After a beautiful escape at the vegan Plates Farm hotel, I was excited to explore the nearby city of Toulouse, which has a handful of 100% vegan spots listed on HappyCow, albeit nowhere near as many as the surprisingly vegan-friendly Paris.
Limited opening hours were something of a theme during my stay. Most of the vegan cafés only open for a few hours at lunchtime, and many only a few days a week, so a little planning goes a long way. One of the most popular, Café Brûlé, was sadly closed for its holidays whilst I was there, so if you do try it, please share your experience in the comments below.
That being said, there are plenty of great vegan options to keep you well fed over a long weekend. And if everything else is shut, you can always fall back on a marinara pizza (naturally vegan, with no cheese) at Pizzeria d’Alexis!
Croustille
Croustille is a cute little vegan café just a short 10-minute walk from Pont Neuf bridge. It is one of my favourite spots in Toulouse. The food was wholesome and tasty, but I also loved the style and feel of the place.
They offer a variety of cakes and tarts, plus a daily lunch menu with dishes like hummus, tarts, and salads. I had a beautiful potato tart and a slice of marble cake, which paired nicely with a black coffee.
Note that their Google Maps listing says they are vegetarian, but they’re actually vegan. And they currently have quite limited opening hours: weekdays between 11 am and 3 pm.
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Furahaa Express
If you crave some vegan junk food whilst visiting Toulouse, then Furahaa Express is the place for you! It was like the vegan version of the major fast food burger chains, but of better quality.
Their burger reminded me of a Big Mac, but much more substantial and tasty. The fries were proper, and the ‘chicken’ tenders were crispy and filling.
Their offering isn’t limited to burgers. I also tried the burrito; whilst not a traditional burrito, it was very tasty – with a vegan egg and fake meat.
It is the perfect spot for a takeaway to your hotel, as you can order their food through Deliveroo and Uber Eats. You will also find out Furahaa locations in Paris and Lyon!
Sixta
- 28 Rue de Bayard, 31000 Toulouse, France
- Vegetarian
Sixta is a very popular vegetarian lunch and brunch spot with outdoor seating (as well as plenty of indoor seating), perfect for a lovely warm day.
I went on a Saturday when they operate a brunch-only set menu with either a vegetarian or vegan option. The meal consisted of a mixture of foods all served on one dish, as well as a dessert and drink.
On the day I visited, the dish came with beetroot hummus, rice, roasted sweet potato, tofu and a small bowl of gazpacho. I had a water kefir and my partner a ginger drink.
And the star of the show was their vegan Crème Brûlée dessert. This was the best vegan version of this French classic that I’ve ever tried!
Bep Chay
Bep Chay was the restaurant I frequented the most in Toulouse, mostly because of their convenient evening opening hours – unlike many of the other vegan/vegan-friendly spots in Toulouse, Bep Chay is open for lunch and dinner on most days.
Their food is also pretty decent. It is a vegetarian Vietnamese place, with a mostly vegan menu. Although, annoyingly, nothing is labelled vegan, so you’ll have to ask.
It isn’t the best Vietnamese food I’ve had, but it is tasty and filling. I particularly enjoyed their set lunch option, with a variety of items – including caramelised soy, veggies, rice and wantons.
Peacock
If you love pancakes and are after a hearty breakfast or brunch, then check out Peacock, a yoga studio with a cute cafe attached. Their menu is vegetarian but with plenty of clearly marked vegan options.
I thoroughly enjoyed their pancakes. They were fluffy and filling. Although I wasn’t too keen on the sweet pancakes paired with salad and avocado.
It is a beautiful cafe, perfect for a lazy morning or some remote working. Make sure to check out their yoga classes too, if that is your thing!
Velo Vege
One of the most wholesome foodie experiences I had in Toulouse was at Velo Vege, a fully vegan hot dog stand situated just outside of Jardin des Plantes.
Their offering is simple – a vegan hot dog with a variety of toppings. With a selection of cookies and drinks to go on the side.
The hot dog itself was massive, and I loved all the veggies and sauces you could choose to put on top. Although if I were to go back, I’d choose not to overfill it quite so much with the toppings, because I prefer my hot dogs quite plain.
The owner is very lovely and friendly, and I loved being able to get a bite to eat whilst on the move. You can either sit on a bench nearby or take it into the park.
Virgule
Just behind the Place de Capitole, you’ll find Virgule, a cute little cafe. Their menu features typical cafe food, like a club sandwich, grilled cheese, salad, and a variety of cakes. They also sometimes have vegan pastries, like croissants, which I just missed out on trying (so sad).
The club sandwich was flavourful, although not too filling. But it went down nicely with their vegan carrot cake and some coffee. They do oat flat whites, but it wasn’t my favourite.
If you love coffee, I recommend checking out either NOMA Cate or MESOPOTAMIA for a great oat flat white. Just don’t expect too many vegan food options in these places.
Stay connected in France with the Saily eSIM
One eSIM that keeps you online right across France, so you can pull up maps, menus and reviews the moment you land in Toulouse.
La Sauterelle
If you enjoy tapas, or the concept of small plates, then make sure to visit La Sauterelle. Also located amongst the beautiful shop-lined streets of Toulouse, this is the perfect spot for a post-exploration dinner. Thankfully, it is one of the places that opens for dinner (as well as Bep Chay).
They offer a decent variety of ‘tapas’ dishes (although a smallish offering at lunch), with a predominantly vegan offering. My favourite dish was the deep-fried tofu balls, but the orzo with fried capers was also excellent.
For the non-drinkers, they have an excellent mocktail list, as well as plenty of cocktails for those who do.
Le Cri de la Carotte
I was delighted to find a fully vegan shop in Toulouse. It is a great spot for picking up some food to cook, particularly useful if you’re cooking for yourself whilst visiting the city. But they also have a really great selection of snacks from France and across Europe.
I personally loved their vegan cheese selection, and just wish I’d had a kitchen so I could have tried cooking with some of it!
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