Guest blog :: Morgan Welch from @_thegoodfoodblog
Ahhhh brunching. A favourite past time for many a millennial, including myself. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent googling and stalking on Instagram to find out whether a trendy new cafe has adequate vegan options for my fiancé and I. It’s exhausting. Luckily for you I’ve done all the hard work, eating and brunching my way around Adelaide to find and compile a list of my top ten favourite cafes and the vegan options I go for. I’ve also linked their Instagram handles if you’re like me and want to choose your meal based on Instagram pics.
Name: Coffee Institute
Location: Walkerville Tce, Walkerville
Instagram Handle: @coffee_institute
Favourite meal on the menu: Mushroom Medley with house-made zahtar and sesame seed paste and olives on toast. (Just make sure they don’t butter the bread!)
Comments: This is my go-to cafe, not just because it’s my local but because of the delicious food, generous serving sizes and vibrant atmosphere. The staff are friendly and always accommodating to vegan adjustments although prepare to wait a while for your food if it’s a busy morning (totally worth it though)! The cafe is dog friendly if you sit outside too, which is a big win for me!
Name: The Annex Cafe
Location: Waterloo Street, Glenelg
Instagram Handle: @theannexcafe
Favourite meal on the menu: Tomato and pesto bruschetta, and anything vegan from their dessert cabinet (seriously good, especially the chocolate tart).
Comments: Just off Jetty Road in Glenelg, The Annex Cafe is a tucked away little gem. The atmosphere is warm and cosy, the coffee is great and the staff are always lovely! I’ve brought many friends and family members here and they all love it, even the non-vegans. Perfect fuel for a stroll (and shop) along Jetty Road.
Name: Brick and Mortar Creative
Location: George Street, Norwood
Instagram Handle: @brickandmortarcreative
Favourite meal on the menu: Slow roasted capsicum and cashew basil pesto gourmet toastie.
Comments: Brick and Mortar is an all-in-one, multi-purpose space that combines a cafe, design store, co-working areas and event space. It’s a great place for coffee and cake with friends or a solo work date if you’re desperate to get out of the house. The design store features independent, South Australian makers (which I love) and the cafe uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients. It’s a winner!
Name: The Seasonal Garden Cafe
Location: Main Street, Hahndorf and The Parade, Norwood
Instagram Handle: @seasonalgarden_cafe & @seasonalnorwood
Favourite meal on the menu: House beans on toast, pancakes served with fresh fruit and maple syrup and homemade brownies! Sorry, I couldn’t pick just one…
Comments: Both the Norwood and Hahndorf locations are warm, cosy and inviting with a focus on local, seasonal, whole foods. Their food is generous, reasonably priced and utterly delicious. I especially love the outdoor garden in Hahndorf, which is the perfect setting for an afternoon feast. The Seasonal Norwood has just changed owners and I’m yet to visit the updated cafe, but as long as they keep their brownies I’m sure it’ll be a winner!
Name: The Lost Deli
Location: Charles Street, Norwood
Instagram Handle: @lostdeli
Favourite meal on the menu: Cheese and tomato croissant and the arancini balls.
Comments: This is another hidden gem that you wouldn’t know existed unless you’d heard of the cafe or had seen them on social media. Nothing too fancy here, just great tasting, indulgent vegan food served by people who are passionate about plant based living. Great for takeaway salads, pastas and sweet treats too!
Name: Argo Espresso
Location: The Parade, Norwood and Victoria Square, Adelaide
Instagram Handle: @argoespresso
Favourite meal on the menu: Super green sautée (all the green veg you can imagine) and the vegan breakfast wrap with plant based chorizo and tofu scramble.
Comments: You only need to take one look at the line for Argo on a Saturday and Sunday morning to know this cafe is a good one. The food is definitely worth the wait and with such an extensive menu; it should be a crowd pleaser for every dietary requirement, food preference and lifestyle! Lots of vegan dessert options in their cabinet too.
Name: Herbees Garden Cafe
Location: Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf
Instagram Handle: @herbees_cafe
Favourite meal on the menu: Tomato bruschetta with basil pesto and balsamic glaze.
Comments: If you’re heading to Hahndorf for a day trip I highly recommend stopping in at Herbees for breakfast, brunch or lunch. It’s a kitsch, cosy cafe, built in an 1850’s historical German house with a gorgeous green courtyard out the back. The food has that “home cooked” feel about it, which suits Hahndorf so perfectly.
Name: Raw Conscious Eatery
Location: Chapel Street, Glenelg
Instagram Handle: @therawcollectiveco
Favourite meal on the menu: Big breakfast (made vegan) and the açai smoothie bowl.
Comments: If you’re big on healthy eating, Raw Conscious Eatery is a great option in Glenelg that has plenty of smoothie bowls, raw foods and plant-based cooked meals too! The cafe stocks some gorgeous ethical items including skin/body care, candles and beach accessories as well as raw treats and sometimes even vegan donuts! They also stock my favourite ice cream cookie sandwiches from Live A Little Gelato. Drool…
Name: Dear Daisy Cafe
Location: Leah Street, Forestville
Instagram Handle: @deardaisycafe
Favourite meal on the menu: The big vegan brekky and the “Cheesze” burger.
Comments: Dear Daisy is a quaint little cafe with a homely, warm and welcoming atmosphere. Friendly staff, great service and great food. It’s also walking distance from Cherry Darlings Bakehouse (for all of your bakery needs) and Everything Vegan (a vegan’s dream supermarket). What more could you want?
Name: Joy of Flora Cafe
Location: Rosetta Street, West Croydon
Instagram Handle: @jof.cafe
Favourite meal on the menu: Hands down the BLT. My fiancé loves the tofu scramble and big breakfast.
Comments: Saving the best till last, Joy of Flora is my number one favourite plant based cafe in Adelaide. No exaggeration. Having only opened its doors late last year, JOF quickly won my heart with their warm, inviting atmosphere, incredible staff, great prices and seriously tasty food. My fiancé and I love this cafe so much that we try and visit it for a brunch date at least once a week!
Some of my other favourites cafes with great vegan options are:
- Mister Sunshines in Thebarton
- Cherry Darlings Bakehouse in Forestville
- E for Ethel in North Adelaide
- Fair Espresso on James Place
- Pickle in The Middle on Unley Road
- Juice Lovers Juicery in Regent Arcade
Have I missed your favourite plant based cafe or a great cafe with vegan options? Let me know what cafes I should visit next and stay tuned for part two!
Morgan xx
