Vegan-friendly
American
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Brazilian
Full-service restaurant offering vegetarian and vegan food. Example of food may be curried tempeh sandwich, tofu sandwich, sweet potato fries, and cachapas (sweet corncakes), and different cake options. Located below stairs, with patio, and full bar in the evening and booths. Est. since the 2000s. May 2021 reported no longer serving fish. NOTE: Possibly fully vegan - please verify and let HappyCow know. Open Tue 11:00am-9:00pm, Wed 11:00am-2:00am, Thu-Fri 11:00am-12:00am, Sat-Sun 11:00am-3:00pm, Sat 5:00pm-12:00am, Sun 5:00pm-9:00pm.
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 18 Mar 2024 by Guest
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48 Reviews
First Review by 441dave
Ameisherry
Points +10330
Amazing - Edit
Except dairy (cheese) and honey, all the other items are vegan
Read moreThey have vegan cheese and dairy cheese as options
Their gluten free bread contains eggs, the regular gluten bread is vegan
Guest
francia
Points +307
Update - Edit
Their hours are not correct. Disappointing, cause I was really looking forward to sample their menu and the vibes of the place was very cool! Kitchen closes at 9pm. Not 12am as stated in happy cow. So we went to Thai top 10 which is a few doors down. They have vegan curry (normally used fish sauce) and is family owned but aren’t on happy cow 🤗 I’ll let the server know so they can get on it 😁
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-03-24
Pros: Vibes, Friendly
Cons: Inaccurate information
Guest
Calaverasgrande
Points +34
Overall it's decent but it seems lacking ? - Edit
I don't like to leave bad reviews for places. But this place leaves me feeling kind of odd.
Read moreEvery time I go there the server seems like they are struggling. I don't blame the server. I think they either have a high turnover, or expect employees to function understaffed like Taco Bell when they can't manage an extra person for the register.
The food is well intentioned but every time I have been there its a little mediocre.
Not bad at all, but I've never had anything memorable here. It's all about the same level as the vegetarian option at an omnivore restaurant. Nothing really remarkable.
For instance, the reuben. It tastes okay, but the texture was just mushy. Other burgers and stuff I've gotten there are light on flavor and texture.
I really do appreciate eating at a place where I do not have to wonder if my food was cooked next to a steak, or incorporates lard or chicken stock.
But there are a lot of plant based options in RVA. It's not good enough to just be vegetarian. The food has to be good!
It's also kind of weird that they are called Ipanema but nothing about the menu says Brazilian. Ipanema is an actual place, not just the name of a song!
It's like if you name a place New Orleans Cafe and have no Cajun or Creole cuisine.
There is also this weird thing that others have mentioned. They are frequently closed for no reason.
Pros: nice atmosphere, friendly staff, plant based
Cons: closed at random times, bland, waiting for the check.
Guest
bhall40658
Points +29
Recommend!! - Edit
The atmosphere was nice and chill. Cute little area. The food food also!
Read moreGuest
MEW
Points +398
Should be listed as vegan. - Edit
I was first here six years ago, and find myself here again now in 2023. This place is 99.2% vegan, so I feel bad that they get dinged and listed as vegetarian. I think they have a dairy cheese option for their burger, but outside of that, the place is great and vegan. Loved the Reuben.
Read morePros: Vibe , Beer and wine served , Long standing business
Guest
tulipathic
Points +39
Nice spot, good variety - Edit
There is a lot of variety in the dishes which I appreciate a lot, although the taste wasn't amazing considering the price. Great atmosphere though
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-09-09
Guest
jaredtemple
Points +38
Great food - Edit
Quiet, friendly, whole menu was vegan 😍
Read moreGuest
ANewDay
Points +209
I love the food at Ipanema! - Edit
Update: removed 2 stars due to cancelling my orders several times and not calling about it. What a waste of time showing up for the order when they cancelled it! Poor communication on their offerings. Can't tell if they still serve brunch.
Read moreA wonderful and perfect meal after a long and grueling work trip. Thank you!!
Updated from previous review on 2023-05-25
Pros: Elegant and thoughtful seasonal dishes, All vegan unless noted, Serves brunch, stays open fairly late, & full bar
Cons: Parking can be difficult, Poor communication and phone lines
Guest
ElissaBVegan
Points +2980
Solid Veg Restaurant - Edit
We had the Pad Thai which was tasty and filling and a sausage, polenta and cashew sauce dish, which was also delicious.
Read morePros: Almost everything is vegan , Varied selection , Good service
Guest
MelodyVeganJoy
Points +7367
Terrible service and subpar French toast. - Edit
Our service was super slow. They were out of several items on the menu. They didn't even have utensils for my dish. I got the French toast and honestly it was so sad and disappointing and bland. I wanted to like Ipanema, but I did not have a great experience.
Read moreGuest
Dee258
Points +190
Vegan vegan - Edit
Food is always great . Service is friendly , casual fun vibe
Read morePros: Plenty of Vegan options , Clearly Marked Menu with Vegan vs Not vegan , Outside dining options
Cons: Non
Guest
lw712
Points +50
Good food! - Edit
Three of us ate here, and all of us liked the meal. Some dishes were better than others but it was all pretty good. We got the mezze platter, which did not come with enough bread but was tasty. The summer harvest was quite good, though rather pricey. The barbecue jackfruit was good, but some of the other things were better. Loved the chicken salad. Good service, too. And the outside patio was nice, especially because inside is a dark basement.
Read morePros: Good food
Cons: A bit pricey
Guest
RejeanLHeureux
Points +35
Outstanding place - Edit
Imviting, great menu, favorite local spot
Read moreGuest
TriciaSargeant
Points +201
Great fully vegan restaurant - Edit
Ipanema had a really diverse menu. The food was great. I would definitely return again!
Read morePros: Full menu of vegan options , Fresh ingredients , Diverse options
Cons: The indoor seating was a bit dungeon-y
Guest
pheasance
Points +295
Delicious! - Edit
I pass through Richmond a few times a year and stop here if I'm at all able (despite the misery of parking in downtown Richmond). Great food and nice beer selection, plus desserts for vegans, yay! I recently enjoyed the patty melt and mac and cheese. Past favorites have included the Reuben and a vegan creme brulee!
Read morePros: Comfort food, Beer selection, Friendly staff
Cons: Parking
Guest
seitanicritualz
Points +55
So good stopped twice - Edit
Best veg food i had in all of Richmond. Definitely recommend to anyone.
Read moreGuest
@Kendraisoutside
Points +1066
Impressive - Edit
100% worth the price. My boyfriend and I came here months ago and we still talk about it
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-06-18
Guest
augstone
Points +174
Cool friendly place, good food - Edit
Driving from Florida to Connecticut I stopped in to grab dinner. Owner greeted me and was very friendly and helpful, as I also eat gluten-free. There are plenty of options for GF. The BBQ "chicken" tacos were tasty but what really stood out was the "sausage" & mushroom soup, which was delicious. If I wasn't so full from also getting sweet potato fries, I would have had another helping of soup. The decor was very nice, wooden tables separated by partitions into booths. Seems like it would be a cool place to hang out.
Read morePros: Owner is very friendly and helpful, Good food, with GF options
Guest
ghost_ley
Points +309
GF options! - Edit
Food is good! Staff was super friendly and able to answer all of our questions. Mostly vegan menu. My gluten free friend was able to eat here comfortably too! HIGHLY recommend their Mac and cheese! (Pie in pic is not GF but we devoured everything before I remembered to take pictures!!!!)
Read moreGuest
emiliorate
Points +160
I don't think they sell fish anymore - Edit
I just went there last night while on a road trip and the menu is almost entirely vegan. The only things that weren't were about three/four menu options that are vegetarian (with cheese) and were indicated with "VO" to note that I can be ordered as a vegan option alternative. Just thought I'd clear that up.
Read moreI ordered the vegetable pancake and I really liked it. There was one bite in the whole thing that was gritty, but the rest of it was delicious.
Pros: Almost entirely vegan menu w/ rest easily altered, Prices great, Diverse food options
Guest
intenselyclever
Points +194
Great food, cosy atmosphere - Edit
Cozy little restaurant in the basement of a building. Plentiful vegan options (there is usually only 1 fish dish on the menu). Just about everything can be made vegan. Delicious food, friendly service, great atmosphere.
Read morePros: Mostly veggie/vegan menu, Delicious food, Cozy, intimate atmosphere
Guest
tofuqween
Points +58
Cute, fun, yummy - Edit
Ipanema is a cute and special place. A little expensive for a café but hey it’s open late and they got good food so I can’t complain
Read morePros: PIES, yummy food, Great atmosphere/open late
Cons: Kinda pricey, Menu is limited
Guest
CyndiClausen
Points +211
Beat salad (and other food) in town - Edit
This is a great place to go on a date, eat with family or just sit at the bar and enjoy a late night salad. I love their Caesar salad here (and I hate salads in general). Most of the items are vegan on the menu and there are a lot of gluten free options.
Read moreGuest
ravendearly
Points +97
best date spot - Edit
Super intimate, great for catching up with an old friend or for a first date or anniversary. Seriously love the ambiance and candles on each table. Best pie. Best ice cream. Best tofu!
Read morePros: Intimate, Friendly staff, Home made vegan ice cream
Cons: Limited seating, Parking at night
Guest
mem2024
Points +450
No complaints! - Edit
The food was tasty and satisfying, the atmosphere of the outdoor patio was nice, prices are good, and service was great. I'll definitely be coming back!
Read morePros: Majority of menu is vegan, Good prices, Relaxed atmosphere
Guest
lentils_af
Points +641
Great Reuben - Edit
I'm a big vegan reuben fan, and Ipanema's take on the sandwich didn't dissapoint. They had a nice way of prepping the tofu, thinly sliced and fried to perfection. I also appreciated that it came with sweet potato fries and a salad, that way I could get my vegan junk food fix and balance it out with the salad.
Read moreVery solid Mexican chocolate pie for dessert as well!
Updated from previous review on 2018-03-13
Guest
gboysko
Points +67
Funky basement cafe for great vegan options - Edit
I enjoyed the penne with roasted veggies, brussel sprouts and squash. Great vegan blueberry pie.
Read moreGuest
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