Correction (10 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources on 9 October 2026.
Six places in and around Southbank have a vegan dish or a vegan option on a source we could read: two in Southbank, three in South Melbourne and one in South Wharf. Each entry reports the marker or listing exactly as printed and names who printed it.
Two kinds of evidence appear. A menu marker such as VG or V comes from the venue’s own menu. “Vegan Options” on AGFG is a directory feature, so it tells you what the listing says, not how the kitchen runs. Every entry ends with one thing to ask.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Where |
|---|---|---|
| VG-marked fries and salad | Betwixt Cafe & Bar | 45 Sturt St, Southbank |
| Espresso stop, vegan options listed | Gordon Espresso | 71 Coventry St, Southbank |
| Vegan falafel burger at a pub | Railway Hotel South Melbourne | 280 Ferrars Street, South Melbourne |
| Mediterranean menu with a vegan bechamel dish | Ruby Riviera | 53 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf |
| Cafe with vegan options listed | The Kettle Black | 50 Albert Road, South Melbourne |
| Pub with vegan options listed | Bells Hotel | 157 Moray Street, South Melbourne |
Betwixt Cafe & Bar — 45 Sturt St, Southbank VIC 3006
AGFG lists Betwixt Cafe & Bar with Vegan Options and Alfresco Dining. Its own menu prints VG and GF beside French Fries GF VG at $12 and beside Garden Salad GF VG at $12. Betwixt’s site lists Mon to Wed 8.30am to 3pm, Thurs 8.30am to 8pm and Fri 8.30am to 9pm. The site is undated, so confirm before you go.
Menu markers: VG and GF are printed on the fries and the garden salad; ask the kitchen what GF means in practice before you rely on it.
Gordon Espresso — 71 Coventry St, Southbank VIC 3006
AGFG lists Gordon Espresso with Vegan Options and Alfresco Dining. The same listing shows Mon to Fri 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Sat 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Sun closed. AGFG is an owner-maintained directory, so those hours may be out of date. We could not find menu prices for this place, so none are printed.
Ask: Which items on the day’s menu carry the vegan option, since the AGFG tag names no dish.
Railway Hotel South Melbourne — 280 Ferrars Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205
The Railway Hotel’s own menu prints a Falafel Burger (VG) (GFO) with a vegan patty, lettuce, tomato and pickles. We have not printed a price for it. The markers are the venue’s, and we report them as printed. The site is undated, so check the current menu. We have not printed hours for this pub.
Kitchen statement: We could not find one on the pages we read, so ask whether the burger shares a fryer or grill with meat dishes.
Ruby Riviera — 53 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf VIC 3006
Ruby Riviera’s own menu text mentions a “cheesy vegan bechamel sauce” on one dish, and it marks several items (V), a marker the pages we read do not define, so do not read (V) as vegan. The menu prints Broccoli Gratin (V) at $15.90. It prints The Vee Burger (V) at $26.90. Garlic Bread carries a (VO) marker on the same menu. We have not printed hours for this place.
Menu markers: V and VO both appear; the pages we read define neither, so ask what each means at the table.
The Kettle Black — 50 Albert Road, South Melbourne VIC 3205
AGFG lists The Kettle Black with Vegan Options and Alfresco Dining. Its own site lists Mon to Fri 7am to 4pm and Sat to Sun 8am to 4pm. We could not find menu prices to print, and the AGFG tag names no dish.
Fully plant-based or options: Options, per AGFG; none of the sources we read calls the cafe fully plant-based, so ask which dishes are made that way.
Bells Hotel — 157 Moray Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205
AGFG lists Bells Hotel with Vegan Options and Alfresco Dining. Its own menu prints the Bolognese Fusilli at $28, with a (vo) eggplant bolognese listed beside the beef one. The marker is as printed on the menu; we have not printed hours for this pub.
Ask: Whether the eggplant bolognese is cooked and served apart from the beef version, because the menu line does not say.
Quick answers
Where can I find vegan food in Southbank?
Betwixt Cafe & Bar and Gordon Espresso are the two Southbank entries here, and AGFG lists Vegan Options for both. Next door in South Melbourne, the Railway Hotel, The Kettle Black and Bells Hotel each have a vegan item or listing, and Ruby Riviera in South Wharf names a vegan bechamel on one dish of its menu.
Which of these places print vegan markers on the menu?
Betwixt Cafe & Bar prints VG on its fries and garden salad, and the Railway Hotel prints VG on a falafel burger. Ruby Riviera marks dishes (V) and one (VO) without defining either, and Bells Hotel prints (vo) on an eggplant bolognese. Gordon Espresso and The Kettle Black rely on the AGFG Vegan Options tag, not a printed marker.
Does a vegan option mean a vegan kitchen?
No. Nothing we read describes a dedicated vegan kitchen at any of the six places, and AGFG’s tag is a listing feature. A vegan option tells you a dish exists, not how it is cooked. Ask the venue about shared fryers, grills and sauces before you order.
Which of these vegan-friendly places open for breakfast?
The Kettle Black’s own site lists opening at 7am Monday to Friday. AGFG lists Gordon Espresso opening at 7:00 AM Monday to Friday, though that directory is owner-maintained and may be out of date. Betwixt Cafe & Bar’s site lists an 8.30am start from Monday to Friday. Check each venue before you go.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 9 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, the places’ own websites and the Australian Good Food Guide. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, on 9 October 2026. Menus, prices and opening hours change, so check with the venue before you go. The cover photo is illustrative, from Unsplash, and does not show any place on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Betwixt Cafe & Bar: openstreetmap.org/10759217319, betwixt.com.au, agfg.com.au/betwixt-cafe-bar-83551, betwixt.com.au/Lunch-menu.pdf
- Gordon Espresso: openstreetmap.org/2940001901, gordonespresso.com.au/contact, agfg.com.au/gordon-espresso-91727
- Railway Hotel South Melbourne: openstreetmap.org/850325332, railwaypub.com.au, agfg.com.au/railway-hotel-26227, railwaypub.com.au/menu
- Ruby Riviera: openstreetmap.org/1251054134, rubyriviera.com.au, agfg.com.au/ruby-riviera-taberna-mediterraneo-127164, rubyriviera.com.au/food-menu, rubyriviera.com.au/menus
- The Kettle Black: openstreetmap.org/7489594530, thekettleblack.com.au, agfg.com.au/the-kettle-black-42830, thekettleblack.com.au/contact
- Bells Hotel: openstreetmap.org/2681580960, bellshotel.com.au, agfg.com.au/bells-hotel-81164, bellshotel.com.au/menu-1
