Going Meatless? 10 Vegan-friendly destinations in the world you will love

thama 04 Apr 2018

1/10
Tel Aviv, Israel
Listed by Lonely Planet as the ‘vegan nation’, Israel has the most number of vegans per capita. This simply means that almost 15% of Israelis are vegetarians while another 5% are vegans. Or in other words, at least 1 in 20 people here are vegans. The reason why this concept has gained so much popularity in the country has to do with its kosher diet. And at the heart of all this is Tel Aviv.

Home to more than 400 vegan restaurants, this bustling city is truly a heaven for the herbivores. If you love splurging on food, head to the fancier ones. Otherwise, there’s so much pure vegetarian, dairy-free food on the streets too! Be sure to try out their falafels, pizza, shawarma, hummus, and of course, dosas with an Israeli touch.

Our restaurant picks: Nanuchka, Zakaim and Dosa Bar
2/10
London, UK
Like many other destinations in this list, veganism in London is not a mere trend – rather it is a way of life. Recent surveys show that there are over half a million vegans in Britain and many of them are also avid activists for animal rights. A London city tour is enough to show you how serious they are about their lifestyle. To meet the preferences of not just vegans, but also those who enjoy eating vegetables, animal-free restaurants and stalls are sprouting everywhere in the city, with a plethora of options. Tantalise your tastebuds with their pizzas, burgers, ethnic foods, organic choices as well as desserts that melt in your mouth.

Our restaurant picks: New Roots Café, Mien Tay and Honey & Co
3/10
Bali, Indonesia
Did you know that the Island of Gods has its own annual vegan festival? That’s how popular veganism is here - and unsurprising, since Bali is well-known for peace and spirituality. Ubud, the island’s cultural centre and arguably the most adored area among yogis, boasts a wide range of animal-free options be it local cuisine, Asian or continental. If you’re travelling on a shoestring budget and happen to be in the area, why don’t you head to the restaurant near Jalan Pengosekan that serves mouth-watering vegan dishes in buffet style as well as tasty vegan cakes and brownies? Don’t forget to also explore the gourmet food scene here!

Our restaurant picks: Samadi Bali, Alchemy and Zula Vegetarian Paradise
4/10
Los Angeles, USA
LA surely has to be on the list when you think of vegan food. With nearly 600 vegan eateries and counting, you are certainly not short of options. Plus, there is no way you can visit each outlet over the span of just a few weeks or months - unless you travel at the speed of light and spend every single minute of your trip eating, of course. But this also means that you will never go hungry. Like the melting pot that it is, LA is also brimming with vegan food from almost every culture you can think of.

Our restaurant picks: Real Food Daily, Shojin Japanese Vegan Cuisine and Scoops
5/10
Singapore
We’re going to feel a little proud here and proclaim that our Little Red Dot is indeed one of the best vegan-friendly places on Earth! Thanks to the diverse cultural landscape here, finding vegan or vegetarian food has become so much easier over the years. You can basically survive on tofu alone (since it is available almost everywhere) but we know you wouldn’t do that. There are also so many Indian and continental vegan outlets that will get you high on good, healthy food.

Our picks: VeganBurg, nomVnom and The Boneless Kitchen
6/10
Berlin, Germany
Forget beer. Berlin has become so vegan that even their McDonald’s serves veggie nuggets! With over 60 pure vegan eateries and almost 300 that have vegan options, the Berlin animal-free food ethos will even convince meat eaters that plant-based food doesn’t taste like rabbit food after all. Some of the many foods that you should try while in this city are pizzas, döner kebabs, burgers as well as gourmet dishes. Oh, and did we tell you that Berlin also hosts a vegan summer festival annually?

Our restaurant picks: Réger Burger, Lia’s Kitchen and 1990 Vegan Living
7/10
Taipei, Taiwan
Buddhists make up the majority in Taipei, which means that this city is filled with staunch vegetarians who also happen to be vegans because eggs and dairy are hardly ‘default’ here. Taipei is also often touted to be one of the cities in the world with ridiculously delicious plant-based foods. Whether you are seeking luxury food or just want to dabble in the local street food culture, there’s always something that you can find here. Quick tip: Head to the nearby Keelung Night Market and be amazed at the amount of vegan food awaiting you.

Our restaurant picks: Ooh Cha Cha, NAKEDFOOD and Plants
8/10
Chennai, India
How could we forget India when talking about vegan food – or vegetarian for that matter? This is one of the countries in the world whose civilisation itself is so steeped in ‘ahimsa’ or the concept of non-violence. Even though a large number of Indians still don’t eat meat, they partake of milk, which technically doesn’t make them vegans. But here’s the good news: it is easy to find vegan alternatives here, mainly in the form of coconut milk. We suggest that you try idli (rice cakes) and dosa (crispy rice pancakes) with coconut or tomato chutney for starters. Just remember to mention clearly that you don’t want ghee on your dosa.

Our restaurant picks: Ananda Bhavan, Cholayil Sanjeevanam and Ashvita Nirvana
9/10
Toronto, Canada
Vegans and vegetarians, rejoice! Toronto now has many vegan alternatives to foods that were once only available with meat. For instance, burgers, sandwiches, pizza and pasta are all offered in vegan or vegetarian versions to cater to the growing plant-diet consumers. There could be no better time to visit Canada than now!

Our restaurant picks: Apiecalypse Now, Doomie’s Toronto and Urban Herbivore
10/10
Detroit, USA
Did you think we missed this one? To state that Detroit is going through a gastronomic revolution would be an understatement because what’s happening here is so much more than that – the locals are fast embracing a plant-based diet. This is why you’d find so many vegan eateries in the city that don’t just serve fast food but also healthy, wholesome meals.

Our restaurant picks: Detroit Vegan Soul, Seva Detroit and Chive Kitchen

Check out these 10 vegan-friendly destinations perfect for you vegan foodies!

There was a time when vegans were a bunch of rare, misunderstood people. But that has all changed now – in fact, veganism has turned into a much-celebrated concept around the world for its ethical lifestyle.

Thanks to the people who have propelled the idea to the mainstream, more and more vegan restaurants are now mushrooming in every corner of the world to cater to vegans as well as vegetarians. This is great news for those who were previously struggling to find a place to dine at, especially while travelling!

From Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas, there is so much of local vegan food to try out. Each of them is not only unique in its own way but is also deeply steeped in that country’s culture and traditions. If you’ve been worried about travelling as a vegan or vegetarian, then you should definitely check out our list of 10 vegan-friendly destinations in the world that will make you jump for joy.

Thamayanthy

Photos: Getty Images

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