TL;DR
Seward is the original vegan neighborhood in Minneapolis. Seward Cafe (2129 E Franklin Ave) has been worker-owned since 1974 -- all-day brunch, vegan biscuits and gravy, open Thursday through Sunday. Hard Times Cafe (1821 Riverside Ave, Cedar-Riverside) is the punk diner institution open seven days until midnight, fully vegetarian with extensive vegan options. Reverie Cafe + Bar (1517 E 35th St, Powderhorn) is 100% vegan with a full bar, brunch on weekends, and live music. May Day Cafe (3440 Bloomington Ave, Powderhorn) is cash-only, all-day breakfast, vegan options throughout. The Seward Co-op anchors the whole scene at 2823 E Franklin Ave.
Seward: Minneapolis's Original Vegan Neighborhood
If you want to understand the roots of vegan culture in Minneapolis, start in Seward. Not Uptown. Not Northeast. Seward.
The neighborhood east of Riverside Ave along Franklin Ave is where Minneapolis's cooperative food movement planted itself in the early 1970s, and where it has stayed ever since. The Seward Community Co-op opened in 1972. Seward Cafe followed in 1974. Hard Times Cafe arrived in 1992. These are not restaurants that added vegan options to appeal to a trend. They are institutions that helped create the conditions for a vegan-friendly city in the first place.
Seward is also one of the most affordable neighborhoods for dining in Minneapolis. Worker-owned and cooperatively run restaurants tend to keep prices honest. A full breakfast at Seward Cafe or Hard Times runs under ten dollars. The co-op's prepared foods section competes with any restaurant in the city for quality and value. This is a neighborhood where eating well as a vegan does not require spending money you do not have.
Seward Cafe -- The Institution
2129 E Franklin Ave | Vegetarian with extensive vegan options | $ | Thu-Sun 8am-4pm
Seward Cafe has been operating as a collectively-owned restaurant since 1974. It is not a trendy concept. It is the kind of place that has stayed open for fifty years because it does exactly what it sets out to do: serve good food in a welcoming space at prices that do not exclude anyone.
The menu is vegetarian throughout and most items are vegan or can be made vegan with a simple swap. The breakfast lineup is the reason to come. Vegan biscuits and gravy -- hash browns, house-made biscuits, thick mushroom gravy -- is the order most regulars make first and keep making every time after. The tofu scramble with smoky tempeh is another mainstay. Pancakes come fluffy and thick, with options to add blueberries, chocolate chips, tahini, or jam.
The cafe emphasizes local and organic ingredients and fair trade coffee, consistent with the cooperative values the neighborhood has practiced since before those terms became marketing language. Regulars are greeted by name. Newcomers feel welcome.
Note the hours: Thursday through Sunday, 8am to 4pm. Plan accordingly.
What to order:
- Vegan biscuits and gravy -- the definitive order
- Tofu scramble with smoky tempeh
- Vegan pancakes with blueberries or tahini
- Fair trade coffee
Best for: Weekend brunch, any morning you want a real meal, first-timers who want to understand what Seward food culture means.
Hard Times Cafe -- The Punk Diner
1821 Riverside Ave (Cedar-Riverside) | Vegetarian with extensive vegan options | $ | Daily 8am-midnight
Hard Times Cafe sits technically in Cedar-Riverside, the neighboring pocket of the university district just west of Seward, but it belongs to the same cultural ecosystem. Collectively owned since 1992, it has the hand-painted bright green facade, the anarchist posters, and the energy of a place that never tried to be anything other than what it is.
The menu is fully vegetarian and built for the vegan diner. Vegan biscuits and gravy are on the menu here too -- the mushroom gravy is a legitimate Minneapolis standout. The Helter Skelter (hash browns, tofu, peppers) and the big fat vegan pancake are all-day staples. The lunch side of the menu brings a seitan Philly cheesesteak and Korean BBQ tofu bun. Portions are generous. Prices are honest.
The hours are the other thing that sets Hard Times apart from nearly every vegan-friendly spot in the city: open every single day from 8am until midnight. This is where you eat when the conventional dinner window has closed. Cash only, but there is an ATM on-site.
What to order:
- Vegan biscuits and gravy with mushroom gravy
- Helter Skelter (hash browns and tofu)
- Big fat vegan pancake
- Seitan Philly (lunch and dinner)
- Korean BBQ tofu bun
Best for: Late-night meals, all-day breakfast, anyone who wants serious vegan food outside normal restaurant hours.
Reverie Cafe + Bar -- The Full-Service Anchor
1517 E 35th St (Powderhorn) | 100% Vegan | $$ | Mon-Sun 11am-9pm, Sat-Sun brunch from 9:30am
Reverie Cafe + Bar is located in Powderhorn -- just south of Seward, close enough to walk or bike -- and it is the most complete vegan dining experience in the cluster. The menu is 100% plant-based, the bar carries 20 craft beers on tap, and the kitchen runs from brunch through dinner seven days a week.
The food at Reverie is creative in a way that Seward Cafe and Hard Times are not. Lemongrass tofu tacos, Korean BBQ mock-duck tacos, a Cuban sandwich with pulled jackfruit, and the Rev Burger (tempeh patty, tomato jam, smoked onions, kimchi aioli) represent a kitchen that takes plant-based cooking seriously as cooking, not just accommodation. Dark chocolate beignets and cashew cheesecake handle dessert with the same seriousness.
Weekend brunch starts at 9:30am and draws a crowd. The mural-lined walls and full bar make it a genuine night-out destination, not just a restaurant with good intentions.
What to order:
- Rev Burger -- tempeh, tomato jam, smoked onions, kimchi aioli
- Korean BBQ mock-duck tacos
- Lemongrass tofu tacos
- Dark chocolate beignets
- Any of the 20 craft beers on tap
Best for: Dinner, weekend brunch, date night, anyone who wants a 100% vegan experience with a full bar.
May Day Cafe -- The Neighborhood Cafe
3440 Bloomington Ave (Powderhorn) | Vegan-Friendly | $ | Daily 7am-1:30pm
May Day Cafe operates in Powderhorn on Bloomington Ave, part of the same south Minneapolis corridor as Reverie. It is a smaller, quieter operation -- all-day breakfast in a colorful, community-focused space with local art on the walls and a bulletin board dense with neighborhood notices.
The vegan options are strong for a non-exclusively-vegan cafe: tofu scrambles, vegan pancakes, and tempeh hash are all regular menu items. Lunch brings soups, salads, and sandwiches with plant-based proteins. Fair trade coffee, a welcoming atmosphere, and a commitment to local sourcing make it feel genuinely of the neighborhood rather than for it. Cash only.
Hours are early: 7am to 1:30pm every day. This is a morning and midday cafe, not a dinner destination.
What to order:
- Tofu scramble
- Vegan pancakes
- Tempeh hash
- Soups and salads at lunch
Best for: Early mornings, weekday breakfast, anyone who wants a neighborhood cafe without pretense.
Seward Co-op: The Foundation
No guide to vegan dining in Seward is complete without the Seward Community Co-op at 2823 E Franklin Ave. Operating since 1972, it is one of the anchors of the Minneapolis cooperative food system.
The prepared foods section is where it competes directly with restaurants: a hot bar, salad bar, and grab-and-go prepared items that are reliably strong for vegan eaters. The bulk section, produce selection, and specialty vegan products make it the best grocery stop in the neighborhood. If you are assembling a picnic for Minnehaha Falls or stocking up before a day on the Midtown Greenway, this is the place to start.
A second Friendship Store location operates in Saint Paul's Hamline-Midway neighborhood.
Getting There
Seward and the adjacent neighborhoods are well-connected by transit and easy to navigate by bike.
By bus: Metro Transit Route 2 and Route 21 run on Franklin Ave E through Seward, connecting to downtown Minneapolis to the west and Longfellow to the east. Route 23 covers Minnehaha Ave for access to the south end of the neighborhood.
By bike: Franklin Ave is bikeable east-west. The Midtown Greenway -- one of Minneapolis's premier protected bike trails -- runs a few blocks south of Franklin, making the neighborhood easy to reach from Uptown, Powderhorn, or Longfellow without mixing with traffic.
By car: Street parking is available throughout the side streets off Franklin Ave. The neighborhood is dense enough that parking on a parallel residential block is usually a short walk from any of the spots listed here.
The Seward Vegan Route
The natural way to spend a day eating in Seward is along the Franklin Ave corridor east-west, with short detours south into Powderhorn.
Morning: Seward Cafe (2129 E Franklin Ave) for biscuits and gravy and coffee. Arrive before 11am to beat the weekend rush. Thursday through Sunday only.
If the timing does not work for Seward Cafe: Hard Times Cafe (1821 Riverside Ave, Cedar-Riverside) runs the same all-day breakfast from 8am every day of the week, including days when Seward Cafe is closed.
Midday: Swing by the Seward Co-op (2823 E Franklin Ave) for a prepared-foods lunch or to stock up on snacks. The hot bar runs through the afternoon.
Dinner: Head south to Reverie Cafe + Bar (1517 E 35th St, Powderhorn) for the full vegan dinner experience. Get there by 9pm. If you are going for brunch instead, Reverie opens at 9:30am on Saturday and Sunday.
Variation for early risers: May Day Cafe (3440 Bloomington Ave, Powderhorn) is open at 7am seven days a week -- the earliest start of any vegan-friendly spot in this cluster.
Total distance from Seward Cafe to Reverie: About 1.5 miles south on bike or a five-minute drive. The Midtown Greenway path connects them without a traffic light.
For the full Minneapolis plant-based dining picture, see our best vegan restaurants guide. For more neighborhood guides, see Lyn-Lake. For brunch specifically, the vegan brunch guide covers the full city. For summer dining and patio options, see the vegan BBQ guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there vegan restaurants in Seward Minneapolis?
Yes. Seward is one of the most vegan-friendly neighborhoods in Minneapolis and has been since the 1970s. The anchor is Seward Cafe at 2129 E Franklin Ave -- a collectively-owned brunch spot open Thursday through Sunday with vegan biscuits and gravy, tofu scrambles, and vegan pancakes. Hard Times Cafe at 1821 Riverside Ave (adjacent Cedar-Riverside) is fully vegetarian with strong vegan options and is open every day until midnight. Reverie Cafe + Bar in nearby Powderhorn is 100% vegan with a full bar and brunch on weekends.
Is Seward Minneapolis vegan friendly?
Seward is widely considered the most vegan-friendly neighborhood in Minneapolis. It is home to Seward Cafe, one of the oldest cooperatively-owned restaurants in the city; the Seward Community Co-op, which has operated since 1972 and maintains an outstanding vegan prepared foods section; and is adjacent to Hard Times Cafe in Cedar-Riverside, a cornerstone of Minneapolis vegan culture since 1992. The neighborhood's cooperative, progressive ethos has made it a natural home for plant-based eating.
What are the vegan options at Hard Times Cafe?
Hard Times Cafe at 1821 Riverside Ave is fully vegetarian and most menu items are vegan or easily made vegan. Standouts include vegan biscuits and gravy with mushroom gravy, the Helter Skelter (hash browns and tofu), vegan pancakes, seitan Philly cheesesteak, and Korean BBQ tofu bun. The cafe is open every day from 8am to midnight. Cash only, but an ATM is on-site. All-day breakfast is served throughout the full open-to-close window.
What is the Seward Co-op and is it vegan friendly?
The Seward Community Co-op at 2823 E Franklin Ave is one of Minneapolis's oldest and most respected grocery cooperatives, operating since 1972. It has an excellent prepared foods section for vegans including a hot bar, salad bar, and grab-and-go items. The bulk section, produce selection, and specialty vegan products make it one of the best stops in the city for plant-based shopping. A second Friendship Store location is in Saint Paul's Hamline-Midway neighborhood.
How do I get to Seward Minneapolis by bus?
Metro Transit Route 2 and Route 21 both run on Franklin Ave E through the Seward neighborhood, connecting it to downtown Minneapolis and other south Minneapolis neighborhoods. The routes stop near Seward Cafe and within walking distance of the Seward Co-op. Route 23 connects along Minnehaha Ave. Street parking is available on side streets throughout the neighborhood, and the Franklin Ave corridor is bikeable with access to the Midtown Greenway a few blocks south.