
Green Owl Cafe
Madison's longest-running vegetarian spot serving creative faux-meat dishes and vegan desserts in a cozy, rustic venue.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Green Owl Cafe

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Madison's longest-running vegetarian spot serving creative faux-meat dishes and vegan desserts in a cozy, rustic venue.
"Amazing food, we were so thrilled to find this place! "
Try the Signature Sandwiches
The Nashville Hot 'chicken' sandwich and Big Owl burger are highly recommended for a flavorful experience.
Desserts are a must-try
Consider ordering vegan cupcakes or other unique, rotating dessert specials.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Vegetarian, Vegan
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Creative Vegan Comfort Food
Experience delicious faux-meat dishes and vegan desserts in a cozy, rustic setting.

Signature Sandwiches & Burgers
From the TLT to the 'chicken' sandwich, indulge in flavorful, hearty plant-based creations.

Decadent Vegan Desserts
Don't miss out on their rotating selection of irresistible vegan cheesecakes and cupcakes.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Try the Signature Sandwiches
The Nashville Hot 'chicken' sandwich and Big Owl burger are highly recommended for a flavorful experience.
Desserts are a must-try
Consider ordering vegan cupcakes or other unique, rotating dessert specials.
Parking Tip
Opt for take-out if you wish to avoid parking challenges in the Atwood area.
Order at the Counter
Meals are ordered at the counter; there is no table service.
Tips
from all over the internet
Try the Signature Sandwiches
The Nashville Hot 'chicken' sandwich and Big Owl burger are highly recommended for a flavorful experience.
Desserts are a must-try
Consider ordering vegan cupcakes or other unique, rotating dessert specials.
Parking Tip
Opt for take-out if you wish to avoid parking challenges in the Atwood area.
Order at the Counter
Meals are ordered at the counter; there is no table service.
Visit during off-peak hours
The cafe gets busy around dinner time, and seating is limited, so plan accordingly.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Green Owl Cafe is celebrated for its creative and delicious all-vegan menu, offering satisfying comfort food that appeals to both vegans and non-vegans alike. Diners rave about the unique sandwiches, hearty burgers, and the impressive selection of vegan desserts. While the food is a major draw, some patrons note the counter-service model and limited seating as minor drawbacks.
"I ordered the weekly special, I think it was the southwest burger. I wasn't sure if I'd like it but took a chance and I'm so glad I ordered it. It was absolutely delicious. I had the kale chips and they were seasoned and perfectly crisp. My husband ordered the meatball sandwich. He thought it could've used a touch more sauce. I tried a bite and it was tasty as well. We shared an order of the Green Owl fries. We only ate half of them and they reheated well the next day. Love this restaurant!"
Rachel Byington
"I’m not vegan but was craving a nice, wholesome wrap for lunch so decided to try the Green Owl. It’s so cute inside—I snagged the perfect seat by the window. Ordered the curry wrap, which I HIGHLY recommend. Wanted to try the kale crisps but they were out :(
Service was super quick and staff were friendly!"
taylor marie
"What a super cool place! The vibe was laid back with very friendly service. We had a blackened tofu and a TLT sandwich that did not disappoint ! We will definitely be going back again. Great customer service and very prompt on getting our food."
Beach House Painting
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Green Owl Cafe is Madison's longest-running completely vegan spot, offering a menu where everything can be made vegan upon request.
Popular choices include the Nashville Hot 'chicken' sandwich, Big Owl burger, TLT sandwich, and their rotating vegan desserts like cheesecakes and cupcakes.
Yes, Green Owl Cafe offers a vegan and gluten-free menu, with options like gluten-free seitan available.
The cafe has a cozy, rustic venue with a laid-back vibe and outdoor seating. It is counter-service, not table service.
Limited street parking is available, but there are also parking lots to the south. Consider take-out if parking is an issue.
Green Owl Cafe is known for its 'famous rotating dessert menu' with delicious vegan options like cheesecakes and cupcakes.
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The Must-Try Restaurants In Madison, Wisconsin
Claiming to be Madison’s only vegetarian restaurant, The Green Owl Café serves up gourmet delights without any meat in sight, offering a vegan and gluten-free menu as well. Vegetarian jambalaya and vegan schnitzel are house favourites, whilst a custom salad bar means that guests can pick and choose their own greenery. The restaurant tries to maintain local connections by sourcing food and ideas from nearby farmers and producers.
12 places to get tasty tacos in Madison | Dining & Drink
As with the “unwich” (no bread) sandwich movement, tacos are losing their shells altogether and allowing their filling, or what The Green Owl Cafe calls “the heart of the dish,” to take center stage. A “raw” taco replaces a traditional shell with fresh romaine lettuce that is filled to the brim with sun-dried tomato-walnut chorizo (a surprisingly satisfying take on meat-based chorizo), avocado and juicy pico de gallo topped with creamy cilantro jalapeño dressing for a tangy, spicy finish. And just in case these yummy fixings aren’t enough to convince you its raw taco is worth tasting, Green Owl’s recent win as the 2018 Best of Madison vegetarian/vegan restaurant cements the restaurant’s long-standing reputation as one of Madison’s best purveyors of vegetarian eats — tacos included.
Wisconsin | Restaurant Guide | Vegetarian Resource Group
Enjoy a variety of appetizers, lunch and dinner items with an emphasis on weekly specials, and a “famous rotating dessert menu.” The menu lists sandwiches, burgers, wraps, pasta, bowls, salads, and desserts. Sandwiches served with choice of salad, soup, chili, red potatoes, kale crisps, or French fries. Sample includes TLT with Avocado (tempeh bac’un served on Madison sourdough with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and garlic aioli) and Steak Bomb (thinly sliced, house-made seitan on a baguette with sautéed mushrooms and onions, owl sauce, arugula, cashew cheez sauce or provolone).
14 Must-Try Restaurants for Vegan Food in Madison, Wi 2025
1970 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704No trip to Madison is complete without visiting the city’s longest-running vegetarian restaurant (they say vegetarian, but I couldn’t find anything non-vegan on the menu)!. This sweet little spot has a mouthwatering lineup of comfort eats — it’s best to come here for lunch or dinner very hungry!. Start with an order of loaded Owl Fries covered in cashew cheese, caramelized onions, seitan (they have a GF option, too), and their house-made Owl sauce.
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Located on Atwood Avenue, The Green Owl Cafe claims to be the only vegetarian restaurant in Madison. This restaurant offers delightful gourmet dishes without any meat at all, and also offers a vegan and gluten-free menu. Its Jambalaya & Cornbread, Veggie Loaf Dinner, and Peanut Macrobowl are firm favorites, while its custom salad bar allows you to pick and choose from a wide selection of fresh ingredients.
Shortlist: 8 Vegetarian Restaurants In Madison That Locals Love!
Cozy café serving in-house faux meat dishes for over a decade. Offering vegan comfort food since 2009, Green Owl Cafe is considered the longest-running plant-based restaurant in the city, and to this day it remains one of the most popular vegetarian restaurants in Madison. Its casual setting and colourful seating make for a cozy café to enjoy some simple creative dishes.
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In fact, everything on their menu can be made vegan upon request!. Their vegan chili — with flavors that rotate regularly — is top-notch and just as good as the real thing. They’re also known for their weekly burger special, where their house-made vegan patty gets dressed up as a Pizza Burger, German Apple Hearty Burger or a Fettucine Alfredo Burger — to name a few.
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Vegetarian residents can find great, affordable food at The Green Owl cafe. With an extensive menu that ranges from vegetarian/vegan nachos to Cajun blackened tofu, patrons won't have to worry about accidentally consuming any unintended wayward meat products. The restaurant serves brunch, lunch and dinner, and focuses strongly on using organic, local ingredients.
11 places for vegans to eat in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison’s first all-vegetarian restaurant, the Green Owl can make most dishes vegan. This is your comfortable hangout spot, all decked out in cheerful green, orange and yellow, for veggie burgers, vegan wings or a jackfruit quesadilla. The peanut macrobowl is on the healthful end of the spectrum, made with roasted sweet potato, coconut quinoa and steamed kale.
Vegan Restaurants in Madison, WI
As Madison’s longest running completely vegan spot, Green Owl dishes up memorable comfort food everyone in your group will love. Enjoy everything from macro bowls to mac’ n cheese, nachos to veggie wings, and poutine fries to burgers. These tasty dishes as well as desserts, cocktails and beer are served up in a casual environment with counter service.
12 Best Vegan Restaurants in Madison, WI
The Green Owl Cafe is Madison's longest-running all-vegan restaurant. The cafe is a cozy, rustic venue with a patio serving up delectable faux-meat veggie fare and scrumptious vegan desserts. For over a decade, they have dedicated themselves to creating heartwarming vegan comfort food that the Madison community loves.
Vegan dining in Madison has never tasted better | Food & Drink
For the past decade, Korz’s standbys in Madison have been The Green Owl, an east side vegetarian café opened by Jennie Capellaro (sold to an employee in 2018), casual Food Fight spots (“Monty’s has always been great”), as well as Thai and Indian restaurants, like Dhaba Indian Bistro in Middleton.
Vegan Restaurants in Madison : madisonwi
Green Owl - especially Macho Nachos, Madison Philly sandwich, Caesar salad, Southern Skillet on the brunch menu.. and their desserts are the best!. Everything on the menu (with the occasional exception of daily special) can be made vegan.
The Top Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Madison, WI
Green Owl Cafe is a quaint, dog-friendly cafe with a pet-friendly patio. It is actually Madison's only restaurant that is completely vegetarian and vegan. They even have some dishes with veggie burger patties or Beyond Burger patties.
Vegan Guide to Madison, Wisconsin
After checking into the hotel, Phoebe and I headed to The Green Owl Cafe for dinner. Their patio is dog-friendly, so I was able to bring Phoebe along with me. The Green Owl Cafe is Madison's only vegetarian and vegan restaurant.
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One of Madison's fully vegetarian and vegan restaurant, Green Owl Cafe, is in the Atwood neighborhood and has plenty of outdoor seating. Plant-based folks and meat eaters alike will be impressed with these tasty menu selections.
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For the vegans and vegetarians out there, Green Owl Cafe is offering a take-and-bake “November Feast,” featuring a tofu “Turkey” loaf, seitan “ham,” mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and pumpkin cheesecake.
A Gluten Free Vegan’s Review of the Green Owl Café in Madison, WI
The Green Owl Cafe is a vegan restaurant close to the east side of Madison, WI. They are consistently voted as the best vegetarian/vegan focused restaurant by Madison residents.
A Madison Wisconsin Bed And Breakfast
The Green Owl Cafe, 1970 Atwood Ave, near east side Madison. Madison’s premier vegetarian and vegan restaurant with options for meat-eaters as well.
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If you both love plant-based food, this is a very nice activity for you. You can go to the Green Owl Café for this. View this post on Instagram
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