Hamilton is such an interesting Canadian city. Aside from being a picturesque port city, it offers some of Canada’s well-maintained museums, botanical gardens, and art galleries. You may not realize it, but there seems to be so much to do and see in this scenic city.
While Hamilton is considered Canada’s most highly industrialized city, there’s more to it than just steel and iron. It is also considered a transportation hub, so you can expect hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It’s also attracting a younger generation of industry workers, so it seems like the city is going to see a bigger population soon.
With that said, Hamilton is quickly becoming a fast-paced modern city. While it’s best known for its fish and chips, it is also gaining recognition as one of Canada’s most vegan-friendly cities. With more plant-based eateries opening up on every street, it’s easy to see why.
If you happen to be visiting this beautiful port city, you might be curious as to where you can grab a bite. Don’t worry – we have got you covered. Here are the 6 best vegan restaurants in Hamilton that you should try.
The Hearty Hooligan
If you ask any local about their recommended vegan restaurant in Hamilton, the first name they’ll instantly think of is The Hearty Hooligan. While it was only established in 2017, The Hearty Hooligan has quickly gained a large following, owing to its impressive selection of plant-based food items and drinks.
Located at 292 Ottawa St., this punk-rock café is pretty hard to miss. It serves all-time comfort food like pizza pockets, mock meat pies, sandwiches, and wraps. Without a doubt, this is a vegan’s haven when it comes to classic comfort food.
Additionally, The Hearty Hooligan serves breakfast such as bagels and coffee to help you kick-start your day. and for refreshments, you can choose from any of its shakes using plant-based milk. Now that’s delicious and guilt-free.
And if you’re looking for a place to unwind after a tiring day of exploring the city, you’d be pleased to know that this vegan restaurant also serves beer and wine. It also doubles as a grocery store where you can find your vegan essentials.
Aside from being vegan, we also love that its facilities are also designed to accommodate wheelchairs and other persons with disabilities. That goes to show how dedicated they are to making sure that each customer can dine with ease.
Without a doubt, The Hearty Hooligan is your one-stop-shop for everything vegan while in Hamilton. Thus, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best vegan restaurants in the city.
People Under The Staircase
If you’re looking for the perfect place for some afternoon snacks, head on to People Under The Staircase to satisfy your cravings.
This vegan restaurant is known for its hip interior and unique concept. It has a diner-style feel to it, and the fact that it serves all-American favorites makes it even more interesting.
it has an impressive menu containing fast food favorites like vegan burgers, fries, nachos, and more. It also serves limited Italian and Mexican dishes like quesadilla and a limited selection of pasta.
For those who are counting calories, People Under The Staircase also has you covered. It has a decent selection of salads for you to choose from, with quite a hefty serving to keep you full and satisfied. And for dessert, you can choose from its selection of ice creams, cookies, and brownies. Now that’s going to make your afternoons more interesting.
People Under The Staircase is also the perfect place where you’re looking for entertainment in Hamilton. It comes with a theater that holds live performances, ranging from plays to live music to stand-up comedies.
So, if you’re looking for the perfect place to spend a nice evening with your friends, this vegan pub is the hippest place to be.
Planted in Hamilton
Another name that’s often mentioned when you ask locals about their favorite vegan restaurant in the city is Planted in Hamilton. If you happen to be exploring downtown, don’t ever leave without trying anything from this restaurant.
Planted in Hamilton was established in 2018 as a restaurant and bakery. While it’s relatively new, it is one of the most iconic vegan restaurants in the city, owing to its quality service and undeniably good servings.
What we’re most impressed by is its wide selection of vegan alternatives to Canadian comfort food favorites. Here, you can enjoy sandwiches, food bowls, and salads to get started. You can also opt to build your burger using a variety of patties, toppings, and sauces to make sure you get the flavor you’re looking for.
This vegan restaurant also serves brunch every Sunday, so you know where to go if you’re ever in the city during the weekends. Here, you can either chow down on their breakfast bowl, combo plate, or a hearty bagel sandwich, to name a few.
For those with a sweet tooth, you’d be delighted to find out that Planted in Hamilton has an interesting dessert menu just for you. You can choose from their assortment of sundaes, cookie sandwiches, cakes, and ice cream to make sure you end the meal with a smile.
And if you’re looking for refreshments, Planted in Hamilton won’t leave you disappointed. You can choose from any of its espresso-based drinks, drip coffee, hot chocolate, or tea if you’re looking for relaxing drinks. They also have smoothies made with your choice of almond, soy, or oat milk.
It also offers a selection of beer, cider, and wine for those who are looking for the best drink to end the night with.
But perhaps the best part about Planted in Hamilton is that they offer gluten-free options. If you’re suffering from gluten allergies or intolerance, this is the perfect restaurant for you.
Sookham – Conscious Eating
If you happen to be looking for the best vegan restaurant serving authentic Indian food, look no further than Sookham. With a name that literally translates to “all happiness” in Sanskrit, you know that there’s a lot to expect from this vegan restaurant. And fortunately, it exceeds our expectations.
Sookham serves authentic Indian dishes guided by the principles of Ayurveda to deliver delicious and aromatic food. Popular favorites include organic naan pizza, beetroot carrot halwa, chickpea masala, and samosas. It also offers soups and tacos to make sure you leave happy and satisfied.
This vegan restaurant also serves lunch and dinner combos for small groups. And considering its hefty servings, we’re surprised by how affordable it is.
For snacks and refreshments, Sookham also offers mylkshakes and quinoa bowls. It also offers a decent dessert selection in case you want to satisfy your sweet tooth after a meal.
Surprisingly, Sookham was only established in 2020, making it one of the newest vegan restaurants in the city. But despite that, it is already recognized by locals and tourists as one of the best – which reflects how well they prepare their meals.
And speaking of meal preparations, we must also mention that Sookham only uses organic ingredients for each of its food and drinks. They’re also gluten-free, so you can be confident about what you’re eating at this vegan restaurant.
Rise Above Pizza & Wings
For those who are in the mood for some Italian food, the best vegan place to be is Rise Above Pizza & Wings. This vegan restaurant opened its doors in late 2019 and was instantly received with much love. Being the first of its kind, it has certainly raised the bar too high for its competitors.
This vegan restaurant mainly serves vegan versions of our favorite Italian dishes. Particularly, it offers an interesting selection of pizza flavors, so you’re not just limited to one or two flavors. And you can see their passion for serving delicious vegan pizza through their many offerings.
Aside from Italian food, Rise Above Pizza & Wings also offers comfort food like wings, sandwiches, wraps, and salads. So whatever it is that you’re craving for, we’re sure that you’ll find the one you want at this restaurant.
To complement your meal, Rise Above also serves vegan-friendly craft beer. And since it’s usually open until 11 at night on most days, this is a place where you can unwind after a tiring day of exploring the city.
The Green Bar
And finally, we have The Green Bar. This is one of the oldest vegan-friendly establishments in the city, but it stays strong owing to its impressive menu selection and undeniable flavors.
This vegan bar was established in 2012, making it one of the oldest restaurants on this list. It has survived for almost a decade, owing to its interesting recipes and innovative cooking.
Formerly known as The Green Smoothie Bar, this vegan café started by serving a variety of smoothies using plant-based milk substitutes. It has then expanded to include other menu items like waffles, burgers, and other snacks on the go.
For those who are on a diet, you’d be pleased to know that this café also serves salads and fusion bowls to complement your favorite smoothie. With such a delicious yet healthy combination, you’re bound to enjoy your meals guilt-free.
Thus, if you’re looking for a vegan restaurant that serves raw and organic dishes, there’s no other place to be than The Green Bar.
