The West Village is a charming neighborhood tucked between Greenwich Village and the Hudson River. From the quaint cobblestone streets, 19th-century townhouses, to colonial brownstone architecture, West Village can sometimes feel like a New York City movie set. But what is a tranquil area by day, transforms as the night falls and becomes a livelier, more vibrant setting.
So if you like the finer things in life, West Village is the ideal place to be for high-end boutiques, a rich arts scene, famous jazz and vibrant nightlife, as well as many fantastic restaurants.
And luckily if you’re not a meat-eater we’ve shortlisted five exceptional vegan restaurants in West Village that’ll satisfy your cravings.
These exclusively vegan restaurants in and around West Village cater to all tastes; from comfort food, through to delicious globally-inspired dishes, we’ve put together the best mix of vegan fare on this shortlist!
Five Exceptional Vegan Restaurants In West Village: Food Worth Waiting For!
1. Urban Vegan Kitchen
If you’re on the search for excellent vegan food close to some of the best places in West Village for evening events, Urban Vegan Kitchen is the ideal stop.
Situated less than a five minute walk from Comedy Cellar which hosts nightly stand-up comedy, this restaurant serves exceptional organic vegan fare, as well as great cocktails in an intimate, but unconventional setting.
This restaurant sure loves animals as their decor is made up of loads of hanging pictures of animals, as well as graffiti on their brick walls. They also have limited, but cozy outdoor seating on their heated patio.
Their interesting menu incorporates American comfort food, and plenty of internationally-inspired dishes too. Regulars also love their Italian and Mexican-inspired dishes as they provide even more variety and flavors.
One of the popular dishes is their Hit the Road Jack Tostada which consists of tinga spiced jackfruit, refried beans, lettuce, pico and avocado salsa verde. Another great choice is the Magic Ring Burger which is prepared with their smoked homemade patty, numu mozzarella, smokey garlic aioli, housemade onion rings, arugula, tomato, onions and a side of fries or salad.
Another option that you can’t go wrong with is the Chick-un & Waffles consisting of southern fried seitan, sauteed garlic kale, crispy belgian waffle and a sweet and savory maple mustard aioli sauce.
But if you prefer sweet to savory, worry not as Urban Vegan Kitchen also serves up some excellent vegan treats like their Belgian Waffle which is served with fresh fruit, and maple syrup, as well as the Golden French Toast which is prepared with warming spices and topped with fruit compote and toasted almonds.
This place on our list of vegan restaurants in West Village is open from Monday to Thursday from 12pm to 10pm and Friday from 12pm to 12am. As for Saturday, they’re open from 10am to 12am and on Sunday from 10am to 10pm.
Address: 41 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014
2. Delice & Sarrasin
Located just a few minutes walk from the iconic Friends Apartment from the TV series, Delice & Sarrasin is a charming bistro bringing authentic French cuisine to New York.
This chic hole-in-the-wall has incorporated a subtle touch of France in their rustic and refined decor. From the mirrors, fireplace, to the light fixtures and comptoir des epices, this bistro is full of charm and has a very welcoming and warm atmosphere.
You’ll find more than just croissants here (infact they don’t even have any croissant!), as Delice & Sarrasin take pride in their authentic traditional vegan dishes, all with a touch of haute cuisine.
Of course French cuisine is known for the large variety of cheese, but here, you can dine without worrying about whether ingredients are 100% vegan or not. That’s because all the dishes are purely vegan and don’t contain any animal derivatives or byproducts.
One of the favorite dishes here is the ‘Ratatouille Niçoise’ which is a vegetable stew made with eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, onions, garlic and olive oil. Another popular dish is the ‘Steak Frites Infusées A La Truffe Blanche’ which is a vegan beef steak prepared with 3 types of mushrooms and served with french fries infused in white truffle & Dijon mustard sauce.
But do leave room for one of their ‘crêpes gourmande’ as these indulgent treats never fail to make you feel like you’re in Paris. We recommend their ‘La Francinette’ which consists of melted dark chocolate, strawberries and coconut whipped cream.
Delice & Sarrasin is the more upscale option on our list of vegan restaurants in West Village and is open everyday from 11am to 11pm.
Address: 20 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
3. Beatnic
If you like trying unique and creative vegan food, Beatnic is a great place to visit as the team here know how to put a spin on classics such as burgers, sandwiches and salads and turn them into innovative and unique dishes that serve up big flavor.
The dimly-lit boho-chic restaurant may offer counter service, but you can still expect friendly and knowledgeable staff who are happy to assist with dietary requirements.
Salads may sound boring and uninteresting but believe us when we say Beatnic know how to make a crave-worthy one! One of the salads that stands out is their Golden Greens Salad which consists of kale, quinoa, roasted broccoli, butternut squash, pickled beets, crispy chickpeas, coconut feta and a delicious turmeric tahini dressing.
But if you’re looking for a heartier dish, we recommend going for ‘The Guac Burger’ – a huge and very filling burger which is prepared with a lentil and pea protein patty, guacamole, corn salsa, lettuce, tomato, onion, tortilla strips and chipotle aioli. Even the sandwiches are well worth a try here and one of the favorites has to be their fully-loaded Truffle Melt consisting of roasted broccoli, tomato, truffle coconut ricotta and almond parm.
Whatever you end up choosing for your mains, make sure to not miss out on their delightful air fried fries – these crispy and non-greasy fries are delicious and even more so when dipped in their beet ketchup!
Beatnic is open everyday from 11am to 10pm.
Address: 185 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012
4. Go Zen
Located just a couple of minutes outside of West Village, Go Zen is an exclusively vegan restaurant serving excellent Asian fusion dishes.
Walk down the stairs and find a snug space that lives up to its name, as the zen and relaxed atmosphere, alongside the warm lighting and tasteful wooden decor makes it a very pleasant place to sit back and unwind, whilst enjoying amazing food. With that being the case, it’s no wonder we had to include Go Zen on our list of vegan restaurants in West Village.
One of the favorites here is the Pan Fried Crispy Noodles which consists of ingredients like soy ‘chicken’, BBQ seitan, veg, ‘seafood’, snowpea, onion, carrots, broccoli, zucchini, mushroom and bok choi. Another great option from their lunch special is the Sweet & Sour Divine which is prepared with battered soy protein, bell peppers, pineapple, carrots, onions and served with brown rice.
Go Zen also has many choice other than Asian dishes such as their tasty Falafel With Fries, and loads of dishes prepared with mock meat on their Beyond Meat menu. Two great options are the Beyond Meat Steak and also Beyond Meat Mac N Cheese.
Go Zen is open Monday to Thursday from 11:30am to 9:30pm, Friday and Saturday from 11:30am to 10pm and on Sunday from 11:30am to 9:30pm.
Address: 144 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10012
5. Red Bamboo
Located just a few minutes outside of West Village, Red Bamboo had to be included on our list of vegan restaurants in West Village for their incredible Asian & Southern vegan dishes, as well as their snug, homey vibe.
This solely vegan place has the classic low ceiling and snug space that’s typical to the area and a gentle buzz is created as the tables are close to each other. And if you want to make new friends here, it’s easy as the sociable atmosphere, paired with some vegan wine or beer will do the trick.
Whether you’re here with friends, your loved one or alone, don’t miss out on their locally famous starter, which is the Barbecue Buffalo Wings that are marinated in a spiced citrus BBQ sauce and served with vegan ranch dressing and celery sticks.
We also recommend trying their Mango Chicken which consists of slices of mango, grilled soy chicken, red onions, red and green bell peppers sautéed in a mildly spicy citrus sauce and served with a side of white or brown rice.
Red Bamboo is open Monday and Tuesday from 12pm to 9pm, and from Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm to 10pm.
Address: 140 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10012
