Florida: A Melting Pot of Dairy-Free Dining Options

Last updated September 2020! Sun and sea dominate the scene in sizzling Florida. And unlike neighboring states, they also have strong Caribbean and Cuban influences in their cuisine. This brings a new range of dairy-free flavors to the table at many local dining spots.

That’s why we’ve been able to create this ever-growing guide to restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and ice cream shops in Florida that are friendly to dairy-free diners. It’s a collection based on research and reader recommendations (send yours!), that’s divided into local restaurants (first) and chains (second).

Note: You can ignore the original post date on this post going forward. We’ll update the information below whenever we’re alerted to a new restaurant recommendation, change, or closure. 

Local Florida Restaurants Recommended for Dairy-Free Eats

We’ve listed these recommendations alphabetically by city, and then by the restaurant or shop name.

⭐️ = Restaurant is either dairy-free, has a dairy-free menu, has dairy-free labels on their menu(s), or lists top allergens with menu items. (At the time of our last review.)

Boca Raton

• Parlour Vegan Bakery ⭐️ – Sweet and savory cravings are covered at this dairy-free, egg-free, meat-free shop. They make their own empanadas, pastelitos, and popular local sandwiches, like the Cubano. For dessert you can choose from a huge array of cookies, cupcakes, donuts, and more. They also have a menu of coffee drinks and do bake stunning cakes for custom orders.

Gainesville

• Karma Cream ⭐️ – This all-vegan shop is overflowing with goodness. They serve organic coffee, kombucha on tap, a big variety of baked goods, sandwiches to balance out the sweets, and of course, ice cream. Their dairy-free, gluten-free (yes, every flavor!) scoops can be served with an array of toppings and even sandwiched in vegan cookies (not gluten-free).

Fort Lauderdale

• Green Bar & Kitchen ⭐️ – This minimalist vegan cafe focuses on healthy food and sustainability. They serve breakfast all day, have a nice menu of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and bowls, and also have a full juice bar. You can also order their juice cleanses, fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, and acai bowls. They are open midday into the early evening, and pour beer and wine.
• Pizza Fusion – It’s easy to order dairy-free pizza at this small chain. All of their pizza doughs are vegan, their pizza sauce is vegan, and they offer two dairy-free cheese alternatives: Daiya and Follow Your Heart. They can also customize sandwiches and salads as needed. And for dessert, they have gluten-free vegan brownies!

Fort Myers

• Pizza Fusion – It’s easy to order dairy-free pizza at this small chain. All of their pizza doughs are vegan, their pizza sauce is vegan, and they offer two dairy-free cheese alternatives: Daiya and Follow Your Heart. They can also customize sandwiches and salads as needed. And for dessert, they have gluten-free vegan brownies!

Jacksonville

• Green Erth Bistro – This little neighborhood restaurant focuses on Persian cuisine, and they are conscious of special diet needs. Many of the dishes are naturally dairy free, but they also have specifically vegan dishes and vegan options for numerous menu items. They even offer dairy-free cheese alternative for their paninis! For dessert, they have a rotating vegan dessert and dairy-free ice cream.
• Kathy’s Table ⭐️ – This is a counter-serve restaurant and meal delivery service that specializes in pre-made gluten-free and dairy-free entrees, juices, and desserts. Their in store menu changes every two weeks, and includes an array of a la carte meals with several paleo and grain-free options. They also have meal plans for different dietary goals, ranging from weight loss to bulking up. These can be picked up or ordered for delivery. They have three locations in Jacksonville: Riverside, Southside, and Jax Beach.
• Sweet Theory Baking Co. ⭐️ – Daily offerings at this retro vegan bakery include cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, biscuit sandwiches. They also make a big selection of gluten-free baked goods using separate equipment and even a separate oven.

Key Largo

• Sal’s Ballyhoo’s – This 1930’s conch house turned restaurant is known for its all-you-can-eat seafood, but they also have a big list of surf and turf entrees for lunch and dinner. Many of the items are naturally dairy-free, but they have a separate vegan and vegetarian menu, too. It includes quite a few surprises, like their house-made vegan cheese. It’s available in their grilled “cheese” sandwich with house-made beer bread and a cup of soup. They have about a dozen vegan entrees, several sides, and even a couple of dessert options.

Lutz

• Ice Dreammm Shop – All of their ice creams are churned on site, including their dairy-free flavors. They rotate periodically, but can include coconut, double chocolate coconut, cookies ‘n dreammm (made with oatmilk), cherry pina colada, or pumpkin. They also offer vegan toppings, and can whip you up a dairy-free milkshake.

Miami

• Bunnie Cakes ⭐️ – Pink is the cheerful theme at this sweet vegan bake shop. They make beautiful cupcakes, cookies, cakes, and donuts, and offer many gluten-free options. They also take special orders for custom cakes and other baked goods.

Miami Beach

• Milk Gone Nuts ⭐️ – This dairy-free milk bar crafts an array of raw, organic, nut “milques” that you can sip on, order as chocolate milk, or enjoy in vegan milkshakes or smoothies. They also serve fresh-pressed juices, coffee drinks, salads, pitas, soups, and healthy breakfasts. To top it off, they offer house made artisan popsicles, dairy-free soft serve, and gluten-free, vegan ice cream sandwiches.

Naples

• Pizza Fusion – It’s easy to order dairy-free pizza at this small chain. All of their pizza doughs are vegan, their pizza sauce is vegan, and they offer two dairy-free cheese alternatives: Daiya and Follow Your Heart. They can also customize sandwiches and salads as needed. And for dessert, they have gluten-free vegan brownies!

Orlando

• Voodoo Doughnut – This unique doughnut chain out of Oregon offers several vegan doughnut flavors daily, which can include maple bars, cream filled, apple fritters, and other creative raised and iced varieties. They also bake a vegan cake doughnut, and can make almost any donut vegan if you order ahead. However, they don’t offer any gluten-free donuts. This location is at the Universal Studios Citywalk.

Orlando – Disneyworld

• Erin McKenna’s Bakery ⭐️ – Need a sweet treat to keep you energized at Disneyworld? This sweet bakery is completely vegan and gluten-free, and they don’t use any soy. Their daily menu includes cupcakes, muffins, donuts, cookies, crumb cakes, and more. They also swirl dairy-free soft serve. And yes, they take custom cake orders! They can deliver cakes to most table service restaurants in Disneyworld.

Pine Crest

• EVOS Restaurant – This healthy local fast food chain serves an array of bowls, burgers, wraps, salads, and sides. They only use hormone and antibiotic-free meat, source wild fish, and airbake their fries and tenders (they don’t have a deep fryer). Their nutritious spin means quite a few dairy-free options, and of course their menu is labeled for vegan and gluten-free selections. They also serve some pretty tasty fruitshakes, which are naturally vegan.

Plantation

• Parlour Vegan Bakery ⭐️ – Kristen, who’s been allergic to dairy her entire life, recommended this tiny little bakery. “I’ve only been here once, I just found it. But they offer cupcakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls, empanadas and donuts. I shared some cupcakes and a cookie with my sister and we agreed both were great. This bakery is also opening a second location in Boca Raton, Florida.We like it more than Whole Foods.”

St. Petersburg

• EVOS Restaurant – This healthy local fast food chain serves an array of bowls, burgers, wraps, salads, and sides. They only use hormone and antibiotic-free meat, source wild fish, and airbake their fries and tenders (they don’t have a deep fryer). Their nutritious spin means quite a few dairy-free options, and of course their menu is labeled for vegan and gluten-free selections. They also serve some pretty tasty fruitshakes, which are naturally vegan.
• Paciugo Gelato Caffè – They’re based in Texas, but have one outpost in this state, with lots of dairy-free options. See our Paciugo Gelato Dairy-Free Guide for more details.
• Plant Love Ice Cream ⭐️ – Created by a mother and son team, this purely vegan ice cream shop uses fresh, organic ingredients to churn coconut milk based frozen dessert. They also shun artificial colors or flavoring, and are “very cautious with the cross-contamination of allergens.” Their flavors change periodically, but they usually have a selection that includes classic, wellness, and locally inspired options. If you can’t decide, they offer flights of five flavors. Gluten-free cones are also available.

Tallahassee

• Lofty Pursuits – Kimberly let us know about this ice cream parlor and soda fountain. Most of their flavors are traditional dairy ice cream, but they churn their own vegan ice kreme and also have daily flavors of sorbet. They make a vegan caramel and a vegan hot fudge, and even make a vegan whipped cream for sundaes. They stock almond milk for making dairy-free milkshakes. For brunch, they also have several vegan options on the menu, including pancakes and waffles.

Tampa

• EVOS Restaurant – This healthy local fast food chain serves an array of bowls, burgers, wraps, salads, and sides. They only use hormone and antibiotic-free meat, source wild fish, and airbake their fries and tenders (they don’t have a deep fryer). Their nutritious spin means quite a few dairy-free options, and of course their menu is labeled for vegan and gluten-free selections. They also serve some pretty tasty fruitshakes, which are naturally vegan. They have two locations in Tampa.

West Palm Beach

• Darbster ⭐️ – This modern vegan restaurant has a dog-friendly patio overlooking the water, and is open for dinner five days a week, and brunch on the weekends. Their menus are diverse and flavorful, with creative alternatives to all types of dishes, from the casual cheeze plate to comforting parmigiana to an elegant wellington. They also have a kids’ menu and an impressive dessert menu

Weston

• Pizza Fusion – It’s easy to order dairy-free pizza at this small chain. All of their pizza doughs are vegan, their pizza sauce is vegan, and they offer two dairy-free cheese alternatives: Daiya and Follow Your Heart. They can also customize sandwiches and salads as needed. And for dessert, they have gluten-free vegan brownies!

Wilton Manors

• Wilton Creamery – Though they call their shop “A Dairy Bar,” we’ve had several of our viewers rave about their dairy-free ice cream. Kristen said, “I am allergic to dairy, I have been my entire life. I have never had ice cream like this, it’s so creamy! It is phenomenal!!!” And Katie K. said, “definitely the best non-dairy ice cream I’ve had…highly recommended!” Their creamy flavors are made with a coconut milk base, and they have several sorbets, too. They usually have some house made vegan sauces, and can also make you an affogato. 

Winter Park

• Ethos Vegan Kitchen ⭐️ – This beloved restaurant (by both vegans and non-vegans) has been in the Orlando area since 2007. They focus on hearty, homestyle fare and all-natural ingredients. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with scrambles, pancakes, sandwiches, wraps, from-scratch soups, pizzas, various entrees, and desserts. Everything is of course free of dairy, eggs, seafood, and meat, but they also have an allergen menu for gluten and other top allergens.

National Chains with Several Florida Locations

There are many more chains in this state, but these are the ones we recommend most for dairy-free options.

• Blaze Pizza (Build Your Own Pizza)
• Pei Wei (Asian Fast Casual)
• Ted’s Montana Grill (American Ranch Grill)
• Uno Pizzeria & Grill (Italian-American Restaurant)

This Guide is Continuously Updated with Recommendations

We welcome you to recommend other dairy-free friendly restaurants. Leave a comment or contact us and tell us why you like a certain restaurant. Restaurant owners and employees are also invited to reach out and let us know how you welcome dairy-free customers.

Please kindly let us know in the comments if any of these restaurants close. We want to keep this list current for you, but aren’t always notified when a restaurant closes. Let us know and we will quickly update!

This Guide is for Informational Purposes Only

Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, and restaurants are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure that they can accommodate your situation.

There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.

For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!