Here’s a list of the best vegan restaurants (some Michelin-starred), cafés, bakeries, street food locales, and dishes to try when you’re in Dubai.

Veganism, holistic wellness and sustainable living, go hand in hand, and this lifestyle is sweeping across the world. Dubai is no exception, with the city’s food and beverage industry adopting increasingly vegan menus, restaurants and products. Dubai’s commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism further supports the growth of vegan dining, as many restaurants and chefs are incorporating sustainable practices and locally sourced ingredients into their menus.

Restaurants that serve vegan food

Defined as the ‘reincarnation of soulful Indian food’, avatāra is the world’s first and only vegetarian Indian Michelin-starred fine dining experience. Located in the Dubai Hills, the restaurant has tasting and experience options which cater to vegan diners upon request. The menu showcases ‘The Six Tastes in Ayurveda’: kashaya (astringent), madhura (sweet), lavana (salty), tikta (bitter), amla (sour) and katu (pungent).

Located in the KOA Canvas development, LOWE is one of three Michelin green star restaurants in Dubai, which was awarded for its deep-rooted sustainable philosophy. Offering an experimental dining experience, LOWE celebrates rustic seasonal produce cooked naturally by charcoal grill and wood-fired oven and features daily vegan and vegetarian specials.

Sustainability champion BOCA, in DIFC’s Gate Village, is a Michelin green star recipient which serves up Spanish cuisine and numerous plant-based options created using locally sourced ingredients. BOCA offers a 10-course tasting menu available in vegetarian and vegan options.

CÉ LA VI’s sky-high location on the 68th floor of the Address Sky View hotel offers up sweeping vistas, but serious foodies also laud the food at the Michelin-selected restaurant. Available for lunch and dinner, vegan diners have a choice of appetisers, five starters, three mains and two desserts.

Little Erth Restaurant Shot

Little Erth by Nabz&G at Jumeirah Lakes Towers has a menu which is 90 percent vegan. The restaurant challenges the misconception that healthy food is bland and expensive, offering up dishes that are delightfully delicious. In addition to plenty of vegan options, Little Erth also has gluten-free fare. Among the signature dishes is the ‘Buddha Burger’, which is made from quinoa, red kidney beans and sweet potatoes, and the ‘Zesty Spaghetti’ made from raw zucchini pasta and kefir lemongrass cashew cream.

Seasonal vegan restaurant Folia is set within a beautiful garden at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, just metres away from the ocean. The menu features fresh and healthy plant-based items such as watermelon poké, buffalo cauliflower, green papaya salad and smoked mushroom steamed buns.

SEVA Table

Vegan cafes and bakeries

Opened in 2014, SEVA Table was the first 100 percent plant-based café in the region. Located in Jumeirah, SEVA Table boasts an extensive menu with healthy and delicious plant-based dishes that are free from gluten, dairy, cane sugar and artificial ingredients. Visitors can also enjoy the SEVA Experience, which includes yoga and sound healing classes.

Soul Santé, a vegan café in Dubai Marina, sets out to break stereotypes about plant-based diets having restrictive options. There’s much to savour, with dishes that are calorie counted, free from sugar, soy, gluten and carbs. For those with a sweet tooth, the desserts won’t disappoint either.

Bounty Beets

Bounty Beets at Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Resort & Marina is as Instagrammable as it is healthy, with a menu of organic, gluten-free, and vegan dishes. In addition to the vegan offerings, the restaurant hosts a weekend brunch, serving up unlimited selected menu items, coffees and juices for indulgence with no guilt.

From tofu makhani and mushroom shawarma to hearty salads and ‘vurgers’ (vegetarian burgers), the plant-friendly menu at vegan cafe Planet Terra is packed with a wide variety of delicious dishes. Everything at this all-day eatery in The Greens is made in-house without artificial sweeteners, refined sugars or GMOs, so it’s perfect for those looking for healthy bites.

Frying Pan Adventures

Street food, vegan style

Traditional falafel: a staple of Levantine street food cuisine, the crispy ball-shaped snack consists of mashed chickpeas mixed with finely chopped onions and garlic, parsley, coriander and traditional spices, topped with creamy tahini sauce and served in warm pita bread. This snack can be enjoyed at Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Bait Maryam in Jumeirah Lake Towers, which offers authentic Levantine vegan dishes. Visitors can also head to Deira where you’ll find plenty of Levantine places to try this out.  If you’re not sure of where to go, try the Middle Eastern Food Pilgrimage tour with Frying Pan Adventures.

Za'atar Manakish - Mama'esh

Freshly baked ka’ak bread: found across the streets of Lebanon, ka’ak is a versatile sesame flat bread that can be enjoyed plain, dunked in olive oil or dipped in a tangy zaatar and olive oil mix. Head to Lebanese bakery and casual diner Ka’ak Al Manara on Al Wasl Road or Dubai Internet City to sample freshly baked authentic ka’ak.

Ethiopian comfort food: Ethiopian cuisine incorporates a variety of fruits, vegetables and legumes. A vegan platter traditionally enjoyed during fasting periods, ‘Yetsom Bainathoo’ includes lentil stew, collard greens, satisfying curry and sourdough flatbread. Established more than 20 years ago in Deira, Al Habasha Restaurant prepares this authentic dish which is best enjoyed with the whole family or a group of friends.

Vegetable samosa: The humble vegetable samosa is iconic within Indian culinary culture and can easily be found at multiple restaurants and street cafés across the city. This triangular pastry stuffed with potatoes, peas and carrots, and traditional aromatic spices is best enjoyed as a snack, or an appetiser with a side of mint and/or tamarind chutney. Head to Samosawala in Al Karama to try its take on the traditional street food favourite.

Soy Infused Asparagus at Roka

Must-try vegan dishes in Dubai

Asparagus with sweet soy and sesame at Roka: this delicious vegan dish is one of many served at this sleek Japanese restaurant located in the Opus building by Zaha Hadid in Business Bay. Bringing together notes of umami from the soy, lifted with hints of sesame oil, and married together to elevate the charred asparagus, it’s the perfect side dish or appetiser.

Tempura Avocado at Tasca

Avocado tempura at Tasca by José Avillez: the Michelin-starred restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, offers a variety of plant-based modern Portuguese dishes. An innovative dish comprising deep fried avocado in a light tempura batter, the flavours are enhanced by the dehydrated piri-piri seasoning.

Kimchi glazed Brussels sprouts at Akira Back: this Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant at W Dubai - The Palm re-invents the humble Brussels sprout with a tart kimchi glaze to finish this modern vegan favourite.

Zaatar manaesh at Mama’esh: this Palestinian budget-friendly restaurant serves up piping hot manaesh made with organic flour. Try the zaatar jabali manaesh, traditional bread topped with Palestinian olive oil, fresh local green zaatar, tomatoes and white onion.

Farmers’ markets in Dubai

The Ripe Market is one of the most popular farmers’ markets in Dubai, with a huge range of organic produce and goods. Visitors can purchase and sample fruit and vegetables sold by local farmers from across the UAE. Held every weekend at Police Academy Park, The Ripe Market also hosts pop-ups at venues including Times Square Center, The Spring Souk, and Dubai Festival Plaza.

The seasonal Farmers’ Souq will take place in Quranic Park, Al Khawaneej, every Saturday until 22 February 2025. Join farmers and entrepreneurs from Dubai’s agricultural community as they gather to directly sell a wide range of products, including fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, organic goods, honey, dates, herbs and more.

Hosted every Saturday in the main lane at Alserkal Avenue, The Farmers’ Market will see farmers and growers from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain sell their freshly harvested produce. The authentic market also features bakeries, traditional kitchens and premium vendors of natural and diet-conscious foods.