Whale Tail

Vegetarian restaurant · Lancaster

Whale Tail

Vegetarian restaurant · Lancaster
78a Penny St, Lancaster LA1 1XN, United Kingdom

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Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null
Whale Tail by null

Highlights

Nestled above a health food shop, this serene veggie haven offers a mix of elegant dining and a laid-back courtyard, serving up delicious local and organic dishes.  

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78a Penny St, Lancaster LA1 1XN, United Kingdom Get directions

whaletailcafe.co.uk
@whaletailcafe

$$$$$$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

78a Penny St, Lancaster LA1 1XN, United Kingdom Get directions

+44 1524 845133
whaletailcafe.co.uk
@whaletailcafe
𝕏
@cafewhaletail

$$$$$$ · Menu

Features

dine in
takeout
delivery
payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations
wifi
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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Agata Klara

Google
This place offers fresh, reasonably priced food with a great variety of options, including plenty of delicious gluten-free choices. The drink selection is impressive, with a range of refreshing beverages to complement the meal. The staff are super friendly and attentive, always going the extra mile to ensure a pleasant experience. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, creating the perfect setting for a relaxed meal. Whether you're stopping by for a casual bite or a longer gathering, the value for money is outstanding. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for great food and excellent service! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

adam holden

Google
Nice down to earth place, with a nice selection of beers and food. I'd highly recommend the homity pie. Very warming and filling. Looking forward to coming back soon.

Clare Weber

Google
Lovely place to escape the cold and have a sit down meal. Check out the specials on the day. In general though, great food, friendly staff and very affordable. I loved it!

Double Outcast

Google
The unsurpassed and all time top vegetarian vegan eatery in Lancashire! Try to get here at least once a week when possible. If you need to eat plants - and have them beautifully prepared - THIS is the only place for you and yours :D

carla basha

Google
Had a lovely brunch here and I got an English breakfast. You can tell how big it was, very filling, very good. My friend got the BLT and the sauce in it was to die for! The two matcha drinks were very tasty with oat milk and all Atmosphere was nice and relaxed and the staff were very polite to talk to.

Shrestha Bhowmik

Google
It's a very serene place and the garden area is dog friendly so if you are a pet owner you can visit this cafe with your pet. The food is really good and served warm. The staff are really friendly and accommodating. They also help with any allergies, just let the staff know.

Angus Carpenter

Google
We visited early on a Saturday morning, so the atmosphere was, understandably, a little flat. However, the vegan full English breakfast was gorgeous! It even came with vegan black pudding, which was a 1st for us. Strangely, the toast came way before the meal and was cold, but that was it for any negatives. The space is set out with more formal eating tables but around the edges are sofas for more relaxed just drinks areas. To find the entrance is a little challenging as it is hidden from the main street. You also need to climb some stairs to get to it. But it is very much worth it.

AX Nation

Google
Always excellent vegan (and veggie) food which is great value and tasty, with friendly and helpful staff. Hosts artist exhibitions and live performance too. The building is shared with a superb health food store - Single Step Co-op on the ground floor.
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Aleks Z.

Yelp
An amazing veggie breakfast with filter coffee for a really keen price. It's so rare that a vegetarian can get a "full" breakfast, but with smoked tofu, beautiful juicy sausage, beans, toast, mushrooms and egg... this was a winner.

Jada W.

Yelp
It's a very serene place and the garden area is dog friendly so if you are a pet owner you can visit this cafe with your pet. The food is really good and served warm. The staff are really friendly and accommodating. They also help with any allergies, just let the staff know.

Paul D.

Yelp
Superb Vegan and Vegetarian restaurant, high quality fresh food, well prepared and friendly staff.
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Helena L.

Yelp
Great place for organic, freshly made and flavorful food. I highly recommend their whale tail salad (curry chick peas, small lentils, carrots, and sprouted radish seeds) and their potato pie. Beautiful and colorful food!
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Qype User (davidd…)

Yelp
Just GREAT! Its one of the small gems that either you know about, or you don't. Passed on by word-of-mouth This place sits in a ally off Penny Street and you could miss it unless you were looking. The café sits on the second floor (I presume their is some wheelchair access somewhere), and is decorated with modern stylish, but comfortable (ie homely), decoration. The menu consists mostly of veggie food, if not all, and consists of your usual home-style meals (some with veggie twists), and most served with a salad. And very very very tasty, and well priced, and well just lovely. The staff and overall service were great and super friendly! I can't think of any more great things to say about this place! I totally recommend it to anyone! STOP READING THIS REVIEW AND GO NOW AND ENJOY IT!
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Jessica S.

Yelp
I never leave The Whale Tail unsatisfied! Great alternative food, brilliant service, music and atmosphere. The portion sizes are big, which I love, and the food is light and refreshing. Cant get enough of the salad bowl but the homnety pie is without a doubt my go-to lunch whenever I need some decent food, a brew and a sit down. I've been eating there since before I could walk, and I hope the place is still going strong when I have kids of my own. The only thing the Whale Tail lacks is an evening menu and a bar!
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Qype User (Nix14…)

Yelp
Belting food, decent atmosphere, unpretentious and generally a really nice place to get a bite to eat. Lancaster suffers as much as any other town from globalisation so it's always nice to see a little independent place like this operating so, seemingly, successfully. Every time I have been the food has been fresh, tasty and reasonably priced. And it's one of those places where you don't mind that it is vegetarian because the food is so good. Highly recommend any of the salads. Really relaxed this is the kind of place that more locals should support.
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Qype User (vou…)

Yelp
This is a really atmospheric place in the rafters of an old cheese warehouse. It always seems to be filled with assorted arty bohemian types and you hear some interesting conversations! Very good for people watching The food is lovely - very healthy and tasty with big bowls of salad and generous portions being a speciality. In addition the drinks are good - you can come here for a simple coffee and not be disappointed. Although the dining room is quite large whenever I've come here it's always full which has to be a good sign. The staff are very smiley and friendly, and you don't have to wait too long for your food no matter how busy they are.
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Qype User (Sea7…)

Yelp
This is quite simply the best place to get a fully fried, hangover cure type veggie breakfast. I was a regular customer when I lived in Lancaster and the food is simply heavenly. Not only are there so many different choices, but the cakes are to die for. The staff are wonderful and the service is cheerful and fast. You must visit this cafe if you visit Lancaster!
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Qype User (PamMan…)

Yelp
Tucked away off the main street, the Whale Tail doesn't have the best entrance - don't be put off by the commercial sized bins and the 'student-y' new age feel. Up the entrance steps, past the basic but clean loos, then upstairs to the cafe, which has all the ambience of a college canteen. But the staff are friendly and the veggie food is great. I bought the Whale Tail cook book some time ago, fully intending to make some of those delicious salads at home, but I never have! I'd far rather the Whale Tail staff make them for me! Downstairs is a wholefood shop that is run as a co-operative. Well worth a visit after sampling the healthy Whale Tail fare.
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Qype User (selina…)

Yelp
Gorgeous food, relaxed and healthy. I always want the reciepe! all veggie wholefood and organic where possible. grab a paper to read. they have a good kids menu and highchairs and toys to keep them amused. clean and friendly.
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Qype User (DANRA…)

Yelp
This place is the alternative place in town to the usual restaurants and cafe's it hint the wilds of devon where I used to live and their food is purely Veggie so its a nice change from the horrible microwaved food from the chain pubs in town. Well recommend it

Qype User (lovela…)

Yelp
I was really looking forward to eating here, but was a bit disappointed. It was a very small place & very difficult to bring my baby & toddler into. I found the food a bit plain. I was expecting an open relaxed place, but it was small. the other customers really seemed to be rather pretentious & seemed disgusted that i would bring my children to a healthy cafe !! there was a lack of facilities for the little ones & they felt a bit claustrophobic. the staff were lovely & if it were in a slightly better building it would be a huge improvement.
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Qype User (johnfs…)

Yelp
Lancaster's only fully vegetarian restaurant can get very busy and you'll sometimes be lucky to get a seat, especially during University student term time. It's worth persisting, however: the food is always good and the staff are a delight. There's a garden that's open most of the time if you like to eat outdoors.

Mr F.

Yelp
am new to Lancaster having moved here last year. I stumbled upon this cafe when my parents and baby sister visited. The food was fantastic! I had a Brie bake and Whale Tail salad, which was soo tasty. The price is so reasonable for the amount of food you get too. I had the vegan carrot cake for dessert, I could have eaten another piece if I hadn't been so full. My little sister and parents were very happy too, especially my sister who spent most of her time playing with the toys, which the Whale Tail kindly provide. This cafe has to be top of the list for any vegetarian, vegan or even carnivore who wants to sample superb freshly made vegetarian/vegan food at it's best!