Being a carnivore in Miami’s Caribbean and Latin-influenced foodscape is a breeze. Need proof? Look no further than the roast pork, creole-sauced goat and citrus-marinated hunks of tuna dished up all around the city. But if your tastes run closer to tofu than T-bones, Miami’s budding vegan scene has plenty to keep your palate entertained.
From a taco shack churning out all-vegan fare to a hidden oasis of artful animal-free dishes, these Miami vegan restaurants will encourage you to eat your veggies — and possibly fall in love with them, too.
1. Planta
Across the causeway, Dave Grutman’s first foray into vegan dining stands in stark contrast to the vibe at his other property, legendary Miami Beach nightclub LIV. But no matter, the 100 percent plant-based menu at Planta delivers. Pizzas, burgers and dumplings get the vegan treatment along with a full sushi bar rolling up maki and nigiri stuffed with watermelon, mushrooms and carrots to mirror the taste and texture of fish.
Be sure to check out the Sunday Sauce night, an all-you-can-eat vegan spaghetti and meatballs marathon to make your nona proud.
2. The vShops Food Hall
With Miami’s food hall fever in full tilt, it was only a matter of time before vegans got their proper due. Case in point: The vShops, an all-vegan food hall created by the founders of one of Miami’s first vegan cafes, Choices. A southern barbeque spot, pizzeria, bakery and ice cream parlor are among the eight different stations vying for your attention with plant-based eats.
But if you’re pressed to pick one, Choices’ classic bowls or mac ‘n cheese concoctions are the way to go.
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3. Holi Vegan Kitchen
Both locations of this vegan cafe have quickly become a favorite amongst locals, due in no small part to its cozy, rustic-chic vibe. But it’s the food – with a menu chock-full of comfort foods with a plant-based twist – that keeps people coming back. Case in point: the meatball hoagie made with Impossible meat meatballs, a portobello grilled cheese avo sandwich and nachos topped with homemade vegan cheese.
Wash it down with a glass of kombucha, a fresh-pressed juice or one of the seasonal drinks on the chalkboard. Depending on the time of year, you can soothe yourself with a cinnamon roll latte or turmeric-laced golden milk.
4. Plant
Tucked amongst the verdant foliage and gurgling fountains of the Wynwood’s serene Sacred Space, Plant’s soothing aesthetic and bright, beautiful dishes are a perfect match for its surroundings.
Thoughtful takes on global dishes dominate the menu, like Thai coconut ceviche, adobo-rubbed mamey asado and cannelloni composed of kale pesto and almond herb cheese. The restaurant’s ethical ethos extends to its ingredients – most of its produce is sourced from Paradise Farms, Plant’s certified-organic sister property located a few miles south in Homestead.
5. Manna Life Food
Jamaican sun soup, kelp noodle pasta al pesto and superfood arepas are just some of the hearty plant-based dishes waiting for you at health food haven Manna.
The clean, minimalist space is a plant-based staple for downtown Miami’s 9-5 crowd. Grab a table amidst the office suits and peruse the list of veggie-packed bowls, noritos (burritos wrapped in nori) and arepas that pair perfectly with a slice of strawberry tiramisu and one of Manna’s creamy nut mylks.
6. Love Life Cafe
Whether you’re grabbing a nosh at their Wynwood location or filling up inside the buzzy Time Out Market food hall in South Beach, one thing’s certain: Love Life Cafe’s doing something right. That credit goes to co-founders Veronica Menin and Chef Diego Tosoni — Menin, who holds several degrees in nutrition, has been a staple in the Miami vegan scene, hosting a regular plant-based dinner series called Conscious Bite Out.
With these two cafes, the duo are dishing up affordable vegan fare that’s caught the attention of veggie heads all around the city. But even if you count yourself amongst the carnivore class, the cafe’s veggie burger — a superfood patty topped with guacamole, plant-based cheddar, kale and cilantro aioli — is guaranteed to win you over.
7. Charly’s Vegan Taco Shack
Being vegan doesn’t mean giving up on tacos. Especially when there are places like Charly’s Vegan Taco Shack to help satisfy those Mexican food munchies. Charly’s — who calls Tulum, Mexico home — is the brainchild of Mexico City chef Charly Garcia, a passionate proponent of the eco-benefits plant-based cuisine offers.
The Wynwood location stays true to its Tulum roots with artisan-crafted Mexican decor and hand-painted tableware. But the menu puts a local spin on some of the eatery’s classic dishes, including tofu ‘chorizo’ tacos and garlicky seitan steak ‘carne asada.’
