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Top 5 Vegan Cities in Mexico & What To Eat While You're There
- Allyson DeFoor
- Mar 6, 2019
- 7 min read
Written by Rachel Havekost
After three months of riding our motorcycle through Mexico, my husband Josh and I have
learned so much about the challenges (and happy surprises) of eating vegan in this country.
When we embarked on our adventure back in November, we were fairly skeptical about our
food-future. We predicted lots of rice, lots of beans, and a whole bunch of bananas.
Okay, so that was still true, but we were also wildly impressed by the amount of vegetarian, and even fully vegan restaurants in Mexico. Now that we are in Belize, we have had the chance to reflect on the most vegan-friendly spots in Mexico.
We have compiled a list of the best cities to travel to if you’re looking for an authentic travel
experience in Mexico without sacrificing your vegan-eating standards!
This list is not in any particular order.
1. Mexico City
If you travel for the big city draw (and you’re vegan), Mexico City will take excellent care of
you. CDMX (Ciudad De Mexico, as the locals call it) is a sprawling city with clean streets, well-kept parks, boutique shops, and restaurants with modern and unique design. There is also no shortage of vegan restaurants.
Broken up into barrios (neighborhoods of the main city zone—akin to Manhattan’s
neighborhoods like SOHO/Tribeca/Meatpacking/etc.), Mexico City has a vibe for everyone. La Condesa and Roma neighborhoods feature the best dining, shopping, and bars. That being said, there is no shortage of vegan food in most of the barrios.
Here are our favorites, as well as a list of other vegan restaurants in these popular barrios.
Casual, Mexican, Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Akarma is a tiny walk up spot in the Juárez Barrio, just north of La Condesa. We hopped off our Citibus tour at the Wax
Museum—not for the museum, we stopped for the food, naturally. They serve burgers, tamales, pizzas, and other finger
foods. The food was delicious and dirt cheap. We recommend the tamales and the vegan burger.
Casual, Public Market, International, Happy Hour, Drinks, Live Music, Lunch/Dinner
Mercado Roma is the equivalent of an upscale, adult, and well-designed food court. It has walk up food counters of all varieties, including spots with all vegan options. There is also a wine bar, a beer garden, a churro spot… the list goes on. We recommend trying the Indian food counter and asking for whatever dishes he’s got that have no meat or dairy!
Casual, Café, International, Organic Grocery, Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
This spot is right on a plaza in La Condesa. Perfect for breakfast, coffee, or lunch. The whole
menu is organic and mostly plant-based. They also have a small selection of grocery items that are entirely organic and vegan friendly. We tried the burger and it was unbelievable! It comes with two sides of salad that are pre-made in the deli-counter. Once your burger is ready, you get to select your sides. Make sure to ask which ones are vegan!
Other Vegan/Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in CDMX:
AKARMA
Falafelito
Forever Vegano
La Pitahaya Vegana
Maria Bonita Veganos
Pan Comido
Pan D’Monium
Por Siempre Vegana
Vegan pa’ ca
Vera Cocina Vegana
2. Puerto Escondido
Surf’s up! If you’re a wave-hunter, boardwalk-biker, and sunset-lover, then Puerto Escondido is your vegan paradise. Playa Zicatela is the main beach for those who love to surf, eat vegan, and enjoy the sunshine. With lots of vegan options available, this is a great destination if you’re a vegan surfer.
Below are some of our favorite spots, as well as a list of other vegan restaurants in
the area.
Romantic, Beach View, International, Cocktails, Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Hotel Santa Fe is a four-star hotel right on the beach of Playa Zicatela. Their large outdoor restaurant boasts amazing views and several vegan and vegetarian options. Every meal comes with fresh baked bread, fabulous service, and great prices. They also have a full bar, which makes for a great date night. We recommend the vegan tacos and the curry.
Casual/Hostel, Mexican, Cocktails, Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Located across the street from the beach, Selina is an enormous hostel with a sand-floored bar, pool, and restaurant. This is where we stayed for two weeks while studying Spanish in PE. They have a small food menu, but a couple items are fully vegan. We recommend the vegan Tlayuda, a traditional Oaxacan dish that is similar to a quesadilla.
Casual, Smoothie & Juice Bar, Sandwiches, Mexican, Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Situated on an outdoor balcony above a yoga center, Spirulina is a great place to start your day with a smoothie bowl, or to take a break from the sun for tacos and a beer at lunch. We highly recommend the “Brazilian Groove” bowl.
Other Vegan/Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Puerto Escondido:
Aloha Bowls
Amoki
Elephant Garden
Holy Moly
La Espiral (only operates Nov-May)
La Olita
Lychee
Piyoli
Wok-xaca
3. San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Located in the mountains of Chiapas State, San Cristóbal de Las Casas (SCDC) attracts travelers from all over the world looking for a peaceful place that still has the nightlife and social appeal of a big city. Lined with colorful buildings and paved with cobblestones, the streets feel almost European. There are also—wait for it—dozens of Vegan restaurants. Below are a few of our favorites, as well as a full list of Vegan spots we found.
Casual, Smoothies, International, Breakfast/Lunch Dinner
This is a small restaurant with only a few tables that offers smoothie bowls, rice bowls, desserts, and more. The smoothie bowls are absolutely delicious, as are the rice bowls. Oh, and it’s dirt cheap. We recommend the curry bowl, and for
desert don’t miss their homemade vegan snickers bars!
Romantic/Casual, Outdoor Garden Dining, International, Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
This completely outdoor-seating restaurant with a fully vegan menu is situated in a beautiful garden off the main street in SCDC. From curry, to salad, to Mexican dishes, there is a lot to choose from. We recommend the chile relleno (it’s enormous!) or the yellow curry (add tofu!).
Food To-Go, International, Lunch/Dinner
This is a tiny little walk up deli that offers pre-made meals to go. They have different items daily, from sushi, to vegan burgers, to vegan BBQ wings. They will heat it up on the spot for you, or you can take it
back to your hotel/hostel/Air BnB and prepare it yourself. We recommend the tabbouleh and the seitan “steak” and potatoes.
Other Vegan/Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in SCDC:
Cocoliche
Delicias Naturales
Espacio Nut
Kukulpan
La Casa Del Pan, Panaderia
PARVAT
Restaurant Belil, Sabores de Las Chiapas
Te Quiero Verde
Todo Vegano Sandwiches
4. Sayulita
Do you love the beach? Do you practice yoga? Do you like to party? Are you vegan? Sayulita is the place for you. With only two main roads (don’t worry, they’re packed with modern and well-designed restaurants and lined with colorful flags), beach access, and yoga retreats galore, Sayulita is a boho-heaven. Many restaurants offer vegan options as well, even if they aren’t exclusively vegan. Here’s a few of our favorite spots, as well as a list of other restaurants to try.
Romantic, Thai, Cocktails, Lunch/Dinner
This Thai spot has lots on the menu that can easily be made vegan. There is a sweet little outdoor nook in the back with
one table; if it’s available it’s a lovely spot for a date night or a group dinner. We recommend the pad Thai (make sure to ask for no eggs), and if they’ve got it, the $5 pitcher of sangria (because *most* sangria is vegan, no?)
Casual, Mexican, Cocktails, Lunch/Dinner
If you’re hunkering for a giant burrito in a hurry, look no further. This quick-stop restaurant is pro-large-portions and
pro-a-good-time. The veggie burrito is packed with goodies and the tortillas are fresh and hot. Don’t forget to use the
bathroom before you come, because even though there’s
seating they don’t have a toilet.
Casual, Mediterranean, Lunch/Dinner
On one of the two main streets in Sayulita, this spot offers a small menu with salads, pitas, and of course, falafel. All seating is outside, but that’s ok because people watching is part of the fun at mealtime in Sayulita! We recommend the falafel salad.
Other Vegan/Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Sayulita:
Atico
ChocoBanana
El Itacate
La EsperanzaLa Voz de Mi Tierra
Naty’s Cocina
Restaurant Yeikame
Smoothies Mi Buen
The Anchor
Veggie Land
5. Tepoztlán
Are you craving an authentic Mexican experience without giving up the comforts of your vegan lifestyle? Look no further than the tiny town of Tepoztlán, nestled in the mountains of Moreles state just a couple hours south of Mexico City. With an ancient pyramid within hiking distance, an always-open market place in the main square, yoga classes and spiritual healing, and outdoor bars and craft shops lining the streets, you’ll feel like you’re definitely getting the best of all of Mexico. Here are our recommendations, as well as a list of other vegan friendly spots.
Casual, Yoga Studio/Craft Shop, Pre-fixed Menu, Indian/Mexican/Nepalese, Lunch/Dinner
This fully vegan restaurant is located in the back of a small boutique shop. The venue also offers yoga classes and hosts different musicians throughout the week in their back courtyard. After listening to an Argentinian man play music from his homemade instruments, we had a lovely lunch from their pre-fixed menu. We recommend asking for the menu of the day and enjoying the good vibes.
Casual, Market, Pre-Columbian, Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
El Tlecuil is one of many pre-Columbian
food stands inside the bustling central
market. Walk into the covered market of the main square and you’ll find tons of taco bars, smoothie stands, and pre-Columbian food spots. All of the later have a completely vegan menu (excluding grasshoppers, so look out for that!) that represent the local food before the Spanish did their dirty-work. The
cuisine consists of burger-like patties, all
made from vegetables, potatoes, edible
flowers, and grains. You can order the patties a la carte, or a full plate that comes with two patties, beans, and tortillas. The menus are all in Spanish, so we recommend just pointing to any of the patties that don’t have the word “chapulines” in them and going with the flow!
Casual, Romantic, Indian, Lunch/Dinner
A fully vegan restaurant serving traditional Ayurvedic dishes. Located behind a small clothing
and craft shop, this restaurant offers a la carte dishes or a set three course option. They also sell pre-made vegan burgers to-go on the street outside. We recommend just asking for their menu of the day and seeing what happens!
Other Vegan/Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Tepoztlán:
El Milenio
La Artesa
Rusticana Pizza
Semilla
All in all, Mexico surprised us with their vegan-friendly and fully vegan restaurants. Several
other cities during our travels have boasted excellent vegan food, and it was hard to narrow it down to five cities.
If you’re heading to Mexico and run into trouble finding places to eat, you can always ask for
fajitas without the animal meat and without cheese—or—stick to eating tons of fruits from fruit stands. No matter what, don’t let being vegan stop you from visiting this beautiful, diverse, and incredibly friendly country.
If you have any questions about your upcoming travels to Mexico in these or other cities, we are happy to help in any way we can!
And now, back to this turmeric soy latte I’m chugging over here in Belize!
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