Where to eat vegan or vegetarian in Tenerife: six places, from burgers to brunch
Did you know that in Tenerife you can now eat your way through a whole week without once building dinner out of side dishes? An açaí bowl in Puerto de la Cruz in the morning, a vegan burger on Santa Cruz's main shopping street at lunchtime, and in the evening an Italian-inspired dinner in Costa Adeje, where even the mozzarella is made in the kitchen, just from plants.
For a long time, eating meat-free on the island meant asking for "the salad, but without the tuna". That has changed. We have picked six places from the north, the south and the capital. For each one we tell you whether it is fully vegan or vegetarian (where egg or cheese may appear), because the two are not the same, and it is better to know before you sit down.
1. BuenaVida 100% Vegan, Costa Adeje
A fully vegan restaurant on the first floor of the Fañabé Plaza shopping centre. The menu leans Italian: lasagne with soy ragù and a homemade cashew béchamel, beetroot risotto with cashew cream cheese, and a caprese with house-made plant mozzarella and Canarian tomatoes. There is also a paella made with Heura. To drink, they have their own kombucha, natural wines and Canarian craft beer, and gluten-free bread on request. One important thing: tables are by reservation only, so do not leave it until you are at the door.
2. Samelo Veg, Los Abrigos
If you are staying near the south airport, this is the closest on the list. The kitchen is fully vegan and fully gluten-free, which is double peace of mind if someone in your group is also coeliac. Valentina and Diego opened it in 2014, and the menu changes with the seasons, using fresh local produce. On weekdays there is a set menu of the day; at weekends you order from the menu. Dishes are adapted to allergies and intolerances, and pets are welcome.
3. Mel Vegan Fast Food, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Sometimes you do not want fine dining, just a good burger. The fully plant-based branch of the Tenerife chain Mel is in the heart of Santa Cruz, on Calle del Castillo: vegan burger with onion rings, beetroot hot dog, nuggets, potato wedges and, to finish, a carrot and walnut brownie. Everything is made on the island, without preservatives. You can also order by phone, and there are frozen and chilled products to take home, which is very handy on a self-catering holiday.
4. La Verdulería, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
A vegetarian restaurant in the city centre, on Calle Santiago. The cooking is built on fresh, seasonal, local produce. It is small, with room for about thirty-six people inside, so at lunchtime it is worth arriving early or calling ahead.
5. El Limón Vegetariano, Puerto de la Cruz
A vegetarian restaurant in the old town of Puerto de la Cruz, on Calle Esquivel, a few steps from the pedestrian streets. It cooks not only for vegetarians but also for anyone on an allergy diet, or who simply wants to eat lighter. A perfect stop halfway through a walk around the old town.
6. El Michi del Puerto, Puerto de la Cruz
A fully vegan brunch café, and perhaps the most cheerful menu on the list: açaí bowl with homemade granola, coconut yoghurt bowl, the "Porky-No?" burger, the Aoshima poke, vegan Caesar salad and wraps. The cakes are gluten-free and sugar-free, such as the cashew cheesecake. To drink, smoothies and kombucha. Every now and then they organise surf or yoga mornings that end with a vegan brunch.
And if you hop over to another island?
The list does not stop at Tenerife. If part of your trip takes you to Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura or La Palma, note these:
Vegetopía, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. A fully vegan takeaway kitchen in La Isleta, from curries to burritos, with no ultra-processed ingredients. They deliver within Las Palmas.
A Raíces, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. A vegan restaurant near the Mesa y López shopping area, with home-style Spanish and international recipes, all plant-based.
Berro Bistrot, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. A vegetarian bistro near Las Canteras beach, with island cheeses in some dishes. On the wine list, Canarian wines take pride of place.
Baobab, Corralejo (Fuerteventura). Fully vegan: falafel, tofu bolognese, pesto arancini, and raw vegan dishes too. The dessert changes daily, often a banoffee made with Canarian bananas.
El Invernadero, Llanos Pelados (Fuerteventura). Fully vegan and gluten-free, and much of what they serve is grown on their own farm. It runs on solar power and in 2026 won an award for its environmental commitment.
La Papaya Specialty Coffee, Los Llanos de Aridane (La Palma). A specialty coffee shop with vegetarian brunch and a garden. There are vegan options too, and you can have your coffee with oat milk.
Canarian food that is partly on your side already
Before you look only for vegan places: part of traditional Canarian cooking is meat-free by nature. You just need to know what to ask.
Papas arrugadas con mojo (wrinkled potatoes with mojo). Small potatoes boiled in plenty of salt, served with red or green mojo. Mojo is oil, garlic, peppers or coriander, and vinegar, so it is vegan. You will find it in almost any restaurant.
Grilled cheese with mojo or palm honey (queso asado). Vegetarian, but not vegan. Palm honey, however, has a misleading name: bees have nothing to do with it. On La Gomera it is made by boiling down guarapo, the sap of the Canary Island date palm. The syrup itself is fully plant-based, and you can ask for it without the cheese, for example on a dessert.
Almogrote. La Gomera's spread of aged cheese, peppers and garlic. Vegetarian, but not vegan.
Watch out for stews and gofio. A hearty vegetable stew (potaje) sounds promising, but it is often cooked with meat stock or a piece of pork rib. Gofio (toasted grain flour) is vegan in itself, but gofio escaldado is usually made with fish stock. Always ask.
There is not much left for you at a guachinche. The wine-cellar eateries of northern Tenerife are among the most authentic Canarian experiences, but by regulation they may serve at most three different dishes, and those are usually meat: grilled meat, pork ribs, rabbit, goat. As a vegan, you will usually be left with papas arrugadas with mojo and a salad. If your group is heading to a guachinche, go for the wine and the atmosphere, but plan dinner elsewhere.
How to ask so they understand
Vegano and vegetariano. The waiter hears the two words just as you do: vegano is vegan, vegetariano is vegetarian. Say which one you mean.
"¿Lleva carne o caldo de carne?" Does it contain meat or meat stock? The most useful sentence for stews and sauces.
"Sin queso, por favor." Without cheese, please. Salads and grilled vegetables often come with grated cheese on top.
"¿Se fríe en el mismo aceite que la carne o el pescado?" Is it fried in the same oil as the meat or fish? If you are strictly vegan, ask this about chips and battered vegetables.
Pop into a market. At the farmers' markets (mercado del agricultor) you buy seasonal fruit, avocados and vegetables straight from the grower, if you are cooking in your apartment.
If someone in your group also eats gluten-free, take a look at our article on where to eat gluten-free in Tenerife. And for the rest of Canarian cooking, see this overview.
Note: this information is for guidance only. Menus and opening hours can change, so if you need something specific (an allergy, a fully vegan dish), check directly with the place.
Cover photo: Jaume Escofet, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
