Pubished 22 August 2018 (updated 8 April 2024)
This post is regularly updated.
We've been writing this post for a few years now and update it every couple of months. It's not a definitive list,but hope this helps you with your quest to find vegan food on Arran!
Corrie and Sannox
The Corrie Hotel is at the heart of Corrie and was recently bought over (summer 2022). As of winter 2022, they have a vegan menu (THANK YOU!!!). Since the new owners took over we've had banana blossom fish and chips, jackfruit bolognese, mushroom pie, vegan schnitzel and rhubarb crumble.
About 50 yards away from Corrie Hotel is Mara, a fish bar and deli. There is always a vegan option; banana blossom tacos Tuesday to Saturday and vegan kedgeree on Sundays. Sometimes the chef does either chips or hasselback potatoes that are to die for. It's also a good place to go if you fancy a nice coffee - they serve Dear Green from Glasgow - and they also sell local bread on premise from Blackwater Bakehouse.
New for 2021 is BBQ Saturdays at Mara. Check out below for the king oyster mushrooms. We've also had bao buns and Goan curry. They are not on the menu every day, but when they are GET ONE. Amazeballs. Below is a side of vegan potato salad too. Oh and chips. Why not? (more photos from Mara here)
Arran has a lot of different pop up restaurants and food trucks. One pop up that you see is Arran Supper Club. They do amazing vegan tacos. Keep an eye on the Facebook page for announcements.
There is also a tea room at Corrie Golf Club called Fran's Tea Room. It sells traditional food, but the handmade chips are pretty tasty. A chip butty and soup is £6.50
Lochranza
Heading north from Sannox to Lochranza is The Sandwich Station near the ferry terminal. There are always two vegan options on the menu (in 2019 there were five!) plus they sell damn good soup. The sandwiches here are amazing and served on local bread.
Whilst you're in Lochranza, you can also visit the Whisky Distillery for lunch in the aptly named Casks Cafe. Normally they have a soup that is vegan (you need to ask) and you can get a salad sandwich (with chips, of course!). If that doesn't float your boat, then just head downstairs and get some whisky!
A good place to go in Lochranza is the Stag's Pavilion, which now has a vegan and vegetarian menu (2019). You need to book Stag's six weeks in advance. Stag's is great. It's BYO and it's a small and cozy affair. We went in November 2021 and got a butternut squash and lentil wellington, a sweet potato, cashew and apricot chutney tart and a clementine and chocolate torte with ice cream for desert. Photos below.
West Coast
As you head further round the island to the west coast, you get to Pirnmill. There is the Lighthouse Restaurant here (not tried it and but as of 2019 they don't have vegan options, but one guest phoned ahead and the chef prepared a meal). If you continue on for a wee while (assuming you are driving) you'll see signs for Cafe Thyme (at the Old Byre). OMG... they do these Turkish pizza type things (called Pides) and have vegan options. They taste fab.
Continuing on you come to Machrie and Blackwaterfoot. We're not too sure about eating options, but you can get soya milk in Kinloch Hotel in Blackwaterfoot, so it's a good place to stop for a coffee and sit in the lounge staring a the sea. Blackwater Bakehouse is also in Blackwaterfoot (check the opening times - and that the bread you're buying is vegan, as some of it is not).
Brodick
Back over on the east side of Arran, and heading further south from Sannox and Corrie you get to Brodick. Next to Arran Aromatics (now called Arran Sense of Scotland), there is a cafe called Janie's Cafe, which normally do a vegan cake.
Just before you get to Janie's Cafe and Arran Aromatics and near the Arran Brewery, there is an old building called the Wine Port, which is open during the day. In July 2019, we had the vegan chilli and it was very tasty and in February 2020, we had beetroot bhajis, again very tasty. The food is consistantly good and it's a good place to have an outdoor pint. Photos below.
Carrying on further into Brodick you'll get to Brodick Golf Course. The kitchen has changed hands a few times in the last few years, so the menu changes. It's also a members club, so technically you need to be a social member, member or a member of one of the other golf clubs. They do takeaway too sometimes and we've yet to have the vegan loaded fries.
Across the the golf course down Auchrannie Road is a place called The The French Fox. The food is incredible and a must visit if you are vegan.
In October 2018, a new place opened up in Brodick called The Parlour, which does pizzas and occasional pop-up nights. Well worth a visit. You can also get vegan ice-cream there too.
Another option in Brodick - especially if you are looking for a local pint - is The Ormidale Hotel. The Ormidale menu changes, but we've had a vegan curry there before - and more importantly (!), they do curly fries (you can request them to be fried in vegetable oil).
On the main stretch in Brodick, there is bar restaurant called Edgewater. It was Crofters before, and then Fiddlers before that. It's new in 2024, so haven't been yet.
Near Edgewater is Wooleys the bakers, which sells lovely bread - just check it is vegan though - and vegan sausage rolls (two different types - see below, they are very tasty).
Carrying on a bit from Wooley's, you get to Little Rock Cafe. This place is the bizzle. It's also very busy... Handily enough though, if it's too busy you can jump on to the crazy golf right in front of the cafe. Go on... let yourself go... Go crazy. Little Rock Cafe has a few options (baked potatoes and that kind of thing). They also do a good sandwich and veggie burger that can be made vegan. Plus Dear Green coffee. You can normally get a vegan cake too.
Brodick is also home for the Auchrannie, Arran's 4* resort, which has a number of restaurants. Below is some recent food we had in 2022.
One restaurant at The Auchrannie is Cruize. We went with family in March 2019, and were pleasantly surprised with options. Below is a vegan pizza and a vegan platter. You can also go for breakfast and get vegan sausages, hash browns, beans etc.
Near the ferry terminal in Brodick, there is the Douglas Hotel. The menu changes, but as of October 2020, vegans were well catered for with three main dishes (jackfruit burger, nut roast and veggie curry). They have a bistro and a restaurant and the latter is a bit pricey, but it's a nice place to go.
Arran had it's first food festival in September 2022 and we went to Brodick Bar for the first time as they were doing a vegan menu for the festival. See below. It was amazing and one of the best we've had on the island. Keep an eye on their website, as the menu changes.
Lamlash
Moving on from the Capital City of the Kingdom of Arran, the next town and second to the throne is Lamlash with views to Holy Isle. There are a few places you can get vegan food.
The first place in Lamlash is The Drift Inn, which has a great team and some good food. Due to Covid Schmovid restrictions, the menu has changed a wee bit. When locked down eased we had curried chickpea burger and chips with salsa (2020 - pictured below). Dare we saw it?! The best chips on the island?!
We also went in 2021 and had vegan croquettes, onion bhaji burger, butternut squash risotto, a spanakopita (we had to google that) and sticky toffee pudding. All vegan. The Drift Inn has changed hands a few times, but here are a few recent photos and photos of food we have had in the past (some of the kitchen staff are the same).
Lamlash is also home to the Pierhead Tavern - or PHT. The menu changes, but we have had vegan food in there that was very tasty. It's probably best phoning ahead to see what is on the menu. Below is a stew from 2018 and most recently (October 2019) a vegan bean burger (with vegan cheese) and a chocolate and orange torte.
Across the road from Stonewater House Vegan B&B is the Old Pier Tearoom who make their own vegan sausage rolls. They are very tasty.
Lastly, there is Lamlash Bay Hotel. There are vegan options on the menu, we've only ever had pizza there, which is really good.
Whiting Bay
The next town south from Lamlash is Whiting Bay, which does have a few options - some of which we have tried out a few years ago. There is a cracking cafe called the Coffee Pot that does a falafel burger and some homemade vegan cakes.
The Shore opened in March 2019, but we've not been for ages. The last time we were there we had vegan cake.
Whiting Bay also hosts Bay Kitchen and Store, where you can buy fresh produce, bread and supplies not to mention a tasty soya cappuccino. Well worth a visit in our opinion.
Lagg / Kilmory
Arran has a number of other villages, so there may well be other vegan options on the island that we've missed. Lagg Hotel and Cafe Velo at Kilmory have a couple of options for instance. The three bean chilli from 2019 is pictured below. We went to stay at Lagg Hotel 2021 and had some great food for dinner. Also pictured. The hotel changed hands in 2023 and we've eaten there once. There were a couple of vegan options on the menu like a Beyond Burger and veggie ciabatta. Friendly place and a cool bar.
In June 2019, the new distillery at Lagg opened, which has some vegan food on the menu. In August 2019, we had the veggie burger and an Asian noodle dish a bit like ramen.
Arran Food Festival
Arran had it's first food festival in September 2022. We attended a few events where there was vegan food including a vegan breakfast at Stonewater House, Taste of Japan at Blackwater Foot Lodge (NOW CLOSED) and a vegan tasting menu at Brodick Bar (see Brodick Bar above).
Our tip: always check opening times and menus by phoning ahead. The chefs change regularly, so new dishes are added and old dishes are retired.