Finding the best vegan restaurants in Hastings means knowing which kitchens label their plant-based dishes clearly and cook them with care. Vegan food in Hastings runs from tofu bao and Vietnamese summer rolls on Heretaunga Street East to cashew-cheese pizza and dairy-free tapas in Havelock North village, a few minutes up the road. For a vegan restaurant in Hastings with a proper labelled menu, Funbuns and OTT in the City are good places to start.
1Funbuns
Funbuns is a locally owned Asian street food restaurant and cocktail bar on Heretaunga Street East in central Hastings, built around gua bao made fresh in store. Its menu marks vegan dishes clearly, with a set of tofu bao and plant-based sharing plates alongside the meat options, which suits a mixed group where only some diners are vegan.
Services
- Vegan tofu bao, including classic, katsu panko, satay and sweet and sour versions
- Thai red fried dumplings with kumara and red curry sauce
- Tofu crispy fried noodle salad with nam jim dressing
- Vegan fried Chinese broccoli with char siu sauce
- Dine-in, phone orders for takeaway and delivery through Delivereasy
Highlights
- Vegan dishes labelled individually on the menu
- Bao buns handmade in store
- Cocktail bar alongside the kitchen
- Bookings taken by phone
Location & Contact
Name: Funbuns
Address: 300 Heretaunga Street East, Hastings 4122
Phone: 06 650 0185
Website: funbuns.co.nz
2OTT in the City
OTT in the City is a Japanese and Vietnamese eatery and bar at 217-219 Heretaunga Street East, serving banh mi, noodle bowls, summer rolls and yakitori. Its menu carries a VE code for vegan dishes, and tofu is offered as a protein choice across several mains, making it a practical weekday option for plant-based breakfast, lunch or dinner in the Hastings CBD.
Services
- Crispy tofu with smoked eggplant in a tom yum glaze
- Vegetable spring rolls and tofu summer rolls
- Wok tossed greens with soy ginger sauce
- Tofu and vegetable yakitori skewers
- Vegan carrot cake from the dessert menu
Highlights
- Menu codes dishes VE (vegan), V (vegetarian) and GF (gluten free)
- Chef’s special tofu offered as a protein choice for banh mi and noodle bowls
- Opens from 7.30am on weekdays, with an evening dinner service
- Table bookings taken online or by phone
- Licensed bar with a separate drinks menu
Location & Contact
Name: OTT in the City
Address: 217-219 Heretaunga Street East, Hastings
Phone: 022 187 4142
Website: ottinthecity.co.nz
3Deliciosa
Deliciosa is a sharing-plates restaurant on Napier Road in Havelock North, open since December 2007 and run by owners Dan and Jenn Grennan since 2024. Its menu marks vegan and plant-based dishes with a VE code and the restaurant publishes a vegan friendly menu, so it suits vegans dining out with friends over tapas and local wine.
Services
- Grains and greens salad with quinoa, buckwheat and a soy, agave and ginger glaze
- Cumin flatbread with white bean and miso dip
- Mezze platter with housemade dips, pickles and seed crackers
- Housemade pickle plate and chilli marinated olives
- Takeaway ordering and a group set menu
Highlights
- Vegan friendly and gluten free menus offered alongside the full menu
- Trading in Havelock North village since 2007
- Vine-covered terrace and front lawn seating
Location & Contact
Name: Deliciosa
Address: 21 Napier Road, Havelock North
Phone: 06 877 6031
Website: deliciosa.co.nz
4Pixie Bowls
Pixie Bowls is a smoothie bowl, smoothie, toast and espresso bar on Napier Road in Havelock North, open since 2018 with a focus on plant-based, nutrient-dense food. Every bowl and smoothie is vegan-friendly and gluten free, which makes it an easy daytime stop for vegans wanting breakfast or a light lunch rather than a sit-down dinner.
Services
- Açaí and fruit smoothie bowls topped with coconut yoghurt and granola
- Smoothies made from the same bases
- Bagels and toasts with cashew cheese and vegan pesto options
- Chia pudding, bircher pots and overnight oats
- Coffee, matcha, chai and golden lattes
Highlights
- All bowls and smoothies are gluten free and vegan-friendly
- Plant-based protein add-ons such as hemp and sacha inchi
- Trading since 2018
- Serves Fairtrade Hawthorne coffee
Location & Contact
Name: Pixie Bowls
Address: 10 Napier Road, Havelock North
Phone: 027 870 9954
Website: pixiebowls.co.nz
5Pipi
Pipi is a pizza café and bistro on Joll Road in Havelock North that also runs a pizza truck, open for evening dining from Tuesday to Sunday. Its specials menu includes a dairy-free section with vegan pizzas made with cashew cheese, so vegans can share a pizza night with the rest of the table.
Services
- Vegan margherita pizza with dairy free cashew cheese
- Vegan tahini and turmeric pizza with spinach, potato and olives
- Pizzas in three sizes, plus a regular café menu
- Online ordering for takeaway
Highlights
- Dedicated dairy-free specials section on the menu
- Pizza truck operates alongside the café
- Café menu, specials menu and wine list published online
Location & Contact
Name: Pipi
Address: 16 Joll Road, Havelock North
Phone: 06 877 8993
Website: cafe.pipi.co.nz
Vegan Restaurants in Hastings at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Funbuns | Vegan dishes labelled individually on the menu |
| OTT in the City | Menu codes dishes VE (vegan), V (vegetarian) and GF (gluten free) |
| Deliciosa | Vegan friendly and gluten free menus offered alongside the full menu |
| Pixie Bowls | All bowls and smoothies are gluten free and vegan-friendly |
| Pipi | Dedicated dairy-free specials section on the menu |
How to Choose the Right Vegan Restaurant in Hastings
- Look for menus that mark vegan dishes individually (VE or “vegan”) rather than only vegetarian, since vegetarian dishes often contain dairy, egg or fish sauce.
- Check whether vegan options are a fixed part of the menu or a rotating special, especially if you are booking for a group.
- Match the venue to the meal: smoothie bowl bars and cafés suit breakfast and lunch, while bao bars, tapas and pizza restaurants suit evenings.
- Ask about cross-contact if you avoid animal products strictly or have an allergy, as shared fryers and grills are common.
- Consider location: central Hastings options sit along Heretaunga Street East, while several plant-friendly kitchens are in Havelock North village.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hastings Vegan Restaurants
Are there fully vegan restaurants in Hastings?
Most vegan dining in Hastings happens at restaurants and cafés with clearly labelled vegan dishes rather than at fully vegan venues. Smoothie bowl bars and some Asian eateries come closest, with large parts of their menus plant-based, while tapas and pizza restaurants typically offer a smaller vegan selection or a separate vegan menu.
Where can I find vegan food near central Hastings?
Heretaunga Street East in the Hastings CBD is the most convenient area, with bao, Vietnamese and Japanese eateries that label vegan dishes. Havelock North village, around Napier Road and Joll Road, is a short drive away and has several more plant-friendly options within walking distance of each other.
What is the difference between vegan and vegetarian on a menu?
Vegetarian dishes exclude meat and fish but can include dairy, eggs and honey, while vegan dishes exclude all animal products. Many Hastings menus use separate codes such as V for vegetarian and VE or VG for vegan, so check which code a dish carries before ordering.
How do I make sure a dish is safe if I have a food allergy?
Restaurants and cafés must be able to tell you whether a dish contains any of the common listed allergens, even when the food is not in a labelled package. Tell staff about your allergy when ordering and ask how they manage cross-contact. The Ministry for Primary Industries has guidance on food allergies and eating out.
Can I get vegan takeaway in Hastings?
Yes. Many restaurants with vegan dishes take phone orders for pickup, and some also offer online ordering or delivery through apps such as Delivereasy. Ask when ordering whether sauces and sides are also vegan, as these are where animal products are easiest to miss.
Is a vegan pizza in Hastings made with vegan cheese?
It depends on the kitchen. Some pizzerias use a housemade cashew cheese, others use a commercial vegan cheese, and some vegan pizzas are served without cheese altogether. The menu description usually says which, and staff can confirm.
Do Hastings vegan restaurants need bookings?
Evening restaurants in Hastings and Havelock North are often busy on Fridays and Saturdays, so booking ahead is sensible, particularly for groups. Daytime cafés and smoothie bars generally operate on a walk-in basis.
How We Chose the Best Vegan Restaurants in Hastings
Every business in this guide was found by searching for vegan restaurants in Hastings, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Hastings, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.