Vegan In Galveston: What To See, Do, and Eat

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Are you a plant based Texan traveling this year? Chances are you may find yourself in Galveston for a weekend getaway with family and friends and wondering what can you see, do, and most importantly eat as a vegan in Galveston, TX. Check out my Vegan in Galveston Guide to help you plan your next plant based vacation to the gulf!

WHAT TO EAT:

JIMMY’S ON THE PIER

This is a great little spot on the pier in Galveston to have lunch or dinner as you can sit outside with a great view. As a guest of the restaurant, if there is a wait, the hostess will offer you some wristbands to walk along the pier until your reservation is ready, which is really nice to pass the time.

Here you can order a black bean patty with french fries and of course grab a few drinks and enjoy the view!

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LOLO KAI SMOOTHIES AND WRAPS

Lolo Kai is the perfect place to grab some breakfast as a vegan in Galveston. They’ve got a ton of smoothies and smoothie bowls to choose from, however the wrap is a bit underwhelming as it’s just a hummus wrap, but hey, it’s something!

We opted for the Big Island Smoothie bowl with acai, coconut milk, strawberries and bananas without honey.

EATCETERA

EatCetera is by far the best vegan option in Galveston. Almost everything on their menu can be made vegan and they have a ton of options to choose from but make sure you get there early because they close at 4pm as do a lot of the vegan friendly options in Galveston.

We ordered their french toast sticks with vegan cream cheese, their roasted chicken sandwich vegan style with tofu and soy aioli, and the roasted chicken panini vegan style with tofu. We both decided the Vegan Style Roasted Chicken Panini was the best thing we had the whole trip so I highly recommend it!

WHAT TO SEE & DO:

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MOODY MANSION

On the east side of the island you can explore historic buildings and homes like the famous Moody Mansion which offers self guided tours for $15.

MAGIC CARPET GOLF & HURRICAN COWBOY SHAVED ICE

As touristy as this spot is I have to admit it’s so much fun and their courses are actually pretty difficult, which we loved! Only downside is this place only takes cash or check…not sure who is paying with a check these days but luckily they have an ATM machine on site to pull out some quick cash to play. After playing some mini golf in the sun, you can grab some shaved ice next door which has a ton of flavors to choose from.

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MOODY GARDENS

The most iconic buildings on the island are the pyramids of Moody Gardens, however if you’re an ethical vegan this place offers limited activities. Each of the pyramids is themed. One is an aquarium exhibit, one is a rainforest exhibit (both of which have animals) and the other is a rotating exhibit which is typically vegan friendly. When we were there it was an educational exhibit about human bones. There is also the planetarium which is of course a vegan friendly activity however due to covid this particular area is closed at the moment. They also have zip-lining available and Schlitterbahn is right next door if you’d prefer to spend your day in the water.

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE:

  • Dessert: If you’re looking for something sweet to eat on the island, there is a Ben & Jerry’s on Seawall blvd which has a few different vegan flavors to choose from.

  • Everything Closes Early: This is a beach town so be prepared to eat early as a lot of things close between 4-5pm. There is a Kroger however on Seawall where you can pick up some groceries if there aren’t any restaurants open and available.

  • Use Happy Cow: The Happy Cow app was so helpful during this trip as we were able to scout out some locations with good vegan options during our stay.

  • Rent a House or Condo: Although there are a ton of hotels here, as a vegan with limited options, renting a house or condo with a kitchen allows you to cook some meals and having more freedom when it comes to food since options are so limited here.

  • Van Life/Camping/Overlanding:

    • Galveston’s overnight parking is tough! Most places along the beach have packed sand to park but you’ll most likely need a permit which you can buy for $12 during the day from local stores and establishments.

    • You can reserve a camping spot at the Galveston State park however the beach side is closed right now for construction so only the bay side is open. Depending on the weather, the bay side does not get much breeze from the ocean and can be extremely humid. We unfortunately had to stay in a hotel because it was too humid and the mosquitos were too rampant to crack the windows. Another thing to note about the Galveston State park is that they close and lock the gates at 10pm which means you can’t come in or out after this time as there is not an attendant who monitors the entrance or exit.

    • Public Restrooms: Public restrooms are also pretty difficult to find. There is a Walgreens in town with public restrooms and you can use the gas stations but as I mentioned earlier, things close pretty early so if you rely on public restrooms depending on your set up this could get difficult late at night. There are porter potty’s on the beaches but the one’s we encountered were not well maintained and I personally…wouldn’t recommend.

I hope you find this guide helpful to you for your vegan adventures in Galveston. Let me know below what helped you the most or what are some of your favorite places in Galveston!