Vegan in Cape Breton: Best Vegan Food on the Island

Finding vegan food on Cape Breton Island is easy! As someone who has travelled the world for over 15 years while following a vegan diet, I made sure to do my research before arriving in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Now, I'm happy to share my vegan Cape Breton guide with you.

On the Cabot Trail and the Ceilidh Trail, there aren't any entirely vegan or vegetarian restaurants. While it was a little bit of a challenge to find vegan eats by comparison to bigger cities around the world, there are plenty of veggie eats if you know where to look.

We spent nearly a week on Cape Breton Island, and I ate so much delicious plant-based food on our epic road trip. I'm going to share every vegan-friendly restaurant that we experienced and showcase all of the options for you.

Vegan Cape Breton: The Annex (Inverness)

The Annex in Inverness offers an amazing waterfront dining experience. Inverness Beach is one of the best places to view the sunset on Cape Breton Island, and you can do it directly from their patio. Even if you dine indoors, be sure to go for a little wander around their property to catch some views of the dazzling sunset sky.

The Annex was very busy when we visited on a Monday evening. There weren't any tables available, but the managed to squeeze us in at the bar (thank goodness!). I recommend making a reservation in advance if you can. Even though it was very busy, the service was top notch and the food was excellent.

We ordered some Nova Scotia craft beer from the bar where there are several local breweries featured on tap. As for the food, there is a tofu vegetable salad dish with quinoa, roasted vegetables, carrot puree and black pepper onion jam. This was one of the tastiest dishes I had in all of Cape Breton! All of the components perfectly complimented one another.

The Annex proudly brings the music of Canada's east coast to you. From time to time, they have musicians performing on site. Be sure to check the calendar on their website for live music listings.

Glenora Distillery's Washback Pub (Mabou)

One of the most unique things to do on Cape Breton Island is sample the whisky at Glenora Distillery. It's the home of Canada's first single malt whisky, prepared on site. After you take a tour of the distillery, I suggest staying for lunch at the Washback Pub. Order some delectable eats and even try a whisky flight.

There are daily ceilidhs at the Washback Pub. A ceilidh (prounounced kay-lee) is a gathering centered around music, storytelling, food and drink. You can hear local music from Cape Breton each day from 1-3pm and 8-10pm at Glenora Distillery.

There are a few dishes on the menu marked as vegetarian, but you can let your server know that you're vegan and they'll prepare the dish as such (it may already be vegan). I ordered the falafel burger (crispy fried falafel on a toasted artisan bun with roasted red pepper spread, lettuce, tomato and house pickled red onion) with fries.

Vegan Cape Breton: The Red Shoe Pub (Mabou)

Owned by the famous Rankin family, The Red Shoe Pub is an awesome place to go for dinner and live music. Four sisters, Heather, Cookie and Raylene Rankin, along with eldest sister, Genevieve Fakoory, purchased the pub in 2004 and opened their doors in 2005. It's a mainstay of the community for locals and visitors alike.

They boast traditional live music, seven days a week at the pub. This is a very busy spot in town, especially when live music is happening, so be prepared to wait for a table (it's worth the wait!). After waiting a short while, we were invited into the pub for a beer while we waited for our table to be ready.

There are a few vegan-friendly options on the menu, including the roasted vegetable pasta puttanesca, the veggie burger, the Red Shoe vegetarian chili, the Red Shoe salad, and a vegan brownie for dessert. We also loved listening to a pianist and fiddler perform while we dined for a memorable Cape Breton experience.

Vegan Cape Breton: Last Chance Sandwich (Chéticamp)

Last Chance Sandwich is the perfect pit stop before you embark on your Cabot Trail adventures! On the doorstep of Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Last Chance Sandwich offers delicious sandwiches with fresh ingredients on locally baked bread. They also offer a grab-and-go section with vegan cinnamon buns and other goodies.

You need to order ahead at least one day in advance. The ordering process is easy to do from their website. Then, pick up your sandwiches for the perfect picnic. Speaking of picnic, they also offer picnic baskets as well for a memorable and portable feast.

Last Chance Sandwiches is vegan-friendly and gluten-free-friendly. There are seven different vegan sandwiches and tons of vegan salads as well. The "Imposter Faux Chicken Salad Sandwich" was such a treat and sustained my energy for the entire afternoon of adventures.

Vegan Cape Breton: L'abri Cafe (Chéticamp)

Slightly beyond the Cabot Trail, stop at L'abri Cafe for dinner. It is an Acadian-owned restaurant. The word "l'abri" means "shelter", tributed to the fierce southeast winds in Cheticamp and the Cape Breton Highlands.

We dined on the patio by the edge of the cliffs, savouring the stunning scenery all around. They have an extensive wine, beer and cocktail menu. The vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items are clearly marked as such on the menu, so it was easy for me to order a vegan dish.

I chose the L'abri burger prepared with a Beyond patty and vegan toppings. Paired with a glass of Luvo Piquette + Peach Spritzer, it was the perfect meal for a warm summer day on the patio. Next time, I'll have to try the veggie samosas as those are naturally vegan, too.

Arduaine Restaurant at the Keltic Lodge (Ingonish Beach)

The Arduaine Restaurant & Lounge is located at the Keltic Lodge, home of Cape Breton Highlands Links. Even if you aren't golfing or staying at this accommodation, you can dine at the Arduaine Restaurant like we did.

There are a few veggie dishes on the menu, like the falafel appetizer, beet root risotto (inquire as to whether it's vegan) and what I ordered, the Korean BBQ tofu power bowl. This bowl is comprised of Asian inspired BBQ tofu, fresh vegetable, hummus, guacamole, and pickled onion. Yum!

Salty Rose & and the Periwinkle Cafe (Ingonish)

We stopped by Salty Rose's and the Periwinkle Cafe for coffee and a light lunch after our morning zodiac boat tour. This is a super cute cafe inside a decorated home by the seaside. I loved all of the lawn decor that welcomed us into the restaurant. You'll find seating both indoors and outdoors.

The cafe is split into two: on one side, there's a retail shop featuring local, handmade gifts. The cafe is on the other side. For lunch, there are sandwiches (including a veggie sandwich), which can be prepared on vegan or gluten-free bread. To drink, they offer fair-trade coffee roasted on the east coast, handmade teas, specialty lemonades, locally brewed beer, local wine, kombucha, and cocktails.

I have to admit that the veggie sandwich wasn't terribly exciting. They used to have a hummus and veggie sandwich that I was quite excited to try. This was a bit more like a salad on bread, though it still tasted really good. I enjoyed the cute cafe environment and the coffee was great. I'd love to see a vegan baked good or two on the menu in the future, too.

The Narrows Cafe and Bar, Inverary Resort (Baddeck)

The Narrows Cafe and Bar is located at the Inverary Resort where we stayed for the night in Baddeck. Even if you don't stay here, I still recommend coming here for dinner at night. Big Spruce Brewing is another great option in Baddeck for dinner if they're service food at their food trucks.

I had a veggie burger, fries, and a pint of local craft beer which really hit the spot. If you dine here on a Friday or Saturday night, you can enjoy live music between 7 and 10pm.

Vegan Cape Breton: Highwheeler Cafe & Bakery (Baddeck)

Highwheeler Cafe & Bakery is located in the heart of Baddeck, right in the middle of the village. I suggest popping by for a coffee or a sweet treat. This deli, bakery and cafe offers gourmet deli sandwiches, soups, salads and baked goods with a special focus on gluten-free delicacies. They also offer a few vegan options, too!

Since it was early in the morning, I opted for a vegan cinnamon bun-like treat (it was a bit of a combination between a muffin and a cinnamon bun!) that was so good, and of course, a coffee. It's a great lunch spot for vegan food, like veggie wraps/sandwiches, quinoa salad, and other vegan treats.

Bonus: Cup of Soul Cafe (Elmsdale)

Cup of Soul Cafe isn't on Cape Breton Island, but we stopped there when driving between Halifax and Cape Breton. Specifically, we dined here for lunch on our way to Cape Breton Island. Most people who visit the island fly to the Halifax airport. Even though this restaurant isn't in Cape Breton, you might be looking for food on your way to the island like we were.

Their menu is very vegan-friendly. There's a vegan panini (delicious!), most soups can be prepared vegan with coconut cream, there are vegan breakfast options, and there's also vegan cinnamon buns daily (amazing!). Everything is made fresh and on-site. If you have time, be sure to browse the artisan market upstairs, too.

Bonus: The Tall and Small Cafe (Antigonish)

Similar to what I wrote above, we stopped at The Tall and Small Cafe on our way back towards the Halifax airport on our way home. Located in Antigonish, it's a great option for vegan food between Cape Breton Island and the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. We were already drawn to try The Tall and Small Cafe, simply for the fact that Justin is tall and I am small!

This community space features local artists and hosts regular community events. You can order one of their vegan sandwiches or make your own with your favourite toppings. There's also a lentil walnut burger, salads, and a huge coffee menu. Everything is clearly marked as vegan or vegetarian on the menu.

Vegan Food at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport

Looking for vegan restaurants at the Halifax International Airport? While you won't find any entirely vegan restaurants (I don't know of any airports in the world that offer that!), you will find great veggie options at La Cocina Mexicana.

There are vegan tacos on the menu that come with a side of rice and black beans. Justin and I also split the chips and salsa, which comes with three different kinds of salsa (corn, pico de gallo, and fire roasted salsa).