Although a relatively small city, Exeter is brimming with independent café’s, restaurants, and bakeries to suit all dietary, occasion and atmosphere requirements. Being vegan or veggie you often have to search a little harder to find that perfect spot, especially if you’re looking for something independent that isn’t Pizza Express or Costa! I’ve spent the last 3 years at uni exploring the best Exeter has to offer for vegans and veggies, and I’ve narrowed it down to the top 5 for food, atmosphere and uniqueness.
sacred grounds
This 100% plant-based brunch café is situated in the quirky and historic arcade on Fore Street, in the Creative west Quarter of the city. They have a divine selection of brunch and lunch dishes using seasonal and fresh ingredients (my personal favourite being the vegan waffles), and they even make their own vegan poached egg.
The café boasts a gorgeous light and airy atmosphere thanks to the glass ceiling in the Atrium, which means you can also visit whatever the weather- they even provide pink cosy blankets for colder days. It really is the perfect place for a boujee weekend brunch, just make sure you take a picture before tucking in: both the décor and dishes were made to be on a Pinterest feed!
Herbies
Herbies is an independent family-run restaurant which exudes cosy and intimate vibes. They champion ‘vibrant and hearty food’ and have been catering for Exeter’s vegetarians and vegans since 1990! They have an extensive menu which is sure to cater to (and convert?!) even the most hard-core meat eaters. Their food is ultimate comfort food, from spinach and mushroom lasagne to buddha bowls, roast veg and houmous focaccia and the carrot and cashew nut loaf, it’s a must visit for any veggie looking for a casual lunch or an intimate evening dinner with friends and loved ones.
Plus – perhaps most importantly – they have an extensive, mouth-watering dessert menu (vegan sticky toffee pudding and ginger and citrus cheesecake anyone?) so definitely leave room for pudding!
I would recommend looking at the opening times as they are closed on Sundays and Mondays and between 3 and 6 each day.
The flat
This is a must for all the pizza lovers! Another independent restaurant nestled amongst the eclectic collection of vintage clothes and interior shops notorious to Fore Street, they specialise in organic, freshly prepared wood-fired pizzas. They are totally transparent about where all their ingredients come from and list all their local suppliers on their website.
Every pizza is available as a 6” or 11” and can be made vegan and/or gluten free. The prices are very reasonable too, ranging from £4.50-£12.50 for mains, so they won’t break the student bank!
Open Tuesday to Saturday 5-9pm, the dark painted exterior contrasted with the reclaimed wooden bar and warm low-lit tables make it the perfect place for a weekday evening treat.
Vegbox
Arguably my favourite spot in Exeter, this plant-based café is the perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon with a green smoothie, homemade cake and good company. Located on the historic quayside offering gorgeous views of the quay and surrounding eateries, it really is a hidden gem.
Opened in June 2020, the owner took inspiration from her bohemian lifestyle in Ibiza and the combination of light wood, bubble-gum pink accents and palm prints make you feel more in a trendy Spanish coastal town than England!
The menu values quality over quantity of dishes and each plate is packed with delicious local ingredients covering breakfast, brunch, lunch and an impressive selection of coffee, teas, speciality drinks, smoothies and even vegan milkshakes topped with vegan whipped cream.
Anywhere that serves all-day pancakes and biscoff and salted caramel milkshakes gets my seal of approval.
Exploding Bakery
Character, flavour, charm and artisan quality- this café bakery is exploding in all the best ways. Situated in the heart of Exeter by Central station, it’s the love child of two old school friends Oli and Tom, who bonded over a shared love of baking and founded the exploding bakery back in 2011.
Although the bakery is not 100% plant based, they have a mouth-watering selection of cakes, sandwiches, breads and pastries to suit vegans and veggies, and are very transparent about their suppliers, sourcing only the very best ingredients for their bakes. Long reclaimed wooden tables and benches and exposed walls give it an industrial and authentic feel, there are no shiny bells and whistles, just, in their words “great coffee, splendid lunches, toe tapping tunes and obviously the best flippin cakes in town”.
And that concludes the list! There are so many other places worth mentioning so watch out for a part 2… and let us know if you try out any of these!