Vegan Restaurants in St. John’s NL – Vegan Travel Guide

The best vegan eats in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Newfoundland is a spectacular region of Canada with endless stunning landscapes, friendly residents, and opportunities to observe pristine nature and wildlife. Did you know it’s also easy to travel to St. John’s, Newfoundland while following a vegan diet? When I visited, I had no idea I’d discover so many restaurants in St. John’s NL with vegan options. While it might not be obvious where to search, I’ve put together this handy vegan travel guide for St. John’s so you can gorge on the same yummy eats that I did.

POYO & THE SPROUT TAKE OUT

Poyo & The Sprout Take Out is an amalgamation of two restaurants: The Sprout was one of the only vegetarian restaurants in St. John’s NL, and Poyo was a pop-up vegetarian Mexican restaurant that operated in the same building as The Sprout for late night meal service. The owner of the Sprout decided to sell the business just as Poyo was looking to expand. Poyo bought The Sprout, so it’s now known as Poyo & The Sprout Take Out. The “take out” aspect simply means that the restaurant doesn’t offer table service. Order your meal at the front and they’ll make it within moments. You can sit down in the restaurant to dine (there’s water available, too) or take your food away with you.

Since the restaurant combines Poyo & The Sprout, the menu contains selections from both restaurants. You can order tacos and burritos or veggie favourites like Pad Thai or a vegan Caesar salad. I was in the mood for Mexican food, so I ordered a burrito. Burritos are filled with cheese, rice, black beans, corn, salsa, and you can choose between refried beans and TVP “beef”. To make the burrito vegan, they’ll remove the cheese. Most items that are labeled vegetarian can be made vegan, so just let the staff know ahead of time.

Poyo & The Sprout has an eclectic style, combining retro wood paneled booths with antique decor, such as an kitschy organ topped with plants and old sheet music. With succulents lining the window sills, you feel like you’re dining at home more than a restaurant. It’s also inside a bright, lime green home, keeping with the colourful house theme of St. John’s. If I lived here, I could see myself going out for meals with friends all the time, whether for dinner or a late night snack after an evening at the pub.

Here’s a look at the full menu. One side is fully Mexican food, including enchiladas, burritos, and tacos. The other side has vegetarian selections like a teriyaki stir fry, curry, poutine, and a hummus plate.

Poyo & The Sprout Take Out

364 Duckworth Street

St. John’s, NL

See Facebook page for hours.   

PEACEFUL LOFT

In a tiny blue house in downtown St. John’s, you’ll find the Peaceful Loft, a vegan Chinese restaurant. It’s operated by a very sweet Asian couple: he works in the front and she works in the kitchen. They both show amazing hospitality and serve up delicious food. If there’s one place you should dine in St. John’s, this is the spot.

When we arrived, the owner welcomed us to the restaurant and immediately brought out vegetable soup. He was very proud of this soup, which instantly warmed our bellies and our hearts. It was inspiring to hear him talk about the ingredients in the soup. He said that even though some vegetables were a little expensive, he felt that every customer should enjoy a bowl of it to start their meal. Not only did we enjoy complimentary soup, but there was a never-ending supply of green tea, too. The owner brought three dipping sauces to the table, ranging from a milder soy sauce to spicier ones.

For the main course, my sister and I decided to split an order of Peaceful Rolls and a noodle stir fry with tofu and seitan. The food arrived to the table very quickly, and it was lovingly prepared. In chatting to the gentleman who owns Peaceful Loft, he said that they use the same fake meats that are made by King’s Cafe / Zen Gardens back in Toronto. I’m very familiar with Zen Gardens (I go there all the time as it’s in my hometown) and their veggie meat products are so yummy.

The food at Peaceful Loft is some of the best vegan Chinese food I’ve tasted. Definitely head here when you’re in the city.

Peaceful Loft

250 Duckworth Street

St. John’s, NL

Open daily from 11:30am-8:30pm

THE MERCHANT TAVERN

While the Merchant Tavern isn’t a vegan or vegetarian restaurant, there are some options that cater to a plant-based diet. This restaurant mostly focuses on seafood and traditional cuisine from Atlantic Canada, but they’re happy to cater to vegans. Just mention that you’re vegan to your server and they’ll take care of you.

On the menu, there’s a roasted beet salad (omit the dairy), a cauliflower steak, and even a couple of dessert choices. I ordered the cauliflower steak: wild leek marinated cauliflower, white bean and lentil cassolette, green pea puree, seasonal vegetables, and toasted spelt.

For dessert, there are various fruit sorbets or an item on the menu called “something sweet”. Something sweet is a platter of sponge toffee and dark chocolate mint truffles which are all vegan. The main dish has milk chocolate truffles and the waiter substituted the dairy ones for the dark chocolate ones. Paired with a cup of coffee, it was the perfect ending to a delicious meal.

If you’re looking for an upscale dining experience, this is one of the restaurants in St. John’s NL to check out.

The Merchant Tavern

291 Water St.

St. John’s, NL

See Facebook page for hours

O’REILLY’S PUB

Now, you won’t find many vegetarian or vegan choices on the O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub menu. In fact, the fries are not cooked separately from the chicken, and many things are filled with meat, dairy, or eggs. However, I asked about vegan food after getting screeched in, and they were super accommodating. Not only did they bring out a house salad (with balsamic dressing and dried cranberries), but they prepared cauliflower wings for me! The cauliflower wings are not on the menu, but they were absolutely delicious. Perhaps if you ask in advance, they would be willing to make them for you, too?

If you’re looking to enjoy some locally brewed beer or perhaps get screeched in yourself, O’Reilly’s on George Street is a happening place with live music. There’s no better place to spend your evenings in St. John’s.

O’Reilly’s Pub

13 George Street

St. John’s, NL

See Facebook page for hours

ROCKET BAKERY

Rocket Bakery is a cafe and bakery in downtown St. John’s. Not only do they have lots of caffeinated beverages, but they are very vegan-friendly, too. I came here just to purchase an almond milk latte, but discovered a whole bunch of vegan grab and go meals. They have hummus, a wrap (the “protein powerhouse” with chipotle tofu, edamame, green pea pesto, and veggie slaw), a herb sweet potato soup, and their breads and buns are all vegan. There’s also vegan perogies in the frozen section to prepare at home. For dessert, grab a partridge berry macaroon dipped in semi-sweet chocolate.

The owner was delighted to show me every vegan option in the shop, so don’t hesitate to ask for their vegan selections. While I went in for a coffee, I came out with a coffee and a macaroon. I couldn’t resist!

Rocket Bakery

272 Water Street

St. John’s, NL

MAP OF VEGAN RESTAURANTS

Here’s a map of the vegan, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly restaurants in St. John’s NL. Looking for more things to do? Check out how I spent a weekend in the Avalon Peninsula and watched the sunrise at Cape Spear.

WHERE TO STAY

We spent two nights at the JAG Boutique Hotel in downtown St. John’s. From the hotel, we walked all over town. Besides the perfect location, I had a very peaceful night’s sleep in my spacious and comfortable suite. With ample space, a luxurious bathroom, two flatscreen TVs, Keurig coffee maker, and speedy Wi-Fi, it’s really a traveller’s dream. Be sure to check out more photographs and reviews from fellow travellers.

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