If a plant-based food odyssey is on your list for 2023, these vegan cities are sure to impress. From vegan fine dining to plant-based dirty burgers, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to dining out in these cities.
If you’re considering making the move to a more plant-based diet, January – or ‘Veganuary‘ – is a great time to start. Lots of big brands like McDonalds, Lindt and Starbucks choose this time of year to launch vegan-friendly products, thanks to a renewed interested in plant-based lifestyles. But the world is your plant-based oyster if you know where to eat.
The vegan lifestyle is really picking up steam in the UK, as more and more people choose to remove animal products from their diet. More of us than ever before are eating plant-based or plant-forward diets, and even more meat-eaters are willing to give it a try. According to new research, just over 50 per cent of meat-eating Brits would happily swap to vegan alternatives for a certain amount of meals, and just under half of us (48 per cent) already use alternative ‘milks’ made from oat, almond, coconut and more.
Finding vegan-friendly cities to visit
People on plant-based diets are now well-catered for in the UK, especially in London – arguably the world’s veg-friendly capital, with 200 vegan restaurants in total. But how does vegan eating fare around the world? Luckily, the clever folks at Happy Cow publish a top ten list of the world’s best vegan cities every year. The Happy Cow app helps people find vegan-friendly places to eat all over the world, so they know which cities really get it.
When building this list, Happy Cow looks at criteria such as:
- How many fully vegan restaurants are there within 10km of the city centre?
- What is the density of vegan businesses per capita?
- How many fully vegan cafés, restaurants and shops are there in the city?
- How easy is it to find vegan options, how well do locals understand the concept of veganism and is there an active vegan community?
- How many vegan, vegetarian and veg-friendly restaurants are listed?
- How many new vegan businesses have opened since last year?
Basically, it’s extremely thorough. Here, we’ve catalogued their top cities for for tackling the coming year like a plant-based pro. See the list below and scroll down for some super-tasty recommendations.
Happy Cow’s Top 10 Vegan cities to visit in 2023
What’s the difference between ‘plant-based’ and ‘vegan’, anyway?
Some people use ‘plant-based’ and ‘vegan’ interchangeably, but they’re actually two different things:
- Vegan is a lifestyle where you commit to not using any animal products, or products that harm animals. This includes everyday items as well as food. For example vegans can only use cruelty-free beauty products, and can’t wear leather shoes or handbags
- Plant-based refers to a diet that’s free from animal products like cheese, meat and eggs and focusing on plants like fruits, beans and veggies instead.
Did you know? There’s no right or wrong way to start cutting back on animal products. Some people eliminate them completely, while others reduce rather than remove. As well as vegan, there are a few other plant-based diets to consider:
- Vegetarians still eat animal products like cheese, honey and eggs
- Pescatarians eliminate most meat, but keep fish in their diet
- Flexitarians mainly eat plant-based but will occasionally eat animal products, meat and fish.
Whether you’re cutting out animal products completely or not, Happy Cow’s vegan cities have lots of places to go and enjoy a plant-based meal (or three).
Where to eat plant-first food in Skyscanner’s top vegan cities
Whether you’re a fully committed vegan or simply curious about meat and dairy alternatives, these three vegan-friendly cities are our top choices for a plant-based foodie break.
The Big Apple is one of the world’s dining capitals, so it’s no surprise that it’s also a go-to for vegans. Happy Cow counts 170 vegan restaurants within 10km of the city centre. With most restaurants now offering a plant-based option or two, there’s no shortage of choice.
You’re not restricted by cuisine in New York City, either. This cultural melting pot offers plant-based delights from across cultures, with vegan restaurants serving Mexican, Korean, Chinese and Ethiopian food, to name a few. Of course, there are also vegan spins on classic New York staples like by-the-slice pizza and bagels.
For classic NY street food, head to the city’s top-rated bagel joint – Midtown’s Liberty bagels. While not fully vegan, they do have seven different flavours of tofu cream cheese: try their famous rainbow bagel with dairy-free schmear. Screamers in Brooklyn is the city’s first all-vegan pizza place. Offering ‘whole pies, fat slices and good vibes’, the store uses seitan pepperoni and almond parmesan to recreate the classic NY pizza experience.
Vegan fine-dining in New York is also unrivalled. Head to Michelin-starred Dirt Candy and splash out on the epic five-course tasting menu. Named “the Absolute Best Restaurant on the Lower East Side” by New York Magazine, even your meat-eating travel buddies will be keen to try this one out.
Despite Spain’s reputation for jamon and Manchego cheese, Barcelona is one of the best vegan cities in Europe. A huge boom in vegan restaurants over the past three years means that the city is now a top destination for plant-based foodies.
Lots of restaurants offer international flavours, and one of the best is Desoriente. This vegan fusion restaurant brings together Indian, East Asian and Spanish flavours. Think Korean bravas (spicy potatoes with vegan garlic mayo, coriander and kimchi) and Wasabi croquettes (potato dumplings stuffed with edamame and tamarind).
If the thought of Spanish cheese is tempting, head to Fermento Vegano. This vegan cheesemonger specialises in fermented plant-based cheeses. Try the HappyBrie with kalamata olives, or keep it simple with the semi-cured ‘chegan’.
Plant-based foodies will be glad to know a vegan trip to Barcelona doesn’t mean missing out on tapas. One of the best all-vegan places to try is Bubita Sangria Bar. It has two locations – one in the city centre and one by Barceloneta beach. Pose with a paella or sip your way through the impressive sangria menu.
For a special meal, book into Rasoterra for its innovative three-course tasting menu. This artsy restaurant in the old town focuses on vegan slow food crafted from local, seasonal ingredients. The carefully curated list of natural wines made exclusively by small vineyards is also well worth a browse.
Amsterdam is another of the up-and-coming vegan cities, with a huge surge of new plant-based openings over the past three years. It makes sense that this stylish city would have plenty of great vegan options. After all, some of the best things to do there have sustainability in mind, from vintage shopping to cycling along the canals.
When it comes to vegan food, international chain Maoz Falafel originated in Amsterdam and has multiple outlets across the city. Cheap eats include pitta wraps and salad bowls topped with crunchy falafel and creamy hummus.
Another popular spot is Vegan JunkFood Bar. There are multiple locations throughout the city – as well as outposts in Barcelona, Eindhoven and Cologne. Dirty vegan treats include sharing plates of nachos topped with ‘Nobeef crumble’, as well as burgers topped with vegan ‘cheeze’ and crunchy chipstick crisps.
For a fancier occasion, book a table at Bolenius Restaurant. This Michelin-Star restaurant is not fully vegan, but does have the distinction of being awarded a Michelin Green Star for its commitment to sustainable cooking and sourcing. There’s a vegan version of the six-course tasting menu, featuring creative dishes crafted from local produce.
Ready to explore some vegan-friendly cities?
As more people start to try plant-based lifestyles, more cities around the world are becoming vegan-friendly. You don’t even need to stick to the top 10 list to find brilliant places to eat during your overseas adventures. Use Happy Cow to discover the best places for a veggie meal, and Skyscanner to book flights to vegan-friendly destinations.