Dining Guide · The Grand Palace, Sydney CBD
Vegetarian Restaurants in Sydney CBD — 24 Places Worth Visiting
Sydney's vegetarian food scene has flourished in recent years, with an ever-growing number of restaurants embracing fresh, plant-based flavours.
At a Glance
Basement, 261 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 (02) 8021 7696 bookings@thegrandpalace.com.auSydney's vegetarian food scene has truly flourished, with an ever-growing number of restaurants embracing fresh, plant-based flavours. Whether you follow a vegetarian lifestyle or just love meat-free meals, the city offers plenty of mouth-watering options across every style and budget. This guide to 24 of Sydney's best vegetarian restaurants leads with The Grand Palace's Jain-friendly Indian menu, then covers everything from Bondi's plant-based cafes to CBD fine dining.
Quick Answer
The Grand Palace Indian Restaurant, Basement, 261 George Street, Sydney CBD, is our top pick for vegetarian dining — a dedicated vegetarian set menu from $65 per person, Jain-friendly preparation on request, and group bookings up to 125 guests. For plant-based cafes and vegan-specific menus, Yellow in Potts Point and Comeco Foods in Newtown are standout options.
Compare at a Glance
Dietary column shows only what each restaurant explicitly confirms — not every kitchen publishes the same level of detail.
| Restaurant | Area | Style | Dietary Highlights | Good for Groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Grand PalaceOur Pick | Sydney CBD | Indian Fine Dining | Halal certified · Vegetarian set menu · Jain | |
| Alibi Bar & Kitchen | Woolloomooloo | Plant-Based Bar & Kitchen | 100% plant-based | |
| Bodhi Restaurant | Sydney CBD | Asian Vegan | Fully vegan | |
| Yellow | Potts Point | Plant-Based Fine Dining | Vegan & vegetarian | |
| Two Chaps | Marrickville | Cafe & Pasta Bar | Contact restaurant | |
| Yulli's | Surry Hills | Vegan Asian-Fusion | Fully vegan, gluten-free | |
| The Gantry | Dawes Point | Vegetarian & Vegan Degustation | Vegetarian & vegan degustation | |
| Bad Hombres | Surry Hills | Vegan Mexican | Fully vegan | |
| Gigi Pizzeria | Newtown | Vegan Pizzeria | 100% vegan | |
| Badde Manors | Glebe | Vegetarian Cafe | Vegetarian, GF, vegan options | |
| Soul Burger | Glebe | Vegan Burgers | 100% vegan | |
| Comeco Foods | Newtown | Vegan Japanese Cafe | 100% vegan | |
| Pilgrims | Bronte | Vegetarian Cafe | Fully vegetarian | |
| Lentil As Anything | Newtown | Pay-What-You-Feel Vegetarian | Vegetarian | |
| Cafe Sydney | Circular Quay | Seafood-Led (Vegetarian-Friendly) | Contact restaurant | |
| Egg of the Universe | Rozelle | Wholefoods Cafe | Vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, GF, DF | |
| Lord of the Fries | Sydney CBD | Vegan Fast Food | 100% vegan | |
| The Green Lion | Mount Kuring-gai | Vegan Pub Food | 100% vegan pub food | |
| Eden | Bondi Beach | Plant-Based | 100% plant-based | |
| Govinda's | Darlinghurst | Vegetarian Buffet & Cinema | Fully vegetarian buffet |
The Grand Palace
Our PickSydney CBD · Indian Fine Dining
Halal certified · Vegetarian set menu · Jain
Good for groupsAlibi Bar & Kitchen
Woolloomooloo · Plant-Based Bar & Kitchen
100% plant-based
Good for groupsBodhi Restaurant
Sydney CBD · Asian Vegan
Fully vegan
Good for groupsYellow
Potts Point · Plant-Based Fine Dining
Vegan & vegetarian
Good for groupsTwo Chaps
Marrickville · Cafe & Pasta Bar
Contact restaurant
Good for groupsYulli's
Surry Hills · Vegan Asian-Fusion
Fully vegan, gluten-free
Good for groupsThe Gantry
Dawes Point · Vegetarian & Vegan Degustation
Vegetarian & vegan degustation
Good for groupsBad Hombres
Surry Hills · Vegan Mexican
Fully vegan
Good for groupsGigi Pizzeria
Newtown · Vegan Pizzeria
100% vegan
Good for groupsBadde Manors
Glebe · Vegetarian Cafe
Vegetarian, GF, vegan options
Good for groupsSoul Burger
Glebe · Vegan Burgers
100% vegan
Good for groupsComeco Foods
Newtown · Vegan Japanese Cafe
100% vegan
Good for groupsPilgrims
Bronte · Vegetarian Cafe
Fully vegetarian
Good for groupsLentil As Anything
Newtown · Pay-What-You-Feel Vegetarian
Vegetarian
Good for groupsCafe Sydney
Circular Quay · Seafood-Led (Vegetarian-Friendly)
Contact restaurant
Good for groupsEgg of the Universe
Rozelle · Wholefoods Cafe
Vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, GF, DF
Good for groupsLord of the Fries
Sydney CBD · Vegan Fast Food
100% vegan
Good for groupsThe Green Lion
Mount Kuring-gai · Vegan Pub Food
100% vegan pub food
Good for groupsEden
Bondi Beach · Plant-Based
100% plant-based
Good for groupsGovinda's
Darlinghurst · Vegetarian Buffet & Cinema
Fully vegetarian buffet
Good for groups
The Grand Palace Indian Restaurant
The Grand Palace runs a dedicated vegetarian set menu from $65 per person, with Jain-friendly preparation (no onion, no garlic) on request — a genuine fine-dining vegetarian option in Sydney CBD rather than a plant-based cafe. Group bookings run up to 125 guests in a basement dining room styled after India's royal palaces, halal-certified and HACCP certified throughout.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Halal certified · Dedicated vegetarian set menu from $65pp · Jain (no onion/garlic) on request
Alibi Bar & Kitchen
Australia's first 100% plant-based hotel bar and restaurant, inside the Ovolo Hotel on Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf — a genuinely rare format that pairs a proper cocktail bar with an entirely vegan kitchen.
- Dietary: 100% plant-based
Bodhi Restaurant
A 30-year Sydney CBD institution — Asian-themed vegan dishes in a dining room with both indoor and outdoor seating, one of the longest-running vegan restaurants in the city.
- Dietary: Fully vegan
Yellow
A nature-inspired, plant-based botanical fine-dining restaurant in Potts Point — Sydney's best-known vegan degustation experience, in a genuinely striking dining room.
- Dietary: Vegan and vegetarian, plant-based botanical cuisine
Two Chaps
A Marrickville cafe by day, pasta bar by night — not exclusively vegetarian, but well-regarded for its plant-forward cafe menu and evening pasta service in the inner west.
- Dietary: Contact the restaurant directly for dietary requirements
Yulli's
A Surry Hills institution for vegan and gluten-free Asian-fusion small plates, with a genuine cocktail bar attached — san choy bow, crispy tofu with green papaya salad, and ginger dumplings.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Fully vegan and gluten-free menu
The Gantry
A Dawes Point restaurant offering a full vegetarian and vegan degustation menu alongside its à la carte — recognised as one of Sydney's better vegetarian tasting-menu experiences.
- Dietary: Vegetarian and vegan degustation and à la carte options
Bad Hombres
A Mexican-inspired, fully vegan restaurant in Surry Hills — natural wines and tequila/mezcal cocktails alongside a completely plant-based Mexican menu.
- Dietary: Fully vegan
Gigi Pizzeria
A Newtown Neapolitan pizzeria that converted to 100% vegan in 2015 — wood-fired pizza, antipasti and desserts, all completely plant-based.
- Dietary: 100% vegan
Badde Manors
Sydney's best-known vegetarian cafe, open since 1982 in Glebe — a menu drawing from Turkey, Lebanon, Italy and Greece, with gluten-free, nut-free and vegan options throughout.
- Dietary: Vegetarian; gluten-free, nut-free and vegan meals available
Soul Burger
A fully vegan burger restaurant in Glebe, using only plant-based proteins — vegan burgers and sides in a vibrant, casual setting.
- Dietary: 100% vegan
Comeco Foods
A 100% vegan Japanese-inspired cafe in Newtown — vegan sushi, gluten-free sourdough doughnuts, and plant-based Japanese cooking that's genuinely distinctive on the inner-west vegan scene.
- Dietary: 100% vegan
Pilgrims
A well-loved South Coast vegetarian cafe brand that landed in Bronte — a completely vegetarian all-day menu, close to the beach.
- Dietary: Fully vegetarian
Lentil As Anything
A pay-what-you-feel vegetarian restaurant in Newtown, part of a not-for-profit community dining model — a genuinely different dining format built around donation-based pricing.
- Dietary: Vegetarian, pay-what-you-feel model
Cafe Sydney
A Circular Quay seafood-led restaurant atop Customs House — not a dedicated vegetarian venue, but a well-regarded harbourside option that handles vegetarian requests well as part of a broader menu.
- Dietary: Contact the restaurant directly for dietary requirements
Egg of the Universe
A Rozelle wholefoods cafe and yoga studio in one — vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian options, plus low-FODMAP, gluten-free and dairy-free choices for a genuinely broad range of dietary needs.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, low-FODMAP, gluten-free and dairy-free options
Lord of the Fries
A 100% vegan fast-food chain on George Street — plant-based burgers, fries and shakes for a quick vegan meal in the CBD, open late most nights.
- Dietary: 100% vegan
The Green Lion
A vegan pub serving traditional Aussie comfort food done entirely plant-based — burgers, schnitzel, pizza and pasta. Originally in Rozelle, it's since relocated; confirm current address before visiting.
- Dietary: 100% vegan pub food
Eden
A 100% plant-based restaurant on Bondi Beach's Campbell Parade — reimagined plant dishes drawing on flavours from around the globe, plus a full vegan cocktail list.
- Dietary: 100% plant-based
Govinda's
A Darlinghurst vegetarian buffet restaurant that doubles as a boutique cinema — a genuinely unusual format pairing an Indian vegetarian buffet with a film screening.
- Dietary: Fully vegetarian buffet
Conclusion
Sydney's vegetarian dining scene ranges from Bodhi's 30-year Asian-vegan institution, to Yellow's plant-based fine dining, to Lentil As Anything's donation-based community model. The Grand Palace stands apart as a genuine fine-dining vegetarian option — a dedicated set menu from $65pp, Jain-friendly on request, halal-certified, in a private dining room built to hold up to 125 guests.
For a group with mixed dietary needs across vegetarian, vegan, halal and non-vegetarian guests, The Grand Palace remains the simplest single-venue option on this list.
Ready to experience it yourself? Tables fill fast on weeknights.
Nirav Shah
Nirav Shah is a hospitality professional with a strong passion for food culture, restaurant design, and exceptional customer experience. From over 10 years, he has explored Sydney’s diverse culinary scene with a thoughtful and informed perspective, gaining hands-on insight into how successful restaurants deliver quality dining.
With a deep appreciation for flavor, ambience, and service, Nirav focuses on both lunch and dinner experiences when evaluating dining venues. His recommendations are shaped by personal visits and careful research, highlighting restaurants that consistently offer memorable and well-rounded dining experiences worth returning to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best vegetarian restaurant in Sydney CBD?
The Grand Palace Indian Restaurant at Basement, 261 George Street, Sydney CBD is widely considered the top choice for vegetarian dining in Sydney CBD. It offers a dedicated vegetarian set menu from $65 per person, Jain-friendly options, and accommodates groups up to 125 guests. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.
Are there Jain-friendly restaurants in Sydney?
Yes. The Grand Palace Indian Restaurant in Sydney CBD offers Jain-friendly preparations on request — dishes cooked without onion, garlic, or root vegetables. It is one of the very few restaurants in Sydney CBD to offer authentic Jain-style Indian cuisine. Call (02) 8021 7696 to arrange.
Which vegetarian restaurants in Sydney are open for lunch?
The Grand Palace Indian Restaurant is open for lunch Monday to Sunday, 12pm–3pm. Other vegetarian options open for lunch in Sydney include Bodhi Restaurant in Sydney CBD and Govindas.
What vegetarian Indian dishes are available in Sydney CBD?
At The Grand Palace Indian Restaurant in Sydney CBD, top vegetarian dishes include Navratan Korma, Shahi Paneer, Aloo Gobhi, Bhindi Do Pyaza, Hariyali Kebab, Samosa, and Dal Makhani. Vegan and Jain-friendly versions are available on request.
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