Viva “Veganuary”! Where to find great and affordable vegan eats near CEU

Written by Maria Stambler, January 2019

More and more people, even the most carnivorous and cheese-loving ones, are starting to seriously consider the benefits of a vegan diet (yeah, Gordon Ramsay, we’re talking about you). January is over but if you did “Veganuary” and liked the results or think it’s better to start late than never, there are some fantastic places, within walking distance of CEU, where you can ethically nourish mind, body, and soul—without breaking the (frail student) bank.

Govinda

Vigyázó Ferenc utca 4

This is a Hare Krishna restaurant (vegetarian non-profit food relief organization) about 1.5 minutes’ walk from CEU that serves both vegan and vegetarian dishes for 1,390 HUF. You can get a very filling lunch consisting of a soup, pottage, and a tasty side dish, or get your friends and go for the 4,250 HUF menu that will keep you full for days.

Deli Baba

Nádor utca 19

Though not explicitly vegan, Delibaba is another favorite of ours when we only have half an hour for lunch. There is always a vegan soup option and some of the bowls are also vegan while the others are vegetarian. The soup and sandwich combo costs 1,690 HUF, while the soup and bowl combo costs 1,990 HUF—but don’t forget to flash your CEU card for a 10% discount!

Veggie Raw Vegan

Garibaldi utca 5

Founded back in 2011, this was Hungary’s first raw vegan eatery and is a 10–15 minute walk away from CEU. The café serves a wide range of smoothies, salads, soups, cakes, and even foods such as raw vegan burgers or risotto with avocado!

Vegan Garden

Dob utca 40

Last summer the vegans of Budapest really had a reason to rejoice: the city got its first permanent vegan food truck park! Although it’s temporarily closed until March, it’s still worth mentioning because it literally is a piece of vegan heaven in the trendy Jewish district. Vexicana serves vegan Mexican dishes, Las Vegans sumptuous burgers and pizzas, Napfényes full-cooked meals, Vegan Street spoils sweet tooths with vegan brownies, etc. Wash it all down at the long-established Rácskert bar, which now has a focus on sustainability. Recyclable glasses are made of plant material and all drinks are vegan. March can’t come soon enough!

Flow

Andrássy utca 66

This is one of our all-time favorites! We could write a whole essay about it but we’ll keep it brief. Flow is a super hip specialty coffee bar and bistro that has great coffee, an amazing vibe, AND one of the most imaginative food menus we’ve seen in Budapest. Except for some of the pastries, pretty much everything is vegan and the weekday lunch deal will fill you up for just 1,690 HUF! Don’t believe us that it’s THAT good? Try finding a table during lunch time ;)

Fittnass

Zichy Jenő utca 43

Fittnass is a cozy little bakery/patisserie that focuses on healthy cakes, pastries, and other desserts. Though the focus is not on veganism, their selection of vegan sweet delights is still pretty impressive and will have you coming back for more! On Tuesdays and Fridays pop in for some vegan scones and “Raffaello” coconut balls.

Great Bistro

Bank utca 6

If you want a more sit-down restaurant experience, Great Bistro (10-minute walk from CEU) offers 100% vegan and gluten-free high-end breakfasts, brunches, and a daily artisan lunch menu.

Anker’t

Paulay Ede utca 33

Not only is Anker’t one of the biggest beer gardens in downtown Budapest, but it is also a great friend for vegans! Firstly, the Vegazzi food truck is permanently parked here. Vegazzi uses a real wood-burning oven and plant-based ingredients to give us a chance to enjoy an impressive variety of pizzas, from Margherita to Mexican to Marinara—all for 1,290–1,790 HUF. Secondly, Anker’t hosts a great monthly vegan market, which takes place on Sundays.

Veganaria

Nagymező utca 51

If you’re looking for vegan comfort food, Veganaria is a cozy two-floor bistro-type establishment that serves pizza (1,690–1,890 HUF), pasta, mains, and salads. There’s also a decent range of vegan wines and beers to make the meal complete!

Funky Pho

Mozsár utca 7

This is not an explicitly vegan Vietnamese joint but they do have a dedicated vegan section on the menu with things like vegan pho, rice paper rolls, mandu, curry, and some salads.