A vegan foodie’s guide to Mumbai
Editor’s note: Veganism has grown into a multi-million dollar industry in India, with Mumbai, in particular, offering something for foodies of all stripes. In this carefully handpicked and mouthwatering list, journalist (and vegan) Paripsa Pandya takes us through the many wonderful eateries, cafes, bars, and restaurants—including the standards and undiscovered gems—that Mumbai offers its burgeoning vegan (and non vegan) populace. The avocado quinoa salads have their place, of course, but here we look at exciting dishes like Mexican chaats, coastal classics, vegan pizzas, mock meat preparations and Peruvian cuisine, gelatos, tiramisu, vegan cocktails, and more.
Written by: Paripsa Pandya
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For several reasons—ethical concerns, environmental footprint, or just health—many people are now choosing to cut down on meat, seafood, and dairy. Health and wellness, especially in urban sectors, has seen a sharp increase, and the plant-based movement is gaining momentum. While there is some hesitation around use of the word ‘vegan’, the industry is expected to grow to up to $3.82 billion by 2033. As consumption patterns change, the restaurant industry has begun to take note, offering more vegan dishes and customisable options on menus.
Having been a flexitarian vegan for five years and a strict vegan for the last year, I’ve had my fair share of experiments and failures. While I’ve had great luck with vegan desserts, pastas, and coffee, I’m still chasing vegan crepes and cannelloni. Nonetheless, if there’s one city in India that's extremely plant-forward and vegan-friendly, it’s Mumbai.
It’s not just the overpriced lettuce avocado quinoa salad types that you get here. Even Mumbai’s iconic street food is often vegan-friendly. From the puri bhaji at Pancham Puriwala and the sev puri and bhel at Elco to the sabudana vada at Aaswad and the mysore dosa at Narayan dosa, there is a range of options available for vegans. Here are some tried and tested recommendations:
This is one of the city’s first fully vegan restaurants, serving everything from croissants to hot chocolate to mock meat—all vegan. Their tofu Mongolian rice bowl makes for an extremely satisfying meal and their orange chocolate cake slice is the stuff of dreams. Earth Cafe is a bit on the expensive side, but remains one of the best places in the city for a delightful vegan experience.
Price range: Rs 1500 for two
If you’re someone who cares about where your food is grown, this is the right place for you. Project Hum in Bandra is a farm-to-table, ingredients-focused cafe with a live kitchen. They source directly from farmer-producer organisations, and try to highlight the ingredients as well as the people responsible for its production. It’s a welcoming space—green, airy, charming—with a range of organic, vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free options. Their bowls, especially, are worth a try: the Katsu Curry and Rad Thai bowls are exceptional, as is the Fico sandwich. Further, they offer high-protein meals with calorie specifications if you’re looking for nutrient-dense meals. Bonus tip: their seasonal desserts—especially the vegan mango ones, using mangoes sourced from regional farms in Maharashtra—are exceptional.
Price range: Rs 1200 for two
It’s little surprise that Kari Apla has been a regular fixture across most “best restaurant” lists in the country, including a spot in Conde Nast’s prestigious 50 Best Restaurants of 2025 list. It’s a small space in Khar serving coastal cuisine from the Deccan coast, drawing heavily from Maharashtrian and Malayali flavours, and presented with a European-esque flair. There’s an intimacy to the restaurant, and you can have a conversation with the folks whipping up your meals. Here’s the vegan twist: they have a bunch of items on the menu that can be customised to be vegan, with the kadala curry hummus particular highlight, as also their appam and stew.
Price range: Rs 1200 for two
Morii, a cosy and easygoing cafe in Bandra, has a bunch of savoury plant-based options. More importantly, it has some of the best vegan desserts in the city. The highlights (tried and tested!) include the pecan salted caramel ice-cream, vegan tiramisu, hazelnut tart, macadamia nut coffee ice cream, and chocolate hazelnut ice cream. This is a great place to go to for brunch or an ice cream date.
Price range: Rs 1400 for two
If ever you’re craving, say, a really good missi roti with soya chaap, or maybe some rich lehsuni palak, head on over to the Sadak Chaap chain of restaurants across the city. They offer high-protein vegetarian food and also boast a dedicated vegan menu, with massive portions at affordable prices. While the menu does have many dairy-based dishes, you could just as easily opt for the vegan versions of their popular soya chaap dishes. Get the vegan fish fry if you’re feeling adventurous, and also ask for extra vegan butter for your rotis. A personal favourite is the vegan malai chaap with cashew cheese—unbelievable!
Price range: Rs 900 for two
Here’s an unexpected treat: a Peruvian restaurant with incredible vegan options. While they do have a bunch of meat-heavy dishes on the menu, their vegan fare is just as delightful. Otra offers a delicious chaufa, a smoked rice delicacy with roasted vegetables, which can be customised to be made vegan. It’s a pricy fine-dining spot, and serves as a great introduction to an unfamiliar cuisine on Mumbai’s ever expanding food map.
Price range: Rs 2500 for two
Plant-forward is the motto at Gracias Granny, a bright and colourful Mexican cafe with sustainability as its stated goal. They employ a range of measures—including encouraging plant-based cuisine, upcycling used cooking oil, eco-friendly packaging, and recycling—in their attempts to remain environmentally conscious. Vegan remains the default option here. So, for instance, oat milk is the standard and you pay extra for cow milk. If you’d rather have paneer or chicken as your protein instead of tofu, you pay extra. Gracias Granny essentially incentivises plant-forward and planet-friendly choices, making it easier for even non-vegans to choose the plant-based option. The menu is a mix of standard and fusion Mexican dishes, and I urge you to try the vegan churros and the vegan mushroom chilli tacos here.
Price range: Rs 1400 for two
A beautiful date night spot in the charming Kala Ghoda area with an extensive menu full of vegan or vegan-friendly options. They serve over 50 types of dimsums, including mock meat dimsums or soupy tofu dumplings. And then there’s the delectable eggplant rice bowl, which will convert eggplant haters into fans with just one bite. This is a great spot for vegans, with a range of seating options: a stunning terrace, a speakeasy-esque bar, and a large dining area.
Price range: Rs 2000 for 2, without alcohol
This is one of Bandra’s most iconic street food places, always buzzing with activity. And while there are plenty of dairy-based dishes, they also offer several vegan options too! The panipuri, sev puri, and bhel are all vegan-friendly, and you can also try the sev batata puri without dahi if you need a quick pick-me-up, Mumbai street food style.
Price range: Rs 200 for two
Chef Lisa and team are conjuring a delightful range of Sri Lankan delicacies—with plenty of vegan options—at this charming new space in Bandra, sitting right next to the Penang Table. The Kothu parotta and spicy banana salad here are delicious. And the Jaffna signature curry with a rice hopper will satiate not just the stomach but also the soul. Plus, they have an exquisite cocktail menu with vegan foam options. Head here pronto.
Price range: Rs 2000 for two, without alcohol
This popular vegetarian restaurant is ideal for all the vegans or vegan-sceptics who think that it’s difficult to find vegan Italian food options. Greenr originally started in Delhi and made its way to Mumbai in 2021. Today, it has multiple outlets across the city. They have delicious vegan spins on Italian classics, including pizza, tiramisu, and gelato. A special mention, too, for their breakfast “un-egg” sandwich, a creamy sourdough sandwich that uses tofu and roasted potatoes or mushroom instead of egg. We’d recommend going just for that.
Price range: Rs 1600 for two
Heading with a big group of friends for drinks as a vegan? Gigi is the place to go. They have some unmissable vegan options as well as great cocktails and spacious seating. Honestly, they hit it out of the park with everything they do.
Finding European or continental vegan food can sometimes feel a bit monotonous—you can only really eat spaghetti arrabbiata and French fries so many times before you go a little mad. Not here though. Try out the vegan cottage cheese steak and the avocado panna cotta with a drink (hard or soft) for the full Gigi experience.
Price range: Rs 2000 for two, without alcohol
The Yash Charitable Trust (YCT), an NGO that works with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, runs this wonderful Juhu cafe, which employs an enthusiastic team of individuals who live with various learning disabilities. It’s a vegetarian restaurant with loads of affordable vegan, plant-based options. They have these exquisite fusion chaats that I must recommend: there’s a Mexican bhel as well as a Southwest sev puri. For a more substantive meal, you could get the falafel or hara bhara wraps, with a date and walnut muffin to end the meal.
Price range: Rs 600 for two
This fully vegan cafe in Bandra has a range of eclectic options for all kinds of palates. You could get the vegan mac & cheese, or maybe a vegan Korean cream cheese bun is more your pace? How about some hot chocolate? Really, this is a vegan’s haven. They also have an incredible breakfast menu with both savoury and sweet dishes—the savoury kimchi pancakes, in particular, are a big hit.
Price range: Rs 1400 for two
Hundo is one of the city’s most loved pizza chains. And while it doesn’t have an extensive vegan menu, their Vegan Margherita pizza can be fully customised. Choose from vegan cheddar, vegan mozzarella, and vegan chilli cheese; adjust your toppings, even your spice level. Fair warning: if you’re hosting friends for a pizza night and order Hundo, don’t be surprised if everyone attacks the vegan pizza before the other ones!
Price range: Rs 1500 for two
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Paripsa Pandya is a marketer, sustainability advocate, journalist, and an avid traveller who has conducted multiple heritage walks. She’s always in search of an impeccable vegan tiramisu and a fresh cocktail.
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