TEMPLATE
281 Essex Street
A vegetarian spot that’s great for lunch or dinner. Their specialty is grain and vegetable bowls with their famously yummy sauces. Order a bowl that’s vegan by default or ask to customize one with tofu or nuts instead of egg or cheese. They also have lots of smoothies, coffee, tea, and fresh squeezed juices. One of the healthiest vegan choices in town.
A&J King’s Artisan Bakery
48 Central Street & 139 Boston Street
The Central Street location is in the heart of downtown, and is a nice spot to stop early in the day for a coffee and avocado on fresh bread or a bagel. Not too much else for vegans, but they have lots of sandwich selections for carnivores.
Brew Box
131 Essex Street
A tiny but cute take-out only coffee shop near the PEM museum and the Armory Park (which is a good place to sit on a neolithic-esque stone bench and sip your brew). They have fun coffee specials with homemade syrups in weird combinations and always a couple vegan items on their food menu. If you get there early, you may find vegan pop tarts or other treats in their bakery case.
Front Street Coffee
20 Front Street
A pleasant dine-in coffee shop downtown with a mild punk rock vibe. Coffee from Atomic, another local roaster and all the usual fancy coffee drinks made by knowledgeable baristas. Front Street always has one or two simple vegan sandwiches or bagels on the menu.
Gulu Gulu Cafe
247 Essex Street
Next door to Flying Saucer, Gulu Gulu is another good choice for mixed parties of vegans and non-vegans. With simple dishes like vegan mac and cheese, grilled cheese, a burger, and a hummus plate you’re sure to find something for a light meal no matter the hour. They also have extensive coffee and beer menus and oftentimes entertainment in the evenings. Has outdoor seating.
Jaho Artisan Coffee
197 Derby Street, 130 Canal Street, and 57 Loring Avenue
You might think with three shops in Salem, Jaho is a huge chain — but it’s not. There are only a few other locations, in Boston and Tokyo. The Salem ones, especially the original downtown location on Derby Street, by the harbor, are good spots or all manner of fancy coffees, teas and alcoholic beverages. They’ve added a vegan Hokkaido Bubble tea which, if you want something sweet once in a while, is quite a treat. Their regular coffee, which they roast themselves, is also good. They rarely have any vegan food options, though there’s a small selection for pastries for the not veganly inclined.
Life Alive
281 Essex Street
A vegetarian spot that’s great for lunch or dinner. Their specialty is grain and vegetable bowls with their famously yummy sauces. Order a bowl that’s vegan by default or ask to customize one with tofu or nuts instead of egg or cheese. They also have lots of smoothies, coffee, tea, and fresh squeezed juices. One of the healthiest vegan choices in town.
Lulu’s Bakery and Pantry
285 Derby Street
Lulu’s space is lovely, airy, bright and home to some thriving plants. They serve a range of regular and fancy coffees and usually have at least some vegan treats. In the warmer weather, they open the big door windows and also have some tables outside.
Odd Meter
60 Washington Street
A small shop with a bunch of places to sit. The decor in Odd meter, albeit simple, is just so calming and attractive. Such a lovely place to sit for a spell. They have absolutely fabulous coffee specials, tea and matcha lattes, and robust everyday coffee and espresso. Everyone who works there is exceptionally nice but also very nerdy about coffee and its preparation. They stock some vegan treats in the pastry case but they go very early in the morning.
On the Grind
Not a big stop for vegan food (save a bagel with PB&J), On the Grind does offer coffee (with oat or almond mylk) in all its fancy permutations in a part of town somewhat devoid of coffee shops. They use locally roasted Atomic beans and have a very pleasant interior in which to sip your brew.
Red Line Cafe
188 Essex Street
Red Line’s most alluring quality is their outside seating, which offers some of the most top-notch people and dog watching in all of Salem. The interior is also a pleasant place to hide from the weather for a bit or get a little work done while sipping something. They serve Lavazza coffee, not brewed terribly strong. They don’t usually have any vegan eats.
Roseadela’s
7 Church Street
Coffee, tea and a nice space to sit. Roseadela’s always has some vegan pastries available and is in the process of adding some vegan savories. Try their tahini cookie, it’s different but yummy.
Sweet Java
539 Loring Avenue
Definitely not in downtown Salem, but if you happen to heading to Vinnin Square for shopping or are on your way to Lynn, Swampscott, or Marblehead, Sweet Java is a sweet coffee spot. They brew Jim’s coffee (an awesome local roast) and serve these yummy vegan “energy balls” in a variety of flavors. They also have bagels and sometimes other vegan treats.
Wolf Next Door Coffee
142 Derby Street
If you like excellent, strong, locally-roasted coffee, Wolf Next Door is for you. This tiny shop brews Jim’s coffee and offers the usual complement of fake mylks and even a vegan coffee special. They serve simple breakfast sandwiches to go, and these include some unfussy vegan options like hummus, avocado and/or Beyond sausage on a bagel. This spot is take out only — although if you go when the lunch and dinner place next door isn’t open yet, you can use their outside seating. Also a quick walk to a big grassy field and some spots to sit by the ocean. (Salem Maritime National Historic Site).