New Orleans is known for many things — rhythm and blues, a non-stop Mardi Gras celebration, and a special nutty coffee… but vegan food? Oh, yes! Visitors can indulge in everything, including southern classics like mac -n-cheese, collard greens, and even vegan ribs!
And, guess what?
This New Orleans vegan guide will help you find every last tasty bite in the city!
So, let’s get planning where you’re going to eat first, then worry about what you’re going to do and where you’re going to stay. Sound good?
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Is New Orleans Vegan-Friendly?
Some people might think that New Orleans would be one of the least vegan-friendly cities in the US, but guess what? It has terrific vegan options — even better than I expected! Whether you’re looking for nutrient dense raw bowls or finger lickin’ fried chick’n, you’ll find it and more! Vegans need not worry that they will miss out — there is something for everyone in NOLA!
Bookmark These Helpful NOLA Articles!
The Best Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in New Orleans
The vegan restaurant scene in New Orleans is growing — I was honestly surprised at the options and can’t wait to watch it continue to grow! This vegan guide will cover 100% vegan restaurants and those that are very vegan-friendly.
I-tal Garden
810 N Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
Veganized traditional New Orleans foods — crispy cauliwings, jackfruit BBQ ribs, gumbo, and so much more! Don’t skip the oyster mushrooms — my personal favorite.
2 Phat Vegans
3613 General Meyer Ave, New Orleans, LA 70114
You’ll find NOLA’s #1 hot sausage at this veggie spot! Their menu revolves around veganizing traditional dishes and packing them full of flavor like jerk chick’n, crabby patties, and more.
Kindred
7537 Maple St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Onion rings, mac-n-cheese, po’boys, and brunch on the weekends — do you need any more reasons to check this spot out?
Vegan Snack Shack
3100 Toledano St, New Orleans, LA 70125
Whoever said vegans can’t enjoy traditional Southern eats, needs to come here. This small shop is delighting visitors with spicy jambalaya, okra bites, and more!
Sweet Soulfood
1025 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119
Hearty portions of vegan Soul Food — collards, cornbread, mac-n-cheese, and more! Come very hungry!
Original Thought Food Truck
1857 Agriculture St, New Orleans, LA 70119
This vegan food truck is slinging Better than Popeye’s fried chick’n, BBQ jackfruit burgers, loaded mac-n-cheese, and more! It’s the perfect place to go when you’re craving something hearty but don’t want to feel awful afterward.
Small Mart
2700 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70117
Small neighborhood vegetarian deli serving up bagel sandwiches, salads, po’boys, burgers, coffee, and more!
Meals From the Heart Café
1100 N Peters St #13, New Orleans, LA 70116
Small vegan café located inside the French Market with breakfast and lunch options, including gumbo!
Tanjariné Kitchen
3801 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70125
If you ever thought vegan food was bland, you have to check out the Afo vegan eats at this food truck! They’ll put a smile on your face with their hearty stews with fried plantains, steamed bean pudding, savory jerky, and more!
HI-BALLZ
4901 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119
Supposedly you come here for herbal tastes from hyperspace. Exactly what that means I’m still trying to figure out and while you’re doing the same, you might as well ponder it while enjoying their plant-centric snacks! The unique spot has a creative lineup of herbal teas, mocktails, and smoothies, that all pair nicely with their sweet and savory small bites!
Sprouts Organic Café
1200 Henriette Delille St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Need a veggie-powered boost? Come here! This organic café believes health starts with what you put in your body and they’re ready to fuel and heal you with cold-pressed juices, smoothies, raw bowls, freshly baked treats, and more.
Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in New Orleans
These spots know how to please vegans with great pizza, sausages, Caribbean-inspired eats, and more! You won’t find boring veggie options at any of these delicious vegan-friendly establishments.
Sneaky Pickle & Bar Brine
3200 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
Their menu is almost 100% vegan and features excellent comfort food — tacos, fried buffalo tofu, burgers, and more.
Soule’ Café
2549 Banks St, New Orleans, LA 70119
This soul food spot is ensuring vegans aren’t left out! Their well-marked menu features vegan gumbo, mac-n-cheese, Impossible sliders, and much more!
Dat Dog
601 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116
3336 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Waking by this hot dog spot, you might not immediately think vegan-friendly, but there is a full lineup of vegan sausage options!
Pizza Delicious
617 Piety St, New Orleans, LA 70117
Unique vegan roasted cauliflower pizza or create your own ‘za!
True Food Kitchen
801 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
A national chain that focuses on veggie-powered dishes for lunch and dinner (the breakfast menu isn’t vegan-friendly).
G’s Tasty Pizza
833 Howard Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113
4840 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119
One more pizza spot with a full vegan menu — cheesy jalapeno bread, baked ziti, and loads of pizza options! If you love pizza, I think you should come here.
Trilly’s Cheesesteaks
3735 Ulloa St, New Orleans, LA 70119
You don’t have to go to Philly for your fix of vegan cheesesteaks!
Nirvana
4308 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Indian cuisine with multiple vegan options — the menu isn’t marked for vegan options, so be sure to ask.
1,000 Figs
3141 Ponce De Leon St #1, New Orleans, LA 70119
Savory Mediterranean fare — you can never have too much falafel, right!?
The Green Fork
1400 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Gluten-free friends, you should check out this vegan-friendly café! The casual juice bar can blend you up a berry-packed smoothie but they also have soups, salads, and baked goods.
The Best Spots for Vegan Breakfast & Brunch in New Orleans
Botanicals NOLA
3726 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
Hip little vegan spot in Bywater serving up waffles, smoothie bowls, cold-pressed juices, and so much more.
Bearcat Café
2521 Jena St, New Orleans, LA 70115
845 Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA 70130
All you cool cats shouldn’t miss this vegan-friendly spot of Mexican-inspired eats! They also serve breakfast which is a can’t-miss affair!
The Daily Beet
1000 Girod St, New Orleans, LA 70113
Perfect spot to start your day with a smoothie or acai bowl, but they also serve lunch!
raw REPUBLIC
4528 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
A health-conscious café that serves a great assortment of cold-pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls, toasts, and more. One note, there really isn’t a spot to eat inside, but there is a park just down the street.
Carmo
527 Julia St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Caribbean, South American, and African-inspired menu that is very vegan-friendly for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! I wish I could’ve tried one of everything on their breakfast lineup.
Delicious Vegan Bakery in New Orleans
Breads on Oak
8640 Oak St. Suite A, New Orleans, LA 70118
222 Carondelet St., New Orleans, LA 70130
The only 100% vegan bakery in New Orleans serves house-made baked goods, bread, and sandwiches.
Eco-Friendly & Vegan-Friendly Hotel in New Orleans
There are many unique hotels in New Orleans. If this is your first visit, you may want to check out my article on the best areas to stay in New Orleans to decide what neighborhood best fits your personality — we’re not all suited for the French Quarter (me, included)!
Virgin Hotels New Orleans
550 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA 70113
Not only is this a beautiful, centrally-located hotel but The Virgin Hotel Group is ranked as the #3 best eco-friendly hotel in the US! Its sustainability efforts include a guest powered carbon offset program, green roofs, energy conservation, and more. The onsite restaurant, Commons Club does have a few vegan options on the menu — the other dining options don’t really have much to offer. Hopefully, Virgin changes that to continue to improve it’s sustainability.
What To Do in New Orleans
There is no shortage of fun to be had in New Orleans — the most significant problem will be fitting it all into your itinerary.
#1 Eat yourself through the growing New Orleans vegan scene
Most people don’t associate New Orleans with vegan food, but locals and entrepreneurs are looking to change that! There are many great places to enjoy throughout the city; whether you’re looking for gumbo and ribs or raw cuisine, you’ll find it.
#2 Learn about voodoo and the historic cemeteries
Walking tours are one of my favorite things to do. Not only do you get the chance to learn something interesting, but you have the opportunity to talk with someone from the area and get the real inside scoop of what’s happening. Learning about the history of the city including voodoo and the cemeteries was one of my favorite things in New Orleans — don’t miss it.
#3 Enjoy live music!
There is no shortage of places for live music in New Orleans—from local cafes to the sidewalks, it’s everywhere! Frenchmen Street is a great street to peruse for live jazz — check out The Spotted Cat or Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. Another great spot is Bacchanal Wine in Bywater. They have a great little wine store with multiple vegan wine options and just started selling vegan cheese from Rebel in Austin!
#4 Get a behind the scenes look at Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is big business in New Orleans. The city’s Carnevale celebration brings in over a million people in the two weeks leading up to the big celebration on Fat Tuesday. Aside from drinking themselves silly, all of these visitors come to enjoy over 54 parades and over 1,000 floats. Creating this grand celebration takes a ton of work. See this work up close and learn its history, don’t miss a visit to Mardi Gras World.
#5 Wander the Garden District and shop on chic Magazine Street
This area is famous for jaw-dropping homes, plenty of chic boutiques, and a vibe to slow down and enjoy that sweet tea. Make sure you wander through the neighborhood to marvel at the gorgeous architecture. You may even have a celebrity sighting during your visit. Many celebrities, like John Goodman and Sandra Bullock, call the area home from time to time. After you’re done checking out the houses, head over to Magazine Street for miles and miles of cute boutique shops — if you want to do any shopping in NOLA, this is the best spot; you can skip Canal Street!
Do I Need a Car in New Orleans?
No, you don’t need a car in New Orleans! Even if you want to get to different parts of the city outside the downtown area, you can get there with public transportation, Lyft, or Uber. Having a car in New Orleans, especially throughout the downtown area, is a pain — parking is really expensive, and if the city is busy, it can be challenging to find.
If you’re just staying downtown and want to explore the surrounding area, most sights are within easy walking distance. If you’re going to head to the Garden District, Uptown, Mid-City, or other locations outside of walking distance, the bus and streetcar can easily get you there.
Public Transportation in New Orleans
First, if you plan to use public transportation, download the RTA app to your phone before you leave. This app helps buy tickets, see bus schedules, and check where in the world the bus is (this happened to me on more than one occasion). Public transportation in New Orleans is very affordable — a single ticket is $1.25, or you can grab a Jazzy Pass for 1 or 3 days—a 1-day pass is $3, and a 3-day pass is $8. Jazzy Passes and single fares are good for riding the bus, streetcar, and ferry.
You can also purchase fares online or from the driver (you need exact change), but I think the app is more efficient. The app is also more accurate than Google for assessing when the bus will arrive. I did use Google Maps to map out the route, but the timing was always incorrect, so keep that in mind when you’re checking when the next bus will arrive.
If you’re in a time crunch, I would skip the bus and grab an Uber or Lyft — just try and avoid using it during peak hours because the fares will be much more expensive.
More Vegan Travel Guides to Check Out
Incase you’re looking for more travel inspiration, don’t miss these other tasty and helpful guides!
The Ultimate Chicago Vegan Travel Guide
The Perfect Vegan Travel Guide to Vancouver
The Ultimate Vegan Travel Guide to Seattle
The Best Vegan Travel Guide to Austin
