Vegan food has been growing in popularity all over the world. Even non-vegans won’t say no to a savory plate of tofu quiche or a slice of avocado toast. Every year, we see more and more vegan restaurants pop up – especially in Amsterdam.

For years, Amsterdam has been famous for its vibrant art scene and its mystifying canals. However, the “Venice of the North” is becoming famous for another reason; its amazing vegan restaurants.

Today, we’re going to highlight the top 8 vegan restaurants in Amsterdam. We’ll talk about everything from fine dining establishments to low profile cafés. Some of these establishments will be close to downtown Amsterdam, while others can be found at the edge of the city. To enjoy a care-free dining experience, we highly recommend you leave your things with a luggage storage service before heading to any of these restaurants.

Benji’s 

Benji’s refers to itself as “the urban jungle.” Part of the reason why is Benji’s Bali-inspired aesthetic. The other reason why is Benji’s tropical-themed menu. Most items on this menu are vegan or vegetarian. Here are just a few of the dishes and drinks that Benji’s offers:

• Beyond Burgers served with guacamole, vegan cheddar, and vegan mayo
• Buddha Bowl salads served with quinoa, black beans, and homemade beetroot hummus
• Cocktails, mocktails, gins, and tonics

We’ve only scratched the surface of this urban jungle’s menu. Head over to Benji’s website to see the items that we couldn’t cover. Oh, we almost forgot, Benji’s serves brunch, lunch, and dinner!

Cottoncake

Cottoncake easily takes, well, the cake for the most innovative establishment in this guide. This joint is one part boutique, one part fragrance shop, and one part café. You can buy most of the clothes and fragrances online. 

You have to stop by this shop in person to enjoy the delightful café. Dishes like red lentil, carrot, and coconut soup are to dye for (pun intended.) Cottoncake is truly a one of a kind vegan- and vegetarian-friendly establishment. Visit this store’s website to shop online and see which new events are just around the corner. 

De Waaghals

The Dutch words “De Waaghals” actually mean “the daredevil” in English. This name totally fits this fine dining restaurant and winery. Here are some of De Waaghals’  most popular items:

• Smoked fennel with lime, coriander, and sweet potato
• Green curry, kalamansi, and crispy baby potatoes 
• 4 types of Burgundian cheese
• Coconut passion fruit espuma with dark chocolate

Most of De Waaghals’ dishes are vegan-friendly and gluten-free. Even the dishes that aren’t can be made vegan on request. This restaurant’s carefully curated selection of wines definitely shouldn’t be overlooked. Check out De Waaghals’ website to browse their full dinner menu.

Little Plant Pantry

Restaurants aren’t just becoming more vegan-friendly, they’re also becoming more eco-friendly. Little Plant Pantry is exactly what we’re talking about; this establishment prides itself as a “Plant-Based Minimal Waste Wholefoods Store & Deli.” 

 You’re more than welcome to do your grocery shopping here. But, Little Plant Pantry’s deli is what caught our eye; they’ve got grilled vegan sandwiches and stews galore. The Mushroom and Broccoli Stew is a big fan favorite item. This is a must-see eatery!

The Meets

That’s not a typo – The Meets is a vegan-friendly restaurant that serves delicious meat-substitute meals. Their tagline is “wholesome meets lekker (Dutch for tasty) meets fun.” We’re inclined to agree, thanks to this establishment’s chill atmosphere and fantastic menu. Items like these are why The Meets can’t be beet:

• Dosa Dumplings
• Thai Coconut Soup With Vegetables
• Vegan Stroganoff
• Moqueca Vegana

The Meets has so many fantastic items on the menu that it isn’t even funny. All of the meals can be ordered to go, as The Meets is a “take-away” joint. Stop by their website to get a preview of the amazing dishes you can order. 

Mr. & Mrs. Watson 

What sorts of dishes do you think about when you hear the term “comfort food?” Do mashed potatoes and gravy come to mind? Or maybe you picture a nice, hot bowl stew. Mr. & Mrs. Watson specializes in serving vegan and vegetarian comfort food. You can enjoy all kinds of traditional meals with vegan twists at this restaurant.

Mr. & Mrs. Watson also makes some of the best vegan cheese in town. This award-winning establishment also donates thousands of liters of water to developing countries and plants a tree for every dish served. You can find Mr. & Mrs. Watson’s menu, as well as the tree and water tallies, on their main website.

Pizza Heart Bar 

Pizza is one of those foods that you can eat on any occasion; you can eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You grab a slice for yourself or a whole pie for a large group. You can stop by a pizza parlor for a date or to talk business with your colleagues. 

There’s no such thing as a bad time for pizza. The real question is “which kind are we ordering.” At the Pizza Heart Bar, the answer is “any kind of pizza you can think of, including vegan pizzas.”

You can order a pie with whole wheat mushrooms, vegan mozzarella, and oregano. You can also order the “My” pizza that has tomato sauce, basil, and black olives. The sky’s the limit at the Pizza Heart Bar. 

Vegan Junk Food Bar

Some people probably think of salads and exotic fruits when they picture vegan food. The Vegan Junk Food Bar is proof that vegan meals are oh, so much more varied. This establishment serves meatless versions of burgers, chicken nuggets, pizza, fish and chips, and ice cream.

The Vegan Junk Food Bar is a huge hit in Amsterdam. Plenty of non-vegans stop by this eatery all the time – the food here is just that good. If you’re on a diet, you’ll want to choose your food carefully. But if you pop in on a cheat day, go crazy!