Vegan Friendly Places to Eat in and around Inverness
This page contains local information on places to eat in the Highlands.
If you would like recommendations for UK wide vegan places, Happy Cow is an excellent resource.
If you would like recommendations for UK wide vegan places, Happy Cow is an excellent resource.
Inverness = no notice required
This is a guide to some of the restaurants that are usually good standby venues for a vegan mean in Inverness without having to call ahead to say you are vegan. We are volunteers, so this page is updated as an when we can, however, please join our facebook page for more up to date information from our members!
Lucky Bowl
25 Union Street, Inverness
01463 712 715
Don't be put off by the location! This restaurant serves a really good range of vegetarian dishes, including many tofu dishes (rare in the Highlands) and szechuan food such as gan bian dou jian (spicy fried green beans), hong shao tu dou (red braised potato slices), and more. Approx £9 per main dish.
Note: You may have to specify that you do not want oyster sauce in your dish, as some of the vegetable dishes are normally cooked with this, but the staff are very helpful.
Rajah
2 Post Office Avenue, Inverness IV1 1DN
01463 237190
Popular Indian restaurant downstairs on Post Office Avenue. The waiters will tell you what contains egg and ghee.
George's Restaurant
Queensgate, Inverness
South Indian food and also Thai food. Let the waiters know you are vegan.
Jaipur
17 Bridge Street, Inverness IV1 1HD
01463 232914
Authentic indian food with some dishes not seen on the usual indian restaurant menu. You may need to ask what contains egg and ghee.
The Zizzi's, Bella Italia, Pizza Express chains now offer a vegan menu
25 Union Street, Inverness
01463 712 715
Don't be put off by the location! This restaurant serves a really good range of vegetarian dishes, including many tofu dishes (rare in the Highlands) and szechuan food such as gan bian dou jian (spicy fried green beans), hong shao tu dou (red braised potato slices), and more. Approx £9 per main dish.
Note: You may have to specify that you do not want oyster sauce in your dish, as some of the vegetable dishes are normally cooked with this, but the staff are very helpful.
Rajah
2 Post Office Avenue, Inverness IV1 1DN
01463 237190
Popular Indian restaurant downstairs on Post Office Avenue. The waiters will tell you what contains egg and ghee.
George's Restaurant
Queensgate, Inverness
South Indian food and also Thai food. Let the waiters know you are vegan.
Jaipur
17 Bridge Street, Inverness IV1 1HD
01463 232914
Authentic indian food with some dishes not seen on the usual indian restaurant menu. You may need to ask what contains egg and ghee.
The Zizzi's, Bella Italia, Pizza Express chains now offer a vegan menu
Restaurants in Inverness that can cater for vegans with notice
Cafe 1
75 Castle Street Inverness IV2 3EA
01463 226200
If given notice they will veganize their meals, including their set menu specials, which are very good value.
The Oakhouse Restaurant
OPENING HOURS 12PM -9PM CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS FROM OCTOBER TO EASTER
Dochgarroch by Inverness IV3 8JG 01463 861481
http://www.spanglefish.com/oakwoodrestaurant/
Restaurant near Loch Ness that was recommended by a vegan person from our group who said they have a great range of vegan dishes. It is recommended to call ahead to let them know you are vegan and if you wish to have gluten free dishes.
The Mustard Seed
16 Fraser Street, Inverness, IV1 1DW
01463 220220
http://www.mustardseedrestaurant.co.uk/
Another recommended by a vegan group member, who reports having nice food there. Notice is recommended.
75 Castle Street Inverness IV2 3EA
01463 226200
If given notice they will veganize their meals, including their set menu specials, which are very good value.
The Oakhouse Restaurant
OPENING HOURS 12PM -9PM CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS FROM OCTOBER TO EASTER
Dochgarroch by Inverness IV3 8JG 01463 861481
http://www.spanglefish.com/oakwoodrestaurant/
Restaurant near Loch Ness that was recommended by a vegan person from our group who said they have a great range of vegan dishes. It is recommended to call ahead to let them know you are vegan and if you wish to have gluten free dishes.
The Mustard Seed
16 Fraser Street, Inverness, IV1 1DW
01463 220220
http://www.mustardseedrestaurant.co.uk/
Another recommended by a vegan group member, who reports having nice food there. Notice is recommended.
Cafes That Have Soy Milk!
Happily, the majority of cafes in Inverness seem to offer soya milk now, here is a selection. The vast majority don't offer vegan cakes and biscuits sadly. It is however worth asking cafes if cakes are vegan, hopefully then they will start responding to demand.Naturally the big coffee chains like Starbucks and Costa offer soy milk. There is a Starbucks in the Eastgate Shopping Centre in the city centre, Costa Coffee is on 14 Inglis Street, off the High Street.
Artysans
7 Strothers Lane, Inverness
http://www.artysans.org.uk/
Friendly place that offers work training opportunities to younger adults. A large selection of hot drinks, tea made with leaves, not a bag! Lots of cakes, sadly not vegan.
The Best Western Palace Hotel
8 Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5NG
A hotel with a commanding view of the river Ness. I'm told by a reliable source that they serve soy milk.
The Inverness Museum Cafe
Castle Wynd, Inverness, Highlands IV2 3EB
01463 237 1140
Offers fair trade coffee and tea, with soy milk. They also have vegan soups on occasion and have a lovely range of Belvoir Pressés, and an adorable gift shop with old fashioned toys. They have had exhibitions artists such as Matisse and Warhol. A very nice surprise all round!
The Riverdale Centre
105-107 Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1EY
tel: 01463 250 589
http://www.therapies-inverness.co.uk/cafe.htm
The Riverdale Centre offer organic items such as sandwiches, soups, smoothies and vegan cakes.
Leakey's Bookshop cafe*
Greyfriars Hall Church St, Inverness, Inverness-Shire IV1 1EY
01463 239 947
At the end of Church Street is Leakey's bookshop, a maze of obscure and interesting books, antiquated and recent, upstairs there is a little cafe that often serves vegan soup. Alas *no soy milk or vegan cakes.
Rendevous Cafe
Church Street, Inverness
On the corner of Baron Taylor Street and Church Street. Offers vegan sandwich options, also a vegetarian breakfast option.
Velocity
Top of Stephen's Brae, Inverness
The cafe is part of a cycle workshop that is part funded by the Scottish Government to promote bicycle use in the Highlands. Nice atmosphere, offer vegan sandwiches, some soups, and some vegan cakes.
Cafes and shops outside of Inverness
Dingwall
The Courtyard Coffee Shop and Cafe
Harpers Court, Dingwall, IV15 9HT
"The Courtyard Cafe in Dingwall does soya milk and have done me a panini before with roast veg and a relish." ~e.v.
Evanton
The Storehouse at Foulis Ferry
a review from one of the group:
"I had a vegan lunch today in The Storehouse at Foulis and the guy serving me even knew that because I was vegan he would need to cook me fresh rice because the main batch had butter in in. V impressed. They also do soya milk." ~e.v.
Nairn
Sky Delights
9 Leopold Street, Nairn, IV12 4BE
Bright and cheery organic food shop/deli with a huge selection of food. Sells coffee and hot foods like vegan paninis and vegan cakes.
Artysans
7 Strothers Lane, Inverness
http://www.artysans.org.uk/
Friendly place that offers work training opportunities to younger adults. A large selection of hot drinks, tea made with leaves, not a bag! Lots of cakes, sadly not vegan.
The Best Western Palace Hotel
8 Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5NG
A hotel with a commanding view of the river Ness. I'm told by a reliable source that they serve soy milk.
The Inverness Museum Cafe
Castle Wynd, Inverness, Highlands IV2 3EB
01463 237 1140
Offers fair trade coffee and tea, with soy milk. They also have vegan soups on occasion and have a lovely range of Belvoir Pressés, and an adorable gift shop with old fashioned toys. They have had exhibitions artists such as Matisse and Warhol. A very nice surprise all round!
The Riverdale Centre
105-107 Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1EY
tel: 01463 250 589
http://www.therapies-inverness.co.uk/cafe.htm
The Riverdale Centre offer organic items such as sandwiches, soups, smoothies and vegan cakes.
Leakey's Bookshop cafe*
Greyfriars Hall Church St, Inverness, Inverness-Shire IV1 1EY
01463 239 947
At the end of Church Street is Leakey's bookshop, a maze of obscure and interesting books, antiquated and recent, upstairs there is a little cafe that often serves vegan soup. Alas *no soy milk or vegan cakes.
Rendevous Cafe
Church Street, Inverness
On the corner of Baron Taylor Street and Church Street. Offers vegan sandwich options, also a vegetarian breakfast option.
Velocity
Top of Stephen's Brae, Inverness
The cafe is part of a cycle workshop that is part funded by the Scottish Government to promote bicycle use in the Highlands. Nice atmosphere, offer vegan sandwiches, some soups, and some vegan cakes.
Cafes and shops outside of Inverness
Dingwall
The Courtyard Coffee Shop and Cafe
Harpers Court, Dingwall, IV15 9HT
"The Courtyard Cafe in Dingwall does soya milk and have done me a panini before with roast veg and a relish." ~e.v.
Evanton
The Storehouse at Foulis Ferry
a review from one of the group:
"I had a vegan lunch today in The Storehouse at Foulis and the guy serving me even knew that because I was vegan he would need to cook me fresh rice because the main batch had butter in in. V impressed. They also do soya milk." ~e.v.
Nairn
Sky Delights
9 Leopold Street, Nairn, IV12 4BE
Bright and cheery organic food shop/deli with a huge selection of food. Sells coffee and hot foods like vegan paninis and vegan cakes.
On The Go?
If you are just passing through Inverness and need some ready to eat lunch you can find vegan food in these shops and supermarkets. Please do double check the ingredients as recipes can change.
Holland and Barrett
34 Eastgate, Inverness, IV2 3NA
01463 234267
National chain of health food stores. Stock vegan savoury pies and pasties, vegan cheese in the refrigerated section.
The Health Store
20 Baron Taylor's Street, Inverness IV1 1QG
A great place in the city centre with a huge selection of food and friendly staff.
Highlands Wholefoods
Highland Wholefoods, Unit 6, 13 Harbour Road, Inverness IV1 1SY
01463 712393
Just outside of town, this is a real treat, with a massive back room full of wholesale size bags of flours, pulses, etc. The front room has a lovely selection of chocolates and other treats, including the full range of Black Isle Organic Beer, suitable for vegans (except the honey ale of course) and organic wines - the staff will be able to guide you to vegan selections.
Holland and Barrett
34 Eastgate, Inverness, IV2 3NA
01463 234267
National chain of health food stores. Stock vegan savoury pies and pasties, vegan cheese in the refrigerated section.
The Health Store
20 Baron Taylor's Street, Inverness IV1 1QG
A great place in the city centre with a huge selection of food and friendly staff.
Highlands Wholefoods
Highland Wholefoods, Unit 6, 13 Harbour Road, Inverness IV1 1SY
01463 712393
Just outside of town, this is a real treat, with a massive back room full of wholesale size bags of flours, pulses, etc. The front room has a lovely selection of chocolates and other treats, including the full range of Black Isle Organic Beer, suitable for vegans (except the honey ale of course) and organic wines - the staff will be able to guide you to vegan selections.
Other Food and Drink Shops to try
The Black Isle Brewery
Black Isle Brewery Co. Old Allangrange Munlochy, Ross-shire, Scotland IV8 8NZ
01463 811 871
http://www.blackislebrewery.com/
Organic brewery offering a large range of vegan friendly beers. You can visit the brewery, which also has a small shop.
Alcohol?
If you are a vegan/vegetarian visitor to the UK you may be unsure what alcohol here is suitable for you. There are a few supermarkets that do label their own brand alcohol if it is suitable for vegans/vegetarians. These are: Marks and Spencer (High Street/Eastgate), Co-operative (Church Street, also other small shops throughout Inverness) and Sainsbury's (in Nairn, none in Inverness). At the time of writing we are unaware of other supermarkets that label their bottled alcohol as suitable.
Barnivore is a good website to look for specific brands of alcohol.
Barnivore is a good website to look for specific brands of alcohol.