Melbourne is filling up with vegans.

I know it’s hard to believe, but the city of art, trams and outrageous food trends is fast becoming the vegan capital of the world.

A new study found most of Australia’s vegans and vegetarians were living in cities, with many gravitating to Melbourne where vegan cafes are rife.

In the city there’s even vegan dessert bars that are becoming more popular than an old fashioned McDonald’s sundae.

Nearly half of vegetarians and vegans over the age of 18 admit they are on a plant-based diet to lose weight while others stopped eating meat for environmental or animal-welfare reasons.

“The fact remains that this trend looks set to continue,” Roy Morgan Research industry communications director Norman Morris said.

“Not only has there been an increase in near or total vegetarianism across Australia, but almost 9.9 million Aussie adults agree that they’re ‘eating less red meat these days’.”

Veganism is a growing movement in Melbourne. Picture: iStockSource:istock

University of Melbourne trends expert Dr Lauren Rosewarne said we were at a time of “clean-eating” and people were finding foods that were less processed and more natural appealing.

“Eating vegetarian or vegan is a natural extension of this trend,” she said.

“Vegan cafes are able to take advantage of a market of people who are diet and health conscious, who perceive vegetable and grain-based foods as healthier choices than meat or dairy, and who are happy — and prepared to pay — to have their turmeric latte or their cheeseless cheesecake prepared by someone else.”

A number of vegan eateries popping up in Melbourne have further proved the diet is a growing movement.

It is spreading through the city and Melbourne is now the third fastest-growing vegan market in the world.

“Melbourne is known around the world as a city that places a strong — if not obsessive — emphasis on dining,” Dr Rosewarne said.

“Many Melbourne restaurants and cafes want to be perceived as at the vanguard of culinary trends both locally and sometimes even globally.

“Melbourne is a diverse, cosmopolitan city with a very large student population. Vegan food appeals to vegans but also to people who are experimental with good choices as well as those who have faith-based, ethical or economic reasons to limit or eliminate meat and dairy from their diet.”