Veganism is a culinary trend that is increasingly embracing the world. People are choosing to give up eating meat and generally not exploiting animals of any kind, regardless of the industry. At the same time, regardless of the type of veganism adopted, be it dietary, ethical, or ecological veganism, its adherents are people who are also traveling. And when they travel, they need restaurants where they can find food that is in line with their philosophy.
Of course, in almost any city in the world, there are places where vegans will be culinarily happy, not worrying about eating only peanut butter and jelly during their stay or trip. It’s just that some cities are more vegan-oriented than others and therefore have become popular destinations among vegans, who find them more… vegan-friendly than others. Anyway, the vegan international travel scene is bigger and bigger.
Of course, you don’t choose your travel destination based on your gastronomic preferences for eating meat or animal products. But it helps to know where you can feel more comfortable in this respect, so we’ve documented and compiled a list of the best vegan travel destinations, including the best vegan restaurants you can access in those cities.
Berlin, Germany
Known as the most… vegan city in the world, Berlin has a rich history in this respect too. After taking a tour of the city, stopping at the Reichstag building, the Brandenburg Gate, the Pergamon Museum, or the Cathedral, set off in search of a vegan pizza or a vegan croissant. Germany’s capital even has a chain of vegan supermarkets called Veganz.
The best vegan restaurants in Berlin
Berlin for vegans is a wonderful and very handy experience. When in Berlin, look out for at least these three vegan-friendly restaurants.
Ataya
Address: Zelter Str 6 , Berlin
At Ataya, they serve breakfast and lunch during the week, with brunch reserved for the weekend. The menu includes dishes such as South African Jollof bowl, lasagna and spaghetti, acai and raw-vegan cakes, smoothies, and coffees. The interior is similar to a living room, filled with books to read.
Secret Garden
Address: Warschauer Str. 33, Berlin
Berlin is a city with many vegan options, so it’s no surprise to find vegan sushi included. You can get avocado or cucumber rolls in many places, but for something really special, you have to go to Secret Garden Vegan Sushi.
Located in Friedrichshain, just above the Veganz supermarket, this vegan restaurant serves delicious Japanese food, with sushi, of course, being the star. The recommendation is to try the selection of rolls (especially tempura) and order the dumplings. The prices are very reasonable.
Plant Base
Address: Prenzlauer Allee 208, Berlin
Opened in 2019, Plant Base is a vegan cafe and a… bookstore. Here you can have breakfast and lunch, enjoying, among other things, baguettes, tofu omelet, kimchi, granola bowls, pastries, juices, hot chocolate. The space is very friendly; pets are welcome, and they offer free tap water. Products are sustainably sourced, and most are prepared in front of the customers. From time to time, Plant Base organizes workshops and events.
Warsaw, Poland
Warsaw is a “versatile” city that ranks high in a European top of the best vegan restaurants. The Śródmieście Południowe (South Central) district has become the “epicenter” of veganism in the Polish capital. What began as a hipster food culture based on vegan burgers has morphed into a more nuanced trend, with vegan ramen bars, sushi restaurants and other such wonders. In Poland, veganism often goes hand in hand with political activism, so restaurants of this type align themselves, along with cafes and some mainstream restaurants, with the Polish countercultural movement.
Best vegan restaurants in Warsaw
Are you in Poland’s capital and vegan? Don’t miss these restaurants where you’ll discover delicious dishes.
Chwast Food
Address: Emilii Plater 8, 00-669, Warsaw, Poland
Vegan Poles appreciate the food and wine at Chwast Food, which welcomes its guests in a friendly atmosphere, plus outstanding service and hospitality that will keep you coming back. And there’s no doubt you’ll find the best vegan burgers in Warsaw here.
Uki Green
Address: Koszykowa 49A, 00-659, Warsaw, Poland
Uki Green is the best vegan ramen restaurant in Warsaw. Taira Matsuki opened the place in 2015 (under the name Uki Uki) for ramen and udon lovers. Meanwhile, it has been transformed into a restaurant with a 100% vegan menu, and the queues at the entrance continued to form. The recipes are the work of Kohei Yagi, a ramen designer living in Poland. There are four types of ramen on the menu, gyoza dumplings and vegan “eel” doughnuts, plus Japanese desserts.
Mezze hummus & falafel
Address: Różana 1, 00-057, Warsaw
Mezze hummus & falafel is a vegan restaurant where you can sample some of Israel’s vegan delights,” teleported” in Poland. Fresh fruit and vegetables from carefully selected farms, together with olives, spicy shood, tahini sauce, and other tasty dishes.
Tel Aviv, Israel
Tel Aviv has been called by many the “vegan capital of the world”. The city’s vegan scene is incredible. Those who have visited believe that any traveler who thrives on exclusively plant-based dishes should go to Tel Aviv at least once in their lifetime. The options are plentiful, with virtually every restaurant in the city center offering innovative, delicious, and nutritious vegan options, from sandwiches and salads to more elaborate dishes. In other words, the days of vegan salad bowls are long gone.
The best vegan restaurants in Tel Aviv
So, combine visiting Tel Aviv’s historical or modern sites with these vegan-friendly restaurants that definitely won’t disappoint.
Anastasia
Address: Frishman St 54, Tel Aviv-Yafo
Anastasia is an established name on the Tel Aviv vegan scene. A much-loved cafe, offering vegan breakfast platters, rich salads, and special main dishes such as pumpkin paella. Located in the city center, at the corner of Dizengoff and Frishman Streets, Anastasia has a terrace, an indoor area, and a small shop selling vegan ingredients.
416
Address: HaArba’a St 16, Tel Aviv-Yafo
Many vegans likely consider 416 the best dining experience in Tel Aviv. A New York-style restaurant with a creative menu, it’s popular with those looking for a night out on the town with friends. Among the most popular dishes here are vegan steak and ginger lemonade.
Bana
Address: Nachmani St 36, Tel Aviv-Yafo
A relative newcomer to the Israeli food scene, Bana has established itself as one of Tel Aviv’s best vegan restaurants. Located at the end of Rothschild Avenue, the restaurant has a garden terrace that complements the modern interior. The menu changes according to the season and the availability of local produce. The most popular dishes are the cashew quiche, Volcano bowl, and sweet potato with lentils and pistachio pesto.
Bali, Indonesia
Known as a paradise of relaxation, the Indonesian island of Bali has the same paradigm when it comes to veganism. One reason is that many tropical fruits grow here – mango, papaya, pineapple, coconuts – so the supply of vegan snacks never runs out. But of course, Bali has other arguments in support of vegans. Ubud has plenty of vegan restaurants, while Seminyak is dubbed ‘vegan paradise’.
Bali’s best vegan restaurants
Check these three of the best places in Bali where vegans get to double down on the notion of paradise.
Kynd Community
Address: Jalan Petitenget No. 12X, Seminyak, Bali
Kynd has quickly become one of Bali’s most famous cafes, combining ultra-inspiring interiors with delicious vegan cuisine and five-star service. The inventive, 100% plant-based menu is designed to show you just how tasty vegetables can be and keep you coming back for more. If you arrive at Kynd in the morning hours, try their excellent coconut lattes, waffles, and Berry Tropical smoothies.
Peloton Supershop
Address: Jl. Pantai Berawa No.46, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Canggu
Peloton Supershop is on a mission to change the world and, therefore, the way people eat through a combination of good food, great drinks, and a nice vibe that surrounds the place at all times. Located in the heart of Canggu, this… super shop is especially popular among the digital nomads who roam the island of Bali, who find two strong arguments for crossing its threshold: unpretentious decor and strong coffee. Otherwise, the menu is rich, the dishes are tasty, and flowers decorate every nook and cranny of this vegan restaurant.
Alchemy
Address: Jalan Penestanan Klod no.75, Ubud
Do you like to chew coconut? Then head to Ubud, seek out Alchemy, and ask for a Raw Bounty Bar, which will give you all the energy you need to then ‘fly’ over the rice fields and waterfalls around Ubud. Otherwise, Alchemy’s menu is the definition of smart – though entirely raw and vegan, the restaurant uses clever methods to change the structure and definition of ingredients without the excessive heat that takes away from the “raw” status.
Bangkok, Thailand
Like so much else in Thailand, the vegan scene in the capital Bangkok can be defined with two extremes. At one end is fine dining – high-class restaurants high up in skyscrapers in select neighborhoods, and at the other are cheap street food stalls around Buddhist temples where you’ll find “fish” meatballs with soy sauce or “prawns” delicious.
Best vegan restaurants in Bangkok
Fascinating Bangkok should be visited with charged batteries. If you’re vegan, stop for a “refuel” at one of these three restaurants with plant-based menus.
May Veggie Home
Address: 8 Ratchadapisek Rd, Bangkok
May Veggie Home has been serving 100% vegan food since 2011. It is a restaurant specializing in local dishes such as panang curry, somtam with crispy tofu, and khao soi with tofu and mushrooms. There’s also a selection of vegan burgers and Japanese dishes on the menu.
Bonita Cafe and Social Club
Address: 100 Soi Pramote (Silom Soi 26), Silom Rd, Suriyawong, Bangkok
Bonita is a classic American-style cafe that opened in 2012 and relocated to its current address in 2015. It offers an extensive selection of vegan food, sweets, ice cream, and drinks and functions as a club for social gatherings. Favorites include Japanese curry with brown rice and carrot cake.
Veganerie
Address: Sukhumvit Soi 11, Bangkok
Originally Bangkok’s most popular patisserie, Veganerie has evolved into a restaurant with rustic-modern solid accents. The menu includes many delights, from pulled-pork burgers made with mushrooms to sweet potatoes and chickpea and coconut curries. Desserts shouldn’t be skipped either, with vegan waffles, cashew butter cheesecake, and Nutella milkshakes on the list that you wouldn’t think are entirely dairy-free.
Vienna, Austria
Needless to say, there are plenty of sights to see in Vienna. At the same time, Austria’s capital, renowned for its quality of life, is a city full of vegan eateries. Its reputation in this area also translates into the three-day VeganMania festival held every summer.
Best vegan restaurants in Vienna
So, after you’ve been to Schonbrunn, taken a stroll through the center dominated by St Stephen’s Cathedral, or admired the Hundertwasser House, satisfy your hunger at one of these vegan restaurants in Vienna.
Gorilla Kitchen
Address: Gußhausstraße 19, 1040 Vienna
Gorilla Kitchen is a vegetarian and vegan menu restaurant, for the latter category boasting two delicious fillings used in burritos or bowls: lotus tofu and chickpeas. Also not to be missed are the avocado and mushroom sandwich and the sauces that can be added to various dishes: tomato with avocado, orange chili, tomato with olives and capers, and habanero lime.
Swing Kitchen
Address: Schwedenplatz 3-4, Vienna
Swing Kitchen is a small chain specializing in vegan burgers, which also offer wraps, salads, side dishes, cakes and sweets, drinks. All ingredients used are fresh and quality. The atmosphere in the place is extremely pleasant, with swing music playing in the background. Try a Pink Edgy burger or a Chicago Edgy!
The LaLa
Address: Neustiftgasse 23, 1070, Vienna
LaLa focuses on good taste and healthy food. Here they prepare only fresh dishes; the vegan ones are completely free of sugar, lactose, and animal elements. In addition, they include ingredients such as microgreens, kale, cloudberries, etc. LaLa is also the first place in Austria to serve vegan ice cream.
Hanoi, Vietnam
There is said to be a preconception about Vietnamese cuisine. That every Vietnamese dish has a piece of meat in it, but that’s not the case. The secret is that when you go to a Vietnamese restaurant, you ask for your food to be prepared en chay. In Vietnamese, this means having your food prepared as monks eat it. In this case, the restaurant will replace the beef or chicken with… bok choy.
Best vegan restaurants in Hanoi
Vegans visiting Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, can confidently head to the following restaurants:
Vegan Banh Mi
Address: 66B Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam
A restaurant with stalls outside and tables inside. You can eat banh mi sandwiches, bahn goi (similar to samosa), spring rolls, pho noodles, and che – desserts made with various kinds of beans, lotus seeds, agar agar jelly, and coconut milk.
Veggie Castle
Address: 7 Yen Ninh, Truc Bach, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam
Opened in 2018, Veggie Castle is a small but popular restaurant that offers buffet-style dishes for lunch and dinner every day. Self-service, on the principle of “eat as much as you can”.
Vegan Homefood
Address: 26 Tran Binh Trong Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, Vietnam
At Homefood Vegan you always find the freshest and healthiest ingredients, and the dishes are both vegan and meat-eating. Sourced from trusted farmers, the restaurant even has a small shop on the first floor selling organic produce and ingredients that can be used at home in vegan and vegetarian dishes.
Sources for this article: The Culture Trip, Happy Cow, Local Traveller, The Asia Collective, LuxaTerra, Culture.pl, Secret Tel Aviv, Veggie Visa, BK
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