10 amazing vegan and vegetarian places in Budapest

Eating healthy food and all kind of diet trends have become quite popular nowadays. It’s hard to keep track of the new dietary trends, but most of us have probably heard about two of the most popular ones – vegetarianism and veganism. Listed below are some of the best vegetarian and vegan spots of Budapest, which include restaurants, cafés, salad bars and even confectioneries for people with a mayor sweet-tooth.

Many people don’t know the difference between vegetarianism and veganism, which definitions can be quite a sensitive topic for the followers of these trends. A vegetarian is someone who doesn’t eat meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, or the flesh of any other animal), while a vegan is someone who doesn’t eat meat, fish and any animal product (egg, dairy). Vegans follow an exclusively plant-based diet. However, distinctions can be made between several categories of veganism.

Napfényes Restaurant – 1077 Budapest, Rózsa Street 39.

In the most popular alternative restaurant of the city every meal is made from plant-based ingredients (meat-, egg- and dairy-free) that don’t contain animal protein or alcohol. Besides vegetarians, vegans will also find something delicious on the menu for sure. This is also a place where pizza lovers won’t draw a blank: the restaurant makes incredible spelt pizzas with versatile toppings.

Govinda Vegetarian Restaurant and Salad Bar – 1051 Budapest, Vigyázó Ferenc Street 4.

You should definitely visit Govinda Restaurant if you desire lacto-vegetarian delicacies and traditional Indian flavours, because they prepare all meals using clean, fresh ingredients, mostly grains, plant-parts and dairy products. The preparation methods and recipes follow the ancient Indian, Vedic tradition, so the dishes are juicy, filling, and non-fattening. They welcome guests with Indian dhals, sabjis, special sauces and more.

Nemsüti – 1137 Budapest, Jásza Mari Square 4/B. / 1054 Budapest, Hold Street 9.

If you’d prefer a good sandwich meal instead of a big dinner, then visit the Nemsüti (“Non-cookie”) sandwich bar, where the repertoire is based around sandwiches, salads, sandwich creams and freshly squeezed juices. You can order hot, cold, whole grain, pita sandwiches with paprika cream, aubergine cream, spinach cream, hummus, and other seasonal creams. They always get the ingredients from the best places, as the menu is adjusted to seasonal vegetables and fruits.

Napos oldal – 1066 Budapest, Jókai Street 7.

The restaurant found in the city centre claims to have the best breaded seitan of Budapest, but you can also indulge in sugar-free desserts. Furthermore, if you want to connect a romantic date with a breakfast, then you can choose from a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, freshly squeezed beetroot-carrot-apple juice, vegan café latte, and other great morning starters. Napos oldal (“Sunny side”) also has a bio shop, where you can stock up on reform ingredients, so that you can make your favourite meals at home.

Fruccola – 1054 Budapest, Kristóf Square 3. / 1051 Budapest, Arany János Street 32.

Fruccola is a real green zone in the gastro field of Budapest: you can put together filling salads from fresh ingredients in their salad bar section, or enjoy freshly squeezed juices, bio elixirs and coffees. This spot has become one of the favourite breakfast places of city dwellers, because the environmentally friendly restaurant has something to offer tó everyone. This is not an exclusively vegan or vegetarian place, they also have a few meat options, which is a great way to bring together the followers of different diets.