Vegan Brunch Detroit: 13 Spots for Pancakes, Waffles, & More

We’ve all been there — want to start the day with a golden vegan waffle covered in maple syrup or triple stack of comforting blueberry pancakes, but you can’t find anywhere to go!

Well, if you’re in Detroit, you won’t have to worry!

Get ready to kick off your weekend (or weekday) properly and visit one of these spots for a mouthwatering lineup of vegan brunch and breakfast options in Detroit. 

The Best Vegan Brunch & Breakfast Options in Detroit

If you just can’t get yourself out of bed early enough for brunch, make sure you don’t miss our lineup of the best spots for vegan food in metro Detroit and our vegan guide to Detroit!

1. Spacecat V-stro

255 W Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220
Calling all hungry kitties! This quirky vegetarian café in fabulous Ferndale is serving up breakfast and brunch eats all week long, no need to wait until the weekend! Space kittens can’t miss their Chk’n and Waffle Sandwich (house-made Chk’n patties sandwiched between two crispy waffles with a good dollop of maple butter) or a Spacecat Purrito (burrito filled with tofu scramble, house-made sausage, veggies, and their special cheese sauce). Whatever you choose, make sure you add on an order of their special cinnamon coffee cake—it’s vegan, gluten-free, and amazing!

2. Public House

241 W Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220
Another Ferndale hotspot!  Public House recently underwent a makeover and came out with a full vegan menu for weekend brunch (they also have a vegan menu for non-brunch times too). And, luckily for us vegans (and those who are veg-curious), they pulled out all the stops. Make sure you go hungry.

Their brunch menu features an assortment of jaw-dropping French toast options (if you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss the Strawberry Short Cake or Oreo French toast), savory eggy dishes prepared with Just Egg, power bowls, dessert, and more! It will be really hard to choose just one thing, you might have to come back a second, or third time!

3. Ale Mary’s Beer Hall

316 S Main St, Royal Oak, MI 48067
To most, a beer hall doesn’t scream vegan-friendly, unless it’s Ale Mary’s! This Royal Oak spot is a favorite for vegans any time of the week and especially for weekend brunch! They offer a full vegan menu that is loaded with many addictive options.

If it’s your first visit, you should dive straight into the triple stack of fluffy chocolate banana pancakes or the fan-favorite Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast (cinnamon raisin bread that is covered in a Cinnamon French Toast Crunch crust—amazing, right?). There is one more thing you can’t leave without trying—a milkshake! These aren’t your basic milkshakes, they are topped with cookies, clouds of cotton candy, marshmallows, and more. They are a treat for the eyes and taste buds!

4. The Kitchen, by Cooking with Que

6529 Woodward Ave Suite A, Detroit, MI 48202
Set your alarm Saturday morning because you don’t want to miss this vegan brunch lineup! Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Detroit’s Midtown, The Kitchen is cooking up a menu of vegan-friendly eats that will fool even the toughest carnivore. Loaded creamy grits (prepared with coconut milk, red pepper gravy, oyster mushrooms, and veggies), apple butter pancakes with an oat crumble, or The Que special (Just Egg scramble with spinach, sausage, and cheese served with an English muffin).

Deciding between that lineup will be a task, but one thing that won’t be a difficult decision is grabbing one of their cinnamon rolls (and maybe a peanut and chocolate chip cookie) to go!

5. PJ’s Lager House

1254 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood has seen so much change over the years but one constant is PJ’s Lager House!  Known for hefty portions of comfort food, live music, and a very vegan-friendly menu—it’s a can’t-miss!

Throughout the week vegans can enjoy a variety of dishes, but you really don’t want to miss their weekend brunch! Almost their entire brunch menu can be made vegan and features a savory mix of scrambles, hash, and the ever-popular avocado toast! And, no order is complete without a side of tempeh bacon or soy sausage!  

6. Bobcat Bonnies

Locations in Corktown, Wyandotte, Ferndale, Ypsilanti, and Partridge Creek Mall
This fun-loving restaurant has taken over the Detroit area with its quirky cocktails and Instagram-worthy dishes—many of which can be made vegan!

Their brunch menu features many scramble and hash options, and almost all of them can be made vegan! Check out the Spicy Hash (potatoes, vegan chicken, tofu scramble, cheese, covered in a chipotle aioli) which pairs nicely with the Cap’n Crunch cereal shooter! They do pride themselves on taking customer feedback seriously—my only feedback—make those amazing waffles vegan too!

7. Commonwealth Cafe

300 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, MI 48009
This laid-back café in downtown Birmingham is a great spot to meet a friend for an oat milk latte, but what’s even better than a hot cup of joe? Pancakes! The next time you’re looking for a great metro Detroit spot for vegan brunch check out Commonwealth’s lineup of vegan sourdough banana pancakes, veggie-powered bowls, and more!

8. The Fly Trap

22950 Woodward Ave, Ferndale, MI 48220
This “finer diner” has been delighting the tastebuds of metro Detroiters for years with its extensive breakfast and lunch menu! Seven days a week, you can pop in for a great lineup of vegan breakfast and brunch items — veggie scrambles made with tofu, gingerbread waffles, or a crunchy bowl of house-made granola. The menu is well marked with little green leaves, signaling it is vegetarian, and almost all can be made vegan.

9. Honest John’s

488 Selden St, Detroit, MI 48201
This greasy spoon has been a landmark in the Detroit late-night dining scene since I was in college (we’re not going into how long ago that was). Back then I knew it was a good place for fries but not much else! So when someone suggested that I check out their vegan brunch fare I thought, what? You’ve got to be kidding me! Well, lucky for you and me, they were not! This casual bar offers breakfast and brunch all-day, every day with great vegan options like a Just Egg scramble, thick-cut French toast, crispy chick’n tenders, and more!

10. The Modern Vegan

304 N Main St, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Everyday, starting at 10 AM, you can get you fix of some of the most nostalgic breakfast favorites — all vegan. Their all-day breakfast menu is jaw dropping, you’ll find stacks of buttermilk pancakes, thick-cut French toast, chick’n and waffles, savory breakfast tacos, and so much more. This is one of those spots that you better show up very hungry, because you’re going to want one of everything! One more interesting note, this vegan restaurant group started in Las Vegas. If you visit Sin City, be sure to visit it, too!

Quick & Easy Spots for Vegan Breakfast Options in Detroit

If you’re in a hurry and don’t have the time for a sit-down breakfast or brunch, check out these spots for a veggie-filled smoothie or nutrient-dense smoothie bowl!

11. Urge Juice

3628 Twelve Mile Rd, Berkley, MI 48072
All of your juicing dreams become reality at Urge! Their menu features an extensive lineup of cold-pressed juices, smoothies, toasts, and acai bowls. Make sure you don’t miss my favorite juice—Liquid Garden—it’s like a nutrient jumpstart to the system! What’s even better—they’re open Monday – Saturday to keep you fueled!

12. Trap Vegan

20198 Livernois Detroit, MI 48221
Known for an amazing lineup of vegan comfort food they also have a ton of berry-filled smoothies and acai bowls to help you start your day. Don’t miss their Banana Swirl smoothie—tastes like a peanut butter and jelly dream in a cup! And, if you need a little more, their Ooh Girl You Healthy bowl (pineapple, kale, banana, coconut milk, topped with granola, chia, coconut, and kiwi) is guaranteed to hit the spot.

13. Marilyn’s

Located inside the Royal Oak Farmers’ Market & their truck is at Eastern Market on the weekends
Super fruit bowls and smoothies are their specialties—it’s all they do! Whether you’re in the mood for a little Blue Magic (blue majik spirulina blended with pineapple, banana, blueberry, lime, coconut cream, and topped with granola, coconut, and peanut butter) or you need to hit the ground running with their Road Runner smoothie (cold brew blended with cocoa, almond butter, banana, protein powder, cardamon, and almond milk) they’re got you covered! The only bummer is that they operate inside the Royal Oak Farmers’ Market (and their truck visits Eastern Market on the weekend), so they are only open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Brunch Wrap Up: More Vegan Travel Help!

If you’re travels don’t end in Detroit, be sure to check out these other fun and vegan-friendly cities in Michigan.

Where to Find Vegan Wine in Michigan
The Best Places to Enjoy Michigan’s Fall Colors
The Complete Vegan Guide to Traverse City
The Best Places to Go Hiking in Traverse City
Where to Find the Best Vegan Eats in Grand Rapids