London, Berlin, Melbourne, Tel Aviv; These are all cities known for having a booming food scene that caters well to those eating only a plant-based diet. It’s no surprise to anyone to see them topping lists of the world’s best cities for vegans on a consistent basis. What may surprise you though, is that in a recent survey, by foodie website Chef’s Pencil, while the UK came second to Australia in the countries’ list, Bristol came top in the cities’ category, making it the world’s vegan capital.
Veganism is more popular than it has ever been and is on the rise worldwide. The Vegan Society reports as many as 600,000 UK residents live on a completely plant-based diet, with many millions considering themselves ‘flexitarian’, cutting down on meat and eating mostly veggie or vegan. As a city that is constantly at the forefront of growing trends on switched on to the zeitgeist – from the “Bristol Sound” in the late eighties and nineties music scene that spawned trip-hop and drum & bass, to it being the first city in the UK to really embrace graffiti culture – so it shouldn’t be too shocking that Bristol was an early adopter in this growing movement.
Bristols foodie scene, in general, is going from strength to strength. During my 3 days in the city, I really struggled to choose where to eat, more from sheer choice than lack of it; it claims 5 Michelin starred restaurants within close proximity to the city centre alone, the daily markets offer up a range of street food to suit any tastes, and the riverside Wapping Wharf hosts stacks of converted shipping containers that host an incredibly cool group of cafes and restaurants that come alive on a weekend and evening.
In this guide, I’ve pulled together my favourite spots for vegan food in Bristol. From bulging pittas in St Nicholas market to down ‘n’ dirty ‘fried chicken’ sandwiches that are guaranteed to cure even the worst hangover and everything in between. Here is where to find the best plant-based food in Bristol.
Suncraft
From the same team behind Gallimaufry on the other side of Gloucester Road, Suncraft’s menu is an eclectic and colourful mix of plant-based dishes from around the world such as Asian-inspired noodle dishes, hearty Ethiopian lentil stews and lightly spiced chickpea koftas. The small menu is varied and 100% vegan, as well as mostly gluten-free, and created by Kane Danaher, ex-head chef of The Ivy Clifton Brasserie. With its bright yellow frontage, colourful tiles and prints, Suncraft is an invitingly bright space with a streetfood-meets-diner feel. I’d highly recommend the Gochujang stew with Korean rice cake or the aromatic coconut laska, washed down with freshly pressed juice or one of the local craft beers.
Where: 39 Gloucester Rd
Opening Times: Daily 12pm – 9.30pm
Oowee Vegan
Most people know Oowee for having some of the best meaty burgers in Bristol, dishing them up at their much-loved diners in Picton Street and on North St in Bedminster. They even expanded to the capital through Deliveroo Editions – launching Oowee and Oowee Vegan inside Deliveroo’s purpose-built kitchens in Blackwall. However, Inspired by the success of Oowee Vegan’s London launch, owners Verity Foss and Charlie Watson have opened a dedicated vegan diner on Baldwin Street in the city centre.
Where: 65 Baldwin St
Opening Times: Sun to Thurs 11.30am – 10.30pm; Fri & Sat 11.30am – 11pm
Bun Fiction
Hidden away in the student hangout of Kongs, King Street, this recently opened pop-up offers up a selection of the finest, filthy vegan sandwiches that you’ll ever sink your teeth into as well as decedent sides and dirty fries. I’d recommend going for the ‘Bad Mother Clucker’, one of the best seitan chicken sandwiches I’ve ever eaten, with light, crispy, perfectly spiced batter and dripping in a succulent smokey mayo sauce. As it is located in a pub, Bun Fiction is for people aged 18 and over only, however, that means you can choose from a huge range of local beers to wash down all that junk food.
Where: Kongs of King Street, 13-15 King St
Opening Times: Tues to Thurs 5pm – 9pm; Fri 5pm – 10pm; Sat 12pm – 10pm; Closed Sun & Mon
Fi Real
Originally opening in 2014, Fi Real is a family-run spot that brings you fiery vegan food with a distinctly Caribbean twist. I’m talking delicious jerked tofu, Trelawney yam stew, barbequed veggie mince, along with typical Caribbean sides of dumplings and plantain. Fi real is guaranteed to bring a little colour and sunshine to even the dreariest Bristol day.
Where: 57 West Street, Old Market
Opening Times: Mon to Thurs 1pm – 10pm; Sun 1pm – 8pm; Closed Fri & Sat
Vx
Completely smashing the preconception that vegan food is just about healthy and occasionally boring mixes of pulses, legumes and salad, Vx serves up greasy, calory-packed, downright dirty street food. According to the owners, “Veganism should never be a brown rice and lentil hell or a flavourless penance”. They want to promote a cruelty-free vegan lifestyle without sacrificing taste. A joint venture between its two French owners, Rudy Penando and Amandine Tchou, Vx offers a huge range of junk food such as sticky soya ribs, juicy burgers, kebabs and currywurst. I’d recommend getting stuck into the stringy and saucy mac n cheese or the bulging burritos.
Where: 125 East St
Opening Times: Mon & Tues 10am – 5.30pm; Weds to Sat 10am – 8pm; Sun 11am – 5pm
The Best of the Rest
Although certainly not a vegan establishment, Bristol-born institution Pieminister has added a few vegan options to their range of pies; the Kevin is filled with mushroom, tomato, red wine and thyme while the Chooks Away is a take on the classic chicken pie but filled with tofu, seitan, smoked garlic and sherry sauce. Both pies can be ordered on a bed of vegan cheesy mash, finished with peas, parsnip and a kale fritter.
Apparently, the harbourside ZaZa Bazaar is the UK’s largest restaurant with space for 1000 covers in its ‘World banquet bar’ street food market. The variety of food is vast, meaning there are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options to choose from.
Koocha, in Bristol’s independent quarter, is a vegan mezze bar showcasing the best of plant-based Persian cuisine.
Josh Eggleton, of popular Michelin-starred gastropub the Pony and Trap, has opened an innovative veggie-focused restaurant, Root, in the incredibly cool Wapping Wharf area of the city. Although meat is served, it is relegated to the side dishes as vegetables are made the heroes of the menu.
Also located in Wapping Wharf, Gopal’s Curry Shack serves up vibrant, fresh, and aromatic vegan Indian food.
If you’re wandering through St. Nicholas Market and in need of a quick snack, take note of the huge queue that is likely to be forming outside of Eat a Pitta. The hummus is homemade, the salads are fresh, and the falafel is a third-generation recipe, making it one of the best quick snacks that you will find in the city. They also have two more outlets on Gloucester Road and in Broadmead.
Everyone that I asked about vegan food in the city swore to me that the Bristolian does the best vegan breakfast in Bristol. Tucked away on a quiet street corner of Stokes Croft, it offers a full English breakfast with scrambled tofu and homemade baked beans until 3 pm for any late-risers.
