Forget the old stereotypes of Austria as a land of carnivorous schnitzel-munchers and wurst-gobblers. Modern Österreich is a far more enlightened and veg-friendly place than such outdated clichés suggest, and Graz’s thriving vegan food scene is a case in point.
Located close to the historic centre, Café Erde is one of the city’s longest-standing vegan restaurants. It’s a relaxed, unpretentious place, serving hearty plant-based comfort food. From 11:30am, there’s a changing daily lunch menu featuring soups, salads and warming stews, while the full à la carte menu kicks in at 5pm, with burgers, wraps and vegan takes on traditional favourites.
On a recent lunchtime visit, our table sampled a selection of the daily offerings, which I’d sum up as good, solid, one-pot plant-based cooking. The cakes, on the other hand, were firmly in the Austrian tradition of superb desserts.
There’s a strong sense that Café Erde is more than just somewhere to eat. Founded in 2012 by Thomas Schnölzer and a group of like-minded animal-rights activists, it has its roots in Graz’s alternative food scene and feels like a genuine asset to the community. Its influence has since spread beyond the city centre, with the team opening KF Erde at the University of Graz two years ago, Austria’s first vegan university cafeteria.
