Cornucopia, Wicklow Street, Dublin city

Deirdre and her late husband Neil McCafferty were early pioneers of the vegan diet, and the couple’s passion for food can still be seen in the care that Cornucopia takes when creating its delectable menu. “Cornucopia has been a central part of the fabric of the city for over two decades, and it’s easy to see why,” says Good Food Ireland. With a daily changing menu, no visit to Dublin would be complete without a trip to this veggie mecca.

The Happy Pear, Greystones, County Wicklow

Run by twins Stephen and David Flynn, the pair has been charming customers with vegetarian delights since 2004. “Good veggie fare in a beautiful café run with a smile and a very good heart,” says Catherine Cleary from The Irish Times. With three cafés (two in Greystones and one in Clondalkin in Dublin), cookbooks, and their food available in supermarkets, eating their plant-based food is easy… And if you want to go all out with the guys’ healthy lifestyle, join them for their daily dawn swim in Greystones Cove!

Cow Bog, Derry~Londonderry city

Located within the Walled City of Derry, this quirkily named café has gained quite the dedicated following since it opened. Dominic Kearney from The Irish News described it as “Earnest, committed, ethical and delicious”, and this is certainly reflected in its down-to-earth approach when creating sustainable, yet simply delicious food. The menu changes daily to reflect local suppliers and seasonal produce, of course, so there’s always plenty of variety in this Northern Ireland hidden gem.

Café Paradiso, Cork city

When it first opened its doors in 1993 serving only vegetarian fare, Paradiso was something of an oddity. Now it’s a veteran of the vegetarian food scene and considered a trailblazer within its field, and an iconic institution in County Cork. Winners of the 2019 World Restaurant Awards, and voted Ireland’s best restaurant in TripAdvisor’s Traveller Choice Awards, reservations are essential if you want to find out why everybody is rushing to get a seat at Paradiso’s table.

Ursa Minor Bakehouse, Ballycastle, County Antrim

Winners of the ‘Local Heroes’ 2019 Irish Restaurant Awards, this Causeway Coast bakehouse is part of the Économusée project, which is designed to showcase traditional crafts. The obvious love of baking is reflected in the team’s beautifully intricate designs, and there is a real focus on quality over quantity here. Book a tour of the bakehouse to find out about all the techniques – and perhaps get your hands on some of the dough! And that moreish, yeasty scent that permeates the café is, well, simply divine!

Beast Eatery, Dublin 8

If you’re in need of a refuel after exploring Dublin, then look no further than the Beast Eatery. Run by Aisling Mooney and Gavin Pedley, the masterminds behind Moodley Manor Foods, this is the first exclusively vegan diner and takeaway in Dublin. The pair’s aim? To make being vegan an easy choice, not a hard one, and the couple’s passion shines through on the compact menu. Big portions with a smile, you’ll come away feeling satisfied in this cosy little diner.

The Happiness Trap, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh

“You don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to enjoy this tasty wholesome organic food,” says food writer Georgina Campbell, with “this health shop and plant-focused café is hitting all the right notes.” Northern Ireland’s first award-winning vegetarian café, a trip to The Happiness Trap is a must. This cosy, sustainable café also proudly showcases local and sustainable brands alongside its filling feasts.

The Lighthouse Café, Galway city

This brightly decorated café fits into vibrant Galway city with ease. Using locally sourced produce, this vegetarian café – which also offers a great selection of vegan delights – has been a hit with customers: “It’s true that we eat with our eyes, which explains why all the plates at The Lighthouse are sent back clean,” says Katy McGuinness from The Irish Independent newspaper. “Real thought and imagination has gone into what’s on the plate.”

Sweet Beat Café, Sligo town

Situated in the heart of this Wild Atlantic Way town, this bright and airy café has been turning heads since it opened its doors in 2015. “Bringing flavours to a new level. This gorgeous café is an inspiring place to be,” says The Irish Times. All of its food is locally sourced and cooked from scratch daily, producing brilliantly vibrant concoctions. “This is a vegetarian café turning virtue into sinful delight.” They’ve certainly put the ‘sweet’ into Sweet Beat.