Manchester, once the engine of the industrial revolution, is also the beating heart of Veo HQ. We may have less chimneys around the city than we once did, but our city’s hunger for innovation, creativity and a bright future are still firmly rooted within its identity. Today, Manchester is a key engine in a different kind of revolution taking place…
From the bohemian Northern Quarter to history rich Castlefield and beyond, into Greater Manchester, our city’s streets are dotted with exciting, quirky and indulgent eateries, that all have something in common, a celebration of plant-based food!
Plant-based eating has never been more plentiful in terms of options, cuisine and flavour. With the annual Veganuary challenge also in full swing, we felt there was no better time to shed a spotlight on some of Manchester’s best plant-based gems.
Is there a difference between plant-based and vegan?
Plant-based and vegan are often used interchangeably, but they can have slightly different meanings. Plant-based refers to a diet or lifestyle that primarily relies on plants, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, for nourishment. It can also be used to describe products or items that are made without animal-derived ingredients.
Vegan, on the other hand, refers to a lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. So, someone who follows a vegan lifestyle would also eat a plant-based diet, but someone who eats a plant-based diet may not necessarily be vegan.
Manchester is officially a plant-based hot-spot
Did you know that 22% of people in the city claim to be vegetarian or vegan, with 29% considering a vegan or veggie diet and 41% of meat eaters wanting to reduce their consumption (ManchesterWorld, 2022). It’s growing popularity is also evident those who come to Manchester to study with a reported 69% of Manchester students wanting to try a plant-based diet (The Manc, 2022).
All these stats support Manchesters accreditation as he vegan capital of the UK (mystudenthalls.com).
So, from the seasoned meat-free Mancunions to the quietly curious plant-based beginners, here’s a selection of some of the city’s top spots, to tickle your taste buds through the power of plants!
1. Bundobust
61 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AG
The Original Indian Street Food & Craft Beer Hall that serves Gujarati street food 7 days a week. Everything on their menu is vegetarian or vegan and most people don’t even notice!
2. Wholesome Junkies
Unit 4 Mirabel St, Manchester M3 1PJ
Renowned for award-winning vegan burgers, as featured on on Netflix and BBC2’s Million Pound Menu, Wholesome Junkie’s mouth-watering plant-based menu currently features seasonal specials like Truffle Gyoza’s, Miso Corn Ribs and Korean Cauli Poppers.
3. Döner Summer
38 Charles St, Manchester M1 7DB
A playful ode to the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, Döner Summer is a vegan junk food eatery that resides in Manchester’s beloved YES bar. Say YES to plant-based indulgence that’s packed with flavour. Maybe not the healthiest meal, but 100% one of the tastiest (besides, we all deserve the occasional treat).
4. Purezza
75-77 High St, Manchester M4 1FS
“But what about pizza?”, we hear you ask! Well, you need to check out award-winning Neapolitan vegan pizza restaurant Purezza. That’s right, 100% plant-based pizza with a huge array of toppings to choose from.
5. The Remedy Kitchen
19, Royal Exchange, Manchester, St Anns Square, Manchester M2 7EA
Experience nutritionist designed dishes, with every element crafted from scratch by a team of dedicated Chefs. Enjoy an entirely gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar free menu in the heart of Manchester, that uses fresh, locally-sourced ingredients to create delicious and healthy meals.
6. Greens
41-43 Lapwing Ln, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 2NT
With the motto ‘Terrifying Carnivores Since 1990’, now an acclaimed TV chef, Simon Rimmer continues to pioneer the very best in fresh, inventive vegetarian dishes for Greens, which are loved by veggies and non-veggies alike, thanks to their central ethos: “It’s not your lifestyle, but your taste-buds we care about.”.
7. HOME Cinema
2 Tony Wilson Pl, Manchester M15 4FN
A cinema may not seem like a conventional place for discovering plant-based food but HOME’s first-floor restaurant offers a wonderful dining experience with a menu packed with vegetarian and vegan options- including Korean Vegan Fried Chicken and Chargrilled Hispi Cabbage. After your meal, enjoy a movie of the best offerings in contemporary and classic cinema.
8. Pastan
18 Cross St, Manchester M2 7AE
Plant-based, handcrafted pasta made in the UK. Uncompromisingly delicious pasta that does you and the planet a bit of good. Pastan also operate a Carbon Free Dining experience – an initiative operated in partnership with Sustainably Run Restaurants which gives restaurants and their diners the opportunity to mitigate the environmental impact of their meals by planting life-changing fruit trees.
9. Peter Street Kitchen
Free Trade Hall, Peter St, Manchester M2 5GP
Peter Street Kitchen is one of the best restaurant experiences in Manchester, serving contemporary Japanese and Mexican cuisine and signature cocktails, with a specially dedicated vegan menu available.
10. Ice Shack
1c, 160-164 Wellington Rd, Withington, Manchester M20 3FU
To end on a sweet note, Ice Shack is the North’s first all-vegan desserts parlour in Withington. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this one is for you!
Give plant-based a go
Live in Manchester? Why not also check out these accounts for updates on the latest plant-based, vegan hotspots and hidden gems:
If you’d like to bring more plant-based living into your life at home, whether that’s through diet, your beauty routines or general lifestyle, you can discover 300+ vegan-friendly independent brands that will help you do just that right here at Veo. When it all boils down, we don’t need a few people doing plant-based perfectly, we need millions of people incorporating plant-based imperfectly. Are you open to giving plant-based a go?