Antwerp's 10 Best Vegetarian Restaurants

In some cities it can be hard to find many decent vegetarian restaurants, but Europe seems to finally be catching up with growing demand. We list the 10 best vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Antwerp where you can enjoy some great meat-free meals.

1. Aahaar

Restaurant, Indian, Vegetarian

Aahaar is an Indian restaurant hidden within the streets of Antwerp’s Diamond Quarter and frequented mainly by locals. It boasts a complete menu of vegetarian dishes and a buffet that doesn’t leave you wanting for choice. The food here is authentically Indian and very spicy, and the menu includes dosas and vegetable dishes as well as a mango lassi drink to tone down the food’s fire; worth ordering if you’re not used to spicy food.

Bar Italia

Any vegetarian knows that the local pizzeria can be a lifesaver when you just want a casual meal out. The pizza at Bar Italia, situated across the road from the Royal Museum for Fine Arts, offers a variety of at least five different vegetarian toppings, besides its daily suggestions, that go beyond the usual funghi (mushrooms) or quattro formaggi.

Bar Italia, 59 Graaf Van Egmontstraat, Antwerpen, Belgium, +32 0321 61748

2. Beni Falafel

Beni Falafel

Set in Antwerp’s Jewish district, Beni Falafel has been serving up some of the freshest and tastiest falafel in the city since 1973. The small establishment offers an array of Jewish dishes and snacks, such as latke (grated potato pancake) and burekas (filo pastry filled with cheese, spinach and potatoes). A vegetarian’s snack heaven, Beni Falafel is of course best known for its falafel, served in pita bread slightly toasted with a hot iron and filled with hummus. It is open every day of the week except Saturday, respecting the Jewish day of rest.

Beni Falafel, 188 Lange Leemstraat, Antwerp, Belgium, +32 0321 88211

Falafel | © Jacob Enos/Flickr

3. Bites and Wines

Restaurant, European, Vegetarian, Vegan

De Broers van Julienne restaurant interior

Among the vegetarian-vegan restaurants in the city, Bites and Wines stands out as the go-to for a delicious and filling vegan meal. It lives up to its motto, ‘onschuldig genieten’, which roughly translates to ‘guilt-free pleasure’, serving not only healthy but also animal-friendly dishes that will wow you with their beautiful presentation and tastiness. Only one or two main dishes are served each day and the menu is constantly changing and constantly interesting, thanks to the creativity of the chef.

4. De Broers van Julienne

De Broers van Julienne

De Broers van Julienne has a rustic, inviting look, and everything on its wide-ranging menu is made with thought and care. Although there are a few fish dishes, De Broers van Julienne mainly serves international fusion vegetarian food made from organic ingredients and prepared in a homey style. Sweet and savory tarts are featured on their menu as well as great salads.

De Broers van Julienne, 45-47 Kasteelpleinstraat, Antwerpen, Belgium, +32 0323 20203

5. De Burgerij

Restaurant, American, Fast Food

With the European gourmet burger craze well underway, burger diners have been trying their best to serve up something for vegetarians too. De Burgerij does this with ease, offering vegetarians a selection of yummy, meatless burgers served with a side of fries. The restaurant is so popular that there are two in Antwerp; one in Berchem and the other at the port with a view over the MAS museum.

6. Eten vol Leven

Restaurant, Vegetarian

Belgium’s first raw food restaurant, Eten vol Leven (‘food full of life’) is a health-conscious spot that serves vegetarian food only. Eten vol Leven’s menu is broad, from breakfast to salads, soups, pizza, zucchini-spaghetti, wraps and delicious desserts. Drinks include fresh juices, smoothies, and nutmilk-shakes. This small restaurant is great for curious vegetarians who want to try out a raw food diet.

7. Kioku

Restaurant, Japanese

Run by a former Nepalese mountain guide, Kioku is a restaurant spreading the joys of Asian cuisine through the Japanese, Thai and Nepalese dishes on its menu. There are a number of vegetarian options, including vegetarian maki and temaki that somehow retain the wonderful flavors of sushi, minus the fish. Vegetarian dimsum, loempia, curry and tempura add to Kioku’s range of options for vegetarians, each created with the same care as the meaty ones.

8. Little Ethiopia

Restaurant, African, Ethiopian, Vegetarian

Dining at an Ethiopian restaurant not only satisfies the taste buds, it’s also a fun social activity to sit around a table and dig into a common plate using only your hands and a piece of injera flatbread. Little Ethiopia offers just that experience, and is the only Ethiopian restaurant in Antwerp, making the vegetarian dishes on its menu unique to the city. The restaurant has the main staples of Ethiopian cuisine and its vegetarian versions include ye-misir wat (red-lentil stew).

9. Umami

Restaurant, Japanese, Sushi

Umami is a savory taste among our five basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter and salty, and also the name of the Japanese restaurant specialising in contemporary Asian cuisine in Antwerp. Umami’s interior and overall style is sleek and modern. The vegetarian options on the menu are elaborate and the dishes are visually attractive. Dishes include vegetarian sushi rolls, a potato and pea samosa with mint sauce and tomato salsa, and a wakame seaweed salad with organic soba noodles and green tea dash.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.