HOLY COW
34 Elder St, Edinburgh, holycowedinburgh.com
Holy Cow use local, organic ingredients to create their vegan café menu. There are burgers, such as the nori fish – actually fried celeriac with tomato, mayo and homemade kimchi – and sandwiches, such as the smoked almond and chickpea salad. However, the real star of the show are the cakes, which are consistently inventive and served in great, whopping slices. Try their raw carrot cake with orange frosting – unbelievably yummy.
THE BALMORAL
1 Princes St, Edinburgh, roccofortehotels.com
Gone are the days when the vegan option used to be taking the cheese out of the veggie option. The Balmoral’s brand new vegan afternoon tea is a lesson in how exciting a vegan menu can be. With savouries such as buckwheat cassoulet, sandwiches such as hummus with gordal olive, sundried tomato and rocket, a full selection of scones and pastries including a chia and tapioca coconut condé, even non-vegan guests will be keen to give it a try.
DAVID BANN
56-58 St Mary’s St, Edinburgh, davidbann.co.uk
One of Edinburgh’s pioneers in vegetarian fine dining, David Bann has a varied menu of entirely plant-based options. Try a starter of their home-smoked tofu with mango chutney, followed by chilli arancino with spiced quinoa wrapped in courguette, accompanied by avocado chickpea purée and chocolate sauce. Delicious.
HENDERSONS VEGAN
25c Thistle St, Edinburgh, hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk
Another Edinburgh veggie institution, Hendersons Bistro went entirely vegan in 2015. Dishes such as celeriac gnocchi set the tone, bathed in a whisky and date cream with fresh figs, raw cacao and celery ash. If you’re planning your Burns Night, the haggis with smashed potatoes, caramelised onions and red wine gravy definitely fi ts the bill.
