Bristol has recently been named as the vegan capital of the UK. It is also one of the best places in the country for gluten and dairy free food. There are so many cafés and restaurants in the city that cater for different dietary requirements, but I have compiled a list of my “top 5s” for meals out in the city.

Top 5 for brunch

 East Village Café, Clifton Village

This predominantly vegan café is situated in the heart of Clifton Village and is perfectly located for an after brunch browse around the shops. Or, sit outside and do a spot of people watching.

This is one of the few places you can get vegan and gluten free waffles, so if you have a sweet tooth make sure you go here! They also serve a gorgeous shakshuka as well the normal offerings on toast. To wash down your breakfast, I’d go for a superfood latte – my favourite is the red velvet with almond milk, which I love.

Also, do not pass on their cakes! They have loads of vegan and gluten free options.

Crafty Egg, Cheltenham Road

This is hands down my husband’s favourite place for breakfast in Bristol. He compares every fry up to the ‘Crafty Breakfast’ and so far nothing has come close. Their baked eggs are famous and are so beautifully presented! Their vegan breakfast is also top notch! This place gets super busy on a weekend, so either get there early or be prepared to wait!

Beets n Roots, Cotham Hill

Winner of the 2019 Bristol Life Award’s ‘Best Café’, this is one not to be missed! They serve the most beautiful vegan brunch options and most of them are gluten free too. Think pretty acai bowls and pancakes.

If the weather is good, they have a lovely deck area to enjoy the sunshine.

The Cowshed, Whiteladies Road

We hadn’t realised The Cowshed did brunch as well as evening meals, and I don’t think many other people do either as it was quite quiet when we went on a Saturday morning (although not being surrounded by other people was nice for us!). They have a great menu selection clearly labelled with tags such as GF, DF or GFO (gluten free option). They even had two naturally low FODMAP meals – DF scrambled eggs, and steak and eggs. They offer an ‘unlimited’ option for £1.50 each which entitles you to unlimited tea, coffee, juice and toast (normal or gf) – well worth it!

They stop serving breakfast at 11am so make sure you get there early!

Eat Your Greens, Totterdown

This is a total gem which you are unlikely to hear about if someone doesn’t mention it. The restaurant is so cute and intimate, the food is delicious and the staff are super friendly and are certain to make sure you have a fab time. The whole menu is vegan and nearly all of it is gluten free too. They even have cakes and waffles on offer! This café is amazing for brunch, lunch, dinner or Sunday roast! A must visit when you’re in Bristol.

Top 5 for lunch

1766 Bar & Kitchen, City Centre

This gorgeous restaurant is part of the Bristol Old Vic and the building is stunning! They offer a fantastic set lunch – 3 courses for £17.95. The value for money is great and the quality of the food is outstanding! They have amazing vegan and gluten free options and are also happy to adapt any of the dishes as required. They even had a vegan and gluten free dessert on offer, and it wasn’t sorbet! If you also love tasting the local produce, this one’s for you, as all of their food is sourced locally, giving you a real ‘Bristol’ experience. Tag on a performance at the Old Vic for an afternoon out!

Spicer and Cole, Clifton Village, Gloucester Road, Finzels Reach, City Centre

This is a small Bristol chain with cafes in four locations around the city. It offers a gorgeous salad bar, fresh sandwiches or baguettes and brunch style options. The cakes are incredible and lots of them are gluten and dairy free/vegan. The staff are also more than happy to adapt items on the menu to suit dietary requirements.

Bakesmiths, Whiteladies Road

They offer a delicious salad bar– all of the salads are usually gluten and dairy free, and the flavours are varied. A great choice for a lighter lunch, or if you’re anything like me, you could explore their range of gluten free and vegan cake!

 Earthcake, Bedminster

Earthcake is a gorgeous, small vegan café in Bedminster. All of their food and cake is vegan and lots of it is also gluten free. They even do a full tiered vegan and gluten free afternoon tea on request (make sure you book in advance). I can’t leave there without sampling one of their cakes and getting more to take away!

Catch 22, College Green

Gluten free fish and chips at their best. They have separate fryers for the gluten free fish to ensure no cross-contamination and are soon to be launching a vegan fish and chips option as well! Their lunchtime menu is a bargain with options for as little as £6.95.

Top 5 for dinner

Burger Joint, Whiteladies Road & North Street

If you love casual dining, this one is for you! This restaurant allows you to build your own burger and the options are endless – they even do ostrich meat. They have great gluten free buns as well as vegan patties, vegan cheese and even vegan garlic mayo!

Bulrush, Cotham

If you’re celebrating a special occasion or want to sample the best food Bristol has to offer, go here! It’s my absolute favourite restaurant in Bristol and has just been awarded a Michelin star. The restaurant is lovely and intimate, it’s like sitting in someone’s living room. The food is out of this world – I’d recommend splashing out on the tasting menu (and even adding a wine flight) – it’s not just food, it’s an experience in itself and you’ll remember it for years to come!

Puro, Clevedon

If you fancy getting out of Bristol for an evening and sampling cuisine at one of the nearby seaside towns, Puro ticks the boxes. This restaurant is tucked away and has no street frontage so it’s a hidden gem. The chef was trained by one of the top chefs in Bristol so the food is exceptional. They are happy to adapt the food to suit any dietary requirements. They also know their wine very well indeed!

Pizzarova, Gloucester Road, Park Street and Wapping Wharf

Amazing casual pizza dining. They offer gluten free bases and loads of different toppings including vegan cheese. They have two restaurants on Gloucester Road and Park Street, as well as a container at Wapping Wharf with outdoor seating – perfect for a summers evening after a stroll around the Harbour. The prices are very reasonable and the ‘build you own’ pizza is perfect for kids/fussy eaters too.

Koocha, Zetland Road

Vegan tapas presented beautifully in cute little dishes. Lots of the dishes are also gluten free so there is a lot of choice. This restaurant is great for a summers evening when you can sit out on their decking, and equally as lovely on a colder evening in their cosy restaurant.

This list of the best places in Bristol for Vegan and gluten-free restaurants should keep you pretty busy and full! Enjoy