You are what you eat. So does eating vegetarian and vegan food made by an LGBTQ2S+ person make you a gay plant?
Probably not. But in addition to helping travellers eat more healthily and ethically, queer-run vegan and vegetarian eateries can help them find community in a new city. Though some plant-based restaurants focus on haute cuisine—guests come for the flavour, the presentation and the atmosphere—others are defined by the politics and ethics of their team and their clientele. Patronizing these businesses is a great way to connect with like-minded locals.
You don’t have to be a true believer to choose vegetarian and vegan food. You just need an open mind. Same goes for queerness.
Here are 10 LGBTQ+-run vegan/veg eateries around the world run by queers, each one proudly flaunting their rainbow colours, their commitment to ethical eating and their talents in the kitchen.
Basel, Switzerland
Hirscheneck (Lindenberg 23, Basel). Best known locally as an alt and queer music and culture venue (“no terfs, no racists”), this collective enterprise also serves seasonal vegetarian and vegan meals in a cozy setting. Their main produce supplier is a local nursery, and the tofu and vegan ice cream are also sourced locally.
Berlin, Germany
Kanaan (Schliemannstraße 15, Berlin). The name of this co-op meat-free enterprise, founded by a gay Israeli and a straight Palestinian, refers to an ancient name for the Southern Levant region, where Israel and Palestine are located. But it’s mostly the food, not politics, that attract diners. Their motto is, after all, “Ich Bin Hummussexuall.” They’re best-known for their 12-course dinner-tasting menu, where you’ll always find some cauliflower, pistachios and lentils.
Das Hoven (Pflügerstraße 19, Berlin, Germany). The dining room balances a clean and classy aesthetic with worn-on-the-sleeve queerness. Drag—and drag storytime—is part of the entertainment programming. The meals are light and mostly vegan, though you will see bacon and steak on the menu.
Rome, Italy
Bonario (Via dei Volsci 121, Roma). The Italian fare at this queer women-run restaurant swats aside the belief that plant-based food can’t be hearty and filling. Vegetarian pastas, casseroles, fritters and assorted baked goods are on offer for brunch and dinner. There’s often live music and entertainment, sometimes with a queer twist. There is some fish on the menu.
Gżira, Malta
Balance Bowl (182 Triq Ix-Xatt, Il-Gżira, Malta). A short transit ride or drive from the capital city of Valletta, this queer plant-based restaurant is the only fully vegan option in Malta. But that doesn’t mean the food isn’t fantastic. There are Mediterranean influences, as you’d expect, but also flavours from Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Madrid, Spain
La Oveja Negra Vegana (C. de Buenavista 42, Centro, Madrid). Radical politics certainly knows its way around a sustainable kitchen. Founded in 2012 around the ideas of “veganism without borders, anti-capitalist feminism, punk as a banner,” this tavern has a daily lunch special that’s always vegan and a dinner menu with four plant-based burger options. Also great for drinks.
London, U.K.
Aya & Suki (62 Broadway Market, London). This East London spot was selected by Time Out as one of London’s best vegetarian restaurants for their Mediterranean cuisine. And they’ve got the spiced lentil and blood orange salad to prove it. But the queer women owners bring more than just food to the table. The cozy dining room reflects the owners’ personalities and is unmistakably an LGBTQ+-focused business, with themed dinners and special events.
Toronto, Canada
Gia Restaurant (1214 Dundas St. W., Toronto). Out chef Miriam Echeverria, originally from Mexico, has been a competitor on Top Chef Canada, and has founded a community-focused initiative for women in need. But she also delivers where it matters—on the taste buds of her guests. She and her team elevate their plant-forward dishes (you will find some fish on the menu) and serve them in a dining room that’s refined but casual.
Woodbury, New Jersey
LesbiVeggies (146 S. Broad St,, Woodbury, New Jersey). We didn’t include this vegan gluten-free café just because of the cheeky name—though that was certainly one reason. They’re also loved for their community spirit and their eclectic menu, from tacos to noodles to wraps. The new Broad Street location, scheduled to open in early 2025, will give the women who run the place the room to expand their menu—and their fan base.
Portland, Oregon
Mis Tacones (1670 N.E. Killingsworth St., Portland). Queer Chicano founders Carlos Reynoso and Polo Banuelos made it their mission to create meat-free versions of nostalgic Latin American recipes. Though led by serious interest in animal activism, the duo also keep the dining experience fun and their dishes delicious. It’s been called one of the best vegan Mexican restaurants in the United States. Renovations in 2025 will mean more space for having a drink—and a new drinks menu.
