Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Pizza
International
Western
Juice bar
Beer/Wine
Honey
Australian
Licensed vegetarian restaurant serving a wide range of food, including pizza, burgers, stir fries, noodle dishes, curries, pasta and desserts, as well as smoothies and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Open kitchen and extra long communal table seating. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-9:00pm, Sat-Sun 11:00am-9:00pm.
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380 Brunswick St (at Alexandra Parade), Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia, VIC 3065
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 18 Jun 2023 by Guest
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195 Reviews
First Review by Aloo
mountainfolks
Points +406
one of melb's best - Edit
A huge menu and lovely atmosphere. I don't even know what's my favourite dish as everything is so incredibly delicious!
Read morePros: variety, many gluten free & vegan options
Cons: gets very very busy
Guest
AndyT
Points +2414
Awesome vegan-friendly place, great atmosphere - Edit
If you are vegan, you will love this place!
Read moreChances are, that if you are non-vegan, you will love it nevertheless. It is an awesome place.
They have a huge selection of delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes, their vegan options are marked, and their food is absolutely delicious.
I was there only once, and I was hard pressed, as there were at least 3 dishes on the menu that I would absolutely have loved to try out. I settled for the Gado Gado, which I had not had for more than 5 years, as it is not often available outside Indonesia (which is a pity). It was fresh and absolutely delicous, and I was happy with my selection.
Starters and desserts were delicious, as well, and my omni colleague was more than happy with his pizza (best he had eaten outside of Europe so far).
We also tried a number of their vegan beer and cider selections, and were equally impressed. (I still checked on www.barnivore.com, as I had not yet encountered a vegan cider before, but of course I was pleasantly surprised and it was legitimately vegan)
If I was living in Melbourne, I would go there every week.
Be prepared to reserve in advance or wait for some time. When we arrived, we had to wait for about 5 minutes to sit down at one of the communal tables (which was fun, as you can easily get to talk to other people), and during the time of our stay, the queue never vanished (but from the looks of it, most people were served quickly).
One of my fevourite places, world-wide!!!
Pros: Awesome food, prices are moderate, Huge vegan selection, Great atmosphere
Cons: Reserve or be prepared for a short wait
Guest
hrefna
Points +142
Delicious and Atmospheric - Edit
I had a wonderful dinner at Vegie Bar last night. Even though it was a weekend and the place was packed our wait for a table was very short and well organized - we were given a table marker then sent off to wait in the courtyard, where we admired the murals.
Read moreI ordered a house salad with a samosa and, from the specials menu, a small fresh and tangy pizza. Both were absolutely delicious, and the dim lighting added to the mystery of my salad - I couldn't see what was on my plate very well ( and I have 20 20 eyesight) so I just dipped my fork in and enjoyed the element of surprise. It was a complex salad with different regions having different dressings and some vegetables cooked and others raw. So yummy! My pizza was a delight too - the fought was just the right balance between light, chewy and crispy and the toppings worked beautifully with each other, none drowning out the other, so each bite was a nice blend of feta, tomato, onion, mint and lemon.
I'm definitely coming back here to eat during my stay in Melbourne! One thing to pay attention to here is that the portions are large and by Melbourne law you are not allowed to take leftovers home with you, so it is important not to order more than you can eat at one sitting.
Pros: Amazing food, Wonderfully diverse menu, Great atmosphere
Cons: Lights so dim I couldn't see my food, But honestly, I didn't really mind
Guest
TransmogriBenno
Points +74
Yep - Edit
I think I had my third (or fourth? fifth?) visit to the Vegie Bar the other day. We arrived at about 5:30pm or so, and the place was already packed. Nevertheless, service was quick and the meals were yummy.
Read moreGuest
LiT
Points +170
Always good - Edit
I have tried many of the vegan options here, food has always been great. Waiters are friendly. Great place to go with non-vegetarians since there is something for everyone to eat.
Read morePros: Funky, Selection, Nice vibe
Cons: Vegan desert options limited
Guest
itzjac
Points +251
Nice food, good ambience :) - Edit
I've eaten at the veggie bar a few times on various trips to Melbourne. It is one if the longest running veggie restaurants around and is busy every time I've been! On one hand this is great and shows how well veggie restaurants can do, however sometimes it can be a little overcrowded.
Read moreThere are a range of meals including vegan, vego and raw options. I have eaten various meals and always enjoyed my means. The raw cacao shake is one of my favourites :) meals are always enjoyable, consistent; however never amazing.
Good ambience and nice interior decor, waitstaff have always been friendly and decently priced meals.
Overall not bad :)
Pros: Raw cacao shake
Guest
SimoneTracey
Points +102
Leading Vegetarian Star - Edit
The Vegie Bar has been around for years and demonstrates just how popular and successful a vegetarian restaurant can be. It's so big and buzzy and I love the ambient light and excited chatter. It's all on offer here and they do it well - Indian, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, Italian, soups and desserts including raw. I just want to order everything, but I am very fond of their vegan nachos - wow. On the weekend they do a vegetarian breakfast, scrambled tofu, etc. which i must get to oneday. If they can't seat you immediately, you will be ushered to the very cute little bar/courtyard out the back to wait. Great value for money.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Sunday November 10, 2013
Updated from previous review on Sunday November 10, 2013
Guest
anarchistanimal
Points +563
This Melbourne instituion doesn't disappoint - Edit
Whenever I visit Melbourne I have a meal at Vegie Bar and it's always great. The large menu includes plenty of vegan, raw and/or gluten-free options, all clearly marked. Dishes come from a range of cuisines, so there's something to suit every taste. The food is good, and portion sizes are generous. Desserts are also great. It does get busy at meal times, so be prepared to wait - they have a bar where you can have a drink in the mean time. Part of the experience is the hustle and bustle and communal feel, so enjoy it!
Read morePros: Great food, reasonable prices, Plenty of vegan and gluten-free options
Cons: Can get very busy
Guest
AlyssaVegan
Points +50
Love it - Edit
I come to the veggie bar all the time and always get well fed! The prices are very very good! An easy place to go out with friends and order all different and share it amongst yourselves! Booking is usually a must as it gets very busy. It can also be quite loud, it for me it's not a problem.
Read moreI recommend the vegan burrito -it's so filling you won't need to eat for days :)
The tofu tight wrap is my usual and it's delicious-only $8.50, all the juices are great and pretty much anything and everything!
Highly recommend :)
Guest
syl
Points +114
Great options - Edit
Good food with a huge menu. Be prepared, it gets packed and is very much full of meat eaters and foot traffic.
Read moreStill very good food and good staff most of the time.
Pros: Big menu, Good food
Cons: Noisy, Busy
Guest
Veganmacrochick
Points +99
never go back - Edit
Sat at a community table with a person I know and 2 of her friends. Went up to pay at the end of the meal and they decided no splitting bills for the evening because it's busy. I explained I have no cash, she asked if I wanted to talk to the manager. The manager kept interrupting me and said too busy to split bills. I explained all the time wasted she could have split the bill already. Also, if they are going to change the rules for the evening, they need to tell upon ordering to give us options. She just gave me a look. Luckily the rest of my party had cash and gave me their money and I paid on card. I have eaten here many times and never had them pull this crap.
Read moreFood made me sick all night and the next day.
Found out they are owned by meat eaters. Do not want to support meat eaters exploiting vegans and vegetarians either.
Can't take your leftovers, mostly rude staff, snobs like they are the only place to eat in the whole country!
I will never eat here again. Madame K, Yongs and Lord of the Fries are within 2 mins walking distance anyway.
Pros: decent size serves
Cons: owned by meat eaters, music too loud, didn't split bill
Guest
Moix
Points +345
A new fave! - Edit
Visited April 2013 on a busy busy BUSY Saturday night. There was a queue of people waiting to be seated which extended out the front door but it moved along quickly & we were at a communal table within 5 minutes. It was a loud & crowded place but it was kind of fun, depends what vibe you are seeking. The music was fab, the Flaming Lips etc, very cool decor also. We ordered the vegan burrito & the field mushroom stack & a few cocktails & I can say it all packed a massive flavour punch & we left very satisfied. Drinks & meal for two was $49. I had no problems with the service & found them friendly & genuine. I plan to go back!
Read morePros: Delicious vegan comfort food, Cool vibe, decor, music
Cons: Can be busy & loud!
Guest
bianchina
Points +167
generally excellent, raw options are so-so - Edit
Been eating here for many years and has almost always been wonderful. I have never had any issue with getting a vegan meal. Big servings, healthy and varied options, all very tasty. Pizzas, burgers, stir fry and curry meals are all great. On the downside - the recent effort to include raw foods is great but I haven't been very impressed by the raw dishes - not enough dressing, small, not filling.
Read morePros: almost everything on menu is delicious, everyone loves it, even non veg friends , pleasant at quieter times of day
Cons: gets incredibly busy and noisy, sometimes have to wait a long time, raw options weren't great
Guest
BROD73
Points +37
Graet food - Edit
Have been going to veggie bar for about 15 yaers now and it still amazes me how good the food is and the amount you get. I have tried most things on menu and have always liked all of it.
Read morePros: VEG ONLY, TASTY FOOD, VALUE FOR MONEY
Cons: TOO BUSY, VERY LOUD
Guest
adc1984
Points +72
If nothing else is available... - Edit
I've been going to the Vegie Bar for many years, and almost every time I tell myself it will be the last. I struggle to believe it's a business with a sincere focus to creating genuinely healthy and tasty meals in a positive environment for v*gans and those trying it for the first time. The rude and pretentious staff, the incredibly long wait between having someone acknowledge you're there and your food arriving (if it's even the meal you ordered), and staff telling you something is vegan when it's clearly not, I wonder why I continue to return. There are many other options on Brunswick street run by people who are happy to have you as a customer.
Read moreCons: Rude/Innattentive staff, Long waiting times
Guest
eveliene99
Points +237
Excellent foodchoices - Edit
Really great restaurant located in Melbourne. I've been there 3 times in my stay in Melbourne because there was just so much great stuff to chose from on the map. Really busy at night, so reservations are recommended. People stand in line to get a table. Friendly staff, food is excellent.
Read morePros: Excellent food, Super friendly staff, Great location
Cons: Gets really busy, Medium priced
Guest
cha222
Points +148
Awesome place! - Edit
As a vegeterian / vegan you'll love this place: there's plenty of choice in the menu, including raw food. Very fresh, very tasty. Friendly staff and the place has a good warehouse vibe. Come early, though, even if the place is really big (a beer garden, a mezzanine and a smaller room are added to the warehouse).
Read morePros: excellent food, healthy cuisine, funky place
Guest
chickodoo
Points +58
Artsy & Vibrant Veggie Heaven - Edit
After hearing some rave reviews from some Melbourne friends, my partner and I visited Vegie Bar on a Friday night this month. I heard it got busy early so we arrived at 5.30, to find it already quite full. Initially we were seated at a long "community" table which when full, would of had us next to people we didn't know (doesn't really worry me though) but before we ordered a small private table became available which we were offered.
Read moreThe menu is quite extensive and easy to read, with little symbols next to the foods which are or can be made Vegan (as well as gluten free and raw options). The entire menu is Vegetarian. I liked that the menu comprised mainly of old favourites like nachos, stir fries, pizzas etc. I chose the tempeh, brown rice and greens stir fry with satay sauce (I had a choice of 3 sauces). My partner got a margarita pizza (he's not overall adventurous & a carnivore). I couldn't believe the size of my stir fry when it came out, it HUGE and so so so flavoursome! I was in heaven eating it, and even got full before I'd finished which is rare for me. It only cost $14-15 for the stir fry which is amazing considering the size and quality. The next night I ran in there quickly at about 5pm to grab a take away tofu stir fry (again I chose satay sauce) for the drive back home. It too, was incredible.
My partner and I also got a chocolate mud (Vegan o'course!) to takeaway which was possibly the best cake of my life and my boyfriend couldn't tell any difference between that and a "real" version.
Overall I give Vegie Bar 9/10. My only, very small, disappointment with it was about busy it got and quite noisy. The table we were on was very close to the tables around us making it slightly hard to hear but the food was so incredible I know why it's such a popular place.
Pros: Easy to read menu, Great , Great atmosphere
Cons: Get's BUSY
Guest
KATIE H
Points +363
give it a couple of tries - Edit
we first went here about 8 months ago and weren't impressed we have since been back maybe 6 times and now really love it. it depends on when you go as busy times can be quite uncomfitable and loud but go during the day or before the rush and its a great spot. good wholesome food at good prices. portions are big so dont over order. great for people watching in a great area. vegan mains are good but they lack a good vegan dessert. i have tried the salads, pizza, currys, soups, stir fries all good.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Friday March 18, 2011
Pros: good choice, good prices, cool place
Cons: noisy when busy, Bad service
Guest
abhaya
Points +92
Great ambience, service and food - Edit
I really love this place. I think it's my favourite vegetarian restaurant in Australia. The food is great, the ambience is funky and cool and the prices are very reasonable. The berry cheesecake with whipped cream on the side was delicious!
Read morePros: Excellent food, Ambience, Reasonable prices
Guest
ProtonVehiCROSS
Points +166
1-2 stars for service, 4-5 stars for food - Edit
Service here can be apathetic, disinterested, and inefficient. Some staff will have overdrawn sidebar conversations with both each other and whiney customers who need to hurry up with their business. Staff tend to have little regard for the line of people waiting to be seated or pay for their food, and will leave you standing for 5-10 minutes without so much as eye-contact acknowledgment that they're interested in helping you. Restaurant can get CRAZY busy at peak hours, but that's no excessive for the pathetic service we've seen here.
Read moreOther than hit-or-miss serving etiquette, the food here is excellent. You may wait quite a while for your food. Good vegan options abound. The lentil burger is their best burger; alcoholic mixed drinks are excellent and on-par with top drinks from anywhere else. Neighbourhood is eclectic and interesting. Definitely take a stroll through it after dinner. Down the street from Vegie Bar is also a raw vegan -friendly restaurant called Yong Green Food.
Atmosphere is funky and casual. Beautiful people abound. Definitely a must-visit for Vegetarians and Vegans who are dining-out in Melbourne.
Pros: Great 100% vegetarian food, Good vegan selection, Funky atmosphere
Cons: Slow service, Apathetic staff, Often extremely busy
Guest
rankyroo
Points +48
hrm...and? - Edit
Been here a few times as it's always highly recommended and received rave reviews but I am yet to be impressed.
Read moreI find the staff aren't as friendly as other places, the food isn't that great and it's always crowded. It feels a bit chain store like to me.
Enjoy that there are raw options at times, the vegan dessert is good too. Only had one staff member there that seemed friendly and she was clearly stressed.
One time my partner and I simply weren't served, another time our meals simply didn't arrive.
Guess it depends on the day?
Guest
Cteeal
Points +23
Oooh la la, The Vegie Bar - Edit
Situated in the heart of Brunswick Street, Fitroy, this trendy little night spot is popular amongst carnivores, omnivores and herbivores alike.
Read moreAt night, this place has a real party atmosphere and can get pretty crowded - as can all the restaurants along this strip. In the day it has a rustic quality about it and is still pretty busy, but not filled to capacity as it is in the evenings.
Part of the reason for the popularity would have to be the extensive menu. There is a huge range of vegetarian and vegan meals that are both large in size and delicious. Mexican and asian-influenced meals are accompanied with tasty sides and really frothy smoothies and drinks.
Aside from the great meals, you might get to spot a celebrity or two...I saw James Hetfield and the rest of the crew from Metallica eating here. Wow!
You don't wait long for your meal and they are quick to get your meals to you.
A few times I've been here I've been a bit let down by the service by a few of the staff. They've seemed to be having a particularly bad day and you feel like you're an inconvenience for asking for a table. However, that's not all the staff, just a few.
Overall, this is a great place to have a fun, tasty and hearty meal for a reasonable price.
Pros: Hearty and tasty food, Party atmosphere, Extensive menu
Cons: Grumpy or aloof staff, Overcrowded at times, Can be pricey
Guest
veganjenny
Points +65
Very busy but great food - Edit
I've gone to this restaurant a few times and have been really impressed by the menu. Although it is always packed full of people (even at 9pm on a Sunday or Monday night) the food has been varied, satisfying and fairly priced.
Read moreDefinitely one of the better veggie places in the city but dont go expecting a chilled out or relaxing dinning experience, dinner sometimes feels like your at a crowded city bar on a Friday night (although obviously that appeals to many people!).
Pros: Lots of different options on menu, Quality food, decent price
Cons: very crowded, noisy
Guest
Veronica01
Points +168
Good food, bad service, and no doggy bag? - Edit
My husband and I went here on a recommendation. We checked out the menu on another website and decided to try it. It was a Tuesday night, the music was very loud and it was fairly busy. It continued to become packed and even noisier as they cranked up the music and there was a huge line out the door.
Read moreWe ordered 2 soups, rice balls, the cajun stew special and the risotto. It was very good, very hot and came pretty timely.
The service was not so great, you didn't know who your waiter was and they all ran around and never asked if you needed anything else.
We did not finish all of our meal and when we asked to get it to go, the waitress flat out said no and it was part of their food safety policy. WTF is that? I have never in my life heard of that, and especially ordering vegan food with no animal products to go bad, this does not make sense, it was some rice and vegetables for God's sakes. I can't believe they think it's better to just take your money and throw out the food than let you enjoy it later that evening or the next day. Totally unacceptable. I looked it up too and it's not illegal to allow to go or doggy bags, next time I will bring my own tupperware and tell them off if they try to take my food away.
We said no to dessert and then were left alone for another 15 minutes after our food was done. No offer to bring the bill, no coming back to ask if there was anything else. I don't get why they ignore you when you're done and the table is empty and they have a lineup out the door. Do they not want more customers to be seated?
We had a really good time until the rude waitress threw out our food, left us at the table with no bill and the music was cranked even higher.
It really put a sour taste in our mouths and we were looking forward to coming back, but now we're just pissed off with the place.
Pros: good flavour, good presentation, vegan friendly
Cons: loud as hell, aloof staff, no to go/doggy bag allowed
JaimieCS
The majority of restaurants in Melbourne no longer allow doggy bags.
Read morehttp://www.theage.com.au/victoria/mixed-bag-may-leave-you-sick-as-a-dog-20111015-1lqnl.html
Guest
Swampwallaby
Points +48
Fantastic! - Edit
The food was absolutely fantastic! Lost of GF and Vegan choices. The GF+Vegan Choclate cake was to die for. The Singapore noddles was huge and delicious, feeding two of us easily. The Rice Balls where yummy and the Tomato and Vegie pasta was a big hit as well. Tons of food, fast service, nice 'busy' atmosphere, we loved it! Wish we weren't leaving tomorrow so we could go back.
Read morePros: Fast Service, Big Serves, Friendly Staff
Guest
JaimieCS
Points +30
Amazing - Edit
The Vegie Bar is a stalwart, I've eaten nearly every vegan dish on the menu and never had a less than amazing meal.
Read moreIt's loud and busy and you nearly always have to wait for a table but I've always had excellent service, (the staff are all awesome) despite the size of the place and only once have I waited a bit long for my meal to come out.
The dishes are very generous and it's good value for money.
Pros: great food, great service, good value
Cons: noisy
Guest
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