Being vegetarian has never been so popular, with more of us than ever choosing to avoid meat for health or ethical reasons. With demand comes supply, and there is now a raft of vegan and vegetarian eateries popping up across Scotland to cater to the growing market. Even if you aren’t veggie the places on our list are still worth a visit – offering tasty and varied menus that may mean you don't even notice going without meat.

1. Ellishadder Art Cafe, Skye

Ellishadder Gallery, Culnacnoc, Portree, Skye

Open Monday-Friday, 12pm-4.30pm

01470 562734

www.ellishaddergallery.co.uk

A working weavery and painting studio as well as a cafe, Ellishadder is a real hidden gem amongst the tourist attractions of Skye. The delicious soup and cakes are made using herbs, fruit and vegetables from their garden, and all other ingredients are locally sourced – with dairy and gluten-free options available. There are only a few tables so you can’t visit in a large group, but they can make space for any canine companions you might bring along and offer them a biscuit and a bowl of water.

2. Flying Duck, Glasgow

142 Renfield St, Glasgow

Open Sunday-Thursday 12pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm-11pm

0141 564 1450

www.theflyingduck.org

A big juicy burger topped with bacon and cheese is probably the type of dish you would expect to have to give up after becoming vegan. But not at the Flying Duck, where despite the menu being 100% vegan you can choose from options like mac 'n’ cheese, burgers and chilli – all made with highly convincing meat and dairy substitutes. There is a decidedly cool atmosphere about the place, too, located in a basement bar with mismatched furniture and friendly staff.

3. Kalpna, Edinburgh

2-3 St Patrick Square, Edinburgh

Open Monday-Saturday, 12pm–2.30pm and 5.30pm–10.30pm, and Sunday 5.30pm–10.30pm

0131 667 9890

www.kalpnarestaurant.com

A bit of a vegetarian institution, Kalpna has been open since 1982 and is well known for its flavoursome Indian cuisine. You can choose from pakora, kebabs, curry and plenty more, with the food so tasty that you are unlikely to notice it is meat-free. Anyone who is avoiding dairy or gluten is also well catered for.

4. Hendersons Vegan Restaurant, Edinburgh

25c Thistle St, Edinburgh

Open Monday-Saturday, 11.30am-9.30pm and Sunday 11.30am-8.30pm

0131 225 2605

www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk

One of several Hendersons eateries across the city, this one has been open since 1968 and was formerly known as Hendersons Bistro before it went fully vegan in 2015. You can expect linguine, haggis and tofu teriyaki – as well as a fully vegan wine and beer list – in a cosy, classy surrounding on one of Edinburgh’s most picturesque streets.

5. Bonobo Cafe Aberdeen

3-75 Skene Street, Aberdeen

Open Monday, 12pm-4pm, Tuesday-Friday 8am-4pm, Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm

www.bonobotribe.co.uk

Another 100% vegan venue, this is the first of its kind in Aberdeen and offers fry ups, lunches and moreish cakes in an ethical environment where the business functions as a worker’s co-operative. The macaroni and ‘cheese’ is a particular stand out, and should be enjoyed by even the most passionate of meat eaters. There is also a lovely outside seating area if you can brave the Aberdeenshire cold.

6. The 13th Note, Glasgow

50-60 King Street, Glasgow

Open every day, 12pm-12am

0141 553 1638

www.13thnote.co.uk

One of the most vibrant venues in this part of Glasgow, the 13th Note is popular with vegetarians and meat eaters alike for its excellent atmosphere and dog friendly policy. The food is good too: think curries, lasagnes and haggis, along with "Glasgow’s best chips" (according to them). There are also plenty of vegan options, with a promise that any non-vegan items have strictly separate storage and preparation areas.

7. Marwick’s Dundee

12 Union Street Dundee

Open Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm and Saturday-Sunday 10am-4pm

01382 698790

www.marwicks.menu

This small cafe has been fully vegan for less than a year, but seems to have already mastered the art of making plant-based food interesting (and more importantly) tasty. The team at Marwick’s are particular specialists in breakfast, with their porridge and New York bagels well worth a try. And as an added bonus, it’s dog friendly too.

8. The 78 Glasgow

10-14 Kelvinhaugh Street, Glasgow

Open every day, 12pm-12am (Food served until 9pm)

01415765018

www.the78barandkitchen.com

Despite being 100% vegan there is a great selection of indulgent deserts on offer at the 78, including churros, ice cream, brownie and cheesecake. The mains include burgers, burritos and curries as well as a vegan grilled cheese sandwich, with gluten-free options on offer if you require them. There is also excellent live jazz every Sunday night.

9. David Bann Edinburgh

Open Monday- Thursday, 12pm-10pm, Friday 12pm-10.30pm, Saturday 11am-10.30pm and Sunday 11.00am-10.00pm.

56-58 St Mary's Street, Edinburgh

0131 556 5888

www.davidbann.co.uk

David Bann is popular among locals for its atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food. Fully vegetarian, it provides a fine dining experience with a varied and extensive menu that would rival any top restaurant in the capital. The mushroom and goats cheese strudel is particularly popular but the vegetarian chilli is also a standout – it comes with guacamole and chocolate sauce (which works surprisingly well).

10. Velocity Café Inverness

1 Crown Ave, Inverness

Open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 10am-5pm

01463 419956

www.velocitylove.co.uk

If you happen to be a cyclist and a non-meat eater then this is the place for you: a veggie/vegan cafe attached to a bike workshop. Aside from that, there are soup, sandwiches, salads and – most importantly cake – to give you plenty of options that don’t involve meat. A new addition is the ‘daily specials’, a varied roster of recipes from around the world created by the team in-house to encourage diners to keep coming back. And keep coming back you probably will…

11. Blue Moon Langholm

42-44 High St, Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway

Open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, and Saturday 10am-3pm

01387381216

www.bluemoonlangholm.co.uk

This little cafe and craft shop is locally renowned for its excellent fresh coffee, with the dairy-free cappuccino – named vegaccino – a real treat for vegans. They also offer a children's meal deal for £3.50, which includes a mini wrap, fruit, Pom Bears, a cupcake and fresh juice.

12. 269 Perth

37A South Methven Street, Perth

Open every day 10am-6pm

269vegancafe@gmail.com

Another fully vegan cafe, this eatery has only been open since August but has already built up an impressive reputation among the people of Perth – carnivores and herbivores alike. The fresh smoothies and extensive tea selection are particularly good, but there is also a strong food menu with plenty of options to choose from. The team behind the venue are keen to push local produce, and have brought in several products from independent Scottish suppliers, including an array of cakes from a local vegan bakery.

13. The Bakers Field Kirkcaldy

19 Tolbooth St, Kirkcaldy

Open Tuesday-Wednesday, 9am-5pm

01592 562607

The cakes are the real highlight in the Bakers Field (perhaps the clue is in the name), with mouth-watering roulades, tarts and brownies, many of which are vegan. They also do an excellent veggie fry up: expect sweet potato hash browns, garlic mushrooms, vegan haggis, and a perfectly poached egg.

14. Emesa Mediterranean Food Truck Aberdeen

Outside M&S on Union Street, Aberdeen

Open Monday-Thursday, 11am-5.30pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-7pm

07831 443397

Showcasing some of the best in Mediterranean cuisine, the authentic falafel and hummus on offer at this food truck far surpass any you can buy in a supermarket. The menu might be small but it is freshly made and really flavoursome, with friendly staff and reasonable prices to boot. Well worth a visit.

15. An Tobar Veggie Cafe Tobermory

Argyll Terrace, Tobermory, Mull

Open Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-4pm

01688 302211

www.comar.co.uk

Proving that it isn’t just big cities that are adapting to the meat-free trend, this small cafe in Tobermory has an impressive veggie menu that also offers gluten-free and vegan options. Unfortunately for vegans, they can’t indulge in the speciality at An Tobar – their cheese toasties. There is an array of options to choose from, with cheese & apple, cheese and onion jam and cheese and peanut butter being some of the more unusual combinations.