9 Best Vegan Restaurants in Medellin
9 Best Vegan Restaurants in Medellin
From its lush green foliage to its many vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants to the abundance of Black people (I LOVE being around my people) in the city, Medellin is one of the few places I’ve visited that I could see myself moving to. I had always heard about Medellin in songs and in movies, but none of that prepared me for how big the city actually is!
Based on the map included below, and the neighborhoods listed for each restaurant, it might seem like I never made it out of El Poblado. However, I assure you my fellow VEGAboNds, I definitely did. It just turns out that the best vegan food that I’ve tried in the city was all in El Poblado. I ventured all around the city, including Laureles, San Joaquin, La Florida, Rosales, and so on. So if you’re deciding on where to stay, consider El Poblado because it’s proven to be the vegan hotspot in Medellin with the best restaurants!
Best Vegan Restaurants in Medellin For Typical Colombian Meals
I learned during my time in Barcelona that if you want to try some of the best local food, the menú del día is the way to go! It’s usually the most economical option on the menu and has multiple courses, typically including a drink, a starter, an entree, and a dessert. There was one place in particular that ended up being my favorite place to try vegan versions of traditional Colombian meals!
1. Ama Restaurante
Location: Calle 12 # 43b -31 050021, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone number: +57 304 2622923
Website: No website currently available
Neighborhood: El Poblado
Price range: $$$$$ (most expensive entree is ~$5 USD)
Ama Restaurante ended up being my all-around favorite restaurant in the city for the vibe, service, food, and added bonus of their market! Out of all of the vegan restaurants in Medellin, I HIGHLY recommend checking this place out while you’re in the city!
The staff there was always very patient with me and my struggle Spanish. They even walked me through everything that came out to my table when I explained to them that I was trying to learn about traditional Colombian food!
During my first visit, the menú del día was a typical plate from Bogota. Bare with me in Spanish for a little bit and then I got you in English on the back end. The plate consisted of ajiaco con mazorca, proteina de gluten, y patatas, un arepa de maiz, arroz integral, y aguacate.
In English, that is a potato-based stew that has potatoes, spices, cream, gluten-based shredded protein, and a lil’ corn on the cob. On the side was a plate with brown rice, avocado, and a corn arepa. All of this was also accompanied by a warm drink (I chose a latte), a fresh juice of the day (pineapple juice for this meal), and a dessert!
An important side note to keep in mind, especially for my folks that are used to corn in the USA, is that corn in Latin America just hit different! I generally don’t even like corn, but in most places I’ve visited in Latin America, including Colombia, the corn is everything! It has whole juicy kernels that have a hearty taste that I can’t really describe. Just know that it’s BOMB!
One of my Uber drivers in the city told me that Colombian food is so good because they season EVERYTHING! Even the rice. His words, verbatim, were “It might not be healthy, and if you die, you die. At least you ate good food!”. That stuck with me and popped into my head when I realized that even the brown rice at Ama was seasoned really well. It tasted like it was cooked in a flavorful veggie broth.
When I tell y’all that I scraped up every last drop of that soup… I wanted to lick the bowl! There was another table that sat near me outside, so I had to act like I had some sense. I also learned from them that I could/should eat the arepa with the soup. It was too late by then and I had already eaten it all, but still thoroughly enjoyed the meal!
Just when I thought it was over, the chef came out with a tiny bowl that had a warm dessert in it. It was a little oat-based dessert that was filled with a warm, gooey, cinnamony, fruity filling, and raisins. It was BANGIN’! It was the perfect way to cap off such an amazing meal. That meal was the first that really fed my soul since I had stayed with a host family in Guatemala 2 months prior. So in short, please make your way on over to Ama!
Best Upscale Vegan Restaurants in Medellin
Sometimes, we just want to live lavishly and/or stunt for the gram. Thankfully, the prices in Medellin are extremely reasonable (if vegan restaurants in the US are your point of reference). So if you get that urge to go all out on a meal while you’re in Medellin, there are two vegan restaurants that you should hit up so you can eat well and get the top-flight service that you deserve!
2. Restaurante Justo
Location: Carrera 37 #10 a 58, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone number: +57 310 5262790
Website: Restaurante Justo
Neighborhood: El Poblado
Price range: $$$$$ (most expensive entree is ~$11 USD)
If I could, I would just eat at Restaurante Justo every day. I was lucky enough to stay around the corner from Justo when I first visited Medellin in 2019, so I almost did! Well, except for that one time that my non-vegan friend cried real tears of sadness because they were closed. That’s how good the food is!
When you arrive at Justo, you see beautiful lush green foliage covering the front of the restaurant. It gives a very indoor, but outdoor at the same time kind of feel with its open seating, high ceiling, and plant decor throughout the entire restaurant. On top of that, they have some intimate seating stalls inside the restaurant that would make for a perfect date night.
Justo serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with delectable items on their menu like their oat pancakes served with fruit and cashew cream (Pancake de avena con fruta y crema de marañon, on the menu) and cheese sandwich (Sanduche de queso, on the menu). Don’t knock ’em til you try ’em! Both of these items have evoked literal tears of joy from that same non-vegan friend!
The name “cheese sandwich” doesn’t do that masterpiece of a sandwich any justice. Just think of a vegan mushroom-based BLT meets a grown-up vegan grilled cheese sandwich. They take two buttered pieces of sourdough bread, line the inside of them with some bomb vegan cheese, stuff the sandwich with perfectly seasoned and sautéed mushrooms and spinach, slap on some pesto, then toast that bad boy up to perfection!
For drinks, they have beers, juices, shots, smoothies, coffee, cocktails, wine… As Shirley Caesar would say, “YOU NAME IT!!” They also have a whole page full of desserts, and somehow, I picked one that didn’t speak to my soul. The Lemon Cheesecake (Cheesecake de limón, on the menu) was not my style, but I’ve enjoyed everything else that I’ve tried at Justo!
3. Kaime
Location: Carrera 40 #10 a 21, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone number: +57 604 4797029
Website: Kaime
Neighborhood: El Poblado
Price range: $$$$$ (most expensive entree is ~$7 USD)
Kaime is another upscale vegan restaurant in Medellin and is low-key the most upscale vegan spot in the city in my opinion. Even with that being said, their prices are still dirt cheap (if you’re used to paying the prices of vegan food in the US). Their most expensive meal on the menu converts to about $7 USD!
The first time I visited, they had a line waiting outside and a wait time that was long enough for me to skip my happy behind on down the road to another restaurant. When I did finally make it in though, I was able to see why people had to wait and why people chose to wait.
Everything inside is beautiful! However, my order took over an hour to come out. In all fairness, they did have about 6 chefs constantly working to fulfill what looked like a large catering order. However, it took entirely too long for my food to find its way to my table. Thankfully it was bomb once it arrived!
The decor inside is beautiful with accents of greenery and wood all throughout the restaurant. Everything looked fancy. The chef’s outfits? Fancy. The barstools? Fancy. The plates and utensils? Fancy!
Their menu features basic items like bowls, burgers, hot dogs, and a whole heap of ice cream flavors (available by the bowl or the pint). I told you that everything there is fancy though, right? That goes for the food too, so it’s not just your everyday burger or hot dog. They jazz their food presentation up with things like charcoal buns and fancy plates!
Hopefully your food comes out much more quickly than mine did, but if not, go there for the beautiful setting and bomb food, and stay because you have no choice and they’re taking forever on your order!
Best Vegan Burger Restaurants in Medellin
Vegan burgers are usually a safe bet for a traveling vegan. They’re hearty, have some degree of vegetables incorporated in them, and are often hard to mess up. While I was in Medellin, I wanted to stay away from the vegan burger restaurants, but there were a few that kept calling my name. Two of those vegan burger restaurants ended up being some of my favorite restaurants in Medellin!
4. Bob & Sue
Location: Carrera 33 #7-135, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone number: +57 313 6287469
Website: Bob & Sue
Neighborhood: La Florida
Price range: $$$$$ (most expensive entree is ~$8 USD)
Bob & Sue surprised the heck out of me! That was hands down the best burger I had had in a while, and I had just eaten my way through Guatemala and Costa Rica! Side note, check out my Guatemala and Costa Rica posts for the best food in those countries if you’ll be visiting soon!
The first time that I ate at Bob & Sue, I wasn’t expecting much because it was the new burger joint on the block. I just ordered a shake and a burger, but when I bit into that thang…. baybee! I basically inhaled the rest of it and then promptly ordered another with some fries. If I could, I would personally thank Bob, Sue, Dick, Tom, and Harry for those bomb burgers!
Although they only have 5 small tables in the restaurant, all of them stayed occupied during my visits because business was boomin’! I often get impressed and intrigued by random little things, so I loved that each table had a bottle of vegan mayo on it.
That’s something I’ve never seen before, and although you’ll never see my breaking my neck to squeeze some extra mayo on my food, I appreciated the option to make my own mayo ketchup at the table. I’ve noticed lots of folks in Latin America like mayo ketchup, so I dabble in a mayo ketchup mixture for my fries from time to time.
In addition to bomb burgers, they also serve hot dogs, sandwiches, desserts, and sides. I also tried the Oreo milkshake which was pretty darn good, but just couldn’t compete with how bomb the burger was! In terms of food items on the menu, I stayed in my burger lane every time I ordered there. However, I saw people enjoying the other menu items and they all looked delicious!
5. Veg Station
Location: Calle 10A # 37 62, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone number: +57 301 3142906
Website: Veg Station
Neighborhood: El Poblado
Price range: $$$$$ (most expensive entree is ~$7 USD)
Veg Station is a vegan restaurant right on busy Calle 10A that serves salads, bowls, pasta, and burgers. Even though you’re right in front of a busy street, the ambiance of the restaurant still feels peaceful and relaxing.
I had seen so many pictures of their burgers and reviews of how they were the best in town, that I figured I had to check them out. The thing that really caught my eye was how bomb the melted cheese looked on all of the burgers! It might not be the best vegan cheese I’ve ever had, but it was pretty darn good and the best I’ve had in Medellin!
Their house-made burger patties are pretty good too. They are made from hearty ingredients like lentils, mushrooms, and quinoa, so they pack a nutritional punch. I always appreciate the magic of a good house-made burger, especially since almost anyone can just toss a Beyond or Impossible burger on a bun nowadays.
I went with the Hamburgesa Veg Station, which is their most popular burger, according to the server. I wish that the sauces would have come through harder, but all in all, I really liked it. If faced with the opportunity to go to either Bob & Sue or Veg Station for a burger, you already know that I’m high tailin’ it on over to Bob & Sue. Veg Station is a really great second place though!
Best Casual Vegan Restauarants in Medellin
In a place like Medellin, even the most basic of vegan restaurants look nicer than what I’m used to seeing in the US. Having lush green plants all over a restaurant is like a person having a beard: it’s just an instant level up no matter how you slice it! There are lots of vegan restaurants in Medellin, most of which fall into the casual category. I’ve listed my favorite ones below!
6. INA
Location: Circular 4 # 71-92, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone number: +57 310 5981589
Website: INA
Neighborhood: San Joaquin
Price range: $$$$$ (most expensive entree is ~$7 USD)
INA is another cute little restaurant in the city, but this time, it is NOT in El Poblado! They have a spacious indoor seating area and a covered outdoor seating area as well. Everyone had the same idea when I visited INA, because we were all outside enjoying the beautiful green plants lining the tables outside.
Their menu consists of items like boas, burgers, bahn mis, bowls, pasta, soups, breakfast plates, and desserts. What I was most intrigued by though, was the quesarola, or cheese casserole. It’s an appetizer that consists of a bowl of melted cheese topped with carrot bacon, breadcrumbs, and an orange, date, and white wine syrup served with toasted sourdough bread on the side for dipping. I loved that appetizer so much that I dipped that bread til I couldn’t dip nomo’!
It’s not every day that I see a vegan fondue-like dish on the menu, but when I do, I ask the universe to please make it bomb, because I’m FA SHO gon’ order it! Thankfully, this dish was amazing!
I also got the Emplantanadas, which were small plantain-based empanadas. They had the potential to be great, but mine came out a lil’ burnt to a crisp! The non-burnt parts of the inside were good though, so maybe a less well-done version would have been everything that I could have asked for! I wouldn’t get the Emplantanadas again, but I’d def go back for that quesarola, and to try their oat pancakes from their breakfast menu!
7. Vegan & Veggie
Location: Calle 12 #43D 109, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone number: +57 304 4315616
Website: Vegan & Veggie
Neighborhood: El Poblado
Price range: $$$$$ (most expensive entree is ~$7 USD)
Maybe it’s just me, but I had a heck of a time finding Vegan & Veggie the first time I visited. Good thing is that it’s also in El Poblado, so there are lots of other vegan restaurants in the area for you to hit up if you never end up finding it! If you do make your way to Vegan & Veggie though, I think you’ll like the decor and da grub.
Their menu features items like burritos, burgers, and bowls. If you’re a sweet and savory person, consider ordering the Veggie Velgas. The dish consists of two falafel pieces served on top of salted potatoes and drenched with tomato, onion, and a sweet house sauce. Good thing I like sweet and savory dishes, otherwise, I would have had a fit when I bit into it!
Since I arrived at Vegan & Veggie before they opened, I went to the Juan Valdez Cafe across the street to chill for a while until Vegan & Veggie opened. I ordered the Guandolo there, which is a popular drink in Colombia and consists of lime, panela, and water. Panela is like jaggery, or concentrated cane juice. The Guandolo at Juan Valdez was so bomb that I got a refill!
When I saw that Vegan & Veggie also had Guandolo on the menu, I ordered it without question. In my limited experience with Guandolo, the one at Vegan & Veggie ain’t it, or at least isn’t the right one for me. All that to say that you should try Guandolo while in Colombia, but maybe not at Vegan & Veggie!
8. Chana Plant Based
Location: Carrera 43b # 8-31, Medellín
Phone number: +57 323 5025739
Website: Chana Plant Based
Neighborhood: El Poblado
Price range: $$$$$ (most expensive entree is ~$5 USD)
I only ate at Chana Plant Based once, but the food that I got there was bomb enough for it to make my list of best vegan restaurants in Medellin! I don’t know what it is about the restaurant though, but it definitely attracts people from the US. There were multiple tables at the restaurant that were clearly from the US and speaking only in English. If that’s what you’re looking for, have at it. For me though, I was a little caught off guard because I hadn’t seen that at a vegan restaurant in Medellin before.
Those that know me know that when I’m full, it’s a wrap. Ain’t no more eatin, not even any more being out and about. I have to go home and go to sleep! That’s important to note because I was already stuffed by the time I made it there. I somehow still managed to eat all of my food, which is saying a lot!
Similar to a lot of other vegan restaurants in Medellin, their menu features items like bowls, burgers, and desserts, they just add a lil’ garbanzo and some spice to the mix. I ordered the Empanaditas which are stuffed with a potato and mock meat mixture and come with a spicy tomato-based sauce that actually has a kick to it!
The outside seating area was really cute. The street had been shut down for restaurants to place tables outside. Chana Plant Based has taken the liberty of also having a little garden in the outdoor seating area too! There are also a bunch of other restaurants lining the same street, which makes for a pretty active area of town if you’re looking to mingle with other folks!
9. Helecho
Location: Carrera 43C #10-16, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone number: +57 312 5855281
Website: Helecho
Neighborhood: El Poblado
Price range: $$$$$ (most expensive entree and roll are ~$6 USD each)
Helecho is the only all-vegan sushi bar in town, so for all of my sushi heads, you know where to go! Their menu features 8 signature rolls with options like their Flama Roll, which features mushroom tempura and pineapple, and their MX Roll, which features refried beans and crushed tortilla chips.
All of those are ingredients that I had never had in my sushi, so I kept it simple with a Tempura Roll. It includes wok fried mushrooms, avocado, vegan cream cheese, roasted peppers, and mango. Somehow, the Tempura Roll didn’t really have the tempura part goin’ on, but it was still good, nonetheless.
I wasn’t a fan of the salad that came with it, so we won’t talk about that part. I was, however, a fan of the little bunny rabbit holder for my chopsticks though!
Bonus: Vegan Markets in Medellin
Even though the food at vegan restaurants is reasonably priced in Medellin, sometimes you just want to cook at home, or at least have some staple foods in your fridge. I’ve listed out two markets that are located in vegan restaurants and have a wide selection of items that you may need if you’re trying to throw down in the kitchen at home!
Ceres
Location: Carrera 37 #10 a 58, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone number: +57 310 5262790
Website: Ceres
Neighborhood: El Poblado
If you have some time to kill while you’re waiting on your food at Restaurante Justo, go ahead and step on over to Ceres. Ceres is a market located in the far back corner of Restaurante Justo!
They have dry goods that you can buy in bulk, fresh fruits and veggies, and refrigerated goods like vegan cheeses and tofu. You can also order from their market online and have your order delivered to you!
Ama Mercado
Location: Calle 12 # 43b -31 050021, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone number: +57 304 2622923
Website: No website currently available
Neighborhood: El Poblado
Ama Mercado is located inside of the main room of Ama, my favorite vegan restaurant in Medellin! They have fresh fruits and veggies, bulk dry goods, non-dairy milks, vegan mock meats (including Beyond brand and their own brand), and beauty products.
Bonus: Best Vegan Food From Vegetarian Restaurants in Medellin
I personally prefer to eat at 100% vegan restaurants, especially while traveling. Doing so makes me feel safer about what I’m putting into my body. I usually only eat at non-vegan restaurants if that is the only option, which is not the case in Medellin. Every once in a while though, I still dabble in the non-vegan restaurant world if they have what I’m craving, and in my case, Cafe Zorba hit the spot when I wanted a vegan pizza.
Cafe Zorba – Vegetarian
Location: Parque Lineal de la Presidenta, Calle 8 #42-33, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone number: +57 604 6044529
Website: Cafe Zorba
Neighborhood: El Poblado
Price range: $$$$$ (most expensive pizza is ~$8 USD)
Although Cafe Zorba is a vegetarian restaurant, I wanted to make sure y’all know where to go if you’re looking for a good vegan pizza! They have pizzas that come vegan naturally, or you can modify any pie to make it vegan by omitting dairy cheese and requesting vegan cheese. All of their pies are pretty simple: thin crust, sauce, vegan cheese, a topping or two, and a boatload of olive oil!
I’m serious when I say that they add a lot of oil to their pizzas. Therefore, it ends up being a lil’ “greazy” if you don’t eat it quickly. I didn’t mind though because it was still a good pie, even with the oil dripping all over the place!
Conclusion: 9 Best Vegan Restaurants in Medellin
Medellin is a magical place for many reasons, but let’s just start with the vegan restaurants in town. There’s a whole vegan sushi spot, a few upscale restaurants, vegan restaurants with typical Colombian food, bomb vegan burgers, and just regular degular ol’ casual spots.
Now that you know where to go not only to eat some of the best vegan food that Medellin has to offer, but also to stock up your fridge at home, what are you waiting for?! Get out there, and get to eating!
