Trieste is a very lively city with an active bar and vegan restaurant scene. It is a great coastal city to visit in Italy. A must in Trieste is to go for a coffee, as Trieste is home to a famous brand of coffee called Illy.
On sunny days in Trieste, you can see locals enjoying coffee or Aperol spritz after work for aperitivo time. The drinks in Italy typically come with some type of snack, like chips.
WHAT TO SEE IN TRIESTE
Top attraction in Trieste is Piazza dell’unita d’Italia. This is the main square of the city where most of the events are happening. It is a great place to meet with your friends or have a cup of coffee in the sun.
The second most important attraction in Trieste is the Canal and San Antonio Church. Around them, you can find many trendy bars and restaurants.
In the Old Town, you can find many small Italian boutiques and other worldwide famous fashion shops and brands. Trieste is offering everything from affordable shops to high-end fashion.
One of the best hotels in Trieste is the Savoia Excelsior Palace. It is in a great location!
One of the most beautiful attractions is just a few kilometres away from the city centre. It is the Miramare Castle. The castle was the home of Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg.
It overlooks the sea, and it is surrounded by a huge park with rare and exotic tree species collected by the Archduke himself in his scientific expeditions around the world.
Right at the heart of the city, you can also visit the Roman Theatre of Trieste.
->One of the best ways to visit the city is with a private guided tour with a local!
You can also go on a beautiful hike with a panoramic view of the Gulf of Trieste. The hike is called the Napoleonic Way.
If you want to spend a little time out of the Old Town and closer to the sea, take a stroll around Fontana di Barcola. You can also find some coffee and gelato shops in the area.
WHERE TO EAT IN TRIESTE?
Trieste is not a big city but has quite a lot of vegan options for its size. You can find some vegan restaurants and most of the other restaurants offer vegan dishes.
You can easily find plant-based milk for your coffee in most coffee shops.
HOPS BEERSTRO TRIESTE VEGAN
It is one of my favourite restaurants in the city. The restaurant is located on a pedestrian street. They have a few tables outside where you can enjoy your lunch in the warm weather. They have many craft beers and vegan food options.
You can try vegan Pad Thai, vegetable wok, Korean fried cauliflower, and poke bowl, and they also have a dessert called wannabe pannacotta. Some of their dishes are also made with plant-based chicken.
MUG COFFEE SHOP
My favourite coffee shop in Trieste is the Mug coffee shop. Their soy cappuccino is the best! You can enjoy your coffee there. It is possible to sit inside and outside. Or you can have a takeaway coffee and drink it by the sea.
They have a few vegan desserts, and on Sundays, you can have a vegan brunch.
ZUSHI TRIESTE VEGAN
It is a sushi restaurant offering all types of sushi. You can find a few vegan options like poke bowl, avocado, tofu, and tomato sushi.
It is also an option to order a vegan sushi plate. We did, and it was very nice.
CROPS SALADS
It is a restaurant where you can build your own salad or bowl. You can choose between different bases, like salad or rice, and add toppings that are available at the time.
You can also have vegetable patties on top and enjoy a sauce over the salad. This restaurant is great for hot summer days in the city.
PIER TRIESTE VEGAN
It is not a vegan restaurant but a great bar with different types of cocktails right by the sea. Their terrace overlooks the sea and the city and has great vibes.
We tried Aperol sour, which is a different version of Aperol spritz.
ASSAJE PIZZERIA
Assaje is one of the most popular pizza restaurants in Trieste. The best part, besides the delicious pizza, is that they have three different vegan pizzas! They even offer vegan mortadella. Of course, I had to try it and I loved it.
IL PANE QUOTIDIANO LUNGOMARE
When you are visiting Fontana di Barcola, you can stop at a beautiful Café overlooking the sea. At the time, we were hungry and were very positively surprised when we saw that they had a vegan croissant sandwich.
LA CAVEJA TRIESTE VEGAN
They have many different wraps, and a few of them are vegan. You can choose between plant-based cheese and arugula, with a patty or mixed vegetables. There is also a sweet wrap with strawberries and chocolate.
DESPAR VEGAN SANDWICH
If you are in a hurry, there is a Despar shop right in the centre of the city which has plenty of ready-made food. I found a vegan sandwich with tofu, olives, and capers.
CAFFE VATTA
If you are exploring the surrounding area of Trieste, there is a very popular café, Vatta. They have a whole vegan breakfast menu that includes a cappuccino with soy milk, a smoothie, falafel with guacamole, and rice yoghurt. They can also make you a sandwich.
MILLE E UNA NOTTE TRIESTE VEGAN
It is an oriental restaurant. They offer a diverse menu suitable for meat eaters, vegetarians, and, of course, vegans. You can find vegetable burghul and khuskhus, rice with vegetables, piadina or pita with falafel, and grilled vegetables.
GENUINO RESTAURANT
In this restaurant, they are using seasonal ingredients with no additives, preservatives, or food colouring. On their menu, you can find a few plant-based dishes. You can order a vegan burger or a main dish that has grilled vegetables and a vegetable patty.
Trieste is a lively coastal city where you can go sightseeing, shopping, and enjoy coastal sunshine. In conclusion, when you get hungry in Trieste, there are various options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the city. When visiting Trieste, do not forget to enjoy a delicious cup of local coffee!
Trieste is very close to the border of Slovenia. You can take a day trip and spend some time in Slovenia’s coastline cities, Piran and Portorož. It is also a great location for exploring the Karst area.