We explore Ankara’s best vegan spots for high-end plant-based dishes and flavor discoveries.
Ankara has long shed its “gray city” reputation, with even the most central areas now lined with lush, green trees. The city’s “capital city formality” is also starting to fade as its population becomes increasingly diverse, thanks to an influx of people from all over Turkey. This shift, alongside a more relaxed pace of life, has brought a wave of new residents, including many from Istanbul, which has enriched the city’s gastronomic landscape.
The city’s politically conscious student population has also been key in the rise of 100% vegan restaurants. Whether you’re a long-time resident or a newcomer, Ankara is proving to be more than just its official image; it’s also becoming a haven for innovative, plant-based cuisine. For Saatolog readers, we’ve explored the vegan spots that locals love.
Founded by Arzu Altundiş, who first began making vegan cakes and cheesecakes to order in her own home, Vinni evolved into a delightful venue in Çankaya by the end of 2023. At Vinni, the cats, especially Sarı Bacak (Yellow Leg), who have their own personalities and names, roam around lazily, adding to the charm of the place. However, it’s not just the furry companions that bring joy. Vinni has already gained a reputation for its cheesecakes and desserts, but it remains experimental and dynamic, constantly offering new dishes to try.
Ankara’s Best Vegan Spots
There’s always at least one type of cheesecake, a fresh cake, and jar desserts on display. Among the dessert options, the lotus cheesecake and lotus cupcakes are particularly popular, but Ms. Arzu, with her talent for turning any ingredient into a delectable treat, has recently been experimenting with cream-filled cookies. Varieties like tiramisu cookies with mascarpone cream, pumpkin cookies, and lemon cookies with coconut yogurt are flying off the shelves.
For savory options, Vinni’s fresh sandwich bread, baked every morning, is a standout. You can fill your sandwich with homemade cashew cheese, pesto sauce, lujenista sauce, smoked grilled tofu, vegan salami, or feta cheese. Another favorite among regulars is the focaccia. The breakfast plate, featuring pancakes and avocado sauce, is also highly satisfying. A must-try at Vinni is their exceptional vegan croissants. Crafting croissant dough without dairy is no small feat, but Vinni has perfected the art. Available only on Saturdays, their vegan croissants are so delicious they could easily rival the traditional version.
Their soy-based minced meat or legume-based Börger, along with wraps and quesadillas made from a chickpea seitan variety called “lavuk,” are crowd favorites. For gluten-free diners, the restaurant offers a range of options, including gluten-free vegetable meatballs (Köftop), tofu salad, and Frittata, an Italian omelette made with a variety of vegetables and chickpea flour, served in generous portions. The Terra Bowl, which combines Brussels sprouts, orange slices, mung beans, and either falafel or gluten-free meatballs, is a healthy and delicious alternative. Terradan also serves mouthwatering breakfast options until 3:30 pm, such as pancakes with honey and ricotta or menemen made with tofu – the perfect way to start the day.
Ankara’s Best Vegan Spots
As a pub, Terradan caters to cocktail lovers as well. Their winter special menu includes a festive mix of Christmas, apple, and cinnamon-infused vodka, perfectly complemented by the spicy blend of Terra-made vegan honey and hibiscus. With its 50-seat upstairs event space, Terradan has become the Cheers of Ayrancı. It fosters a warm atmosphere, hosting events like design bazaars and vegan cheese workshops, while also providing different groups with the opportunity to organize meetings, presentations, and film screenings.
Located on Kavaklıdere’s popular Tunus Street, Junk Vegan is more than just a vegan restaurant – it’s a response to those who wonder, “How can I be vegan and still enjoy junk food, fast food, or street food?” Junk Vegan is the result of experiments by vegan entrepreneurs Kardelen and Sevgi Hanım, who began cooking for themselves during the pandemic before turning their culinary passion into a business.
Ankara’s Best Vegan Spots
Unlike Terradan, which focuses on pub-style main courses, Junk Vegan specializes in fast food classics, offering vegan versions of beloved street foods such as wet burgers, lahmacun, fries, kokoreç, döner, köfte ekmek, and wraps. And it’s not just one or two options under each category (the only exception is lahmacun). For instance, the burger section features a variety of options, including falafel burgers, vhicken burgers, and the Junk Mac Burger made with soy patties. The fries and wraps section are equally diverse, with vegan versions of fried chicken, sausage, and traditional meatballs, all served with different sauces. Additionally, Junk Vegan has veganized versions of Aspava’s famous SSK wrap and Hatay wrap, which continue to delight customers.
Ankara’s Best Vegan Spots
Junk Vegan stands out for its dedication to Ankara’s street-food culture. Each month, they host a “meze day”, where customers can sample an array of delicious appetizers, from vegan stuffed meatballs to Cretan pate. They also organize events like “mantı days”, where they serve vegan Kayseri style mantı and hıngel mantı stuffed with potatoes.
After exploring Tunalı, Kavaklıdere, and Ayrancı, we head to Bahçelievler and arrive at Gabo Ankara, one of the city’s most delicious vegan spots. Originally founded in Diyarbakır in 2015, Gabo Ankara was born from the question, “Why shouldn’t Gabo have a branch in the capital?” when Merve Yavuz, a team member, relocated to Ankara. The restaurant is dedicated to veganizing and revitalizing Anatolia’s rich culinary heritage, having undergone a robust R&D process.
Ankara’s Best Vegan Spots
Upon transitioning to a vegan concept, the Gabo team realized that much of the vegan food culture outside was focused on fast food. With this in mind, they began to explore how Anatolian cuisine, and its products could seamlessly align with a plant-based diet. The menu features vegan versions of traditional Anatolian dishes, blending flavors from various regional cuisines. Popular dishes include Kadıngücü meatballs, Edirne-style sour meatballs, Antakya-style fellah meatballs, Kayseri yağlaması, yogurt kebab, Edirne tava, menemen with tofu, and muhlama. For dessert, patrons can enjoy a selection of goodies such as hand-rolled baklava, seasonal damson plum pie, profiteroles, muffins, and cookies.
Ankara’s Best Vegan Spots
Gabo also has a small section called Gabo Dükkan, where they sell both their own vegan products and those from other brands. The restaurant regularly hosts vegan health talks with Dr. Ayşenur Yıldırım. For those looking to experience unique local flavors, Gabo is a hidden gem that creatively reinterprets Anatolia’s culinary history with both respect and innovation.
The menu includes a variety of sweet and savory dishes, including vegan brownies, spinach mole cake, and the popular fishless sandwich. A particular highlight is the vegan ice mocha, made with soft dark chocolate, raw cacao, espresso, and almond milk, and served either hot or cold.
Ankara’s Best Vegan Spots
Veggy Delivery also hosts periodic bazaars to support organizations like Diren Tekir, which focuses on rescuing and treating stray animals. Veggy Delivery is the perfect spot for a relaxing break in the city center, where you can enjoy a quality coffee experience free from exploitation.
A vegan lifestyle doesn’t always require dining out. If you enjoy cooking at home, Etik Bakkal has you covered with its extensive range of vegan products. Located on Beykoz Street in Kavaklıdere, Etik Bakkal offers a variety of vegan products and delivers both within Ankara and nationwide. The store carries everything from meat substitutes like soy mince, vegan bacon, and tofu, to a wide selection of plant-based milks and cheeses. They also stock frozen convenience foods from brands such as Newer and Veggy, making it easy for busy vegans to find quick meal options.
Ankara’s Best Vegan Spots
Ankara’s Best Vegan Spots
Top sellers include tofu, vegan sausages, cashew yogurt, soy minced meat, and ready-to-eat products like frozen stuffed meatballs and künefe with vegan cheese. Committed to sustainability, Etik Bakkal employs waste-free delivery methods within Ankara. One of the most exciting additions for vegans in Ankara last summer was the arrival of LoveGelato’s vegan ice cream, which Etik Bakkal now stocks. They also offer traditional treats like frozen lahmacun from an Istanbul-based brand.
Etik Bakkal has introduced the Ethical Points system, allowing customers to earn points with each purchase that can be redeemed for future shopping. The store is constantly evolving, frequently adding new products to meet the growing demand for ethical and sustainable food options. Recently, they even launched their own packaged hot chocolate in collaboration with Lethe, further expanding their specialty vegan offerings.
