Germany’s capital, Berlin, is renowned as one of the world’s leading ‘Vegan Capitals’. For travelers, international students on mid- to long-term stays, and anyone with dietary restrictions such as Halal or vegan, this city is truly a culinary paradise.
However, with the city overflowing with vegan-friendly establishments, it’s easy to get lost wondering, ‘Where can I find genuinely delicious food with an authentic local atmosphere?’ Beyond just being plant-based, Berlin boasts numerous acclaimed spots that even non-vegan locals frequent, saying, ‘I just have to eat here!’
So, this time, we’ve carefully selected five exquisite vegan spots guaranteed to satisfy both your taste buds and your enthusiasm. We’ll provide a thorough, insider’s guide to local ordering tips you should know, peak hours to avoid, and the deep charm of each establishment.
1990 Vegan Living
📍 Address: Krossener Str. 19, 10245 Berlin-Bezirk Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Germany
‘1990 Vegan Living’ is a hugely popular vegan Vietnamese restaurant, bustling daily with Berliners, located right near Boxhagener Platz in the Friedrichshain district, an area dense with stylish cafes and bars.
The ‘1990’ in the name harks back to the historical context of Vietnam in the 90s. The restaurant’s concept is to revive the numerous ‘homestyle vegan recipes, skillfully using vegetables and spices’ that emerged due to meat shortages during that era, bringing them to modern Berlin. The interior exudes a warm, somewhat nostalgic atmosphere, as if you’ve been invited into a Vietnamese grandmother’s home.
Its greatest feature is the ‘small plate (tapas) style’, allowing you to enjoy a variety of dishes in small portions. Ordering is a local system where you write the menu numbers on a paper placed on the table and hand it to the staff. Highly recommended are the wonderfully tender ‘eggplant dish (menu item No. 5)’ and the ‘breaded tofu’ which tastes remarkably like real shrimp. Its rich peanut butter sauce pairs perfectly, and the local way to enjoy it is with cocktails like a lychee mojito.
The terrace seating, in particular, is extremely popular, offering views of passersby, so there’s always a queue. If you want to get a seat without waiting, we recommend visiting during a late lunch (around 3 PM) outside of peak hours, or right after opening.
Vegan Vibes Berlin
📍 Address: Niederbarnimstraße 16, 10247 Berlin, Germany
In Berlin, waking up late and enjoying brunch is a classic weekend pastime. ‘Vegan Vibes Berlin’ is a cozy and charming vegan cafe specializing in such relaxed breakfasts and brunches. With a menu focused on organic ingredients, it enjoys immense popularity among young people and long-term visitors.
Their absolute must-try signature dishes are the incredibly flavored ‘tofu scramble’ and the fresh ‘avocado toast’. Additionally, sandwiches made with vibrant beetroot hummus and freshly baked sweet waffles are also popular. Paired with fresh orange juice or specialty coffee, it’s undoubtedly the perfect start to your day.
The warm and welcoming staff service is also delightful, making it ideal whether you’re visiting alone or chatting with friends. However, during weekend brunch times, such as around 12 PM on Sundays, it gets so crowded it turns into a ‘seat-grabbing battle’. Reservations are not possible, so if you want to secure a spot, the trick is to visit first thing in the morning or avoid the peak lunch hours.
Vegano Mezo
📍 Address: Rigaer Str. 2, 10247 Berlin, Germany
In Berlin, where Middle Eastern food culture is deeply rooted, ‘Vegano Mezo’ offers exquisite vegan mezze (Middle Eastern tapas) based on Syrian cuisine. This is a heartwarming local restaurant that visitors universally praise not just for its delicious food, but also for its ‘outstanding hospitality’.
The menu features ‘falafel’ fragrant with spices like cumin, hearty ‘vegan shawarma’, and ‘manakish’, also known as Lebanese pizza. If you’re unsure what to order, we recommend sharing a large platter of various appetizers. You might be surprised by the generous portions, but don’t worry if you can’t finish it all; they’ll gladly pack it for you in a ‘takeaway container’.
The owner’s thoughtful spirit is evident throughout, from quickly preparing meals for travelers pressed for time (in just a few minutes) to offering complimentary vegan rice pudding or mint tea after the meal. If you want to experience the warm, homely atmosphere of the Middle East, this is an absolutely unmissable spot.
Quy Nguyen
📍 Address: Oranienburger Str. 7, 10178 Berlin, Germany
‘Quy Nguyen Vegan Living’ on Oranienburger Strasse in the central Mitte district of Berlin is an authentic vegan Vietnamese restaurant that rigorously excludes all animal products. It’s a popular spot for tourists between sightseeing and for local office workers’ lunches.
The interior is unified with calm lighting and wooden decor, and all dishes served are vibrantly colorful with perfectly balanced flavors. Popular menu items include fresh ‘spring rolls’ packed with herbs, and a vegan rendition of ‘Chả cá (turmeric dill fish)’ (No. 17). You can also enjoy Vietnamese street food both visually and tastefully, such as ‘Banh Canh Hap’, noodles steamed in a bamboo basket.
However, there are two important practical points to note. Firstly, during peak lunch and dinner times, the restaurant becomes very crowded, and the staff move frantically, which might feel a bit rushed if you want to enjoy a leisurely meal. For a relaxed experience, it’s best to visit outside peak hours. Secondly, ‘payment is cash only’. While Berlin is increasingly cashless, here, Euros in cash are essential, so make sure to have some on hand, perhaps to enjoy a post-meal Vietnamese coffee.
Umi Vegan
📍 Address: Lietzenburger Str. 4, 10789 Berlin, Germany
‘Umi Vegan’, located near the center of West Berlin, including Ku’damm (Kurfürstendamm), is a restaurant offering sophisticated vegan Asian cuisine and sushi. With its slightly upscale and calm ambiance, it’s perfect for travelers and long-term residents seeking high-quality dining.
The highlight here is their fake meat dishes, which are so high-quality they even surprise meat-eating non-vegans. Their rich red curry with ‘vegan duck’ and seitan-based vegan chicken flawlessly replicate the texture and flavor of real meat. Furthermore, their ‘flying noodles’, served as if floating in mid-air, are playful and definitely Instagram-worthy.
Weekdays in the afternoon (around 3 PM) are relatively quiet, offering comfortable window seats and smooth service, making it an ideal time to visit. Why not enjoy dinner after shopping in West Berlin, with a stylish lemonade or cocktail in hand?
Summary: Tips for Enjoying Berlin’s Vegan Culture
To fully enjoy vegan gourmet food in Berlin, there are a few local rules you should know.
Firstly, Germany, even within Europe, still has a strong ‘cash culture’. While card payments are becoming more common, many privately-owned Asian restaurants and small cafes (like ‘Quy Nguyen’ mentioned in this article) still operate on a ‘Cash Only’ basis. To avoid any last-minute scramble after a delicious meal, it’s always a good idea to carry a small amount of Euro banknotes.
Also, a characteristic of Berlin’s restaurants is that the portions are often quite generous. Don’t feel pressured to finish everything; if you ask the staff, ‘Zum Mitnehmen, bitte’ (for takeaway, please), they will gladly pack it for you in a container. This takeaway culture is very common locally, so feel free to ask without hesitation.
For Berliners, vegan cuisine is not a ‘restrictive diet’ but rather ‘a new genre of delicious and earth-friendly food’ that is integrated into their daily lives. Whether you’re vegan or not, we encourage you to fully savor the free and creative culinary culture unique to this city.
