Plant-Based Connecticut Last Updated: May 2023
It’s no secret that plant-based meals, desserts, and even lifestyles are rapidly growing in popularity. Luckily, Connecticut’s plant-based scene is flourishing – and whether you’re eating for health, animals, the environment, or simply for the experience, there’s a lot to love. From fully vegan restaurants to vegan ice cream, herbivore options at omnivore spots and beyond, here’s where to find plant-based food in Connecticut.
Plant-Based Restaurants & Cafés
Three Girls Vegan Creamery, Guilford
At this grab & go eatery, vegans rub shoulders with omnivores, eagerly lining up for opening time. They all know what Oprah, The Washington Post, and NPR have reported: Three Girls Vegan Creamery makes insanely delicious food. Italian comfort food that is, starring their own plant-based “meats” and artisan vegan cheeses. Try dishes from vegan pepperoni mozzarella rolls to buffalo chicken grilled cheese — and don’t miss desserts from plant-based cannoli to soft served ice cream.
The Stand Vegan Café, Fairfield
Taste local and organic ingredients at The Stand in Fairfield. From juices and fresh classics like the vegan Caesar salad to indulgent twists on omnivore favorites like the Seitan BBQ pesto griller, menu items offer diners a “gentle invitation to Veganism.” Plus, enjoy sweet bakery items and breakfast all day!
Fire & Spice Vegan Restaurant, Hartford
At Fire & Spice, food is vegan-friendly and made with food passion as the main ingredient. Try Jamaican favorites such as jerk tofu or Indian style dishes like Chole – no matter what you order, you’re sure to find an abundance of flavor. Want something sweet to balance the spice? Take home vegan cupcakes, ice cream, or other freshly baked goods.
Arles & Boggs Vegan Eatery, Wallingford
Arles & Boggs is an all-natural, family owned and operated plant-based eatery, “living on the indulgent side of life.” This spot specializes in everything from gluten free ethnic cuisine to old fashioned diner favorites – all made from scratch. Don’t miss a wide selection of local brews, a full bar, and house made desserts.
It’s Only Natural (ION) Restaurant, Middletown
Voted Connecticut's Best Vegan Restaurant in the Hartford Advocate Readers' Poll, this spot offers vegetarian and vegan dining, bakery, and gluten-free options with a full organic cocktails and wine menu. Indulge in southern fried tofu, nachos, cheeseburgers, and more, or treat yourself to decadent desserts like chocolate peanut butter cheesecake or brownies – all amazingly plant-based!
Flora, West Hartford
A perfect spot for a mixed crowd, Flora allows diners to be “as vegan as they want to be,” offering a primarily plant-based menu alongside “viable fauna” options for the omnivores, which include sustainably raised animal foods. Enjoy a fresh juice from the juice bar, devour menu favorites like the fried rice or mac & no-cheese, finish with delectable dessert items, or even come for Sunday brunch.
Organika Plant Based Kitchen, Southport & Ridgefield
From delicious breakfast staples like multigrain pancakes and bagel carrot lox with coconut cream cheese to lunchtime dishes such as jackfruit buffalo tacos and beyond burger melts, Organika offers fresh vegan dishes and twists on fan favorites. And don't miss their colorful, fruit-topped smoothie creations! It’s a great spot to grab a plant-based meal on the go.
Vegan Bodega, New Britain
Vegan Bodega serves up plant-based dishes from grain bowls and fried rice to “egg” rolls, Cuban sandwiches, and even pancakes and French toast for the breakfast lovers.
Caribbean Style Vegan, New Haven
Caribbean Style Vegan combines island flavors with a passion for clean and healthy food. From jerk tofu to curried chickpeas and sweet plantains, the menu is packed with plant-based flavors that even an omnivore will love.
Catch A Healthy Habit, Fairfield
There’s a reason why this spot has become a local favorite around the Fairfield community – Catch A Healthy Habit sources only the freshest organic vegan ingredients. Enjoy vibrant juices, smoothies, eats and more creative recipes filled with nutrients and flavor in every bite.
Right Path Organic Café, New London
This plant-based café believes that choosing to eat well and live well helps us all live in greater harmony – and they contribute to this mission by offering organic and locally sourced foods. All with mindful names such as “Wisdom,” “Chakra,” and “Breathe” enjoy fresh smoothies, grain bowls, soups, salads and more.
Shayna B’s by the Sea, Westbrook
This vegan, gluten free spot is more than just a bakery. In addition to cupcakes, cookies, and cheesecakes, they offer delicious vegan paninis, pizzas, salads, bowls and more. Planning a special occasion? Order a specialty cake made fresh and custom to your needs.
G Monkey, West Hartford
G Monkey is Connecticut first plant-based fast food restaurant! Bite into grilled cheese, bean burritos, chili cheese fries, quinoa tabouli salad, grilled tempeh Reubens and more — all plant-based and super organic. Plus don't miss sweet treats like protein shakes, raw cacao mousse, and carrot cake.
Love It Vegan, Torrington
The landscape of vegan cuisine is changing and our staff loves to find new ways to please the palate. At heart, we offer familiar New England comfort food that will satisfy your cravings. We also make it easy to eat healthier and try new things. We are thrilled to hear you ask "How did they do that?!"
Dosa Hut, Rocky Hill
Want to taste authentic south and north Indian cuisine? Look no further than Dosa Hut, offering a delicious vegan menu with flavors from savory to sweet.
Bloodroot, Bridgeport
This restaurant serves up more than just food — it's a bookstore too! Founded on feminist values, Bloodroot offers a seasonal vegetarian menu with plenty of ethnically diverse vegan options.
Plant-Based Options
It’s always wonderful to discover non-vegan restaurants that offer plant-based dishes, isn’t it? At Rebel Dog Tavern in Plainville, try the falafel sandwich with lime tahini dressing, the roasted beet hummus, or the grain bowl, then finish with a vegan chocolate chip cookie from the coffee shop. Or head to Zohara Mediterranean Kitchen in West Hartford for unforgettable hummus among other plant-based options.
Meanwhile, Costa Pizza in New Haven has an entire vegan menu complete with vegan chicken fingers, meatball subs, sausage & peppers, parmesan pasta and more. At Marketplace Kitchen & Bar in Woodbury, Avon, Litchfield, Newtown, Brookfield, and Danbury, order from the vegan section and chow down on “Impossible” nachos, the veggie haystack and more. Another alternative is Ayla's Bagels & Coffee in Woodbury that offers a vegan menu and huge selection of vegan options. All their soups, quiche, cookies and scones are vegan too.
Eat plant-based but really miss your pizza? No problem. Find flavorful vegan cheese pizzas (with plenty of veggie toppings of course) at Mondo in Middletown, Savoy Pizzeria & Craft Bar in West Hartford, Blaze Pizza in Storrs, Pizzetta in Mystic, Krust in Middletown, or American Flatbread in Canton.
Bite into breakfast favorites at vegetarian restaurant, Claire’s Corner Copia in New Haven, which offers plenty of vegan options including the tofu scramble, vegan breakfast sandwich, and vegan French toast. Or make breakfast extra healthy with refreshing smoothie bowls (with all the fruity fixings) from New Morning Market Juice Bar & Café, Liquid Nirvana, Playa Bowls, or Barvida.
Plant-Based Sweets & Treats
Have a sweet tooth? For the ultimate sweep of take-home plant-based treats, find handcrafted vegan truffles, brownies, cheesecakes, soft serve ice cream, ice cream cookie sandwiches, and more at Divine Treasures in Manchester. Or discover plenty of vegan dessert options – including must-try cupcakes – from Hardcore Sweet Bakery in Watertown.
At Pure Love Bakery, a gluten free bakery in Avon, you’ll find many vegan options from freshly baked donuts and pastries to cakes and the bakery’s famed granola. Dee's One Smart Cookie in Glastonbury offers vegan breads, vegan desserts, and vegan savory items. And Heirloom Food Company in Danielson offers vegan options, and most items on their menu can be made vegan too.
And of course, there’s nothing like a cold, sweet ice cream treat. If you thought it was hard to find great dairy free flavors (that aren’t just sorbet) then think again. Try chocolates, mochas, vanillas and beyond at spots like Tulmeadow Farms in Simsbury, Main Street Creamery Café in Wethersfield, Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream, Grass Roots Ice Cream in Granby, and Salem Valley Farms Ice Cream in Salem.
Connecticut’s Certified Vegan Vineyard
Did you know that not all wine is considered vegan? While the primary ingredients are plant-based, many wine makers use animal products during the fining process before the juice is fermented, making their wine not completely vegan.
Priam Vineyards in Colchester is Connecticut’s certified vegan vineyard. Priam Vineyards doesn’t use animal byproducts in their wine production as it doesn't align with their sustainable agricultural practices. In fact, some even believe that a vegan wine production process retains more flavor in the wine! Stop by to lounge on the outdoor patio and sip a glass or two, or take home bottles of homemade vegan wine from Salmon River White to Westchester Red.
Compassionfest Vegan Festival
On July 22, check out Connecticut's vegan festival, Compassionfest in Hamden. Enjoy flavors from vegan food trucks and booths by vegan restaurants across the state! Plus, shop vegan vendors from cosmetic lines to clothing and more.