana Kitchen (a quick walk from heart of Newtown, actually). Ask for a slice of Sadhana’s daily cabinet special, such as their homemade mango vegan cheesecake then partner it with a gorgeous beverage as you sit at one of their warm wooden benches.
Have you visited Sydney’s vegan foodie destinations? Or, have you experienced one that wasn’t listed in this round-up? I’d love to hear about your vegan eating travels in Sydney. Perhaps, this post has inspired you to go, as a vegan first-timer?
If you’re keen to map out your own vegan food adventures in Sydney, you can also check out my contribution to GPSmyCity. This is a destination where you can create your own customised self-guided city walks through their series of user-friendly apps. Just head to this weblink!
