The Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in St. Louis

Enjoy delicious vegetarian and vegan fare in St. Louis
Enjoy delicious vegetarian and vegan fare in St. Louis | © Alexandr Podvalny / Unsplash
Elizabeth Nicholas

St. Louis may be famous for its barbecue, but the city can hold its own when it comes to vegetarian and vegan food too. So if you don’t eat meat (or dairy, or eggs, etc.), and it’s your turn to pick where to go for dinner, don’t despair. Here are 10 amazing options that even your steakhouse-club-member friend will enjoy.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Tree House

Tree House is St. Louis’ go-to vegetarian restaurant, and for good reason. Even non-vegetarians will happily sidle up to the restaurant’s bistro tables for banh mi with wild mushroom paté and vegan salted maple-pecan doughnuts. Bonus: A semi-secret sister bar, Night Owl, opens above Tree House late at night.

Frida’s Deli

Natasha Kwan, who has been a vegetarian for decades, runs Frida’s Deli, and she has built her menu from the ground up, based entirely upon what she’d like to eat. Although Frida’s is just a humble deli, it has won countless local “best-of” awards, including the coveted “no one rolls their eyes at my dietary needs here” award from Sauce magazine.

Cafe Natasha

While not a strictly vegetarian eatery, the beloved Cafe Natasha’s Persian food has plenty of vegetarian-friendly options, such as a kookoo—a soufflé-like pie made with herbs, eggs, walnuts, and spices. A Persian geologist laid off at the height of the Iranian hostage crisis, and who couldn’t find work because of his nationality, opened the restaurant. The same day he was fired, his wife found out they were pregnant with a daughter—Natasha. The restaurant has been a labor of love in all the decades since, delighting vegetarians and carnivores alike.

Lulu’s Local Eatery

Lulu’s Local Eatery may have started out as a food truck dishing out vegetarian small plates, but it became a destination spot in its own right even before it opened up a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the South Grand neighborhood. Now, you won’t have to stand on the sidewalk to eat your sweet potato black bean burger or watermelon “sashimi” avocado. But like the truck, be prepared to wait, as Lulu’s is well loved.

PuraVegan Café & Yoga

Nestled in a leafy subdivision near the Central West End, PuraVegan Café & Yoga is a health-conscious community center offering vegan, gluten-free meals, yoga classes, meditation sessions, and even cleanses, for when you need a hard reset. Staff will give you gratis counseling on how to incorporate veganism into your lifestyle or diet, even if you’re not ready to commit fully. Come to downward dog, and stay for a smoothie after.

Small Batch

Vegetarianism can sometimes seem synonymous with asceticism, but not at Small Batch, where the cocktails get equal billing with the killer cavatelli and roasted eggplant. Whiskey, in particular, is a focus at this vegetarian-only restaurant, which occupies an airy Art Deco building in Midtown—the former home of the Ford Motor Company.

Lona’s Lil Eats

Vegetable soup

Lona’s Lil Eats is unlike any other restaurant in St. Louis. Owners Lona Luo and Pierce Powers bought the building as a home for themselves, their daughter, and their restaurant, where people from around the city stand around the block waiting for a table on summer nights. The draw? The astonishingly good Yunnan Chinese food of Luo’s childhood, including to-die-for mushroom potstickers.

Seedz Cafe

Vegan food is made from scratch in this serene space in the DeMun neighborhood, where the focus is on integrating food into holistic well-being. The “Rawvioli” with beets marinated and filled with macadamia and pine nut pesto is a particular crowd pleaser. And although there are plenty of seeds populating the menu, the café’s name actually comes from the Shel Silverstein book, The Giving Tree.

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