Best plant-based food destinations in South America
Best plant-based food destinations in South America
Traditional legume-focused food markets and plant-based culinary spaces in South America
South America has quietly become one of the more surprising continents for plant based travel, with strong local produce and a fast growing vegan restaurant scene in its bigger cities.
Coastal cities and capitals tend to have the most developed vegan food scenes, with dedicated restaurants, juice bars and markets full of fresh produce making daily eating easy. Andean countries offer a different strength, since traditional dishes built around potatoes, corn, beans and grains are often naturally plant based, even outside dedicated vegan spots. In more rural or remote areas, options thin out quickly, so some flexibility and a few local phrases help a lot when eating out.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are rarely hard to find anywhere on the continent, even where a fully vegan menu is not. The destinations on our list for South America combine established vegan hubs with places where traditional food already leans plant based.
Lists by region
City in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
The city ranked fifth in Latin America for vegan restaurants in a 2024 study by Veganuary and HappyCow. Só Verde serves feijoada made with soy chunks and jackfruit coxinha. Lemí in Ipanema is described as Brazil's first fully plant based Middle Eastern restaurant. Pura Rio serves bobó de palmito pupunha, a coconut stew.
City in Argentina
Buenos Aires
Where Tango and Culture Thrive
Fainá, a chickpea flatbread from the Italian pizzeria tradition, is vegan by nature. Fugazza, an onion flatbread, is sometimes made with cheese. La Reverde Parrillita Vegana serves an all vegan parrillada with housemade steaks, sausages and provoleta. Veganius sells vegan alfajores. Vegan friendly restaurants are found in San Telmo, Palermo and Recoleta.
City in Peru
Lima
Historic Charm Meets Coastal Vibes
Booking ahead unlocks vegan tasting menus at top restaurants such as Central and Maido. A 2024 ranking by Veganuary and HappyCow counted 216 vegan restaurants in Lima. That placed the city seventh in Latin America. Florencia in Barranco makes vegan ceviche with aubergine, yuca and sweet potato. Miraflores has the most vegan options.
City in Brazil
São Paulo
A vibrant mix of culture and cuisine
A Coruja Vegan Steakhouse in Vila Romana serves a vegan rodízio with kafta, sausage and plant based fish. A 2024 ranking by Veganuary and HappyCow counted 644 vegan restaurants in the city. That was the most in Latin America. Dona Augusta Vegan makes jackfruit coxinha and mushroom rissole.
City in Colombia
Medellín
The City of Eternal Spring
The regional platter, bandeja paisa, has a vegan version at Las Veganas, along with vegan tamales and bean casseroles. HappyCow lists 19 fully vegan restaurants in the city and 22 vegetarian ones with decent vegan options. Most are in El Poblado, Laureles and La Candelaria. Ama in El Poblado also runs an organic market.
City in Peru
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
Quinoa and kiwicha are native to the high Andes around the city. Potatoes come in thousands of varieties. Tarwi, a lupin bean, is often blended into a puree. Raw cacao comes from the jungle regions of Cusco. Chaufa de quinoa and mushroom ceviche are vegan takes on local dishes.
City in Colombia
Bogotá
Vibrant Culture in the Andean Highlands
Paloquemao market offers fruit tours that taste Colombian fruits such as the tree tomato. In La Candelaria, Maria Candela serves veganized local dishes such as papa y no carne and arepa de no huevo. Casa Lėlytė in Chapinero serves a pecan ragu slow cooked for eight hours. Herbívoro Cocina Vegana has several locations.
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