Traditional Colombian food is typically very meat-heavy. But there are plenty of opportunities to try out vegan versions of the local dishes, particularly in Medellín.
The city is home to around 10+ fully vegan restaurants and 10 veggie restaurants. In this guide, I will be presenting you with my favourite 100% vegan spots in Medellín. So you can enjoy local cuisine with the confidence that everything on your plate is completely plant-based.
As well as Colombian dishes, you can enjoy delicious croissants and cakes from a fully vegan bakery, really tasty arancini with a glass of wine, and even sushi!
You’ll notice the majority of vegan spots are in El Poblado, which isn’t surprising considering that vegan restaurants are often found in the trendier spots. But you will also find a handful of places in Laureles. Happy eating!
Also heading to Bogotá? Check out my favourite 100% vegan food spots in Bogotá, Colombia.
Real Vegetal
- Location: El Poblado
- Dish recommendation: Risotto Arancini
I am a big fan of Real Vegetal. The space is inviting, the food is delicious, and the service is great. I find it an enjoyable place to sit with a glass of wine whilst watching the world go by outside the open window.
I particularly enjoyed their Risotto Arancini, which was jam-packed full of flavour and plated beautifully. The food there is different to most of the other vegan food in Medellín, with lasagna, arancini, bao buns, and noodles. It makes for a great break from all the Menu del Días you’ll likely be eating!
The space feels a bit more upmarket, as does the food, so it is a great spot for date night or a nicer meal with friends.
Kaime
- Location: El Poblado
- Dish recommendation: Croissants (and other baked goods)
I was so happy to discover Kaime, a fully vegan bakery and restaurant in El Poblado. They have an open kitchen/bakery where they produce a wide variety of breads, cakes, and pastries. And honestly, everything I tried was divine!
Because of their bakery, this is a great spot for breakfast or brunch. But their restaurant also has a great selection of dishes, perfect for lunch or dinner. So, don’t be surprised if you end up spending a lot of time here.
I personally really enjoyed having a vegan pastry whilst in Colombia. Although it is becoming a lot more common now, you don’t often stumble across places that make vegan croissants, so I always make the most out of this!!
Coraje
- Location: El Poblado
- Dish recommendation: El Chori (Choripan)
Coraje is a vegan restaurant and bakery located inside a food market space in El Poblado. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, with the latter being great for a lazy Sunday brunch with friends.
I found their food to be really flavourful. For example, their vegan Choripan came with smoky aubergine and a tangy chimichurri sauce. And their baked goods are well-balanced, not too sweet and not too savoury.
They also make and sell their own sourdough bread, great for taking home to your Airbnb or hotel for breakfasts.
Tulia Cocina
- Location: Laureles
- Dish recommendation: Zampao (flat bread with vegan chorizo and plantain)
Tulia Cocina is my favourite vegan spot in Laureles. It is a large restaurant with a front patio, indoor seating, and outdoor seating in the back, with a vegan market attached. Which is great for stocking up on vegan toiletries and foods.
Everything I tried on their menu is flavourful, including the burgers and the fresh grilled bread with vegan chorizo. They also have a selection of vegan pizzas and cakes.
The staff are also super friendly and welcoming!
Helecho
- Location: El Poblado
- Dish recommendation: Yasai Roll
If you want a break from rice and arepas, or the usual vegan fare (burgers, pizzas, etc.), then head over to Helecho, a vegan sushi restaurant in El Poblado.
They offer a variety of vegan sushi, using a mix of tofu, seitan, vegan cream cheese and mushrooms. They also have some soups, including a curry soup and ramen.
I was pleasantly surprised by just how good the sushi was. Everything was cooked well with plenty of flavour, plus it came with a refreshing side salad and the usual pickled ginger and wasabi.
Shottas
- Location: Laureles
- Dish recommendation: Arroz Paisa
Shottas is another vegan restaurant located in Laureles. They offer a mixture of veganised Colombian dishes and junk food like burgers, nuggets and choripan.
Their rice dishes are all really filling and feature a good mixture of vegan proteins and veg. But I also recommend trying their arepas and empanadas.
They also sell a lot of their dishes and vegan fake meats to take home and cook with.
AMA
- Location: El Poblado
- Dish recommendation: Plato Mexicano
AMA is a vegan restaurant with an organic market, ice cream stall, and a cultural space. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, surrounded by plants, with a cafe indoors if you want to visit just for a coffee.
They have a mixture of dishes, including daily set menus, like the Mexican dish pictured above. This came with a soup and a rice bowl. Everything was flavoured well and felt healthy, with plenty of veggies.
They also sell desserts. I had a raw chocolate cheesecake style dish which was delicious!
Vegan & Veggie
- Location: El Poblado
- Dish recommendation: Bowl Caribeño
Despite the name ‘Vegan & Veggie’, this is a fully vegan restaurant. They have two locations, one in the main area of El Poblado, and another in a marketplace nearby.
Their main restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating and is located in a bustling area of El Poblado with lots of other restaurants and bars.
They offer a range of dishes, including healthy bowls, burgers, burritos and desserts.
Las Veganas
- Location: Laureles
- Dish recommendation: Calentado Paisa (breakfast dish)
If you are after a good vegan menu del día and a variety of veganised traditional Colombian dishes, like Bandeja Paisa, Arepas, Cazuela, and Seitan a la Plancha, then make sure to visit Las Veganas in Laureles.
You can have a cheap breakfast or lunch here. And the staff are really friendly, with family-restaurant style service. The dishes are pretty simple, but they are filling and healthy!
They also have a small shop located inside where you can pick up some vegan supplies, like soaps.
Alma Natura
- Location: Belén
- Dish recommendation: Menu del Día
Alma Natura is located just underneath Laureles in Belén, but it isn’t too far to walk. It is a cute restaurant with friendly staff.
They offer a menu del día as well as a few other dishes, like the curry pictured above. I recommend going for their menu del día, which gives you a lot of variety, even if you keep coming back to visit. They include a lot of veggies, so the dishes are always bright and colourful.
Moreover, it is a very cheap meal with plenty of food to fill you up!
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