A quick reference guide for new vegans, visiting vegans, UVA vegans, the vegan-curious, and your vegan friends/ family while in Charlottesville. This small college town is actually bursting at the seams with amazing food.
I highlight local businesses or small chains that I frequent. For my most recent discoveries, follow me on Instagram @cvillevegan. Enjoy!
*I will continue to update this as menus and restaurants change. Last update: 07/29/2024
100% Vegan Spots
Woman-Owned, LGBTQ Friendly
Located on the Downtown Mall, outdoor seating available. Vegan breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, coffee, cocktails, and even vegan drag shows!
Woman-Owned, LGBTQ Friendly
Located in Crozet (about 20 minutes from town). Incredible rooftop with mountain and city views!
A vegan take on fast food with fries, slaw, burgers, nuggets, and even a “smiley meal” for kids 🙂 In the Dairy Market building.
Emphasis on plant based, organic and sustainability. Mostly juice, smoothie bowls, and occasional vegan sides like mac, desserts in the to-go fridge.
Woman-Owned, Family-Owned
Can be found all over town! Check out the website for locations.
A Separate 100% Vegan Menu
- Asian-fusion style Tapas restaurant near the downtown mall. Very fun cocktail list.
- LGBTQ Owned
- Gluten Free Friendly too
Spots with Vegan Options
100% Vegetarian (they carry dairy and eggs, but no carcass). Locally Owned in Charlottesville, Virginia since 1975.
- Juice Bar Menu
- Smoothie Bar Menu
- All smoothie ingredients are vegan except the bee pollen
UVA Corner
Use the build-a-bowl or build-a-burger ScanTron to make a vegan creation. Impossible Burger is the protein option here.
Three locations: Preston, UVA Corner and Rt 29 near Barracks Road
NYC style water bagels made fresh daily. The line is usually out the door on a weekend, but it moves FAST. Bodo’s is a machine. All sandwiches are served on your choice of bagel – just avoid the Whole Wheat which has honey. Mix and match toppings to build your perfect bagel sandwich:
Hummus (their own)
NoBull (locally made lentil-based veggie patty)
Tofu (herbed, firm, locally made)
Avocado (chopped and spread)
Kalamata Olive Spread (tapenade)
Peanut Butter (all-natural crunchy)
Strawberry Preserves
PBJ
- Sandwiches with waffles as the bread. Lots of Vegan Egg, deep fried tofu, and even sweet options for dessert-paffles!
- Relaxed nook with hip decor turning out creative puff-pastry waffle sandwiches with savory & sweet fillings.
- Family friendly location with covered patio and outdoor seating. Enormous selection of beer, wine, cider and kombucha. Breakfast tacos on Saturdays (there is one already vegan taco, and the rest can be built with black beans, avocado, sprouts, potato, etc). Usually a vegan entree on the menu too. Most recently it’s been a Kimchi Tofu bowl.
Spanish Tapas in Belmont Neighborhood
Start with olives, and sourdough bread with incredible olive oil. Next, enjoy the Coliflor and Tomatos Asados If you’re horrified by an animal leg being sliced up, avoid sitting at the bar which is also the open kitchen. If you’re a desensitized vegan like me, this may not surprise or bother you.
Downtown Mall
- Spicy Senegalese Peanut Tofu Soup. Spicy jalapeños combined with mild peanut. Garnished with scallions & cilantro.
- Classic Miso. Traditional Japanese soup with shitakes, carrots, kelp, scallions, and tofu.
- Black Bean & Spinach Wrap. House-made spicy black beans, spinach, mushrooms, & red pepper pesto wrapped in a flour tortilla.
- Thai Wrap. Peppers & Onions, shredded cabbage with a Thai peanut sauce. Specify tofu (not chicken).
- Grilled Tofu Sandwich. Seasoned grilled tofu, arugula, onions, tomato & fig dijon on sunflower wheat.
- House Salad. Spring greens with tomatoes, cucumbers, mandarin oranges, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds & balsamic vinaigrette.
Asian-Owned
Japanese Cuisine, near Downtown Mall
Tibetan Owned, on Rt 29 across from Fashion Square Mall
Tons of soy meat options!
Thai Cuisine, 5th Street Station
Thai and Vietnamese Cuisine, behind Shops at Stonefield
Sister restaurant of Chimm
Thai Cuisine, Albemarle Square
Thai Cuisine, near Downtown Mall
Outdoor Seating
Korean Cuisine
Maru, which is an idiom for “a family room to eat and gather” in Korean, is a modern take on traditional Korean food!
Korean Cuisine
DOMA offers a fresh and modern twist on classic Korean dishes. They build each dish to order from scratch which allows then to showcase authentic Korean flavors with the freshest local ingredients.
Vietnamese Cuisine
Only open 11-3 Tues to Sat on the Downtown Mall. 99% vegan except for the optional fish sauce.
Thai Cuisine
Off of Preston Avenue. Several tofu, fried tofu and seitan dishes!
Mexican
- Mexican-owned.
- Authentic Oaxacan Mexican food with dedicated “with meat” and “without meat” version on the menu for most dishes. The owner and waiters are well-informed on veganizing the vegetarian meals!
Farmacy Restaurant and Food Truck
- Restaurant located on the downtown mall. Follow on socials for Food Truck locations.
- Vegan Friendly
Pizza
French
- On the Downtown Mall
- French American Bistro style
- Very cozy vintage diner vibes, always has a seasonal vegan entree
Italian
Vegan-Friendly Dessert
- Asian-Owned, Woman Owned, LGBTQ friendly
- Small-batch, on-site production. Seasonal, sometimes local, sometimes foraged. Located in the Shops at Stonefield. Dairy-free flavors from basic singular flavors to extremely creative combinations!
- Woman-Owned
- Vegan, Sprouted, Gluten-Free and beautiful. Special order and wholesale available. More recently, she is shifting from an in-home mindful micro-bakery to an online Alternative Wellness Baking School.
- Two locations: the Downtown Mall and the UVA Corner
- Always a vegan chocolate and anther rotating dairy-free flavor.
Classes and Events
- The Happy Cook
- The Happy Cook offers a variety of cooking classes from hands-on, to demonstrations to cookbook discussions. They cover subjects such as ethnic cooking, technical classes, and baking. For example, the tea-tasting and knife skills classes are perfect for the new (or seasoned) vegan.
- The Elderberry
- This herbal apothecary offers great classes, consultations and fun events like Tarot card readings. The owner, Jan, and her staff are extremely well-trained in herbal wisdom and healing.
- The holiday gift-making class is always a big hit. There is always incredible hot tea in the shop which you can sip as you shop!
- Cville Veg Fest aka Vegan Roots Fest
- Grab awesome food (organizers work hard to bring in the coolest food trucks in the region), listen to music, grab a beer or wine or kombucha, and learn about all the ways veganism is for the animals, the people, and the planet: a win-win-win!
- Washington Park is gorgeous, and you’ll get to hang out (bring your dogs or your kids) under the trees—and get to know some of the movers and shakers in animal and social justice. If you’re new to veganism, they have experts on hand who can talk nutrition, menus, and shopping! Always a good time.
Coffee
MarieBette Cafe & Bakery – Soy, Oat & Almond milks available at an additional cost.
- MarieBette Café & Bakery is located in the Rose Hill neighborhood of Charlottesville, VA.
- Petite MarieBette is located off the Downtown Mall.
Mudhouse– 2017 Roasters of the year (Roast magazine). Hemp milk available.
Shenendoah Joe– Plant milks available.
Cville Coffee– Known for being kid-friendly. Plant milks available.
Grit– Plant milks available.
If you are a restaurant or small business and would like to be added to the list, please shoot me an email with your vegan options or substitutions!
Ashley Jane the Vegan 