7 Delicious Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants In Auckland

New Zealand isn’t particularly known for its food. Most travelers flock to New Zealand to explore its diverse natural wonders, meet friendly locals, and try bizarre extreme sports—like rolling down a hill in a human-size hamster ball or bungee jumping where it was invented.

Still, while most travelers don’t come for the cuisine, eating inevitably accompanies—and enhances—any trip.

New Zealand’s cuisine closely parallels that of neighboring Australia. Historically, it features hearty British settler fare like meat pies, fish and chips, and custard squares—plus the Oceania-born pavlova, a meringue fruit dessert inspired by the Russian ballerina’s early 1900s visit.

The local Indigenous Māori also contributed their hangi tradition, cooking with heated rocks in a pit oven. Modern hangis use foil and wire baskets to cook root vegetables like kumara (sweet potato), pork, lamb, potatoes, pumpkin, and cabbage.

As New Zealand becomes more cosmopolitan, the cuisine now draws from Asian, Mediterranean, and Pacific Rim traditions.

While vegetarianism wasn’t historically common in New Zealand, recent trends have brought more meatless options—especially in Auckland, the multicultural capital.

Whether you’re a local or a traveler eating plant-based, this New Zealand travel guide highlights vegetarian and vegan-friendly spots—aka the best restaurants in Auckland for meat-free eaters!

Best Restaurants In Auckland
Mister’s Acai Bowl — Organic acai, berries, housemade cashew milk, banana, cacao & strawberry granola. Photo courtesy of Mister’s.

1. Mister’s Real Food

Mister’s Real Food is passionate about locally farmed, organic whole food. Everything is produced in their gluten- and dairy-free kitchen.

The space is industrial yet charming, with brick walls, exposed beams, and wrought iron accents. Enjoy 100% gluten- and dairy-free breakfast and lunch dishes like acai bowls, porridge with housemade almond milk, and house bread topped with organic eggs.

At lunch, go for globally-inspired bowls like the Jordan Bowl with hummus, lemon, sumac, and braised lamb (or skip the lamb), or the Malaysian Bowl with rice noodles, crushed peanuts, and grilled king prawn cutlet.

They also offer cold-pressed juices, nut milks, smoothies, coffee, and vegan sweets like salted peanut butter brownies, orange blossom mini tortes with lemon cashew cream, and salted caramel cake.

Ground Floor, 12 Wyndham Street, Auckland; Open Mon–Fri 7 AM–3 PM, Sat 8 AM–3 PM

Best Restaurants In Auckland
One of Revive’s weekly specials. Photo courtesy of Revive Café.

2. Revive Café

With two CBD locations, Revive Café serves a rotating all-vegetarian menu with daily vegan specials. Meals are made from minimally processed produce, whole grains, and proteins like beans, tofu, and nuts.

Try their signature Mushroom & Thyme Frittata, along with hot meals, salads, and hearty hot pots. You can even grab their cookbook to recreate the dishes at home.

24 Wyndham St & 33 Lorne St, Auckland Central; Open Weekdays 11 AM–7 PM

Best Restaurants In Auckland
Salads. Photo courtesy of Soul Bar and Bistro.

3. Soul Bar and Bistro

Located on the scenic Viaduct Harbour, Soul Bar and Bistro offers a rotating vegetarian menu with plenty of vegan options. Non-veg guests will find seafood and meat too.

Highlights include Aubergine Caponata on sourdough with garlic yogurt, Sweetcorn Tortellini with honey-rosemary butter, and salads with roast carrot, parsley, and goat’s curd.

Viaduct Harbour, Auckland; Open 7 days, 11 AM–late

Saturday brunch at the Unbakery. Photo courtesy of the Unbakery.
Saturday brunch at the Unbakery. Photo courtesy of the Unbakery.

4. Little Bird Organics & The Unbakery

Little Bird Organics provides a healthy alternative to heavily processed foods. Everything is handmade, unrefined, non-pasteurized, non-pressurized, and raw.

They make their own nut milks, preserves, cultured cheeses, cereals, yogurts, and more. You can even take part in a cleanse or cooking class.

Kingsland: 385 New North Rd; Open daily 8 AM–3 PM
Ponsonby: Cnr Summer St & Ponsonby Rd; Open daily 7 AM–4 PM
Britomart: 14 Customs St East; Open Mon–Fri 6:30 AM–6:30 PM, Sat–Sun 9 AM–5 PM

Scarecrow Interior. Photo courtesy of Scarecrow.
Scarecrow Interior. Photo courtesy of Scarecrow.

5. Scarecrow & The Urban Farmer’s Market

Scarecrow is a grocer, florist, and kitchen in one cozy space near Albert Park. While not fully vegetarian, it celebrates regional ingredients and has excellent meat-free options.

A sample menu might include Butternut & Pumpkin Seed Duke with fried sage, followed by a Slow-Roasted Carrot Lentil Stew. For dessert, try the beetroot and cashew cake with sesame and candied beets.

Victoria Street East, Auckland Central; Open daily 9 AM–7 PM

Budget-Friendly Choices:

Best Restaurants In Auckland
Pad Thai at Sunflower Thai Restaurant. Photo courtesy of Sunflower Thai.

6. Sunflower Thai Vegetarian

This casual gem in Auckland’s CBD offers mock meat and veggie-based Thai, Chinese, and even American-style dishes. Everything is vegetarian, but meat eaters won’t feel like anything’s missing.

6/50 High Street, Auckland Central; Open weekdays 11 AM–3 PM, 5 PM–9 PM

Best Restaurants In Auckland
Blue Bird Interior. Photo courtesy of Blue Bird Café.

7. Blue Bird Café

Located in Mount Eden, Blue Bird Café offers globally inspired vegetarian comfort food—think nachos, rice bowls, and burgers. It’s a spiritual and peaceful spot, run by members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, which also offers meditation classes.

299 Dominion Rd, Mount Eden; Open Mon–Sat 8 AM–3 PM

What are your picks for the best restaurants in Auckland for vegetarians?

Katie Foote

Katie Foote may be a physicist by trade but she spent several years travelling the world as much as possible. After four years of semi-nomadic life, she spent a couple years in Auckland, New Zealand and recently moved to Vancouver, Canada. Despite living more traditionally, she has insight on how to travel the world on a graduate student budget (cheap!), explore off-the-beaten-path destinations and authentically experiencing new places by connecting to locals. When she's not doing physics or globe-trotting, she likes kickboxing, yoga and exploring her extraordinary new backyard of British Columbia.

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