Westport is a charming town located in Fairfield County featuring white sandy beaches, a bustling dining scene and a vibrant downtown. With a museum of contemporary art, an observatory, as well as an open-air concert venue, you can make the most of this town with all the art and science it has to offer.
With such a large array of things to do and sights to see, you’ll probably want to enjoy a hearty meal in order to make the most of the Westport experience. To help with that, we’ve picked out what we believe are the eight best vegetarian restaurants in Westport CT.
Thankfully there’s excellent dining options here, including many choices for vegans and vegetarians!
Some restaurants on this list serve meat too, but because they also have an exceptional selection of vegetarian, gluten free and plant-based dishes, we just had to include them. Bon appetit!
The Eight Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Westport, CT
1. Manna Toast Café
Plant based café famous for its delicious toasties.
Manna Café’s brick exteriors offer a sharp contrast to its pristine white interiors. What appears to be a quaint outlet on the outside transforms into trendy-chic spotless café upon entering. But if you’d like to take in the beautiful brick façade, you can always choose to dine at their heated outdoor seating area.
The café itself is a community driven project, committed to providing healthy and nourishing food prepared from locally sourced ingredients. You absolutely have to try their Manna Burger – we’ve only heard great things! It comprises of a mushroom walnut patty, including all the trimmings – spiced maple ketchup and vegan Russian dressing. Pair that with a side of their amazing sweet potato wedges and you’ve got a delicious meal.
This vegetarian restaurant in Westport CT has gluten free options as well, where they substitute the sourdough toast for sweet potato bread. In fact you can tell they’ve put a lot of thought into their menu here in terms of its construction, rather than just throwing together meat substitutes – it’s a truly chef driven enterprise.
The Matcha Latte is a great way to complete your meal or you can spring for wine, beer or a specialty cocktail.
Manna Toast Café is one of the few truly vegetarian restaurants in Westport CT! The hours of operation are from 8 am to 5 pm from Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 9 pm on Friday and Saturday, and from 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday.
Address: 29 Church Ln, Westport, CT 06880
2. The Naan
An upscale restaurant and bar serving authentic Indian cuisine.
Expect to be greeted by a swanky warm ambience the moment you enter The Naan. With dark shades from black and brown to mahogany, these colors certainly come alive in the dim mood lighting. Their full display bar in one corner of the room shows off the great selection of quality spirits they have on offer., while all the seating is upholstered leather which combined with the formal table setting will make you feel like you’re dining like a king!
Although not one of the solely vegetarian restaurants in Westport CT, The Naan’s selection of vegetarian options is immense, as is often common in Indian food. They pride themselves here on their use of fresh ingredients and showcase it well within their North Indian inspired menu.
Start your meal off with some piping hot Vegetable Pakoras which contain potatoes, onions and spinach drenched in chickpea flour and deep fried. You can even opt for Gobi Manchurian off their Indo-Chinese menu if you’re in the mood to experiment. A staple street food in India, this dish features stir fried cauliflower in a sweet and tangy sauce.
We love their wide selection of vegetarian entrees from lentils to cottage cheese, okra, spinach and eggplant. Mop all those delicious gravies up with a fresh naan or Indian flatbread straight out of the oven!
As for the mains, we recommend trying their Malai Kofta, Navratana Korma all paired perfectly with their Peshawari Naan filled with cashew, raisin, coconut powder, sugar and almond. Their Indo-Chinese selection are also impressive with their Vegetable Hakka Noodles and Paneer Chilli.
If you’re lost in their extensive menu or simply can’t decide what to choose, don’t sweat! The servers here are more than glad to help you make menu decisions and will even explain what the dishes contain and how they are prepared.
The Naan’s hours of operation are from 4 pm to 10 pm Monday through Thursday. As for Friday and Saturday, you can enjoy lunch from 11 am to 3 pm and dinner from 4:30 pm to 10 pm. For a taste of one of the best Indian restaurants in Westport, head on over to The Naan!
Address: 361 Post Rd W, Westport, CT 06880
3. Layla’s Falafel
Small family run Connecticut establishment that specializes in Mediterranean cuisine.
This restaurants origins are from Bridgeport, at the family’s sandwich shop, when a customer requested the owner’s mother, Layla, prepare some tabbouleh after finding out she was from Lebanon. This slowly turned into a regular practice and once falafels were introduced, queues started forming around the block. The family took this falafel idea to Westport where they set up an outlet that specializes in the deep-fried savory treats.
You’ll find this outlet to be quaint and welcoming with a deli style counter featuring all the fillings for their pitas. There’s minimal seating here with narrow passageway holding a handful of tables and chairs, but that shouldn’t be a problem as you can always get an order to go!
As the name suggests, the place is known for its falafels which come in a variety of styles with numerous sides. Falafels themselves are spiced garbanzo bean patties which are deep fired. Locals swear by their freshness! The traditional version can be ordered as is with pita bread or on a platter. There’s plenty of sides that come with it too – from pickled vegetables to hummus and tahini.
Whatever you end up choosing, don’t forget to try Layla’s famous garlic dip – that sauce is magic! This isn’t a purely vegetarian restaurant, but there are plenty of vegetarian options on the menu which is why it makes our list of the top vegetarian restaurants in Westport CT.
Don’t forget to pick up a vegan cookie on your way out as a way to complete your delicious meal. The warm and friendly staff are always here to help cater to all tastes.
This restaurant is open from 11 am to 9 pm Monday through Saturday and from 11 am to 8 pm on Sunday. They also have two more outlets in Fairfield and Stamford.
Address: 1535 Post Rd E, Westport, CT 06880
4. Capuli Restaurant
A family style restaurant that serves California-Mediterranean cuisine.
Started by chef-owner Armando Brito, this joint blends the freshness and flair of Californian and Mediterranean cuisine.
With more than 20 years of experience behind him in top California restaurants, Armando has curated a menu that showcases his vast culinary skills while celebrating fresh local ingredients such as whole grains and seasonal vegetables.
The restaurant boasts a nice bright atmosphere and the service is always on point. You’ll love the quaint interiors but there is heated seating outside top so you choose to dine al fresco if you wish.
The restaurant’s menu isn’t fully vegetarian, but don’t worry – there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from which are even mentioned clearly. With the emphasis that both cuisines (Californian and Mediterranean) place on freshness, its no surprise the menu has many vibrant attractions.
The vegetarian Eggplant Polenta Napoleon has even gotten praise from people who eat meat, so that is definitely something you should give a try. This dish features a polenta cake, eggplant, spinach, roma tomatoes with basil pesto and feta cheese.
Another highlight here is the bowls which are all vegetarian and can even be converted to vegan. They’re light, refreshing and healthy with plenty of fresh produce from kale to arugula to purple cabbage.
The service here is really remarkable and the staff go out of their way to make sure you are well taken care of. Make sure you give this restaurant in Westport a visit! Lunch here is generally served from noon to 3 pm and dinner from 5 pm to 9 pm.
It may not be one of the sole vegetarian restaurants in Westport CT, but the vegetarian and vegan options available make Capuli well worth trying out.
Address: 143 Post Rd E, Westport, CT 06880
5. Jeera Thai
A small eatery that specializes in Thai food.
Jeera Thai has been dishing out authentic Thai food to locals in Westport since 2010. It’s a small restaurant and you’ll feel right at home the moment you enter.
From the quaint 80s style wallpaper to the minimalist décor accentuated only by lighting in the form of paper lanterns, you’ll be transported to a homely dining room in Thailand. Seating here is simple, with molded chairs making up the majority of options. The place has limited seating though, so make sure you get there early!
However make sure you bring your appetite when you choose to dine here because the portions are huge! Now, a Thai restaurant may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when it comes to vegetarian restaurants in Westport CT. However, the majority of the dishes here can be made vegetarian or vegan by using organic tofu. Simply speak to your waiter about your dietary preferences.
The Pad See Ew is a favorite which is served with angel hair noodles, Asian broccoli and sweet soy sauce. The Somtum salad is an amazing blend of sweet, sour, as well as spicy and features green papaya, grape tomatoes, long beans, chilis, lime and peanuts – lip-smacking!
With separate menus for lunch and dinner, you can expect different choices and flavors depending on the time you visit. Service here is very efficient and you won’t have to wait for too long after placing your order – always a bonus!
The restaurant is open from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm Monday through Wednesday, from 11:30 am to 10 pm Thursday through Saturday, and 1 pm to 9 pm on Sunday.
Address: 165 Post Rd E, Westport, CT 06880
6. Amis Trattoria
This classy bistro serves traditional Italian fare.
Amis Trattoria offers a great ambiance to dine in. Floor to ceiling windows bathe the interiors with warmth and accentuate the open floor plan. The restaurant marries rustic and contemporary with brick wallsthat work beautifully with modern light fixtures.
You’ll have your choice of seating too with regular tables and chairs, as well as outside seating and stools by the bar. They even have a row of chairs by the open kitchen so you can view food being prepared. Formal table settings add to the upscale feel of the place.
The menu here is seasonal, so whether you’re in search of antipasti, salad, pasta or a unique dish, Amis Trattoria offers you the best of fresh local produce. A majority of the antipasti are vegetarian along with the salads, while the pasta and plates also feature vegetarian and vegan options. The crispy Eggplant Chips are a great way to start your meal and are served with Manchego mint and lavender honey. The vegan Cacio e Pepe is another highlight which comes with tonnarelli, vegan parmesan and pink peppercorn.
If you’re still peckish after the delicious starters and mains, we recommend their strawberry pistachio parfait – the perfect way to cap off your meal.
Everything is prepared to order here, so there may be a bit of a wait for your food, but don’t worry, just enjoy their extensive beer and wine selection till it arrives. What’s even better is they have live music and even do happy hour specials!
The hours of operation are from 4 pm to 9 pm Monday and Tuesday, noon to 9 pm on Wednesday and Sunday and noon to 10 pm Thursday through Saturday.
Address: 1 Church Ln, Westport, CT 06880
7. Spotted Horse Tavern
Refurbished federal house serving American fare.
Operating from the interiors of the historic Sherwood House, which has been around since 1808, this establishment really makes the most of its wonderful interiors.
You’ll love the warmth and comfort the place exudes, while the wooden rafters, beams and faux-fireplace really accentuate its old school charm. The floor plan is spread around a central bar, where you can always pull up a chair and watch the bartender work his magic.
The menu here – although with many meat options – celebrates local produce and features plenty of organic flavors to provide great American comfort food. There are plenty of vegetarian options on the menu too from the Buddha Bowls to starters, sharables and pasta.
The Pretzel Bites will really have you wanting to order more – they’re that addictive! The grafton cheddar dip they come with is divine too. The place has even managed to elevate the humble brussel sprout into a tasty bar snack by frying them with sesame, lime, honey and sriracha vinaigrette. For mains, we heartily recommend Tommy’s Vegetable Pasta which has spaghetti squash in marinara with peppers, zucchini and basil pesto.
The place does get crowded, so make sure you get there early, especially if you want to dine on their lovely covered patio. You can in fact call ahead and make a reservation. Service is warm and friendly and your waiter will definitely make sure you are well taken care of.
The restaurant opens at 11:30 am until 1 am from Monday to Saturday and from 11 am to 11pm on Sunday – in fact this place knows how to whip up one of the best Sunday brunches in town. Make sure you don’t miss out!
Address: 26 Church Ln, Westport, CT 06880
8. Viva Zapata
Converted old house that dishes out Mexican fare.
You’ll love the lively atmosphere at Viva Zapata. What is a quaint bungalow on the outside, transforms into a fiesta inside, with multicolored fairy lights hanging from the rafters and plenty of trinkets dotting the walls. The dim lighting and wooden furniture give the place a very pub-like feel, as does the central display bar. There is also a huge patio with heating for outside dining at all times of the year.
Viva Zapata has been around for quite a while, making it a regular spot for locals. It’s a lovely watering hole where everybody knows each other’s name.
The menu here celebrates Mexican food and while they do serve meat, there are plenty of vegetarian options too. The Nachos with sautéed spinach are an absolute must have and come with homemade refried beans. The veggie style Enchilada Plate is another hit – 3 soft corn tortillas, mixed vegetables, homemade enchilada sauce, cheese, olives and sour cream.
Of course you can’t visit a Mexican restaurant and not try a margarita! And the ones here come in ball jars in 10 different flavors.
Although sometimes food may take a while to come out, their service is attentive. And we think that just gives you more reason to explore the bar menu!
Although not solely vegetarian, this restaurant in Westport is open from 3 pm to 1 am Monday through Thursday, 11:30 pm to 2 am Friday and Saturday and from 3 pm to 11pm on Sunday.
Address: 530 Riverside Ave, Westport, CT 06880
