8 Vegan restaurants and cafes

Leicester – the birthplace of British veganism! But there’s more because the city is also home to one of the largest Gujarati populations outside of Gujarat – an Indian state as famous for plant-based cuisine as Melton Mowbray is for pork pies. 

Little wonder then that Leicester is packed with excellent plant-based restaurants and cafés, with the rest of the county following hot on its heels.  
 
You could start your vegan Indian journey at Chai Paani on Belgrave Road, named Vegetarian Restaurant of the Year in the English Curry Awards 2022. Next, head to Herb on Granby Street to enjoy Keralan vegetarian and vegan food. You won’t find a better Dosa! Then pop next door for a digestif at The Donald Watson Bar which offers vegan bites and cocktails.  
 
For something a little more Western, visit The Good Earth – Leicester’s oldest vegetarian eatery, founded in 1965 and still serving up fantastic dishes.

For a calming experience, visit World Peace Café on Guildhall Lane – a vegetarian cafe run by the Kadampa Meditation Centre and possibly the only cafe in Britain to offer in-house meditation classes!  

But your vegan options don’t start and end in Leicester city. For example, The Village in Market Harborough was named the UK’s Best Sustainable Business 2022 – and with its cafe and exciting vegan food offering, it’s a must-visit for plant-based fans.