What would you say is the most difficult part about being vegan?
The answer might differ from one individual to another. But a common grumble exists, which is convenient access to food on the go. Sure, there are tips and tricks the vegan community has shared regarding eating while being mobile. It also helps that a flock of restaurants offering vegan options or straight out vegan are scattered worldwide nowadays.
Whether you’re a long-time part of the vegan community or is interested to switching up your diet, we’ve got you covered with the world’s vegan-friendly cities - in case you desire to travel or relocate.
World’s Vegan-friendly Cities
Los Angeles, USA
Undoubtedly, Los Angeles' residents prioritise their well-being on a high pedestal. The City of Angels has more than 200 vegan and vegetarian restaurants. The city’s vegan culinary experience is not just about visiting delicious restaurants but also exploring culinary innovations, such as cashew cheese and mushroom steak.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin has more than 200 vegan restaurants and 1,600 vegan-friendly eateries in recent decades. Many Berliners are turning to vegan-friendly restaurants as a top choice due to the organic movement and dining trends with sustainability in mind. The diverse yet exhilarating menu includes burgers, doner kebabs, vegan tapas, and more.
Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg offers an exciting experience for the vegan community since trendy cafes and restaurants focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. From desserts to main courses, the city presents diverse culinary experiences, even for non-vegans.
London, The UK
London is named the most vegan-friendly city in the world with 400 vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants. It is now reported that more than half a million people in the capital have become vegan. Thus, the city sets varied cuisines with a vegan twist, both on affordable and high-end budgets.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Who would’ve thought the centre of milk production with cheese shops at every corner would be vegan-friendly? Amsterdam offers a wide variety of restaurants for vegans. Amsterdam's city council also plans to increase the availability of nutritious and healthy food, with a projected plan to implement a plant-based diet of 50 percent by 2030.
Paris, France
The vegan scene in Paris is exponentially growing. Many bistros and fine dining restaurants these days offer vegan and vegetarian menus. Chef Alain Passard set the trend by opting to remove meat from the L'Arpége menu in 2001, despite reintroducing smaller quantities of fish and poultry and emphasising fresh, local and organic produce to the menu later on.
Lisbon, Portugal
In the last decade, Lisbon’s food culture switched to focusing on health and environmental sustainability, thus the higher attention of using organic and local ingredients. Vegan meals have become mandatory in Lisbon’s public schools and prisons. More so, over 36 vegan restaurants are found, including the largest vegan festival in Portugal held in the city called Veganario Fest.
Barcelona, Spain
Vegan food connoisseurs are at a delight in Barcelona because some of the city’s vegan restaurants are located near major tourist attractions, as well as numerous vegan cafes and restaurants specialising in plant-based cuisine. Popular dishes vary, including vegan sushi and traditional Spanish cuisine.
Bangkok, Thailand
More and more restaurants in Bangkok are offering creative plant-based varieties of Thai cuisine. The best thing about Bangkok is that vegan Thai food can be savoured by both street vendors and high-end restaurants. For example, Chatuchak Market on weekends and Or Tor Tor Market are wonderful sites to get a bite on the streets.
Ubud, Indonesia
Throughout the Island of the Gods, vegan-friendly options can be found on the menu. But Ubud remains the go-to destination for plant-based eaters in Bali. Based on research conducted by The Vegan World, 19 vegan special restaurants were compared to 100,000 thousand residents in Ubud. Moreover, an abundance of tropical fruits is found in the region.