Lacto
Ovo
Organic
Western
Juice bar
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Catering
Fusion
Australian
Refurbished and re-opened Dec 2015. Cafe serving lunch, dinner and desserts. Many dishes are gluten-free. Reported to serve dairy and eggs as of December 2024. Sometimes has live music. Was originally at 335 Trafalgar Square E. Hours reported being unreliable - call ahead to confirm opening times. Open Wed-Thu 12:00pm-9:00pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-9:00pm. Closed Sun-Tue.
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8 Church St, Nelson, New Zealand, 7010
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- Outdoor seating
- Reservations required
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 24 Aug 2025 by CLRtraveller
Update business info
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110 Reviews
First Review by Gertrude225
ReneVaughan
Points +115
Recently converted to 100% Plant based - Edit
We went there on day two after their conversion to Plant based. A great place to eat with a nice feeling to it. The burger I had was huge and full of flavour. Good kids optiions too.
Read moreGuest
vegannomad2
Points +2788
I second every kudo. Great food. - Edit
So many choices. Everything is excellent. We will be back many times to try different items. No problem with gluten free or any other diet restrictions
Read morePros: Choices, Taste, Service
Cons: None really.
Guest
Marikiwa
Points +197
Favourite restaurant - Edit
A must try (again and again) while in Nelson! Amazing food (full of flavours, colours) with an original menu, very friendly staff, great service, great atmosphere and décor, always good music (often live music too) and promoting nz art on their walls. It's a warm and welcoming place with a big colourful patio on the back. I recommend it to anyone going to Nelson!
Read morePros: 99% vegan and 200% yum, Very welcoming, Central
Guest
@ndy
Points +1276
Tasty Vegan choices..... worth a visit - Edit
We went here last night for dinner and we both had great meals. The menu is clearly marked with what is gluten free, organic and/or vegan. Everything served here is at least vegetarian which is always a great dining experience.
Read morePortions are generous and well presented. Definitely something for all tastes & moods on offer including a burger and fries, vege stacks, dahl, risotto, tofu dishes, breads & tasty dips, stuffed mushrooms, etc.
A nice selection of starters and entrees and the dessert menu looked great.
The restaurant has a well stocked bar with plenty of choices. We tried a couple of local ciders that were a nice compliment to our meals.
Prices are moderate with mains averaging $20 - $24.
My only criticism is that they closed the kitchen for new orders at 8.45pm without saying anything so when I tried to order the apricot slice and ice cream....I got told I couldn't! Disappointed but maybe next time then!
Great food, great decor, a vibrant and friendly atmosphere.....worth checking out if you're in lovely Nelson.
Pt 2: We returned here for 2 meals in April 18 - 'Off the hook' & the 'Stacked As' were 2 great mains. So was the cheesy Pizza of the day & the very tasty garlic bread with pesto.
The Banoffee Brownie dessert is worth trying too.
Make a booking for dinner ~ The word is out and this is a busy cafe!
Updated from previous review on Friday April 08, 2016
Updated from previous review on 2016-04-20
Pros: Great variety of starters, entrees & mains, Friendly staff, A relaxed and casual dining atmosphere
Cons: Kitchen closed too early
Guest
earthling99
Points +27
Great! - Edit
Such a nice place with friendly staff and delicious meals
Read moreMains were great and dessert even better😍 nearly everything is vegan!
Pros: As a vegan You can choose nearly everything!
Guest
ClaireT
Points +26
Vegan restaurant - Edit
Full vegan food and alcohol menus. Specials change frequently. Friendly staff.
Read moreAte here 2 nights in a row whislt in Nelson
Pros: Full vegan menu, Friendly staff, All vegan wine, beer and ciders
Guest
mahazza
Points +52
Vegan food done well - Edit
We just missed the lunch menu (ending at 3pm) but ordered some salads and pita from the all day menu. Really pleased with everything. Recommended!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Alcohol
Cons: None
Guest
KarenBloomfield
Points +14
I love it here. - Edit
Nearly all vegan. I am a repeat visitor and am working my way through the menu. Love having a vegan choice. The staff are wonderful and service great.
Read moreGuest
frog
Points +105
great selection, great service - Edit
Disclaimer: I’m a local and eat here all the time. Prices are mid-range, there’s a wide selection to choose from and *almost* everything is vegan. Service is always excellent. There’s a good-sized outdoor space if the weather is being kind. A slight downside is that it can be a little noisy at times - such is the price of its popularity.
Read morePros: great service, al fresco option
Cons: not the cheapest, can be a little noisy
Guest
Rosesthorn
Points +20
Super Good - Edit
Yummy innovative Vegan food with a huge range of choices. Cool, funky ambiance. Lovely friendly and attentive staff. East St is a must do experience while in Nelson.
Read morePros: Wonderfull Vegan Food , Great atmosphere , Warm, friendly staff
Guest
jesse558
Points +330
OMGHD - Edit
I need to come back to east st.
Read moreSo much style and delicious, fulfilling. I could live here and chill out. This is more like a lifestyle cafe/ restaurant.
Pros: All vegan...(heard they do have some non vegan opt, papa smurf blue latte, a plethora of options
Guest
meianma
Points +121
Do not miss! - Edit
Great food and atmosphere. We had Oscar salad, Baby pita, Garbanzo fingers and as desert Storm in a cup and Banoffee brownie. Absolutely recommended!
Read moreGuest
JuttaMulville
Points +63
great vegan food, choices, ambience and staff - Edit
We enjoyed a great family meal. Chef also accommodated no onion and no garlic request. We were lucky to enjoy some great live music. Definitely worth making a reservation.
Read moreGuest
Bluseafish
Points +94
Actually don’t miss this one - Edit
Located in the Bohemian Quarter of Nelson this place is an absolute gem. The decor is funky, cool and eclectic, the staff are friendly and the food absolutely delicious. Would highly recommend for anyone who eats food. Menu is mostly vegan and gluten-free with dishes identified if not, rather than the other way around. Also a lot of options in terms of meal size so you can have small dishes tapas style, have a filling main dish or share a large platter which is a great option for tasting lots of the foods they have on offer. Also great kids menu. Worth booking as we nearly didn’t get a seat for early dinner on a Friday night.
Read morePros: The coolest joint in Nelson - check out the colour, Food is absolutely delicious, Staff very friendly
Guest
plonitalmoni
Points +133
Creative delicious food - Edit
All the main courses were interesting and what we had was tasty. Even if the combinations sound a bit weird, I'd trust them that the food will be good. We really enjoyed sitting in the courtyard out back too.
Read morePros: creative food, delicious, funky setting
Guest
Navaie
Points +63
Lovely place with great staff - Edit
Awesome restaurant, almost there entire menu is plant-based. There was a note in the menu for non plant-based things, but I didn't find those items in the list :) Staff is awesome and they even had live music!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Great staff
Cons: A bit pricey
Guest
perkonius
Points +351
Lovely place - Edit
Great place to sit (indoors has lovely quirky decor, and outside is beautiful if the temperature is right). Food was delicious.
Read moreGuest
ellegb
Points +52
Best restaurant in Nelson - Edit
Love love love this place! Been going here for years, and always take my non veggie family / friends here and they love it too. Great menu, lovely atmosphere and the staff are always friendly.
Read moreGuest
Fiftytimes
Points +38
Awesome - Edit
Had the vegan sandwich and chunky chips. Came back later for the Black Forrest desert.
Read moreFood was lovely, excellent service.
Will definitely come back, great Kiwi cafe vibe
Guest
Lotusblossom
Points +119
Best Meal This Year - Edit
Wow! Totally delicious food and friendly staff. I went with a meat-eating friend who eats lots of vegetarian but never vegan. He was not enthused by the fact that nearly all the dinner menu choices were vegan. He thought it would be boring. In fact, he hoovered up his vegan dish and tried to steal mine. Yummy dinner in a lovely atmosphere.
Read morePros: Variety of fresh ingredients. Great chef
Cons: Music was a bit loud
Guest
dcmf
Points +209
Plenty of vegan options - a little bit fancy - Edit
Great food, well plated, still a little pricey. Had a quesadilla with a creamy vegan sauce, as well as a fishy dish featuring tofu with nori. All washed down with a very pleasant chocolate mousse. Note that from 3-5 the selection is limited as they switch to the snack menu - though what's there looked good from what we saw.
Read moreViks Bornrad
Thanks for yourr comments. Just to let you know, that our prices reflect that everything is made from scratch on site and is all fresh with quality ingredients. If we made meals any less we wouldnt survive. Could you let me know what you thought was pricey? Cheers from The Team at East St
Read moreGuest
FilmFrucht
Points +63
vegan meal but smokers suck - Edit
Had a nice meal outside but unfortunately they allow smoking at the table.
Read moreDespite that we enjoyed our lunch in the sun and the atmosphere of the cafe is really nice with live music starting at 3pm. Looking forward to have dinner here in the next days! :)
Pros: vegan very delicious meal, cool atmosphere!, nice staff :-)
Cons: smoking allowed at the table in the outside area
Viks Bornrad
Youll be glad to know we now have no smoking in the courtyard. :)
Read moreGuest
Davidnoix
Points +24
Finally in Nelson - Edit
A completely vegetarian cafe and bar,with people who know what they are doing in the kitchen. Saturday night no booking no room till later but we were 3 keen vegetarians so we toughed it out till 8.30pm.Live music duo and a very varied crowd of hipsters,hippies,old and young. Interesting art on the walls and a good vibe.
Read moreWe had three really excellent mains(entrees) they had kitchie names to them but were basically a burger, with texture to it not mush,a vegetable stack and a dahl.All were attractive to look at and a good size.We finished evary bite. No photos too busy eating!
Good wine list(Greenhough pinot recommended).
An atmosphere of adult dining without pretension or too much worthness.Medium price range.Our mains were $15 to $24 I want to ship it over to my city.
Pros: All vegetarian/vegan., Well prepared, Funky
Cons: 7 hours from where I live.
Guest
IanNeilson
Points +124
Do it - Edit
Yeah, do it. Go here. Eat breakfast. Eat lunch. Drink all the drinks.
Read moreBeautiful interior, recently refurbished. Permanent stage set up. Even the tables looked interesting. This place is cool enough that they don't even need to say vegetarian on the building. Service was great.
I had the tofu Burger with salad side. It was choice. Gone before I could get a photo of it. We followed up with a bowl of home style chips.
Pros: Lots of vegan options , Beautiful interior, food and staff
Cons: Nelson is a bit far from home for me.
Guest
JaxB
Points +28
vegan choices galore - Edit
We stopped by and they were super friendly trying to fit us in. So we came back an hour later, table waiting. Super cool atmosphere; the design, music - a DJ playing on the night - nice bar with beer on tap. First funky vego place - where you'd actually wanna hang out on a Friday night - I've been to. Food's been great. Plenty vegan and also GF options. Highly recommend!
Read morePros: atmosphere, drinks, vegan options!!!
Cons: not cheap but well-priced
Guest
georgebarnett
Points +61
good food, great atmosphere - Edit
Stopped in for dinner here tonight. Great food and an excellent selection for vegans. Friendly staff and a DJ playing for a good vibe.
Read moreEven better is the range of house mixed non-alcoholic soda mixers.
Guest
PaulOfTheNorth
Points +18
Excellent vegetarian food - Edit
We really enjoyed East St. Vegetarian Cafe. We went there twice in a week, and both of us had very good to excellent food both times, covering both regular menu dishes and specials. Nice local craft beer selection as well. We see on their Facebook page that they've just moved to a new location at 8 Church St. to get more space (a need generated by the old place getting too crowded - a good sign!) - hope they're successful there as well.
Read morePros: Excellent food, Good variety of choices, Friendly and helpful servers
Cons: None for us
Guest
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