10 Vegan Friendly Restaurants In Rishikesh That Should Be On Your List

Rishikesh is a town quite unlike any other in India. Located in the Himalayan foothills along the holy Ganges, it attracts tourists from all over the world – for yoga retreats, meditation courses, Reiki, rafting, and all things spiritual.

If you are looking to hit the reset button on your diet, then this is where you should head. With an array of satvik and pure-vegan restaurants, Rishikesh ranks pretty high on the list of vegan-friendly destinations in India.

1. Beatles Cafe

Comfort food and healthy plates served up with a gorgeous view

Nestled comfortably in the heart of the city on Paidal Marg, Tapovan, the retro vibe with views of the river make it ideal for a long, leisurely meal. There’s something for every palate, with a wide range of Indian, continental, vegan and gluten-free dishes. Their vegan High Protein Pancake (Rs.250) and soy milk coffee (Rs. 100) are a great way to kickstart your day. Not to be missed are their cold-pressed juices and smoothies.

Beatles Cafe

2. Zorba's Organic Restaurant And Cafe

A hippie’s paradise

An all-vegetarian joint with an exclusive raw vegan menu, (a growing trend in tourist destinations across India), Zorba’s organic food + good-vibes-only atmosphere makes it a hit with locals and tourists alike. Zorba is a pocket-friendly multi-cuisine restaurant that serves everything from desi vegetarian fare to Mediterranean and Japanese classics like falafel and avocado sushi, all at pocket-friendly prices. Dig into hearty raw meals like the Vegetable Nuts Salad (Rs. 120) and Green Elixir Juice (Rs. 100). They also host music evenings regularly.  

Zorba

3. Soul Kitchen

A nutritious + delicious vegan dining experience

This warm-hued, cosy café is a plant-based foodie’s paradise! The owner is a vegan, and his mantra is ‘food prepared with love.’ With smoothies, veggie bowls, lettuce wraps, pakodas and raw desserts, they’ve got you covered! A meal for two will cost you under Rs. 500. Must-try dishes include their raw tiramisu and sprouted chickpea hummus. The bonus? They host raw food workshops, so if you are looking to up your refine your kitchen skills, you know where to head.

Soul Kitchen

4. Ramana's Garden Organic Cafe

Garden-fresh food in serene surroundings

Run by Ramana’s Garden Children’s Home, a refuge and school for at-risk children, most of the produce comes from their organic garden, and the menu is diverse and vegan-friendly. Dig into spinach gnocchi, eggplant moussaka, seasonal salads or the vegan Indian Lunch Special with brown rice. Pricing is economical, and a meal for two will cost you approximately Rs. 500. For dessert, indulge in chocolate truffles made by one of the students of the school.

Ramana's Special Thali

5. Cafe Bistro Nirvana

Comfort food in a cosy cane hut

This cane and bamboo structure has a warm atmosphere and an energetic vibe. The organic vegetarian menu boasts a wide selection of Israeli food, along with from-scratch organic pizzas, hearty pastas and Indian favourites like the  Naantastic Garlic Naan (Rs. 60) with Aloo Gobhi (Rs. 160). The staff understands veganism very well and is happy to customise your meal and make it 100% plant-based.

Bistro Nirvana 

6. Chatsang Cafe

Home-style food in a colourful, quirky setting

Located in Laxman Jhula, Chastang has friendly staff, reasonable prices and yummy vegan food! Coffee, masala chai and other dairy drinks can be veganised upon request. Aside from that, they serve simple veggie plates including salads, pasta, burgers (try the kidney bean burger), and fusion bowls. A great breakfast spot, try their tofu shakshuka (Rs. 170) and pineapple-orange juice (Rs. 150).  

Chatsang Cafe
_{image courtesy TripAdvisor}  

7. Free Spirit Cafe

Friendly service meets vegan-friendly food

Free Spirit has a fantastic view of the Ganges, and the décor matches the name – think bright, happy, hippie hues, lanterns and Om motifs. Enjoy a fresh ABC (apple-beetroot-carrot) juice for breakfast (Rs. 70) with pancakes, or go Israeli with hummus and pita (Rs. 100). Free Spirit is vegan-friendly, and the staff knows what to recommend and will help veganize a meal on request. 

Free Spirit Cafe

8.  The Sitting Elephant

Indian favourites with a rooftop view

Set on a rooftop overlooking the Ganges in Swarg Ashram, Sitting Elephant is a themed restaurant with décor inspired by – you guessed it – elephants. All their dishes can be veganised upon request.  This multi-cuisine restaurant is on the pricier side compared to some of the others on this list and specialises in authentic desi khaana. Noteworthy dishes include their all-veg kebab platter, Kur-Kuri Bhindi (Rs. 320) and Aromatic (soya) Nugget Biryani (Rs. 285)

The sitting elephant

_{image courtesy Happy Cow}

9. Devraj Coffee Corner German Bakery

Delicious vegan bakes with a side of sunshine

Located in Tapovan overlooking Laxman Jhula bridge, this is a great place to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with some delicious gluten-free and vegan baked goods. Don’t let the minimal, almost Spartan ambience fool you – the food here is comforting and indulgent! Tuck into their Vegan Breakfast (Rs. 210) with scrambled/roast tofu, toast and tea or coffee.

German Bakery

10. Little Buddha Cafe

Healthy plates and comfort food from around the world

The atmosphere feels like a beach shack serving vegan food in Goa, but the views of the Ganges and hills remind you that you are very much in Rishikesh. The global menu (Indian, Italian, Israeli, Mexican and Tibetan) has an abundance of salads, veggie platters and soups and many items can be veganised on request, like the mango lassi with coconut milk. A great breakfast spot with sweet and savoury pancakes, try their scrambled tofu pancake (Rs. 140) with a cup of coffee with a shot of soy milk for just Rs. 20 extra. all-veg kebab platter, kurkuri bhindi and soya biryani. Mop it up with a selection of Indian breads. 

Little Buddha Cafe

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