Best Vegan Restaurants to Discover in Kingston, Ontario

There are so many awesome things to do in Kingston, and one of those things is sampling delicious vegan food in the city. As it turns out, writing this vegan Kingston guide wasn’t a terribly difficult task as there are so many veg-friendly restaurants in town.

While finding vegan and vegetarian eats may have been tricky years ago, that’s no longer the case! As part of our Kingston itinerary, we set out to find the best veg-friendly and vegan restaurants in Kingston, Ontario.

Kingston has the most restaurants per capita in Canada, making it the foodie capital of the country. It’s second to New Orleans in the entirety of North America. Whether you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet or like to sprinkle plant based eats into your diet, these establishments are all incredible. You can’t go wrong when dining at any of them.

There’s only one 100% vegan restaurant in Kingston, and that’s Copper Branch. Copper Branch is a chain out of Montreal, and I’ve had it numerous times in Toronto and other cities in southern Ontario. We didn’t dine at Copper Branch because we wanted to try restaurants that were unique to Kingston. But, I will mention it as a possibility in this blog post if you’d like to try a completely plant-based restaurant in Kingston.

Vegan Kingston: Miss Bāo Restaurant + Cocktail Bar

Miss Bao is a restaurant and cocktail bar serving sustainable and local cuisine. Not only do they serve delectable cuisine, but you can also feel good about dining here. Miss Bao is a zero-waste operation where they take on the challenge of waste management in the restaurant industry. They consciously source, prepare and serve their food and drinks.

Furthermore, to reduce their ecological footprint, their menu is 50% vegetarian and vegan. Therefore, you’ll definitely find many excellent vegan choices on the menu. First, check out their innovative cocktail menu with non-alcoholic options as well.

You must try the Burmese fermented tea salad and the szechuan tofu bao, two delicious plant-based dishes. While it was difficult to choose, I thoroughly enjoyed both dishes. You can also try the crispy shiitake wontons, mushroom lentil pate, Thai red curry, or the sweet chili shoyu mushroom bao.

Vegan Kingston: Atomica

Atomica specializes in Mediterranean cuisine and Italian comfort food, including an entire section devoted to vegan meals. On their plant-based menu, you can choose from tofu bao buns, Caesar salad, Caprese mac & cheese, fungi pizza, or the carne finta pizza. Atomica uses innovative ingredients like cashew mozzarella, fungi bacon, walnut parmesan, and fennel tofu sausage.

There are some other vegan dishes that aren’t on the plant-based menu, like the loaded hummus that I couldn’t resist ordering (pictured at the top of this blog post). Paired with the vegan Caprese mac & cheese, and you might want to wear your stretchy pants in advance (or a stretchy dress, in my case!). The flavours are bang on, making Atomica a restaurant in Kingston that you need to check out.

Vegan Kingston: Tango Nuevo

It’s a bit of a secret, but Tango Nuevo has an entire vegan menu…you just have to ask for it! Tango Nuevo is a tapas restaurant with many small plates and sharables that you need to try. From the vegan menu, there are cold dishes: kale salad, avocado tartare, and the heritage greens salad.

For hot dishes, try the vegetable empanadas, patatas bravas, roasted Brussels sprouts, Mediterranean eggplant or the sauteed green beans. I heard that the sauteed green beans were exceptional and they were – that puffed wild rice adds a great crunch! My order of patatas bravas didn’t disappoint either.

Vegan Food in Kingston: Chez Piggy

Chez Piggy, known to locals as “The Pig”, is a sweet restaurant tucked down an alleyway. Dining on its patio is an unforgettable experience as you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to Europe. Chez Piggy’s stone building is actually a renovated abandoned stable. It exudes charm and romance, making it the perfect dining choice for you and your other half.

The menu is easy to navigate as someone who follows a vegan diet. There’s a “V” next to every item that can be made vegetarian or vegan upon request, and I was pleased to see quite a few Vs! Our server brought us freshly baked bread with oil and vinegar before our meal arrived, which is always welcomed!

I started with the Baby Greens + Nabulsi Salad (omitting the cheese) and opted for the Kimchi + Tofu Stew as my main. Both dishes were really tasty and I’d return to Chez Piggy in a heartbeat to try some of their other offerings.

Other dishes on the menu that are vegan or can be prepared vegan are: house Caesar salad, beet and avocado salad, skillet huevos rancheros, the vegan scramble, farmer’s breakfast, triple decker sandwich, grilled cheese avocado toast, frites, aioli, tinga poutine, Korean mandu potstickers, hummus and Pan Chancho pita, creamy mushroom gnocchi, linguini aglio olio, and cauliflower and eggplant tagine.

Veg-Friendly Restaurants in Kingston: Northside Espresso and Kitchen

Northside Espresso and Kitchen is a cute cafe in downtown Kingston that’s perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a coffee break. Justin and I went there for lunch one day and we adored their quiet, plant-filled patio. The menu is about 50% vegan and the plant-based options are marked with a V.

I suggest ordering the Spring Brekkie Bowl. It’s one of the most unique bowls I’ve ever eaten (yes, there’s popcorn in it!). There’s a mix of crispy grains, legumes, roasted asparagus, kale, chickpea hummus, lemon vinaigrette, and more. Pair it with an oat milk latte for the perfect midday meal.

There are a few other vegan dishes on the menu, all clearly marked with a “V” next to them. These include: coconut rhubarb raw oats and the avo smash.

Vegan Kingston: Sally’s Roti Shop

Sally’s Roti Shop serves authentic Caribbean cuisine, featuring tasty rotis, curries and wraps made with fresh ingredients. Sally moved to Canada from Trinidad with her husband in the late 80s. Inspired by her mother’s cooking, she began recreating dishes from her youth. In 2014, Sally opened her restaurant and she often hears from customers that her rotis are the best they’ve ever tried.

There are several vegan options at Sally’s Roti Shop, like the curry chickpeas roti, curry squash roti, curry eggplant and spinach roti, chickpeas curry plate, eggplant and spinach curry plate, doubles and phulorie. I ordered a curry chickpeas roti and it was one of the best rotis I’ve ever had!

The Grocery Basket

The Grocery Basket is a quick serve / grab and go breakfast and lunch joint that also has a small selection of grocery items. There are a few vegan menu items, including fruit smoothies and bagel sandwiches.

Their fresh produce is locally sourced and seasonal. For instance, the berries come from The Blueberry Patch in Prince Edward County. Other local produce vendors are Patchwork Gardens, Forman Farms and Unity Farm, all from Kingston.

We had the vegan veggie bagel, which had lots of veggies and a herb & garlic vegan spread. In addition, we tried the vegan breakfast sandwich (Beyond Meat breakfast sausage, vegan cheese, tomatoes and mushrooms). Definitely try the purple passion smoothie, too. Everything was made to order (and quickly, I might add!) and very tasty.

Plant-Based Breakfast at Pan Chancho

Pan Chancho is a favourite place to dine in Kingston, and it’s also an artisanal bakery, too. While they have loads of grab and go items, Justin and I went to Pan Chancho for breakfast. It goes without saying that you need to try their coffee or espresso bevvie for breakfast. I also suggest that you try the red quinoa berry bowl.

Eating quinoa for breakfast might sound a little strange, but trust me, it works here. There’s red quinoa, puffed rice, fresh berries, grapes, granola and a coconut lime cream. It’s light, refreshing, and delicious. I wish I knew how to make this one at home as I could eat it every day!

Their menu does change from time to time, but here are the other vegan offerings at the time that we visited: a little bit nutty smoothie, southwestern breakfast wrap, and the cafe salad.

AquaTerra at the Delta Hotel Kingston

AquaTerra is located within the Delta Hotel where we stayed, but anyone can feel free to dine here anytime. It was a convenient choice for us, as we only had to go down a couple of flights of stairs to reach it. We dined at AquaTerra for breakfast.

There’s only one vegan item on the menu, but we were both pleased to order it: the Avocado Smash. It’s grilled sourdough, charred corn & tomato salsa, radish & pea tendrils, and everything bagel spice. Yum!

Harper’s Burger Bar

Justin and I last visited Harper’s Burger Bar back in 2015, so it’s been quite a while since we dined there. Back then, it was one of the only spots in town that had something vegan on the menu, so we were super grateful for that. The vegan Kingston scene has exploded compared to six years ago, but Harper’s Burger Bar remains a great place to find vegan food in Kingston.

They used to offer the most delicious chickpea burger on the menu. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available, but they have replaced it with a Beyond Meat patty. I am delighted to see that all of the vegan items on the menu have a little star next to them. Plus, there are way more vegan sides and dishes than before!

The vegan items at Harper’s Burger Bar are: fries, waffle fries, mean green potato salad, green salad, “the health nut” salad, Sol Veggie Patty burger, and the Beyond Meat burger.

Namaste Kingston

Namaste Kingston serves fine Indian cuisine from an award-winning chef on Ontario Street in Kingston. I loved dining out on the patio, which isn’t too loud but still great for people watching. Chef Kumar presents North Indian flavours with a modern twist, serving the finest curries in Kingston. This is one of the best vegan-friendly restaurants in town.

There’s a whole page of vegetarian dishes that you can easily ask to be made vegan. I ordered the daal tadka (red lentil puree with onion and garlic), onion bhaji to start, and some tandoori roti to go with the daal. It’s really difficult to choose because there are so many mouthwatering options! I could easily dine here again and again trying new meals each time.

Kingston Vegan Restaurants: Copper Branch

Copper Branch is a vegan restaurant chain that’s expanding across Canada and has even gone worldwide. This restaurant started in Montreal and there are tons of locations all across southern Ontario (and beyond).

You’ll find loads of delicious plant-based eats that are quick and convenient choices. There’s burgers, sandwiches, nachos, poutine, waffles, and smoothies. Vegan desserts are also available.

Vegan Options at Mio Gelato

Craving a sweet treat? Pop over to Mio Gelato Kingston for a scoop of gelato or sorbet that’s homemade right on site. The flavors are always changing depending on what’s in season at the time.

I love the large selection of vegan gelato and sorbet, which are marked by red scoops (it was one entire section!). I couldn’t resist trying the chocolate pudding sorbet and the chocolate mint gelato.

TULA Cafe

TULA Cafe describes themselves as a plant forward cafe with many vegan and gluten-free options. The word “tula” means balance in Sanskrit. They want to help you find balance by offering a peaceful environment with friendly staff and yummy eats.

This coffee shop is located inside the Broom Factory in Kingston’s Inner Harbour neighbourhood. This building is a hub for the film, music and design community. The cafe transforms into a bar serving shows at the Broom Factory on some evenings.

They serve delicious coffee and baked goods from local suppliers, The Coffee Plant, Wheat Kings, Knifey Spooney and AllerGlee. They also make their own energy balls, overnight oats, chia puddings, smoothies, sandwiches and salads.

Kingston Coffee House

Kingston Coffee House is a cozy cafe across from Springer Market Square. It’s a very vegan-friendly coffee shop, featuring lots of vegan beverages and desserts. You can make practically any drink vegan by using a plant-based milk (oat, soy, almond). If you’re looking for more excellent coffee shops in Kingston, check out our blog post about the top Kingston cafes.

They also have vegan baked goods on hand, too. There’s a little basket at the front with vegan and gluten-free treats. Plus, there are other vegan treats on hand, and they are all clearly marked as such. I ordered an Americano with oat milk and a vanilla flavour shot, and Justin got an iced chocolate with a plant-based milk (it tasted like a fudgsicle!).

CRAVE Coffee House & Bakery

CRAVE Coffee House & Bakery is a locally owned and operated cafe in town that’s very vegan-friendly (and they have gluten-free food, too!). Grab a coffee with plant-based milk, a vegan cookie, or perhaps a meal from their grab and go section.

I stopped by one morning for an iced Americano, but I was also pretty excited to see vegan meals and desserts, too. It’s a great spot to grab a snack or a meal on the go. Plus, their coffee shop has loads of seating (both indoors and outdoors), so I could see getting comfortable to do some work on my laptop there, too.

Memorial Centre Farmers Market

Memorial Centre Farmers Market is a 100% producer-run, year round market that takes place every Sunday at the Kingston Memorial Centre. In the spring and summer months, you’ll find the market outdoors on the lawn with over thirty top local food and craft producers.

Shop for fresh produce from within 100 km of Kingston, hot comfort foods, coffee, takeout meals, health foods, vegan and gluten free vendors and handmade crafts. In order to reduce waste, the market offers reusable plates and cutlery that you can return once you’ve finished eating your meal. It’s also possible to borrow a picnic blanket to enjoy your meal on the grass while listening to live music.

Vegan Kingston: Knifey Spooney

While there are numerous vendors and I suggest browsing as many booths as you can, definitely check out Knifey Spooney for delicious vegan eats, including breakfast sandwiches and baked goods. Get to the market early to snag one of their decadent cinnamon buns (they sell out fast!).

Collective Joy

Collective Joy Farm has an urban farm location within Kingston and they also have a booth at the market. They grow microgreens, edible flowers and lettuce, and you can also purchase cold-pressed juice and plant-based meals, too.

If you miss them at the market, you can stop by their retail location throughout the week. Pop by for a vegan meal or take home some microgreens. I also bought some cat grass for my cat!

Kingston Public Market

The Kingston Public Market is the oldest market in Ontario, and it happens every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at Springer Market Square (April to November). There are an assortment of vendors selling fresh produce and locally made products.

Whether you’re looking for some fresh fruits and veggies or a wonderful handmade gift, it’s worth strolling through this historic market in a heritage setting. The backdrop of Kingston City Hall makes the market feel more like you’re in Europe than Canada.

This is the perfect option for anyone looking for farm fresh ingredients to whip up an amazing vegan dish at home. If you’re visiting Kingston for a few days, I suggest stopping at the Kingston Public Market just before heading out of town. You can bring home delicious fruits and veggies, so you won’t even need to hit up the grocery store when you get home!

Where to Stay in Kingston, Ontario

Looking for an excellent Kingston hotel to book? We loved staying at the Delta Hotel Kingston. It’s centrally located and truly in the perfect location as we were able to walk almost everywhere. The staff were helpful and friendly from check-in to check-out, and we really felt right at home.

The room itself is really spacious with a comfortable king-sized bed and a large desk in case you need to get any work done. We were also wowed by the fireplace: we didn’t use the fireplace in the summer, but the TV rises out of the fireplace when you push a button (and you can hide it again if you choose!).

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