Being a vegan is tricky enough when you’re on your own turf, but it can often prove a nightmare when on holiday. There are some cities you know will be no problem – for example, there are endless plant-based options in the likes of Berlin and Los Angeles – but what about the rest of the world?
5 best destinations for vegan holidays
1. Warsaw, Poland
Traditionally, Polish cuisine isn’t the most vegan friendly, as it’s largely cheese pierogies, sausages and meat stews.
However, the capital, Warsaw, has become a veritable melting pot of cuisines and cultures, and in recent years a booming vegan scene has sprung up.
Not only are there many vegan options when dining out, but also a host of vegan-only restaurants.
For burgers, try Krowarzywa Vegan Burger or Chwast Food. For tasty Israeli food, try Tel-Aviv Food & Wine or Mango Vegan Street Food.
Polish beer is largely vegan too, which is definitely a plus.
2. Taipei, Taiwan
Thanks to a large Buddhist population, vegetarianism is pretty easy in Taiwan. However, many dishes involve eggs or milk, so it’s tougher to be a vegan – until recently.
To be assured your food is completely free of animal products, it’s easiest to visit dedicated vegan spots when in Taipei. Luckily, there are a lot of these, thanks to the country’s new-found obsession with everything healthy and plant-based.
There is literally a cake shop called Vegan Heaven – need we say any more? For lunch and dinner, be sure to check out About Animals (which serves kimchi burgers) or Plants.
Definitely keep an eye out for the so-called Taiwanese burrito, which features vegetables stir-fried in a peanut sauce, all bundled up in a wrap.
3. Tel Aviv, Israel
Luckily, with roasted veggies, falafel, and hummus galore, Israeli cuisine is one of the friendliest for vegans.
Israel has an estimated 400,000 vegans – that’s a not insubstantial 5% of the population.
Tel Aviv is more cosmopolitan than the capital, Jerusalem, and as such is brimming with vegan options.
Anastasia Cafe is the place to go if you’re looking for proper Israeli food, where the plates are perfectly Instagram-worthy. Other great options include The Green Cat (if you fancy some vegan pizza) or hipster-favourite Zakaim.
4. Ghent, Belgium
Belgium: the home of chocolate, moule frites, Belgian waffles and yet more chocolate. Appealing to many, but significantly less appetising to vegans.
However, you might be surprised to learn the city of Ghent is actually really pro the plant-based life.
In 2009, Ghent became the first city to adopt a weekly vegetarian day, and every Thursday veggie food is served at all state schools. Ghent has a huge number of veggie restaurants, and as it’s so friendly to veggies, you can be sure it’s got a whole lot of vegan options on offer too.
They definitely don’t want you to go hungry in Ghent, with a popular all you can eat buffet (called Komkommertijd, which delightfully means ‘Cucumber Time’ in English) and another vegan joint that is pay-by-weight (Lekker GEC). To satisfy your sweet tooth, head to guilt-free bakery Madam Bakster.
5. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Brazil traditionally has a cuisine centred around meat, but luckily, a small but dedicated vegan scene has slowly been growing.
This means that, while it might be hard for vegans to get a square meal at a classic Brazilian BBQ joint, there are some alternative spots to explore.
If you want entirely vegan restaurants, try Refeitório Orgânico (which is Buddhist-themed in its decor and offers an organic buffet), or Vegetariano Social Clube, where you can get vegan dishes from all over the world – including animal-free Brazilian dishes.
Top tips for finding vegan food on holiday
We spoke to vegan YouTubers BOSH! aka friends and authors of BISH BASH BOSH! (available on Amazon) Henry Firth and Ian Theasby for their advice on finding vegan food on holiday. Now next time you leap on a plane, you can be prepared for what’s on the menu when you arrive…
Start with a plan and do some research
“It’s better now [finding vegan food on holiday],” says Firth, but “it depends where you go.
“You’re going to want to do a little bit of planning before you go – I was in Japan for New Year, and that’s a bit of a challenge, especially with the language difference.
“It’s totally doable. It just takes a bit of research. Maybe learn the language a little bit so that you can have some basic dialogue with the waiters, and hunt down the right vegan spots so you can go somewhere you know you’re going to be looked after.”
You can rely on America and London
“America or London are the places probably leading the charge,” says Firth, who notes that there’s just so much choice and variety when it comes to vegan options. Also, Bristol, Sheffield and Glasgow all have budding vegan communities.
Europe is pretty clued up
“All over Europe you’ve got really incredible pockets of vegan food, but again, you have to go and hunt it down,” says Firth, who adds that you should consider a holiday in the Netherlands as they have a huge vegan movement with lots of vegan-friendly foods.
But not France so much
Admittedly, vegan food isn’t as easy to find on your holiday in fromage-loving France. “If you were staying in a self-catered place, you could cook up an absolute storm in France, if you knew how,” notes Theasby diplomatically.
Explore Israel
“One country we haven’t been to, but which we should, is Israel,” says Firth. “They have a really high percentage of veggies and vegans, [and] obviously their hummus and falafel is fantastic in that region.”
Asia offers some exciting vegan grub
“Asian food is really good because on the whole, they don’t use dairy,” says Firth. “You know that if it’s veggie in Asia, it’s probably going to be OK, apart from the fish sauce. If you can navigate your way around fish sauce, you’re good.”
As does Mexico
“Mexican food can be pretty good,” reckons Firth. “Loads of vegetables come from Mexico, so their food is already pretty vibrant as it comes.” Just think of all those salsa and guac-topped tacos.
And if you’re not confident in the vegan holiday food
“If you’re at all worried,” says Theasby, “chips and salad will come save the day.”
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