When one thinks of Rome, they picture pizza, pasta, and gelato, but what if we told you that Rome boasts some of the best vegan café spots in Italy.
If you are keen to try the local food but are looking for vegan options, then this is the guide for you, with 7 incredible vegan options for places to eat in the city.
With this rundown of the best vegan café spots in Rome, you can indulge in the local food, without compromising your dietary choices and needs, which means you can get the full experience of Rome and Italy as a whole.
So, let's take a look.
1- Buddy Veggie Restaurant Cafe
2- Ops!
3- Ma Va’ ?
Quick Comments:
1- Buddy Restaurant Café - For local Italian fare made vegan
2 – Ops! - For a vegan café spot with a quirky approach
3 – Ma Va’ ? - For the best animal-free regional dishes
4 – Romeow Cat Bistrot – Rome's first vegan cat cafe
5 – Rifugio Romano – An ideal place for authentic Italian dishes made vegan
6 – Flower Burger – For a funky vegan burger like no other
7 – Ecru – To satisfy your vegan, raw food cravings and leave you energized
1 – Buddy Veggy Restaurant Cafe
Overview:
This vegan/vegetarian café has a host of options for both dietary requirements, which makes it ideal if you are travelling with someone who may be veggie but not yet vegan. All items on their menu are labeled with a V or VG so you know exactly which is vegan and which is vegetarian, and the options here are truly delectable. Let us tell you why we love Buddy Veggy Restaurant Cafe
Highlights:
- It is an ideal vegan café for any time of the day with breakfast, brunch, and dinner options as well as vegan cappuccinos for a morning coffee to go.
- You will find a range of authentic Italian food made vegan, which means you can try many local dishes.
- Their extensive menu features mostly vegan options such as a variety of antipasti, pasta, soup, and pizza, to name but a few.
- Their prices are reasonable which is great for a European capital city, meaning you can save money and still eat healthy and local.
Prices: Please note that these prices are in Euros
You can expect to pay €7 for a tiramisu, €16 for a vegan burger, and €12 for a vegan lasagna, which is quite normal for Roman prices. You can find their full price list and extensive menu here.
Bottom Line: If you want to try some authentic regional food, that is vegan, affordable, and super tasty, this is your place. It suits both vegetarians and vegans with a predominantly vegan menu.
2 – Ops!
Overview:
This delightful vegan café has a little quirk that we just love, and makes it stand out from the rest. They pride themselves on creating something that has become much more than a vegan restaurant and this makes it one of the most popular vegan café spots in Rome. Let us tell you why we just love their approach.
Highlights:
- Their tasty dishes are organic, 100% made from vegetables, and mostly gluten-free, which means you have a wide variety of food options made healthy.
- They have adopted a vegan buffet, which means you get delicious fresh food, which is cheap, carefully prepared, and healthy.
- All of their food is inspired by Mediterranean tradition, but the chefs love to experiment with flavors and you can always enjoy something new here.
- Their list of vegan desserts and cakes is extensive and there is no way you can leave without trying one – they are mouthwateringly good.
Prices: Please note that these prices are in Euros
Food taken from the buffet is priced by weight and you can expect to pay €2.80 for lunch or €3 per kilo for dinner. The best thing is, that the price is up to you, and for menu items and desserts, you can find the full price list here.
Bottom Line: This place suits anyone looking for a buffet-style vegan lunch, with a mix of Mediterranean flavors, at a very affordable price.
3 – Ma Va’ ?
Overview:
Most people go to Rome to try the delicious food, so why should you miss out if you are vegan? This vegan café spot knows this, and so they have created a menu that inspires those looking to try local food without the meat, or any animal derivatives. Here are a few reasons to love Ma Va.
Highlights:
- They are a stone's throw from the Vatican (500m), so you can skip hop or jump to this fantastic eatery after a day of visiting the world's smallest capital city.
- They care greatly about their environmental impact with the use of fully organic products and zero kilometers wherever possible.
- They are dog friendly, which is a great thing if you are traveling with your four-legged friend, and do not want to leave them in the hotel room.
- This 100% vegan café spot has options such as pasta, stews, and antipasti listed on their menu and photos so those without the Italian language can see what they want to order.
Prices: Please note that these prices are in Euros
For a vegan café that is just 500m from the Vatican, their prices are outstanding, and you can expect to pay just €10 – €12 for the main course and €6 for a dessert. Here are the prices.
Bottom Line: This is a highly recommended vegan spot for those who are looking for delicious authentic Italian cuisine close to some world-famous cultural attractions.
4 – Romeow Cat Bistrot
Overview:
Well, if you are in search of a vegan café with a twist, this is most definitely it, and we cannot wait to tell you what is waiting for you at Romeow Cat Bistrot, although we have a feeling the name might give it away. Not only is this a popular vegan café with delicious meal options, but you will have plenty of furry company here. We love this concept because...
Highlights:
- This is a haven for cat lovers and vegans alike, with the combination of a cat café and vegan food options, which works rather well.
- This is the place to make new friends and also try new food - every season. They have special seasonal menus which feature different dishes each time, which makes it a great vegan café to visit over and over.
- It is the first cat Bistrot in Rome, and while it is a little out of the city center, it is so worth the visit. They are doing something right since it is so popular.
- They have six rescue cats, which are there to welcome you, although they love to sleep, so it's best to let them snooze, while you indulge in some top-class food.
Prices: Please note that these prices are in Euros
They have a unique concept known as a Mood Menu, which starts from €8 and is a combination of colors flavors, and scents depending on what mood you find yourself in. They have a host of other meal options which are mid-range but offer diversity, quality, and careful preparation. Check out their price list here.
Bottom Line: What can we say? If you love cats and vegan food, then this is a place that is worth trying out, given that you won't find this concept in many other parts of Rome or Italy for that matter. It is ideal for a unique dining experience.
5 – Refugio Romano
Overview:
For the best-loved Italian homemade dishes made to suit vegans, you just have to try out Refugio Romano. This vegan café spot in Rome has captured the hearts of those who value great-tasting traditional food, healthy eating, and vegan recipes. These are a few reasons to try out Refugio Romano.
Highlights:
- Their chefs are specialized in traditional and vegan cuisine, which means you are getting top-quality food, with recipes that have stood the test of time, and taste divine.
- We love that their philosophy is to use the term refuge in their name, to invite anyone free to be themselves and feel at home.
- Their menu is outstanding, and it features some of the best-loved Italian dishes we all know and fantasize about – made vegan of course.
- They have an extensive wine, whiskey, and aperitif menu, which perfectly complements all meals and adds to that authentic Italian dining experience.
Prices: Please note that these prices are in Euros
You can expect your average meal to be between €10 - €15, which is very reasonable for what you get. Their pizzas cost around €10, while a glass of wine costs €6, which is average for Rome. Here is the full menu, with prices.
Bottom Line: This is an incredible vegan café option, where you can try some delicious Italian cuisine made vegan. There are some non-vegan options too which makes it ideal for those traveling with those who fancy a non-vegan meal.
6 – Flower Burger
Overview:
As you might have guessed by the name, this place specializes in yummy vegan burgers, but these are not just any burgers, they have to be seen to be believed. What started in Milan has made its way across Italy, and now you have the chance to visit this vegan café spot in Rome. Here is why we love this place.
Highlights:
- Their vegan burgers are fully colorful using only natural ingredients - yes you heard that right. You have to see these burgers to believe it, but they are truly unique and oh so tasty.
- This concept is to find the perfect meeting point between the vest burger recipe and vegan cuisine, which we think works great.
- Their establishment boasts psychedelic graphics, mixed with atmospheres of clubbing as well as a yellow submarine which together scream an awesome 70s vibe.
- A dining experience here is guaranteed to be unique, and this has to be one of the best things about this vegan café in Rome.
Prices: Please note that these prices are in Euros
You can find some affordable meal deals here which will cost between €7.50 and €13, while their smaller appetizers can cost between €4 – €6, which is the fare for the quality of food and the portion sizes. You can check out a full menu list here with prices.
Bottom Line: This is a great option for someone looking for a unique experience, an on-the-go vegan snack, or someone who is craving a burger, given that the choices here are incredible.
7 - Ecru
Overview:
This vegan, raw food, organic café in Rome, is the one to visit if you are looking to eat clean while being focused on protecting the environment and animal rights too of course. This vegan café differs from the rest, and you will notice this when you see its menu, which makes them stand out from the crowd. There are a host of reasons why we have added this vegan café spot in Rome to our list, and here are just a few.
Highlights:
- They are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and aperitifs, meaning you can get your cravings under wrap any time of the day – their kitchen is always open.
- They pride themselves on serving food and drinks that have never been exposed to temperatures that were over 40°C (104°F).
- Their food is lactose-free, gluten-free, organic, and free from refined sugar as well as being zero kilometers sourced.
- They have an onsite art gallery that features work from local artists, making it a great place to eat and discover some unique works of art.
Prices: Please note that these prices are in Euros
The prices at Ecru are on par with what you would expect from a raw food café in Rome. You can expect to pay €7 for a raw tiramisu or cheesecake, while a vegan burger sandwich will cost €11, and for what you are getting, this is very fair for Rome standards. Here are the prices for their raw options.
Bottom Line: This is the place to visit if you are into clean eating and want to enjoy some delicious food that will leave you energized and nourished.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, Rome may have a huge range of traditional Italian pizzerias and restaurants, but there are some amazing vegan café spots in Rome, which should be considered when looking for food you can be proud to eat.