Vienna Is One of Europe's Best Cities for Vegan Food
Surprising but true. Whether you're plant-based by choice or hosting someone who is, Vienna delivers — from Michelin-recognised vegetarian fine dining to vegan Schnitzel that actually holds up.
Not What You'd Expect
Vienna is known for Schnitzel, Tafelspitz, and pork knuckle. It is also home to TIAN — a Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant in the 1st district — and a dense ecosystem of serious plant-based dining that most visitors never expect to find.
The city's vegan scene grew fast in the 2010s and is now mature: full-menu vegan restaurants, vegan Austrian classics, vegan fine dining, vegan Vietnamese, vegan pizza. Not "vegan options" bolted onto carnivore menus — dedicated establishments with genuine craft and real kitchens doing ambitious work.
Practical note: Vienna is also one of the most vegan-labelled cities in Europe. Most menus clearly mark vegan options with "V" or "VG." You will not struggle here — and many of these restaurants would impress anyone regardless of dietary preference.
For the Full Experience
The restaurants that happen to be vegan AND would impress anyone regardless. Fine dining, tasting menus, serious kitchens.
Mixed-Diet Client Tables
Restaurants where vegan guests eat extremely well alongside meat-eaters. Works for tables with mixed dietary needs.
Casual & Local Favourites
Where Viennese plant-based locals actually eat. Vietnamese, delis, artisan tofu, and the restaurants that built the scene.
Quick & Good
Between sessions, no fuss. Vegan burgers, bowls, and the market stalls that make plant-based easy.
The Best of Plant-Based Vienna
TIAN Restaurant
MichelinVienna's world-class vegetarian fine dining restaurant. Chef Paul Ivic works with exclusively vegetarian ingredients — seasonal, regional, organic — and produces food of the highest technical sophistication. Multi-course tasting menus. White tablecloths, attentive service, exceptional wine pairings. TIAN is the definitive answer to anyone who still thinks fine dining requires meat. Not 100% vegan but vegan menus are available and done with full seriousness.
JOLA
100% vegan fine dining tasting experience. Founded by Jonathan Wittenbrink (kitchen) and Larissa Andres (front of house), JOLA offers a surprise multi-course menu built entirely around seasonal and regional produce from small local suppliers. The beverage programme includes 220 natural wines and thoughtfully crafted non-alcoholic pairings. Jonathan trained at TIAN — the lineage shows.
LARA
The more relaxed sibling of JOLA. Same kitchen philosophy — seasonal, regional, plant-based — but in a smaller plates format without the full tasting menu commitment. Clay-plastered walls, warm hand-blown lighting, open kitchen. Dishes like tacos with king oyster mushrooms and spaghettini cooked in tomato water. Effortless calm.
Velani
Widely considered the best vegan restaurant in Vienna for traditional Austrian cuisine. 100% vegan. The vegan Schnitzel is the most-ordered dish among first-timers — and it holds up. The Zwiebelrostbraten (seitan with crispy onions and rich sauce) is the pick for those who know the original. Beautiful plating, serious kitchen.
Where Everyone Eats Well
These restaurants are not 100% vegan but are notable specifically because their vegan options are genuinely excellent — not afterthoughts. Perfect for tables with mixed dietary needs.
TIAN Bistro am Spittelberg
The casual sibling of TIAN Restaurant — same kitchen philosophy, less formal, more accessible price point. Located in the charming Spittelberg quarter. Vegetarian and vegan-focused menu that changes with the seasons. A genuinely great option for a table where dietary needs are mixed — everyone eats well here.
Mochi
Vienna's top Japanese restaurant. Listed here because Japanese cuisine is structurally excellent for plant-based guests — edamame, miso, vegetable tempura, tofu dishes, vegetable sushi rolls. Mochi accommodates well. Works perfectly for a mixed table where one guest is plant-based and others aren't — everyone leaves happy.
See full entry in the Vienna Dining Guide →
Zum Schwarzen Kameel
Vienna's most celebrated wine bar and deli. The open-faced sandwich counter includes genuinely good plant-based options — and the wine list is exceptional. Works well for a standing lunch or pre-dinner stop with a mixed group.
See full entry in the Vienna Dining Guide →
Where Vienna's Vegans Eat
Vevi Restaurant
Local Favourite100% vegan Vietnamese. Three locations across Vienna. The starter plate for two is the right call — a mix of the kitchen's best appetisers. Try the summer rolls, the Pho, and the crispy seitan. Vivid flavours, consistently good, very popular with local vegan regulars. Get there early or book.
Pepper & Ginny
A tiny vegan Viennese deli. Famous for: carrot lox on bread, vegan camembert (genuinely rare), triple grilled cheese. A small shop where you can buy vegan snacks and specialty items to take home. It's a place to appreciate craft and quality in a very small space. More sandwich bar than restaurant — but an exceptional one.
Swing Kitchen
Fast CasualVienna's most popular 100% plant-based burger chain — started in Vienna, now expanded to Berlin. The Kraut Pleaser (vegan Schnitzel with homemade sauerkraut) is the signature. The sweet potato fries are a genuine crowd-pleaser even for non-vegans. Stylish, fast, genuinely good. Three central locations — very convenient between conference sessions.
Veggiezz
Modern, fully vegan fast-food restaurant with two locations in the 1st district — extremely convenient for conference attendees. Bowls, burgers, wraps, seitan steaks. The Crunchy Pumpkin bowl (quinoa, pumpkin, orange mustard, roasted nuts) is a seasonal favourite. Fast service, no fuss.
Wiener Tofumanufaktur
A tofu manufactory at Karmelitermarkt — organic, locally sourced soybeans, tofu made fresh daily on-site. Saturday brunch includes silken tofu scramble, vegan tartar, silken tofu with spring onions and pumpkin seed oil. Not a restaurant in the conventional sense — a craft food producer where eating is part of the experience. Worth scheduling a Saturday morning around.
Between Sessions
Naschmarkt
Vienna's open-air market has always been strong for plant-based eating — Middle Eastern, Asian, and Mediterranean stalls provide easy vegan options throughout. The market restaurants are patchier; go for the stalls instead.
See full entry in the Vienna Dining Guide →
Billa / Billa Plus
Vienna's supermarkets have a surprisingly strong vegan shelf — labelled plant-based products, ready meals, fresh salads, and pastries. Multiple central locations including underground stations. Good backup for early mornings or late nights. Not a recommendation with enthusiasm — but a reliable practical option worth knowing.
A Note on Mixed Tables
Hosting a dinner where not everyone is plant-based?
The restaurants in the mixed-diet section were chosen specifically for this situation. TIAN Bistro is the cleanest solution — the menu is so good that omnivores don't feel they're compromising. Mochi works because Japanese cuisine naturally accommodates plant-based guests without drawing attention to it. Zum Schwarzen Kameel works for drinks and nibbles where dietary needs don't need to be managed at all. The general rule in Vienna: any restaurant with a strong Austrian or Mediterranean focus will have at least one or two excellent vegan options — just confirm when you book.
Vegan Map
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Vienna labels clearly
Most menus use "V" for vegetarian and "VG" or "vegan" for plant-based. Labelling is generally reliable; confirm with the server if uncertain.
Cash is king
Many Vienna restaurants, particularly smaller independents, are cash only. Always carry euros. Bankomats (ATMs) are everywhere.
Tap water isn't free
Ask for still or sparkling mineral water, not tap. Order a drink — it's the Viennese way.
Tipping
Round up to the nearest 5 or 10. Hand the tip directly to the server when you pay, not left on the table.
Book ahead
TIAN and JOLA require reservations well in advance. For casual spots, walk-in usually works.
Sunday closures
Many independent restaurants are closed Sunday or have limited hours. Plan ahead.
More Vienna Guides
Vienna Dining Guide
Not eating plant-based? Our full dining guide covers classic Austrian, business dinners, and quick lunches for all appetites.
Read the Dining Guide →Vienna Coffee Guide
Vienna's coffee culture is unmissable — from 200-year-old Kaffeehäuser to the city's best specialty roasters.
Read the Coffee Guide →See you in Vienna
May 19, 2026
Eat well, think well, and bring your best ideas. Plant-based Vienna is waiting.