The 16 Best Vegan Cafes in the United States

Non-dairy milks are the norm in American coffee chains and independent cafes these days. Granted, the shop might not carry the specific brand you like (Pacific Soy Barista makes the best microfoam, hands down), but vegans can walk into pretty much any cafe and confidently assume that they won’t have to order their coffee black. However, there is always that little voice that reminds you of human error. What if the barista accidentally takes the two percent milk, or if the cashier thinks you said whole milk instead of oat milk (has happened to us before)? The odds are slim, but there’s always an inherent risk when ordering from a non-vegan cafe. Fortunately, the culture of vegan cafes is booming. At plant-based cafes, vegans don’t have to watch the barista like a hawk, and they can finally partake in baked goods that most cafes don’t offer. We’ve rounded up our favorite vegan coffees in the USA so you can get your caffeine and baking fix without a drop of dairy.

Bunkhouse Coffee Bar

1 Bunkhouse Coffee Bar

Whether you prefer almond, coconut, soy, rice, oat, or macadamia milk in your coffee, you’ll find it all at this fresh Florida-based cafe in Jensen Beach. Bunkhouse has committed to going vegan in 2019 and has since expanded its range of non-dairy options as well as its sweet and savory selection. Pair your latte with a plant-based breakfast bagel or fuel up for the day with an energizing acai bowl or smoothie. Sweet lovers should not sleep on baked goods. The selection rotates but you can always count on a gluten-free and vegan cake donut or a carrot cupcake.
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Dear Journal Cafe

2 Dear Journal Cafe

Austin vegans, cyclists, zine-goers and creatives flock to this local watering hole. The community cafe offers an extensive menu of dairy-free espresso drinks along with phenomenal baked goods and other locally made edibles and non-edibles. In the morning, grab yourself a soy latte and a lemon cream filled muffin and get down to business. At night, the shop hosts themed nights, like the Open Mic Musical Theater, and serves up hearty fare like tacos, burritos, and Polish kolaches. Dear Diary truly embodies work, food and play.
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Familiar Vegan Coffee Shop

3 Familiar Vegan Coffee Shop

Sister shop to the popular Toad Style in Brooklyn, NY, this neighborhood vegan cafe specializes in reliable espresso drinks, a small selection of inventive bagel sandwiches, and Dun-Well Donuts. We recommend pairing a classic drink with a donut or not using coffee for a Spicy Kimchi Bagel (coffee and kimchi don’t mix). True to its name, Familiars is a local hidden gem and certainly a place one aspires to become a regular.
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At Miffie’s

4 At Miffie’s

You’ll have to check Instagram to find this mobile vegan coffee truck, but once you do, you’re in for a treat. The traveling cafe serves up Orange County, California with a tight menu of espresso drinks and a few seasonal specials. This summer, sip all the Strawberry Fields Frozen Oatmeal Lattes, Princess Peach Matchas and Lady Marmalade Tonics you can. They are only there for the season.
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dark room cafe

5 dark room cafe

This Pheonix, AZ cafe and bakery may be small, but its big attitude makes up for it. Dark Hall is not the place to meet friends and stay a while or settle down and work. However, the dark floral wallpaper and gothic art spice up this little cafe. Plus, there’s coffee and pastries, though baked goods sell out quickly. Arrive early (the store closes at 2 p.m. daily) and order a black iced coffee and a slice of cake. The combo is a little sweet, a little bitter, just the Dark Hall vibe.
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Just what I kneaded

6 Just what I kneaded

Although designed as a bakery, this bold little LA brand offers a solid espresso and coffee game. The baristas work with professional-grade machines to produce oat milk cappuccinos with silky microfoam alongside the frosted Pop-Tarts, giant cookies and gooey cinnamon rolls they make every day. The outdoor terrace is perfect for working (thank you, WiFi) or meeting up with friends over a café au lait decorated with bears.
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coffee lover

seven coffee lover

Despite their name, the baristas at Amateur Coffee know what they’re doing. The company roasts its beans on-site for customers to enjoy on-the-go or buy by the bag for infusions at home. Whether you order your oatmeal or almond drink in or take out, don’t expect a paper cup. All drinks are served in reusable jars. The Cafe of Omaha, NE runs an innovative jar program to reduce single-use product waste. Return the jar and you’ll receive $1 off your next drink order. The cafe also serves vegan quiche cups, sweet and savory waffles, and pastries from local vegan bakeries.
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Conscious coffee

8 Conscious Coffee

This shop does more than just coffee. Yes, it serves a standard cafe menu with oatmeal, almond, and coconut milk options, but customers can also find phenomenal baked goods, vegan lip balm, sustainably made soap, and more. Located in Shelby Charter Township, MI, this is a hidden gem that every Detroit resident should experience.
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Mud Pie Vegan Bakery & Coffee

9 Mud Pie Vegan Bakery & Coffee

This vegetable shop is full of charm. Located in a cozy home in Kansas City, KS, the cafe offers a tantalizing array of sweet and savory treats along with a long list of espresso and tea options. Arrive before 10 a.m. to enjoy his daily morning special including a 12-ounce latte (or chai) and homemade muffin for just $5.50. Apart from this incredible offer, the prices are always fair and the goods are worth every penny. This is the kind of cafe where you want to become a regular.
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mad mother cafe

ten mad mother cafe

Mother Fool’s has a lot going for it. It’s part take-out cafe, part art gallery, part bric-a-brac grocery store. A bit confusing, sure, but we’re confident that everything we buy from this Madison, WI store will be vegan. For the espresso drink, choose oat milk or classic soy milk. Don’t sleep on the 64 oz Cold Brew Concentrate – it’s always nice to have some backup coffee in case you can’t make it to your favorite store.
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Dagger Mountain Cafe

11 Dagger Mountain Cafe

Come for the oat milk cortado but leave with a bag of freshly roasted beans. Indiana’s all-vegan roaster and cafe prides itself on thoughtful sourcing and embodies everything we love about coffeehouse culture – a warm, welcoming space, home-roasted beans, and baristas who are serious about food. art of a good pour-over. However, this is by no means pretentious. Dagger Mountain Coffee loves to gamble, which is evident in some of its unique drinks. If you’re not a coffee purist, try the Orange Creme Latte – made with espresso, orange agave and oat milk – or the Sass Latte – a rootbeer/espresso latte hybrid, d vanilla agave, root beer flavor and oat milk.
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Coffee and Plants

12 Coffee and Plants

Located in Pasadena, California, Coffee and Plants is the first and only coffee shop in the Los Angeles area. Minimal seating at this pink and floral boutique is always taken, but on any sunny SoCal day, there’s always room to linger on the shared brick patio. In true LA fashion, the cafe offers standard espresso drinks along with superfood lattes, vegan baked goods, and Puppuccinos (vegan whip that’s safe for dogs, complete with a bone-shaped dog treat).
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Timeless coffee

13 Timeless coffee

Spread across the Berkeley, CA and Oakland area, this micro-chain delivers a caffeinated kick as well as a sweet high. The cafes are home to full-scale bakeries with customizable party cakes as well as typical tea cakes, scones and danishes for those on the go. Dairy-free options for coffee drinks include oats, soy, and almonds.
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Superflowering

14 Superflowering

The iconic lattes of this coastal San Diego boutique have locals and strangers flocking to its doors. The inventive menu includes a s’more-inspired smoky mocha topped with a roasted marshmallow and cocoa nibs, a Fluffer Nutter latte, and a shaken brown sugar espresso drink. On the less sweet side, Boosted Lattes contain functional ingredients designed to help your body perform at its peak. Of course, those who just want an oat milk cappuccino can also order it.
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Terms of endearment

15 Terms of endearment

Coffee and sweets are definitely an endearing term. The shop focuses on food, but the drink menu is solid, and every drink is made by seasoned baristas. Pair your oatmeal or almond latte with a vegan fig and prosciutto sandwich, JUST Egg veggie omelette or simple crispy mashed potatoes. Finish the meal with a towering slice of crepe cake or an eye-catching Swiss roll.
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propaganda cafe

16 propaganda cafe

This Lakewood, Ohio café has an extensive sweet and savory menu, but let’s start with the coffee. The drinks menu offers a bit of everything, from tried-and-true espresso drinks to the intriguing beetroot latte. Food-wise, the kitchen offers Buddha bowls and breakfast sandwiches, as well as waffles and potato latke ramen. Don’t leave without a bakery box full of desserts. From thick lemon and lavender scones to huge oatmeal cream pies, you’ll have to visit multiple times to try all of Propaganda’s delicious treats.
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For more on vegan coffee culture, read:
10 Vegan Canned Coffee Drinks
7 Creamy Dairy-Free Milks in Coffee Shops
How to Order Vegan at Starbucks