The top 5 cities for vegan travellers

Sticking to veganism can be tricky when travelling if your destination doesn’t cater to your dietary needs. But there are plenty of places around the world where locals largely follow a plant-based diet or innovation in the restaurant scene means vegan food is easy to come by. So for a holiday filled with unforgettable vegan dining experiences, head to any of these five super vegan-friendly cities.

Tel Aviv is a haven for vegan travellers, with chickpeas and tahini forming the basis of lots of popular local dishes. Plenty of vegan staples originate from the Middle East, and the falafel and hummus in Israel is some of the best you’ll ever eat. Served warm and often simply scooped up with a slice of crunchy fresh onion, the flavour is out of this world and just one bowl served with a warm, fluffy pita is a hearty, nourishing meal in itself. Israel also has more vegans per capita than any other country, so plant-based visitors will find plenty of dining out options catering to their tastes. Anastasia Cafe was one of Tel Aviv’s first vegan eateries, and makes its own soy, almond and rice milk, while The Green Cat restaurant prides itself on being the first 100% vegan pizza place in Tel Aviv (the cheese here is made from cashews). The Norman Tel Aviv is a boutique hotel whose in-house restaurants serve up a range of delicious and stunningly presented vegan dishes.

Taiwan is a veritable paradise for all food-lovers but is also particularly vegan-friendly, with dairy not so widely used and the country’s large Buddhist population accounting for the prevalence of vegetarianism. In the capital, Taipei, vegan street food is easy to come by and delectable – must-tries include crispy scallion pancakes, fresh steamed dumplings, rich miso noodle broths or some of the popular local ‘stinky tofu’. The Mandarin Oriental Taipei serves up moreish vegan dining options including congee and dim sum with velvety smooth and rich mushroom flavours.

London’s eclectic and multicultural culinary scene has something to impress everyone, vegans included. Plant-based eateries are increasingly ubiquitous in this cosmopolitan capital and range from fine dining options to markets and pop-ups purveying lip-smacking vegan fast food. There’s the Hackney Downs Vegan Market, the Broadway Vegan Market, Brixton Vegan Market and Kerb’s Meatless Market in Devonshire Square where you can taste international vegan delights such as Mexican chickpea fritters and cashew ricotta and courgette pizza. For fine dining, establishments like the Michelin-starred Gauthier in Soho will blow your vegan mind with dishes like harissa cauliflower or truffle tortellini with golden enoki. Book to stay in the Hilton London Bankside’s vegan suite, where everything from the breakfast to bedding and stationery is completely animal product-free.

With a reputation for green juices and salads galore, LA’s emphasis on a yoga-loving, healthy-minded lifestyle makes it arguably the most vegan-friendly city in the USA. Vegan eateries abound in this plant-based paradise, from high-end restaurants to fast food trucks offering an array of international flavours. Try Shojin, a vegan Japanese restaurant whose menu is made up of vegetables, rice, tofu and tempeh in dishes like crunchy mushroom tempura with truffle salt and – of course – sushi. There’s also an abundance of vegan Thai, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Italian and Mexican establishments in LA, and even plant-based versions of Cajun classics like gumbo. For vegan fast food, try burger joints Monty’s and VowBurger, or animal product-free sweet treats at bakeries like Erin McKenna's Bakery. Stay at the stylish Mama Shelter and dine at the hotel’s award-winning, vegan-friendly rooftop restaurant.

Australia isn’t all barbecues and meat pies, and vegan visitors to Sydney in particular will be spoilt for choice when it comes to fantastic plant-based culinary experiences. The food here is diverse, with strong Asian, Mediterranean and African influences; think vegan Greek stuffed pitas, matcha bao buns, or plant-based tonkotsu ramen made rich and creamy with sunflower and hemp seeds at vegan ramen spot, Lonely Mouth. The best suburb in the city for vegan dining is Newtown (located just outside the city centre), where you’ll find overflowing plant-based options including vegan delicatessens and cafés serving up the likes of tasty sourdough donuts and crunchy cauliflower burgers, vegan Chinese buffet restaurants and – in neighbouring suburb Marrickville – Sydney’s first vegan pub, The Green Lion. Check into The Urban Newtown to be walking distance from all the city’s plant-based dining hotspots.