5 Best Cities For Vegans

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Looking for the best cities for vegan travel? I’ve got you covered!

Travelling as a vegan can be daunting, especially if you are new to it.

I’ve been vegan for 8 years and have travelled all over the world. Over the years I’ve discovered that some places are a lot more suited to plant-based travel than others.

So here are 5 of my favourite cities where travelling as a vegan is a breeze.

Let’s get started!  

1. Best Cities For Vegans – Tel Aviv, Israel

Important 2023 Update: The current situation in Israel and Palestine is truly heartbreaking. I don’t recommend travel to Tel Aviv or anywhere else in Israel or Palestine for the foreseeable future. Please consider donating to the Children in Gaza relief fund.

Did you know that Tel Aviv is known as the vegan capital of the world? Israel has more vegans per capita than any other country in the world and Tel Aviv is the main foodie hub of the country. 

Traditional middle eastern food is a vegan dream, think yummy authentic hummus, hot falafel from street vendors and delicious smokey chickpea stews. Tel Aviv is a great city to visit with lots to see and do (besides eating!) It should be on every vegan traveller’s bucket list.

Best vegan restaurants in Tel Aviv vegan capitol of the world

Sabih Frishman – This place does the best sabich and falafels. Sabich is essentially a pitta stuffed with fried eggplant, salad and lots of tahini.

Traditionally it comes with a hard-boiled egg but you can simply order it without the egg to make it vegan. Trust me when I say it’s worth the wait in the ever-present line outside this place. 

Shlomo & Doron – This small outdoor restaurant is just outside of Carmel market and is always super busy, but again it is definitely worth the wait!

Shlomo specialises in hummus and has many different hummus flavours and variations to choose from.

I can honestly say this was some of the best hummus I’ve ever eaten (and I’ve eaten a LOT!) 

Alma beach – I absolutely LOVE this place. It’s a cute beach bar that has an amazing view of the sunset over the ocean. I ordered the ‘cute cauliflower’ dish when I visited and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Taqueria – I loved this place so much that I ate there several times during my trip. It’s a trendy Mexican place with a fun and lively atmosphere.

I recommend you try the vegan tacos or burritos and wash them down with a gold star beer. 

Literally any falafel stand – You can’t come to Israel without trying falafel! And in Tel Aviv, you’ll find a falafel stand on almost every corner.

They are all good, you can just rock up to any of them and get the most delicious falafel you have ever experienced.

Grab one as a late night snack on the way back from a night out and you’ll thank me later 😉

Vegan food tour Tel Aviv

Whilst in Tel Aviv you should definitely take time to go on this vegan food tour of Tel Aviv. I had a great day and ate so much good food. 

2. Best Cities For Vegans – Bristol, UK

Bristol has frequently been cited as one of the most vegan-friendly cities in Europe and is a great place for travelling as a vegan.

The city is a fun melting pot of creatives, hippies, environmentalists and many different cultures so it is hardly surprising that there are a lot of vegans choosing to call Bristol home. 

Bristol is my home town so I could write an entire blog post (or even a book!) on the best vegan restaurants in Bristol. But for now, I’ll try to keep it brief and focus on a few of my all-time favourites.

Best vegan restaurants in Bristol

VX – VX is the ultimate place to indulge in some naughty vegan junk food. Come with an empty stomach because you will leave feeling absolutely stuffed!

Do not leave without trying one of the insane monster shakes! I also recommend trying the mac n cheese and the nachos, which are both excellent. 

VX is also dog friendly so be sure to pet a few local doggos before you leave. 

The lounge – The lounges are actually now a chain of restaurants all over the country but they started off on North Street, Bristol in 2002 and quickly became a bristol institution with branches popping up all over the city. 

Visit the original lounge on North street and sample some of the delights of their extensive vegan menu. My favourite item on the menu is the vegan all-day breakfast, but I also love the tapas options and the incredible hot dog too. 

Koocha – Koocha specialises in vegan versions of popular Persian food such as mezze and kebabs.

The restaurant is located on Gloucester rd which is one of the best places in the city for nightlife. So it’s fun to start your night at Koocha before going bar-hopping along the main street.

If it’s a nice day I love to sit outside and on the big family-style benches. Order a selection of mezze and share it between you and your friends.

Also, be sure to try the hummus as it’s some of the best that I’ve tried, outside of Israel. 

The watershed – The watershed is actually an independent cinema but it has an amazing bar/restaurant attached to it and is one of my favourite places in the city to hang out with friends. It is located right on the waterfront and In the summer there is a cute balcony you can sit out on, with some great views over the harbour.

The menu changes seasonally but there are always some fantastic vegan options on there. The cinema itself is really quirky and often hosts fun events and film festivals so be sure to check their events calendar before you rock up. 

Oowee – I’m obsessed with this hip burger joint! There are a few different locations around the city but my fave is the one on North Street – The inside is an Instagrammers dream.

If you happen to be in Bristol around Christmas time, be sure to pop in for one of their vegan Xmas burgers, which feature a seitan turkey patty, cranberry sauce, and roasted brussel sprouts. Order it with a side of tater tots smothered in gravy and cheese 🤤

There are a bunch of other amazing vegan restaurants, food festivals, and places to go fruit picking in Bristol, that I could also talk about but this blog post would last forever if I did! 

3. Best Cities For Vegans – Naples, Italy

Is Naples worth visiting? For vegans it definitely is! In fact, Italy in general is surprisingly vegan-friendly and Naples is one of the best cities for vegan food.

I spent a month travelling around Italy and I didn’t go hungry once! Florence, Pisa, Rome and Bari all have plenty of great vegan options available.

So whether you are road tripping in Northern Italy, Beach hopping around the Amalfi Coast or exploring the lesser-visited Puglia region; you should be able to fill up on plenty of delicious vegan food wherever you go!

Below are some of my favourite vegan-friendly eats in Naples…

Best vegan restaurants in Naples

Pizzeria da Michele – You might recognise this place from the film adaptation of Eat, Pray, Love starring Julia Roberts.

This tiny pizzeria has been in business ever since 1870 and claims to be the first-ever pizzeria and basically invented the dish that has become popular all over the world.

Take a ticket and wait for your number to be called to get a seat inside. There are only 2 options on the menu marinara or margherita each cost only €4.

The marinara is simply made with tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, oregano and garlic, making it a perfect choice for vegans.

I can honestly say it is the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life! No trip to Italy is complete without visiting this iconic place. 

Di Mateo – A close contender for the best pizza ever is Di Matteo’s which has been in operation since 1936.

Again you will have to wait outside for a while before you can get a seat inside the restaurant but I guarantee it is 100% worth the wait. Order the marinara and you won’t be disappointed. 

Caffe letterario intra moneia – During my last trip to Naples, I spent many evenings in this cafe/bar. And my dad even proclaims this as one of his favourite bars in the whole world!

The atmosphere here is great, there is a huge outdoor seating area right on the edge of piazza bellini so it’s a great spot for people-watching and simply soaking up the local culture.

Also be sure to check out the Greco roman wall, next to the bar, which used to mark the boundary of the ancient city – and keep an eye out for the cute kitties that like to snooze amongst the ruins! 

The bar provides free snacks when you order drinks, such as olives in a lemon dressing and crackers to munch on. You should also try the bruschetta topped with fresh tomatoes and basil. It’s simple but delicious. 

Aperitivo – Aperitivo is a concept similar to happy hour, that you can find in just about any bar in Italy. It typically kicks off around 6.30pm and lasts until 9pm.

Apertivo usually consists of drinks accompanied by a buffet for around €5.

There are always plenty of vegan options on offer such as fried eggplant, orzo, couscous and salad dishes. This can be a super cheap way to fill up for the evening or can simply be a snack before heading off to dinner later. 

4. Best Cities For Vegans -Krakow, Poland 

Krakow, Poland is one of the best cities for vegan travel. With its rich history and vibrant culture, Krakow offers a wide variety of plant-based options that cater to all types of travellers.

Not only are there plenty of restaurants serving delicious vegan dishes, but also many shops catering specifically to vegans.

There’s something for everyone in this beautiful city; from traditional Polish cuisine to international flavours, Krakow has it all! Whether you’re looking for great food or just want to explore its stunning sites and attractions, Krakow is one place where no vegan will go hungry!

Best vegan restaurants in Krakow

Veganic – I was pleasantly surprised at just how many vegan restaurants are in Krakow and this cosy spot is certainly one of the best places to eat in Krakow. Try the stuffed cabbage rolls and polenta fries and finish off your meal with one of the yummy cakes on offer. 

Pod Norenami – This chic restaurant, close to the old city, specializes in vegan and vegetarian versions of traditional Asian cuisine. I enjoyed this place so much that I ate there twice.

The curries are bursting with flavour and the tofu is seasoned perfectly. I also recommend trying the ‘momo’ –  traditional dumplings with a vegan twist. 

Momo – This small but cosy cafe is located in the hip Kazimierz neighbourhood. We ducked in here on a whim, to get out of the rain and were not disappointed! Try the amazing chocolate tofu cake, it is mouth-wateringly good.

Psst. be sure to check out my itinerary for a perfect weekend in Krakow 

5. Best Cities For Vegans – London, UK 

London is a great foodie city and coming here to sample the city’s food scene is one of the best reasons to visit London.

It’s also one of the best cities for vegan travel, with an ever-expanding range of plant-based options available to suit all types of travellers. From traditional English cuisine to international flavours, London has something for everyone!

Not only does London offer a variety of vegan restaurants, but also many shops and markets catering specifically to vegans.

Best vegan restaurants in London

Mildreds – I’m obsessed with Mildreds and try to make a point of eating here whenever I’m in the city. There are a couple of different branches around London but my favourite by far is located in Camden.

The menu changes fairly frequently but usually contains a selection of burgers as well as some Asian inspired dishes such as ramen or curry.

The Dalston location also offers a brunch menu that includes a yummy tempeh bacon and avocado bap, which is just to die for! 

Tibits – I absolutely love this place. It’s essentially a self-service buffet where you pay according to the weight of your plate. There’s always a lot to try and it can be tempting to go back for seconds or even thirds. The food is insanely good quality for a buffet.

I also highly recommend checking out their cookbook which is packed full of tasty dishes that you can recreate at home. 

Camden market food trucks – A trip to Camden Market isn’t complete without sampling some of the tasty street food on offer in the many food trucks.

There are plenty of vegan options to be found such as pizza slices, noodles and burritos. The hard part is just choosing what to have because you are going to want to try them all! 

Franco Manca – This trendy pizza place in Soho makes awesome sourdough pizzas with a variety of toppings. The menu is constantly changing but often features a vegan special.

You can also swap out the cheese on any of the veggie pizzas for a vegan cheese instead at no extra charge.

Soho is the best place for nightlife in the city (IMHO) so this is a great place to start a night out. Fun fact – I once bumped into comedian Noel Fielding outside of this restaurant! 

Vegan Food Tour London

Vegan food tours are so much fun! When in London be sure to check out this vegan food tour.

Indulge in London’s vegan food culture and discover one of the city’s trendiest areas on this interactive small-group walking tour! On this tour, you’ll have the opportunity to visit an array of exquisite eateries which will all give you some very generous samples.

You will also get a chance to be exposed to the street art and community spirit of Shoreditch while delving into London’s top-notch plant-based cuisine!

Final thoughts: 5 best cities for vegans 

Travelling as a vegan doesn’t have to be difficult – there are plenty of amazing plant-based options out there now. Whether you’re in Krakow, London, Tel Aviv or any other city, chances are you’ll find something delicious and enjoyable to eat.

So don’t worry about feeling restricted when you travel – just get out there and explore all the wonderful vegan food the world has to offer! Bon Appetit!

Psssst… Need inspiration for your next adventure? Check out my travel store!