Popular Vegan Restaurants in Phuket

Phuket is often viewed through the lens of beautiful beaches and natural attractions. A popular tourist destination, Phuket is more than just a bustling nightlife and azure blue waters. The island offers a diverse culinary landscape, including a burgeoning vegan restaurant scene.

Staying healthy while you spend your holiday on a beautiful tropical island in Asia is made possible by Phuket’s extensive array of vegan restaurants offering everything from Mediterranean and international flavors to innovative Thai dishes that can turn any meat-lover into a believer of tasty, satisfying, vegan food.

In this article, we’ll show you five of Phuket’s vegan restaurants that have put the island on the vegan culinary map.

Related article: 5 Restaurants in Phuket with Great Views

Is Vegan Food and Vegetarianism Popular in Phuket?

Before we discuss these five restaurants, it’s essential to answer this question. Phuket and the general population of Thailand are Buddhists, and this can explain why veganism is so popular on the island today.

An annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival celebrates the island’s rich history and vegan and vegetarian food industry. The festival sees restaurants all over the island serving fresh produce on innovative vegan dishes, Buddhist rituals, performances, dances, and so much more.

The festival is a celebration and homage to a group of Chinese travelers who found themselves sick in Phuket. They suffered from a mysterious illness and began adopting a vegetarian diet. They also performed religious rituals and were soon cured and disease-free.

The festival is believed to be a celebration and thanksgiving of this origin but also to herald the prosperous agricultural industry of the island.

Additionally, the concept of ahimsa is connected to the lifestyle of Buddhists in Phuket. Ahimsa means non-violence or abuse of all living things, which include animals. The main principle of veganism is to eliminate harm to animals. It can be done by avoiding consuming animal products and incorporating a lifestyle that adheres to the principle.

Thus, it has become easy to stick to a plant-based diet in Phuket, especially when guests have a food sensitivity or dietary solid preference.

Five of the Most Popular Vegan Restaurants in Phuket

With a bustling vegan restaurant community, Phuket enjoys a long list of vegan restaurants. However, a select few truly stand out and are a must-visit the next time you vacation on the island.

It’s also important to note that a few “Jey” vegetarian restaurants in Phuket follow strict Buddhist principles, which avoid using alliums like onion and garlic due to their stimulating properties. Research on these vegan restaurants is essential to experience stress-free, enjoyable, and satisfying dining in Phuket.

1. Seasons

Seasons is part of the Aleenta Phuket Resort, located on Natai Beach Phang Nga and known for redefining Western classic dishes with southern Thai flavors. The restaurant offers two seasonal tasting menus that adhere to Thailand’s two changing seasons. The tasting menu consists of 8 courses, offering fresh seasonal produce.

Location: Natai

2. Soul

In Patong, Soul is a family-friendly vegan restaurant known for its international fusion menu. The restaurant offers everything from pizza, quinoa salads, vegan ice cream, and Lentil burgers, and it also has a juice bar. Aside from being a restaurant, you can also find wellness activities here, such as yoga, cooking classes, and stand-up paddle boarding for a holistic experience.

Location: Karon

3. Go Vegan

Formerly known as Eat Greens, Go Vegan specializes in Western cuisines with twists of Asian flavors. They’re also known for their Middle-Eastern dishes, serving vegan coffee, smoothies, energy balls, and other fitness-focused menu options.

Location: Rawai

4. Pure Vegan Heaven Cafe

Pure Vegan Heaven Cafe was Phuket’s first vegan restaurant to make a lasting mark in the community. Established in 2016, this is one of the restaurants that spearheaded the vegan restaurant scene on the island. It has many meals, from main dishes to coffee, snacks, drinks, and desserts. They are famous for their vibrant smoothie bowls, falafel wraps, and Tom Yum.

Location: Soi Ta-iad

5. Vegan Phuket

Last on our list is Vegan Phuket, which is a homey and friendly vegan restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. They are known for their appetizers, such as vegan nuggets, fried tofu options, noodles, curry soups, and pizza.

While dining out in any of these restaurants is a must-activity on your holiday vacation, another option is to stay in your Phuket luxury private villa and have a private chef concoct savory and sweet vegan dishes for you and your family/group. Private cooking lessons are also a great way to learn how to prepare vegan dishes that meet your specific palate.

Location: Mueang, Phuket

Final Thoughts

Overall, vacations can sometimes make it challenging to find restaurants that meet specific dietary preferences, such as the vegan diet. Fortunately, Phuket is home to a bustling vegan restaurant scene, where innovative chefs create delectable menus that adhere to a vegan diet and lifestyle.

For more personalized options, Luxe Phuket’s concierge services are available to meet your specific vegan diet needs, whether you want international cuisine with Thai flavors or if Western classics are a better preference for you and your family/friends.

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Featured Image by Soul