Known as the home of Robin Hood, Nottingham is a luscious green city with a legendary past, a vibrant culture, as well as a rich history of invention and innovation. The plethora of outdoor recreation, captivating art at places like the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall, and an excellent nightlife and dining scene has made Nottingham one of the UK’s top must-visit destinations.
As a vegetarian, it can be challenging when trying to find a restaurant that caters to your lifestyle and dietary requirements. And that’s why you might end up with a disappointing meal that’s not worth paying for – and this can be especially true if you’re visiting somewhere new for the first time.
But don’t worry, as this list of the 8 best vegetarian-friendly and vegetarian restaurants in Nottingham will help you come up with a decision you won’t regret! We also included a few non-vegetarian restaurants on our list simply because their great vegan and veggie options are well worth a try and we wanted to give you the biggest and best selection possible.
So here is our list of the eight exceptional vegetarian restaurants in Nottingham!
Eight Exceptional Vegetarian Restaurants In Nottingham: Food Worth Waiting For!
1. No.12
Housed in a converted Victorian mill, No.12 prides itself on changing the stigma around plant-based food.
Set in the heart of Nottingham, No.12 is an exclusively vegan restaurant in a casual dining setting. With its open brick walls and rustic decor, it serves as the perfect setting for both a romantic meal and a catch up with friends.
No. 12 offers two different menus: the classics menu and the tasting menu. The classic menu is made up of small plates that are designed to be shared by the whole table, or for a light lunch alongside some drinks!
Our favourite dishes are the Maple and Paprika nuts, the Parmentier Potatoes, and the English Sushi! For a more sophisticated dining experience, try the tasting menu! This is a 7 course set meal, developed by the chefs using seasonal and local ingredients. If you are eating off the tasting menu, expect to be there for around 2 hours, but don’t let that put you off! Besides, who wouldn’t want to spend 2 hours eating mouth watering food?
And if all that isn’t enough to entice you to try No. 12, then the fact that it’s dog friendly surely will! Just don’t forget to mention that you’re bringing your furry friend along in your booking!
No. 12 is closed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but otherwise open 12pm – 10pm for the rest of the week.
Address: 2/3 Eldon Chambers Wheeler Gate, Nottingham NG1 2NS
2. Prickly Pear Cafe
Plant based food with a Mexican twist, offering both healthy (and not so healthy!) food.
For a cosy cafe that serves solely vegan food in Nottingham, then Prickly Pear Cafe is the perfect place for you!
Opened by childhood best friends Lizzi and Marc, Prickly Pear Cafe offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere with an open plan kitchen, perfect for a meal with friends or drinks after work with your colleagues!
Prickly Pear offers a great variety of choice, including brunch served between 11am – 3pm on Tuesday-Friday (and 10am – 3pm on Saturday!). We recommend the French toast, which is two pieces of sourdough with berry compote, sliced banana, toasted pumpkin, sunflower seeds and drizzled with maple syrup.
If you’re not there for brunch, then don’t worry, Prickly Pear’s evening menu is just as mouth watering! We recommend the East Asian Pervasion, a southern fried seitan burger served with fries (our favourite fries are the jerk fries!). If you’re a fan of tacos, then Tuesday is the best day for you to visit!
Every week, Prickly Pear hosts a Taco Tuesday where you can get a taco and a sol for £8.50 each week. Additionally, there is a new taco special every week!
As well as an extensive food menu, Prickly Pear also has a range of drinks that will cater to all tastes. If you’re looking to be healthy, then they offer a range of smoothies! Our favourite is the orange smoothie that is made of banana, chia seeds, turmeric and orange juice. If you’re looking for a sweeter treat, then look no further than their milkshakes! We also recommend the Biscoff and Hobnob for the indulgent taste!
Prickly Pear Cafe is closed on Sunday but otherwise open Monday to Wednesday 9am – 5pm, and then Friday – Saturday 9.30 am – 9pm!
Address: 127 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FQ
3. 13th Element
A modern restaurant offering vegan and plant-based burgers and small plates.
Loved by everyone – including Nottingham Forest midfielder Jesse Lingard! – 13th Element is a hidden gem of Nottingham. It’s the perfect setting for a casual catch-up with friends with its warm and friendly atmosphere and black and yellow themed decor, accented with lush greenery.
13th Element is exclusively plant-based and offers a great menu with anything from small plates to burgers, along with a nice range of drinks. If you’re just popping in for a quick bite to eat and some drinks, we recommend ordering from the small plates menu!
Our favourite is KFC (Korean fried cauliflower garnished with diced pineapple, spring onions, toasted sesame seeds & coriander) and the Truffle Tots! But if you’re looking for a heartier meal, then you can’t visit 13th Element without trying one of their burgers! A stand out dish here is the Truffle burger, which is a vegan meat patty with smoked gouda, white truffle infused mayo, truffle mushrooms & wild rocket.
The portions here are generous but if you can stomach dessert, they also have some sweet treats on offer! Whether that be brownies, ice cream or milkshakes!
When it comes to the drinks, 13th Element has a range on offer. From beer to cider, spirits and cocktails, and soft drinks, 13th Element is sure to be able to cater whatever taste that you find yourself in! If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, we recommend the passion fruit martini which is mango, passion fruit and vodka! And even better, some of these cocktails can be made without alcohol so no one has to miss out on tasty, refreshing drinks!
13th Element is closed between Monday and Wednesdays, but otherwise open 5pm – 10pm on Thursdays and Fridays, 12pm-10pm on Saturday, and 12pm – 8pm on Sundays.
Address: 101 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 1FE
4. Crocus Cafe
A cosy community led, volunteer red cafe serving incredible vegan and vegetarian food.
Crocus Cafe is Nottingham’s oldest running community cafe offering homemade vegan and vegetarian food, focused on being fair trade and locally sourced. It’s also not for profit, which means that it’s affordable and is therefore a great spot for students!
Crocus Cafe serves all day breakfast, as well as salad, soup and sandwiches. The menu is small but mighty, and most dishes can be altered to be made vegan or gluten free. Make sure to check the blackboard for daily specials too!
Although, we don’t think any visit to Crocus is complete without sampling their Meze dish, an assortment of salads with hummus, stuffed vine leaves, falafel and pitta.
And if you’re looking for an affordable night out, then Crocus Cafe has you covered there too! On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, they host ‘Around the World’ evenings where they serve small plates inspired by different countries and cultures around the world.
Previous evenings including Mexican, Iranian, Italian and more! Crocus also offers a great selection of vegan alcohol to wash the food down with!
Crocus Cafe is open on Wednesdays between 10am – 5pm, Thursday to Saturday from 10am – 10pm and Sundays from 10am – 6pm.
Address: 18 Lenton Boulevard, Lenton, Nottingham NG7 2ES
5. Mowgli
Authentic Indian street food in a stylish modern restaurant.
Although not solely a vegetarian restaurant, Mowgli does have a great range of vegan food so that you can enjoy some great food alongside your meat eating friends! Mowgli is a beautiful restaurant with exposed brick walls, rustic decor and swing seats, making it the perfect setting for a catch up with friends or a casual date night.
A meal at Mowgli works best when ordering a number of different dishes in a tapas-like way. We recommend the Bhel Puri, which is a take on Bombay’s favourite street food: Puff rice with crisp gram threads, peanuts and a tantalising spiced sweet & sour dressing, as well as the Mowgli Chip Butty, which is a twist on the iconic British food! Our favourite though is the Picnic Potato Curry, which is potatoes in fenugreek, tomato and Bengali Five Spice.
And though the dishes are small, they are filling so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth! Mowgli also has vegan and vegetarian drinks available!
Mowgli is closed on Monday and Tuesday, but otherwise open between Sunday-Thursday from 12pm – 9.30pm and Friday and Saturday from 12pm – 10.30pm.
Address: 1 Stoney Street, Nottingham, NG1 1LG
6. Alchemilla
An incredible fine dining Michelin starred restaurant with excellent vegan and vegetarian options.
If you’re looking for a more upscale dining experience in Nottingham then Alchemilla is the restaurant for you! Although not exclusively vegetarian, Alchemilla made it on our list of vegetarian restaurants in Nottingham for the excellent vegetarian food and unique dining experience.
With its gorgeous exposed brick walls and sweeping arches, Alchemilla is the perfect setting for a romantic date night! It is probably the most expensive restaurant on the list, but thanks to the unique yet tasty combination of foods on its tasting menus, you’ll find that it’s well worth the price tag! Choose from a 7 or 10 course meal and expect incredible dishes like roasted squash and salt baked beetroot.
In the summer months, you can even enjoy a drink on their roof terrace known as The Nyetimber Garden, decorated with beautiful plants and flowers. Here, you can enjoy wine and cocktails before your booking! And even better, some of the wines are vegan so you don’t have to miss out on any of the delicious wine that Alchemilla wine has to offer!
Alchemilla is open on Wednesday – Friday between 5pm – 7.30pm, and then on Saturday from 12pm – 1.30pm, before opening again between 6pm – 8pm.
Address: Alchemilla, 192 Derby Road, Nottingham, NG7 1NF
7. The Angel Microbrewery
A traditional British pub with standard (vegan and vegetarian!) British fare and live music.
Sometimes, being vegetarian means missing out on the classic Fish and Chips as well as other standard pub grub, but the historic Angel Microbrewery offers just that!
Set in a gorgeous 15th century listed building, The Angel is made up of wood and exposed brick with a cosy and welcoming atmosphere.
The Angel is unique in the way that it offers a diverse range of food, including both vegan and vegetarian. If you find that you’re not particularly hungry, then you can order from the small plates menu! We recommend the Hummus, it’s both gluten free and vegan and is served with warm bread! We’re also partial to the ‘Halloumi’ fries. These can either be vegan or vegetarian.
But if you’re looking for something much more heartier, then we recommend the seitan jerk burger, topped with mango salsa and salad. Our favourite, though, is the vegan Fish and Chips so you don’t have to miss out on that traditional British fare! In terms of drinks, The Angel Microbrewery also has vegan options! All of their resident larger and ciders are vegan so you don’t even have to miss out on that front!
Upstairs at The Angel Microbrewery is The Chapel, a live music venue that hosts a variety of different artists and DJ’s throughout the year! So make sure to regularly check their website to see what’s on when you’re visiting!
And if vegan Fish and Chips and live music isn’t enough to entice you to visit The Angel Microbrewery, then the fact that they also welcome dogs will surely do the trick!
The Angel Microbrewery is open Monday to Friday between 12pm – 10pm and open between 12pm – 11pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Address: 7 Stoney Street Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1LG
8. 31K
A NYC inspired bar and restaurant offering great food, incredible drinks and a lively atmosphere.
31K is a modern restaurant, complete with exposed brick and lit with pretty fairy lights that makes for the perfect place setting for a well needed catch up with friends.
And although 31K isn’t exclusively a vegetarian, we had to include it on our list of vegetarian restaurants in Nottingham for the great range of vegan and vegetarian food!
31K’s menu is unique in the way that it allows for you to build your own meal, choosing from a main, a sauce, a carb and a green. We recommend the sweetcorn and chilli fritters with the coriander and lime yoghurt, the sweet potato wedges and the bajan slaw. And if that’s not tickling your fancy, then you can order from the Grill menu!
We recommend the corn-on-the-cob, but our favourite is the rum-soaked pineapple rings! In terms of drinks, 31K also offers a range of vegan wine! Our favourite is the El Campeon which is a Spanish red, but whether you prefer red, white or rose wine, you’re sure to find the perfect glass for you here!
31K is closed on Mondays but otherwise open Tuesday – Thursday between 4pm – 11pm, Friday – Saturday 12pm – 12am and 12pm – 11pm on Sunday.
Address: 31 Goose Gate, Hockley, Nottingham, NG1 1FE
The Best Vegetarian Restaurants In Nottingham: Our Final Thoughts:
And there you have it! The 8 best vegetarian restaurants in Nottingham! So now that you know that it’s possible to find great vegan food in Nottingham, dig in and eat to your heart’s content!