Dahab is a small vibrant Egyptian town on the Red Sea coast that attracts visitors from all over the world, both long-term travellers and holidaymakers, with its natural beauty and laid-back lifestyle.
Most travellers are drawn to Dahab due to its incredible diving spots and active water sports scene. But the vast variety of delicious and healthy food options that the town offers should not be overlooked. Especially when it comes to delicious vegan food, Dahab is truly a paradise for plant-based eaters and vegetarians alike!
So whether you’re a long-term traveler or just passing through, here are some of the best vegan restaurants in Dahab, Egypt that you should try out!
Best Vegan Restaurants in Dahab
Schoenemanns Café – Healthy & Vegan eats in Dahab
A vegan-friendly oasis just off the main beach strip, Shonnenman’s is the perfect place for a refreshing breakfast or lunch with a beautiful sea view.
The menu while not fully vegan offers a great amount of vegan alternatives so there’s plenty delicious options to try out from full menu sets, to tortillas, soups, sandwiches and mouth-watering pancakes and other vegan treats.
A personal favourite, this place deservingly holds first place in my ratings for vegan food in Dahab which is always fresh, healthy and good value.
It’s no secret that you can frequently find me here having my favourite brunch – avocado toast with beetroot hummus and chickpea scramble!
Opening time: 9am – 3pm
Location: Schoenemmans Cafe
Moods Art House – Artistic decor and vegan-friendly food
Moods Art House is one of the most special places in Dahab, where they not only have amazing vegetarian and vegan food but also unique décor and artistic vibe that you won’t find anywhere else in Dahab.
The owners are the most welcoming and friendly people, and you instantly feel at ease and like you’re part of their community.
There are two chefs in house who cook on different days of the week and the menu changes on a daily basis. The food is delicious, fresh and healthy, with a limited number of options but all so tasty and beautifully presented.
The space doubles down as an art gallery where they also host weekly art workshops and community events, and it’s also a great place to work with its tranquil and inviting atmosphere.
Opening hours: 4pm – 10pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Location: Moods Art House
The Vegan Lab – Your go-to vegan spot for all your vegan cravings
The Vegan Lab is one of the only fully vegan places in Dahab where you can enjoy a variety of vegan meals in a beautifully decorated modern boho space.
The menu offers options ranging from smoothie bowls and avocado toast to vegan burgers and burritos, perfect for any time of the day.
Everything here is fresh and of the highest quality, available both with local ingredients as well as with substitute ingredients that we haven’t come across anywhere else in Dahab such as Beyond meat and vegan cheeses.
So if you are craving some of the western-style meat and cheese substitutes this is a great place to satisfy your taste buds.
This of course reflects the price range considering these ingredients need to be imported from abroad, which puts the restaurant at a higher price range compared to other places on the list but the quality and taste are definitely worth it.
Opening hours: 7pm–2:45pm ; 4–10pm
Location: The Vegan Lab
Elie’s Lebanese Restaurant – Vegan friendly Lebanese dishes
A local gem that still fairly new in the area, Elie’s Lebanese restaurant serves some of the best middle eastern food that we’ve ever tried in a beautiful boho environment with both normal and floor seating.
While the restaurant is not fully vegan as it offers some meat options too, there is a big variety of delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes to try.
You can either order individual plates or go for the Special Vegan plate which combines a mixture of vegan Lebanese dishes including falafels, houmous, mutabal and tabbuleh.
The portions here are incredibly big and for a very affordable price, making them some of the best value vegan meals you can find in Dahab.
The vegan plate is my favourite budget meal in Dahab that is absolutely delicious and perfect for both lunch and dinner.
Opening hours: 5pm – 10pm
Location: Elie’s Lebanese Restaurant
Kakao Cafe – Vegan delicious bites
Kakao Café is another amazing vegan place in Dahab nearby the main hotel area which you’ll definitely notice if you walk past it.
Surrounded by hotel buildings, this little hole-in-the-wall café stands out with its refreshing and inviting green décor and vegan menu offering at the door.
With a limited but varied menu, here you can find some of the best and affordable vegan food in Dahab, with both western and locally inspired dishes.
If you’re in the mood for some vegan burgers and kebabs, this is the place to go. There’s also other delicious menu options ranging from healthy salads and soups, to vegan small plates and enticing cakes.
Opening hours: 1pm – 10pm
Location: Kakao Cafe
Koshari Station – Egyptian Vegan-friendly Street Food
Koshari is one of Egypt’s national dishes and a widely popular street food. It’s not only fully vegan but also super hearty, flavourful and delicious at a super afforable price (around £1 ($1) for a big portion!!).
When you first hear what a typical koshari dish consists of you might wonder, how does all of this work together? But trust me when I say this, the koshari we had a Koshari Station in Dahab was one of the best local meals we tried in Egypt!
Koshari is essentially a mixture of pasta, Egyptian fried rice, Vermicelli and brown lentils, topped with tomato sauce, chickpeas and crispy fried onions. It comes with a side of spicy sauce that you can use to your preference.
It took me a while until I discovered koshari – and I wish I had found it earlier! In my opinion, it’s definitely a must try especially if you love trying out local foods and delicacies.
Opening times: 12pm – 2am
Location: Koshari Station, Dahab
The Box Menu – Asian inspired dishes with vegan friendly options
If you’re looking for something a little more exotic for dinner, The Box restaurant brings the tastes of Asia right to the heart of Dahab.
The menu offers a limited number of Asian dishes inspired by recipes from various countries. What’s unique about it is the one dish per page menu giving you a brief description and interesting facts about the dish’s origin and name.
Although the restaurant is not fully vegan, every dish on the menu has a vegan variance that you can order.
Come here in the evening as they lit the fairly lights on the upper level, making it the perfect place for a beautiful romantic dinner.
Opening hours: 1pm – 12am
Location: Box Meal
Final thoughts
Dahab’s popularity is fast growing both with holiday-makers and long-term travellers and digital nomads. The charming Egyptian town is a hotspot for health conscious and spiritual travellers, and is often associated with having a more ‘hippy’ vibe. So there’s no surprise that there’s an increasing number of businesses and restaurants offering healthy and vegan food to match that trend and the growing demand!
For me, this is a big selling point for Dahab as I absolutely loved having so many healthy and vegan options easily available all around the town! If you’ve come across any other delicious vegan spots in Dahab, I would love to hear about them in the comments! Happy eating!
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