Best Hotspots Worldwide for Vegans and Vegetarians by Trip101 

April 2019…// Plant-based nutrition has skyrocketed in recent years, with more people than ever choosing a vegan or vegetarian diet for health and environmental reasons. To prove that plant-based food can be diverse, decadent, fun, and delicious, Trip101 has curated the best hotspots for vegans and vegetarians worldwide by local experts.

Trip101 is a leading digital platform that aims to be a one-stop travel guide, covering over 150 countries. Trip101's vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian writers have revealed their favourite foodie hotspots - where skilled chefs turn meat substitutes and bland speciality ingredients into culinary masterpieces that even omnivores embrace.

Europe

The word 'vegan' was coined approximately 70 years ago by an English animal rights advocate, Donald Watson. Together with a group of like-minded individuals, he founded The Vegan Society in 1944, which is still active in England. In view of the strong vegan and vegetarian traditions and the number of vegan offerings in England, it's not surprising that many vegan travellers have no issue finding truly tantalizing plant-based meals. Jonny Turnbull, PhD Student from Newcastle, has been vegan for two years now and highly recommends experiencing vegan options with casual cafe vibes at Liutaio Music Café, The Old Bicycle Shop, The Ship Inn and the Grumpy Panda. Head further north to Scotland, where Trip101's contributor Andrew Malcolm, a vegetarian for five years and vegan for two, reveals hidden vegan and vegetarian gems at Mono, Stereo and The Flying Duck. Cross the border to experience Mediterranean flavours in Spain. Vegetarian, Hanako Shimada, has been living in Barcelona and highly recommends a visit to Kino, Carrer de Blai - a street of bars famous for vegetarian pinchos and Sesamo.

Middle-East

Israel is considered the capital for vegan dining since the civil war in 1948 which impacted the availability and affordability of meat. Israeli cuisine is naturally plant-based and uses vegetables, legumes and grains. The coastal city of Tel Aviv boasts Israel's best vegan-friendly restaurants and has launched the world's largest vegan festival that draws tens of thousands of vegan and vegetarian visitors annually. Naomi Baum, Trip101's writer living in Israel, highly recommends Te'enim, a restaurant located in an old-stone building overlooking the walls of the Old City.

Asia

Harmonising the contrasting tastes of sweet, sour, savoury and bitter, with the aid of seasonal vegetables, aromatic garlic and bountiful herbs, Asian chefs can add a whole new flavour dimension to any simple vegetable dish. In the Philippines, Christian Markle has been eating vegan and vegetarian food for many years and recommends a visit to Two Chickpeas and The Vegetarian Kitchen. Discover the culinary versatility of plant-based foods in India where Trip101 writer Sameeksha Jain has been vegetarian for 22 years and recommends paying a visit to Haristo Cafe & Pizzeria and Ganesh Restaurant for endless variations of dal (lentil) and rice. For a taste of Thailand, Trip101 traveller, Hannah Bryant suggests mentioning the phrase 'gin jay' to waiters. Given that most Thai dishes are often served with fish sauce or cooked in meat broth the influence of Buddhism has sown seeds for vegan and vegetarian cuisine, try colourful dishes at Amrita Garden and Munchies Café.

United States of America

For most diners, American cuisine is often synonymous with greasy meats, accompanied by overcooked vegetables playing a supporting role. Yet, the chefs in these restaurants give a healthier and animal-friendly spin to the classic American breakfast and burgers, starring the natural flavours of ingredients that were once thought of as secondary to meat. Local expert, Caroline Tsakanias, has been a pescatarian for two years and highly recommends Portage Bay Café and Roxy's Diner in Washington for veggie-friendly alternatives. In California, travelling vegan, Jaclyn Abergas highlights an international assemblage of vegan and vegetarian cuisines made with the freshest local ingredients available at Sage Plant Based Bistro and Gracias Madre. In the Big Apple, life-long vegetarian, Kavita Jain suggests an eclectic spread of plant-based dishes at ByChloe in New York City.

To discover more hidden hotspots for vegans and vegetarians recommended by Trip101 local experts visit: trip101.com.

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Notes for Editor

Trip101 is a one-stop guide for travel enthusiasts around the world. Supported by an ever-growing community of travel writers, Trip101 provides inspiration and useful information to help facilitate travel in a fun and meaningful manner. Spanning across 7 continents and more than 150 countries, all travel recommendations are based on the experience of travel experts. Trip101 provides the latest destination guides, accommodation reviews and travel tips – relevant for all stages of travel. Be it pre-trip, in-destination or post-trip, there's something useful for everyone.

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