Best Detroit Vegan Guide: Where to Eat, Sleep, & Explore
I am proud to call Detroit my home. I’ve lived here off and on for most of my life and seen it’s good days and its bad. It is a place that should be on every traveler’s list — there is so much to experience — diverse food (especially vegan food), world-class art, rich history, and a thriving music scene!
This guide will help you find all of the best vegan and vegan-friendly spots along with shops to check out, things to do, and more. Just one note about this guide, it only focuses on the city of Detroit. If you’re heading outside the city limits, check out my recommendations for the best vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in metro Detroit before you go.
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Is Detroit Vegan-Friendly?
The pandemic really threw a wrench into Detroit’s vegan scene and since it’s still been in recovery mode. Sadly, we lost multiple terrific vegan restaurants and bakeries, which personally I think brought down our overall vegan-friendliness, but it’s rebounding! There is chatter new spots are opening and other restaurants are adding vegan options to menus. Despite all of that we do have some super wonderful vegan and vegetarian spots that you will LOVE!
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Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Detroit
This Detroit vegan food guide is broken up by 100% vegan and vegetarian restaurants and restaurants with great options. If you’re looking for place with fantastic vegan brunch options, we’ve got that too!
Detroit Vegan Soul
9614 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48223
The duo behind Detroit Vegan Soul decided to veganize some of their family favorites out of a concern for health. Diners get to enjoy dishes like mac-n-cheese, smoked collards, smothered tempeh, and seitan pepper steak.
Seva
66 E Forest Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Fully vegetarian menu — many items are vegan or could easily be made vegan. They also have a full gluten-free menu. My favorites are their nacho dip, which is a spicy cashew dip with fresh corn salsa, and their vegan Veracruz — a fried corn tortilla, topped with pinto beans, tofu, vegan cheese, and guacamole. Breakfast can be ordered all day, with many salads and sandwiches for lunch, and filling entrees for dinner.
Nepantla Café
5402 W Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209
A delicious taco truck in Southwest Detroit serving up creative taco creations. Check out their Pastor taco filled with jackfruit, grilled pineapple, peppers, and onions or their beef taco filled with walnuts, mushrooms, papas fritas, onions, and peppers, plus many more tasty options! Make sure you go right when they open — they sell out fast!
Trap Vegan
20198 Livernois, Detroit, MI 48221
A feel-good lineup of vegan comfort food that they guarantee will Trap you into coming again and again! Their menu features fully loaded cheeseburgers with their special Trap sauce, nachos, tater tots, fresh smoothies, and more. This is the best place to go when you’re on the run and want something fast, delicious, and #veganaf!
Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Detroit
These restaurants are making sure their vegan diners are well fed!
Grandma Bob’s
2135 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216
Handmade deep-dish pizza with an amazing amount of vegan options. Check out their gyro pizza which features vegan meat, feta, onion, tomatoes, and fresh dill. All pizzas can be made gluten-free. If you’re looking for something green, add on a vegan Caesar with zesty, house-made cashew dressing. If you need more pizza options, be sure to check out our lineup of can’t miss vegan pizzas in Detroit.
The Kitchen by Cooking with Que
6529 Woodward Ave suite a, Detroit, MI 48202
Aside from being a delicious café, The Kitchen is also a demonstration kitchen with a shared culinary space to help teach people to eat to live. The café features great lunch and brunch options, and be sure to not miss taco Tuesday for delicious buffalo cauliflower, vegan fish, or veggie tacos.
Takoi
2520 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216
Even though the menu at this Southeast Asian hot spot isn’t 100% vegan; there are plenty of options. Be sure to check out their stir-fried brussels sprouts seasoned with Thai chilies and tamarind or the Cauliflower Golae, a delicious coconut milk BBQ cauliflower in spicy chili and turmeric.
Pie-Sci Pizza
5163 Trumbull, Detroit, MI 48208 (They recently opened a location in Oak Park)
The team at Pie -Sci is known for their creativity — this isn’t your traditional pizza joint with the solitary vegan cheese pizza. Almost all of the pizzas can be made vegan and also gluten-free. Their menu features basics like a Veggie D with a red sauce, veggies, and cheese or you can amp it up with one of their specials like a Shell Raiser with cashew mac-n-cheese sauce, mozzarella, tofu bacon, and breadcrumbs. Pie Sci is our choice for the best Detroit-style deep dish pizza, be sure to check out the other contenders.
Laika Dog
2110 Trumbull Ave. Detroit, Mi 48216
Located inside the UFO Factory, Laika Dog is a great place for vegan comfort food. You can make your own frankfurter and grilled cheese with a selection of toppings or choose one of their favorites like the Bahn Mi Dog with pickled carrots, onion, cucumber, cilantro, and spicy vegan mayo. On the weekend, don’t miss their waffle dogs!
Freya
2929 E Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202
Multi-course dining experience that always includes a vegan menu. They are only open for dinner and recommendations are necessary. This place is a little bit on the fancy-schmancy side!
Mudgie’s Deli & Bar
1413 Brooklyn St, Detroit, MI 48226
A classic deli right in the heart of Corktown — it’s a favorite among tried and true Detroiters! Their vegan-friendly menu serves up an array of classic sandwiches with a vegan twist — tempeh Reuben, vegan turkey Reuben, a Hippie-Dippie loaded with every veggie under the sun, and much more! Your sandwich order won’t be complete without a side of coleslaw and a peanut butter cookie!
PJ’s Lager House
1254 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
One of the best spots in town for a lively night of entertainment and good food! Their vegan-friendly menu is an eclectic mix of nachos, veganized New Orleans specialties, sandwiches, burgers, and more! You won’t leave here hungry, we guarantee it! This is also a great spot for vegan brunch in Detroit!
Yum Village
6500 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
Vegan-friendly Afro-Caribbean dishes that are sure to delight your taste buds. Don’t miss the Just Plants bowl filled with sweet plantains, ginger curry chickpeas, and yam stew served on a bed of coconut turmeric rice.
ima
4870 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Love piping hot bowls of ramen and pho? Look no further than ima! Their vegan-friendly lineup savory Forest Udon filled with smoked trumpet mushrooms and roasted tofu or go the traditional route with a bowl of Pho — whatever you choose you won’t be disappointed.
Ima Izakaya
2100 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216
This vegan-friendly Japanese spot is the fancier counterpart to ima (restaurant above). Their menu shares some of the same creative flair as ima along with a more extensive offering of entrees (don’t miss the Japanese barbeque eggplant), sushi, and unique cocktails. This is a great spot for a date night!
The Peterboro
420 Peterboro St, Detroit, MI 48201
Finding vegan Chinese food can sometimes be a challenge — lucky for us that’s not the case at here! Their vegan-friendly lineup includes many a variety of fun dishes like crispy eggplant, General Tso’s cauliflower, tofu lo mein, and many more.
The Old Shillelagh
349 Monroe St, Detroit, MI 48226
I honestly never thought I would consider this Irish pub vegan-friendly but in 2022 they added a full vegan menu to their lineup, and I’m not just talking a Beyond burger and fries! You’ll find a fun mix of pub fare like a corned jackfruit Reuben, Beyond Meat potato skins, meaty Shepard’s pie with Guinness gravy, and much more!
Vegan & Vegan-Friendly Bakeries & Sweets in Detroit
Whether you’re looking for vegan cake, ice cream, or donuts, you will find it in Detroit! If you don’t see something on this list that tickles your fancy, check out this lineup of vegan desserts in Detroit!
Dooped Donuts
456 Charlotte St, Detroit, MI 48201 (Inside Elephant & Co.)
The only 100% vegan donut shop in Detroit! These house-made donuts are head turning — chocolate sprinkle, lemon curd, peanut butter + jelly, cookie dough, and many more. Their flavors rotate regularly.
Estella’s Vegan Dessert Boutique
19120 Grand River Ave. Detroit, MI 48233
The first Black female-owned bakery in Detroit! Their menu features an extensive selection of baked delights, including Southern classics like sweet potato pie and peach cobbler, as well as classics like brownies, cookies, and pound cake.
Cold Truth
4240 Cass Ave suite 100, Detroit, MI 48207
If you love ice cream, you can’t leave Detroit without a stop here. The most creative and tasty vegan soft serve delights you have ever seen or tasted! Their menu rotates regularly and features flavors like chocolate, lavender, lemon curd, raspberry, and many more! Don’t forget to top your creamy delight with a selection of treats like dark chocolate magic shell, Blue Moon drizzle, Oreos, and so much more.
Bon Bon Bon
441 W. Canfield., Suite 12, Detroit, MI 48201
This is not your regular, boring chocolate shop, creativity is king! It is not 100% vegan, but they have three delicious Bons that are vegan: Strawberry Balsamic, The Rustler, and Pudge Frownie.
Good Cakes & Bakes
19363 Livernois, Detroit, MI 48221
You know the cupcakes must be good when the owner has baked for Oprah! Their vegan-friendly menu includes cakes, cupcakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls (on the weekend), and much more. They also take special orders and ship nationwide.
For the Love of Sugar
100 Erskine St, Detroit, MI 48201
A whimsical sweets shop with a tantalizing selection of vegan-friendly cakes and macaroons. If you’re looking for a whole cake, make sure you order ahead.
Avalon Café and Bakery
422 W Willis St, Detroit, MI 48201
The team at Avalon started baking artisan baked goods back in 1997, well before Detroit’s food scene exploded. Since then, the bakery has grown from one small shop to multiple and their bread is available in many local markets. Their café features a vegan-friendly menu of house-made bread, sandwiches, and salads as well as a delicious assortment of cookies, muffins, and granola bars.
Milk and Froth
535 Griswold St # 112, Detroit, MI 48226
This new ice cream shop in downtown Detroit just opened in spring 2022! While it’s menu isn’t entirely vegan, it does have four vegan ice cream flavors — Milk chocolate, roasted strawberry, peppermint patty, and coffee & cream.
Vegan and Vegan-Friendly Shops in Detroit
The Lip Bar
1435 Farmer St Suite 122, Detroit, MI 48226
This vegan and cruelty-free makeup shop has an amazing lineup of products in a variety of skin tones! Even if you’re not in the market for makeup, it’s still a fun spot to check out.
City Bird & Nest
460 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201
These two cute shops are right next door to each other and stock a ton of locally made items for you and your home! Not everything is vegan but most of the soaps, candles, and some of the chocolate is!
Whole Foods Market
115 Mack Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
If you forgot to pack something or plan to do some cooking while you’re in town, you can buy all of your vegan essentials here!
What To Do in Detroit
This is just a snapshot of five awesome things to do in Detroit, for a full list with more details, check out my lineup of the 11 best things to do in Detroit.
#1 Catch beautiful city views and enjoy beautiful flora and fauna on Belle Isle
A favorite spot in the summer to explore! Don’t miss Inspiration Point to get great photos of the City of Detroit from the River and the beautiful Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory — the only botanical garden in the city.
#2 Grab a drink in The Belt
What was once an empty alleyway is now a hip spot to hang out, grab a drink and enjoy art installations.
#3 Wander the streets and enjoy the architecture
The city is full of beautiful architecture from Art Deco to contemporary facelifts and everything in between. Take a walking tour so you don’t miss any of the special spots.
#4 Visit the historic, Eastern Market
Even if you don’t need fresh produce this is the place to be on a Saturday morning! The market comes alive with a myriad of vendors selling food, clothing, art, and more. There are plenty of fun shops to explore in the area too.
#5 Go shopping!
There are so many amazing independent shops and boutiques that you must visit. A few favorites include City Bird and Nest in Midtown, and Rocky’s in Eastern Market.
Where to Stay in Detroit
At this time, there isn’t a vegan hotel to add to this Detroit vegan guide, but hopefully that will happen in the not too distanced future! Until then, check out these great hotels.
The Siren Hotel
1509 Broadway St, Detroit, MI 48226
You can’t help but be taken aback by the beauty of this space when you walk into the lobby. The building was once home to instrument-maker, Wurlitzer. It has received a full Old Hollywood makeover complete with deep jewel and gold tones, velvet fabrics, and opulent chandeliers. You will feel like a movie star staying here. It’s also right in the heart of downtown Detroit, perfect place to base yourself to explore.
El Moore Lodge
624 W Alexandrine St, Detroit, MI 48201
Located in Midtown, right by Wayne State University, this unique late 1800’s building has been sustainably restored. Original features like hardwood floors, paneling, and subway tile have been kept intact to preserve the character of the building. But, sustainable additions like geothermal heating and cooling and solar panels have been added to support their environmental goals.
