6 best vegan restaurants in Berlin

Berlin is just about the closest thing to paradise as a vegan. But with a vegan-friendly Vietnamese Imbiss on every corner and falafel as far as the eye can see, the wealth of choices when it comes to vegan restaurants in Berlin can quickly become overwhelming.

So whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, whether you’re a saver looking for an affordable treat or a spender with a bit of your holiday money, here are the six best vegan spots for eating your way through Berlin.

Best vegan breakfast and brunch spots in Berlin

It’s breakfast time in Berlin. Here’s some top vegan food eateries to fill up on:

Denn’s BioMarkt Cafe

Now, this may not technically be a restaurant but it is certainly the way to live like a real Berliner on the weekend. Bakeries are one of the greatest things about Germany and these days vegans aren’t just limited to the choice between a plain bread roll or a plain bread roll.

There are over 50 branches of Denn’s BioMarkt in Berlin, so you’re never far from one. At the entrance of every shop, you will find the bakery counter, jam-packed with savoury and sweet pastries, from a Pizzaschnecke (pizza roll) to a vegan croissant, pain au chocolat and chocolate Franzbrötchen - a kind of squashed German croissant.

For a pastry and a coffee - all kinds of milk alternatives are available - you can expect to pay around five to six euros. Most BioMarkt bakeries have a small seating area where you can enjoy your breakfast, or you can head out to a nice sunny bench, depending on the weather.

Cafe Morgenrot

Cafe Morgenrot may be a slightly more expensive option, but it is still affordable. From Friday to Sunday morning, head to this spot in Prenzlauer Berg for a breakfast tray with vegan scrambled eggs, hummus, breads, broccoli pasta salad, baba ganoush, roasted carrot and harissa dip, and semolina pudding with cherry and chocolate sauce, among a list of other wonderful options on a seasonal menu.

For all this and a coffee too, you can expect to pay 15 euros for a brunch which will last you through to dinner time! In spring and summer, you can enjoy your breakfast tray on Morgenrot’s sunny terrace and, in autumn and winter, inside the cosy cafe. 

Best vegan food in Berlin for lunch

Lunchtime in Berlin is an opportunity to try one of the city’s staples, or Germany's original vegan spot.

Curry36

The origin story of Currywurst is contested, but its fate is sealed: in your mouth this lunchtime. Berlin and Hamburg have a claim to this slightly spiced sausage, but really, Berlin’s is strongest. In 1949, Berliner Herta Heuwer cooked up the first Currywurst and never told a soul her original recipe.

Imitations of Heuwer’s masterpiece live on, also reincarnated sin carne, and Curry36 is one of the most authentic spots in town to get your hands on this urban speciality. We recommend the spot on Mehringdamm, ordering vegane Currywurst rot-weiß (with curry ketchup and vegan mayonnaise), some Sauerkraut on the side for good measure and a Fritz Cola or Berliner beer to wash it down like a local. You won’t pay more than 10 euros.

YoYo Foodworld

This place is no frills, no faff and all flavour in the heart of Friedrichshain, one of Berlin’s most vegan-friendly neighbourhoods. YoYo Foodworld claims the title of Germany’s oldest vegan fast food restaurant, and when you taste the menu you will understand why it managed to stay alive for the past 16 years. 

We recommend starting with the vegan scampi, followed by one of the 17 available burgers (bacon cheese and Beyond Meat may be the best) and a massive plate of arguably some of the best chips in Berlin. Choose from 10 sauces and don’t forget a beer.

Another tip: burgers are YoYo’s strong point, so forget the Currywurst, schnitzel and gyros wraps on offer and leave them to the Berlin establishments which do those best. A massive lunch for one will set you back just 15 euros and it’ll be the best 15 euros you spend in Berlin as a vegan.

Vegan restaurants for dinner in Berlin

For dinner time in the capital, head to these spots for another Berlin classic and find a slice of the La Dolce Vita in la città grigia.

Vöner

For many things, Germany is indebted to the generation of Turkish “Gastarbeiter”, who were invited to fill the 1970s worker shortage. Still, the humble Döner is perhaps the most visible and ubiquitous example. Berliners alone are thought to eat 400.000 Döner each day.

As a vegan, you never want to miss out on the go-to dishes and Vöner means you don’t have to. At this stop in Friedrichshain, you can tuck into a vegan version of the national favourite, served with seitan meat. Pick your sauce: tahini-garlic, herb yoghurt, chilli tomato or peanut. If you’re feeling wild, get a plate of chips on the side; they are good quality and will come drenched in cheesy sauce and roasted onions. Geil.

Al Catzone

Al Catzone is a relatively new vegan spot on the scene but it’s already making one hell of an impression. Look no further for Napoli-style pizzas which won’t single you out as the tomato-on-tomato vegan while everyone looks at their “cheese pull” so extreme that would make a real Italian weep.

For starters, we highly recommend the olives - they might be some of the best you’ve ever had north of Italy. There are no wrong turns when it comes to picking a pizza - there is something for every persuasion - and whether you want it with wine, beer, Aperol Spritz or something non-alcoholic, Al Catzone has you covered. If you’re going all out, expect to pay around 30 euros per person, for a more modest but still delicious evening you can pay under 20 euros.

What’s your favourite vegan restaurant in Berlin?

Time for a drink? Once you’ve hit up your new favourite vegan food spot in Berlin, a tipple could be on the agenda. Check out our tips for the 8 best bars in Berlin for every season.

Thumb image credit: Nina DeFelice