5 of the best vegan restaurants in Brighton

I visited Brighton for a weekend many years ago, when I was a fully fledged omni. My impressions mainly ran along the lines of “oh, pretty, many pretty shops, and the sea, oh this is nice…” Can I remember anything about the actual food? Does a vegan just eat salads? Of course not! Because my borderline obsession for revolving an entire trip around my taste buds is something that only started in 2012.

So let me tell you my impression from this trip.

“Vegan food! Vegan food! Vegan food everywhere! Wait, what? A vegan perfume shop? Oh the lovely smells! And more vegan food! Vegan donuts, what? Vegan cake? I can eat everything everywhere this is incredible!”

Vegan food as far as the eye can see

I am very sad to say that this isn’t a definitive list of all the vegan food in Brighton. I think I would need a month and a far more elasticated waistband, and so this is only five. But oh my, what a five. Each has something that makes it shine, and you won’t regret choosing any one of these to eat at when you’re down for a day on the beach.

FOOD FOR FRIENDS – BRIGHTON’S ORIGINAL VEGGIE RESTAURANT

Food for Friends is Brighton’s oldest vegetarian restaurant. Dating all the way back to 1981, it’s been on the planet far longer than I have (I’m not telling you how much longer though, nosy) and is a testimony to how deeply entrenched vegetarianism is in Brighton’s soul.

For some reason I couldn’t find the door, and so I wandered round the building pushing hopefully at everything door-shaped for quite a while until I got in. I’m infamously bad with doors so this has probably never happened to anyone else, but if you find yourself equally baffled then it’s on the right-hand side, past the first door-like thing.

Once in we ordered starters of satay tempeh skewers with a chilli, mango, bean sprout and herb salad, and tofu pockets stuffed with stir-fried shiitake, spring onions and brown rice, served with marinated pak choi, pickled ginger, wakame and hot Gochujang pepper sauce. Now say those five times fast without taking a breath.

I was not expecting strength of the pepper sauce in the tofu pockets, which clearly shows how closely I read menus, but both were excellent. I’d pick the skewers over the pockets as my preference, as I don’t see tempeh done well on menus very often. The real show stopper though was the fig salad with pickled ginger crisps and toasted pine nuts in an agave mustard dressing.

I’m always hesitant when I see “cheese can be replaced by tofu for vegans” on menus, as I usually imagine it’s a bit of an afterthought. I don’t know how these smoked tofu cubes were cooked, but I’m pretty sure they could convert even the most hardcore tofu-hater. They’ve been on my mind ever since.

Pros:

A beautiful restaurant and friendly staff.
Complimentary sparkling water.
Beautiful presentation.

Cons:

I would have liked a few more vegan options on the menu.
I don’t have a constant supply of that smoked tofu.

Price range:

£20-£30 per person for two courses and drinks.

ROOTCANDI – THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK TAKING THE VEGAN WORLD BY STORM

If you’re one of my more loyal and devoted followers (and if you’re not, why not?) then you’ll remember that back at the start of this year I came up with the mildly ludicrous concept of asking other bloggers where they thought the best vegan meal in the entire world was. Amanda Burger, resident blogger and vegan burger connoisseur at Burger Abroad, thought that Rootcandi deserved this title. Naturally, it’s been pretty high up on my to-do list ever since to check this out for myself. Strictly in the name of research, of course.

They’re the UK’s first all-vegan tapas restaurant, but they’re tapas with a twist as you pick a theme – Asian, European, Indian, or a mixture of all three. You’re recommended to pick a mixture of six, which comfortably feeds two people. It’s the perfect date restaurant, as long as you’re okay with sharing food, that is. Having been in Andalusia, the home of Tapas, earlier this year, it was nice to see Garbanzos con Espinacas nowhere on the menu.

We plumped for the European menu, although I could have quite happily gone for any of them. What particularly impressed me about Rootcandi was that each mini-dish was a mini-masterpiece. Almost too pretty to eat. Each one was bursting with flavour, and my personal favourite had to be the asparagus with asparagus cream, little pastry puffs and cherry tomatoes. The flavour combination was absolutely on point.

Dessert was a winner too. It the first time I’ve had vegan meringue (made from aquafaba) and it was so good it reminded me I really need to give making it myself a go. I still haven’t, although last night I dreamt I was making them for my family who weren’t my real family, but midway through making them I lost the thing I was using the squeeze out the mixture, and then my entire family suddenly got evacuated, and I was left in a room with crumbles of vegan meringue everywhere panicking about where everyone was. I went to a backroom and there were piles of pictures I’d drawn as a teenager that were weirdly really good, and I packed them up to take with me for when I too was evacuated, because I thought well I may be alone but at least I can decorate with memories of the past, and then I also packed the meringues I’d already made for the road.

Don’t ask.

But Rootcandi was incredible. They can definitely remain on the list of the world’s top vegan meals, and they’re one of the best places I’ve eaten for sure.

Pros:

The food is amazing, creative, delicious…
Unique menu and dining experience.

Cons:

What my subconscious dreams up for me at night.

Price range:

£25-£35 per person for two courses and drinks.

GREEN KITCHEN – THE BREAKFAST SPOT OF CHAMPIONS

Am I the only one who feels like hearty vegan breakfasts and brunches are an underdeveloped scene? Green Kitchen has it sorted in Brighton, at this gorgeous little cafe a short walk or 10 minute bus out of the centre. I finally got my pancake fix of vegan bacon with maple syrup on pancakes – don’t knock it till you’ve tried it – and a full English.

The vegan bacon is made by Sgaia’s Vegan Meats, which is the first time I’ve heard of them. They’re one of a few artisan vegan meat companies I’ve seen popping up in the past year, and their bacon was remarkably delicious. It wasn’t trying too hard to be bacon, and allowed itself to be tasty in its own right, which I really appreciated. The same can be said of the menu: it’s creative and interesting, without trying to be too fancy. I was spoiled for choice.

If you’re visiting Brighton, try to find an AirBnB near here so you can set yourself up for the day before heading out to sightsee. Using my code that’s off to your right in the sidebar will just about get you a free night’s stay, and you can toast me in the morning with your soy latte. The cafe is also dog friendly, something I always appreciate.

Pros:

Good portions, delicious food, friendly owner.
Dog friendly.

Cons:

A bit of a wander from the centre.

Price range:

Under £10 for a meal and a coffee.

BEELZEBAB AT HOPE AND RUIN PUB – I’LL HAVE THAT DEEP FRIED PLEASE

If it’s been more than a month since your last deep-fried-food-coma then you should get yourself down to Beelzebab, a kitchen that’s being run out of a caravan at the back of Hope and Ruin Pub. Especially with the nights getting colder and darker, it’s full on proper vegan comfort food that’s just what the doctor ordered.

When we arrived they offered us the special of deep fried vegan mac & cheese. I’m not sure how you deep fry mac & cheese, but they did it and it tastes pretty damn decent. The thousand island fries came buried under a mound of sauce and melted cheese, and the hot dog was also groaning under the weight of seitan, cheese, mustard. Ohhhhh it was good. So good. My one mild niggle was the kebab could have done with a bit more sauce, as if it doesn’t get as much of its contents smeared across your face as you manage to put in your mouth then I don’t consider it’s doing its job right.

We didn’t get to try the desserts this time, as the thought of more food was a bit much, but it’s somewhere I’ll definitely be back to next time I’m in Brighton, to finish eating my way through everything on their menu.

Pros:

Good people, good place, good food.

Cons:

The triple bypass required afterwards.

Price range:

£10-£20 for two items and a drink.

LOVING HUT ON THE LEVEL – CHANGING THE WORLD ONE MEAL AT A TIME

The lovely owner of this particular Loving Hut has taken the concept of Loving Hut – vegan fast food – and made it fly. She’s left the typical Asian theme of the Loving Huts, saying it’s not what she’s familiar with, and has chosen to do the sort of food she can do well. She definitely does do it well, too, walking away with VegFest UK’s best vegan restaurant award in 2015. It’s not priced out of a range that students can afford, which I really appreciated, remembering my own student days when eating out was several days of food budget.

I tried a few things from the menu, but the winner dinner for me was the vegan fish and chips. I’ve had battered tofu and chips before, and was always vaguely disappointed. This one tasted unerringly like the real thing, though, but if anything nicer. Apparently a few weeks before a man had come in and ordered it. He can’t have realised it was vegan because after finishing it he asked “that was really good, what type of fish was that?”

I also tried the cake, and the coffee and walnut is delicious. Especially the frosting. It’s properly buttery and thick and substantial. The type that goes perfectly with a cup of coffee in the afternoon.

Pros:

Affordable, quick, tasty.

Cons:

Closes early (but does take out).

Price range:

£10-£20 for two items and a drink.

I had less than 48 hours on this trip, and I ate and I ate and I ate. Brighton, I’ll be back for round two, and I’m coming for your vegan food. Where isn’t to be missed? Where are your favourites? Let me know in the comments below.

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Top 20 eco-friendly gift ideas for vegans

My birthday was a few days ago. It was a rollercoaster of a year, from the amazing to the awful. And although my birthday was lovely and relaxing, and full of love and family and wonderful messages from friends, there was one thing noticeably lacking: birthday presents.

Now this is okay, and I don’t mind, I mean what do you get your minimalist sustainability obsessed friend who probably lives on the other side of the planet to you? I see the conundrum that every year my friends and family face, because when someone has such a specific and niche set of interests the chances of getting something they won’t use are… well… pretty high.

To help out those of you who have fussy creatures like me in your life, here’s a list of safe gifts to give for a variety of budgets. These are guaranteed to delight the eco-vegan in your life, without costing the earth, in any sense of the word.

I’ve divided this into five handy categories:

Homeware | Jewellery | Clothing and Accessories | Books | Food

Click on the word to go straight there and avoid the other things (handy if your giftee doesn’t have a home, or if you’re on a diet and don’t want to see mounds of delicious chocolate being all delicious and tempting on your screen. Except it’s vegan, so it’s basically one of your five a day.)

HOMEWARE

Veggie Loven Mug

I love the design of the actual mug itself here. You should check out their Etsy shop, they have lots of beautiful designs that would fit perfectly into a farmhouse style kitchen. And have you seen the sandals on the bottom of the mug? So cute! I think they’re little Birkenstocks.

Wet Dreams Mug

This is more like a combination of myself and my friend Veggie Visa’s wet dream, she with Morrissey and pizza, myself with cats and broccoli (what a weird sentence to say) but I think it’s a pretty cute mug. I would love if it were custom designable so that you can pick from a selection of ones you want, but alas life doesn’t work that way.

Nooch Jar

If you don’t know what Nooch is, it’s that cheesy nutritional yeast stuff that vegans bang on about and put into everything. I can think of several people who would flip out over this jar. They also have some gorgeous mugs and bowls on their site, go and have a looksie.

Hazelnut Coffee Candle

A lot of candles are made from beeswax, and so not suitable for vegans. That, or they’re full of chemicals which I know I at least don’t really want to be inhaling. This one, however, looks good enough to drink. In fact, I think I’m going to go and make some hot chocolate now… it may be summer but it’s freezing here in Ireland.

Welcome to my Vegan Kitchen

For the adorable homemaker. As in someone who makes an adorable home, or someone who is adorable and homemakes, your choice really. These are just decorative, not for use. I particularly like their ‘Cruelty Free Zone’ ones that are also in their shops. And a percentage of the sale goes to an animal shelter.

JEWELLERY

Vegan Ring

I love how subtle and pretty this ring is. I just went full on and got the vegan logo tattooed on me 4 months in… (sometimes spontaneity and I like to dance together) but as a less permanent way for someone to subtly declare their vegan loyalties this ring is perfect.

Vegan Bracelet

Maybe it’s that ‘Plant Powered’ that swung me, but this has to be my personal favourite in the jewellery section. They’re super customisable so you can make it suit your loved one exactly.

Paw Print Necklace

Need a gift for an animal lover? If you can sneak your friend’s pet’s paw print to the maker of this lovely necklace, then it’s the perfect present for your friend who talks about their cat/dog more than any human in their life.

Raspberry Earrings

These are the sort of thing that normally I’d pass over, but they’re so ridiculously realistic that I feel like if I leave them on too long they’ll start dripping juice down my neck. They’re made by a designer in Greece who has an Etsy shop full of little fruit and veg dangling off bits of metal.

Birthstone Necklace

When I was a child I hated my birthstone – peridot – but as I’ve become older myself and the colour green have become inextricably linked. I think it’s the eco thing. This is a particularly nice birthday gift because of the birthstone element. If the text isn’t too your liking, check out their other items.

CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES

Yellow Clutch

Make sure you giftee likes yellow, it’s generally a love it or hate it colour, but personally I love it and think it cheers up everything. It’s a bit of a nightmare trying to find purses, clutches and bags that aren’t made from leather and won’t break in a week, so they make the perfect gift for any vegans in your life.

Crossbody Bag

When I was working in Russia and carrying my laptop everywhere, I was wearing business clothes but carrying my turquoise backpack. If you have someone in your life who has to carry a little more, this bag will go with anything. They can always decorate it with a few patches if the grey’s not their style, too.

Gloves

If your giftee is a winter baby, or you’re buying a Christmas gift, then what better than a pair of gloves? It’s incredibly tedious going round the shops and checking labels to find gloves without wool in, so cut all that and get this gorgeous handmade pair. Funnily enough I chose the green ones to show, but there are plenty of options.

Vegan T-Shirt

This is just one of many vegan t-shirts that are awesome. I made a list earlier this year which you can find here. If you buy anyone (albeit not a hardcore meat eater, I mean a vegan anyone) a shirt off this list (or more to save on postage) then you’ll have a very happy little herbivore on your hands.

Japanese Shoes

This year I finally spent the money on a pair of boots from a vegan brand, and my they’re wonderful. However, they’re also a kinda expensive. If you feel like splashing out a little and know the shoe size, a pair of vegan shoes is a more risky but potentially much appreciated gift. These look extremely comfortable.

FOOD

Booja Booja Truffles

These are like the queen of all vegan truffles, with only wonderful ingredients. I’ve only ever been given them for my birthdays/Christmases and they’re a bit of a failsafe for ‘don’t know what to get, she lives out of a backpack, argh!’ vegan and everything free and they still taste amazing.

DIY Dairy Free Mozzarella and Ricotta Kit

This is pretty awesome. I don’t know what it tastes like, but they have good reviews. This would be a good gift for a newbie vegan who hasn’t delved into the world of making their own cheese, yet. Although in fairness, I haven’t really either. I’ve had very few cooking failures in my life, and they pretty exclusively revolve around trying to make nut cheeses.

An Entire Gift Basket of Vegan Chocolate

Do I need to explain this one?

Vego pack of 6

Created in Germany, these have since spread and are widely acknowledged to be the best tasting vegan milk chocolate. They’re delicious, and rather large, although I can never make them last as long as I feel I should be able to make a bar of that size last.

Vegan Wine

Did you know that most wine actually isn’t vegan? If you’re going for the classic option of a bottle of wine as a gift, make sure it’s vegan friendly. Check out Barnivore for a list.

Disclaimer: all the opinions in this are completely my own, and I’d genuinely be thrilled with anything from this list. But you should know if you book through the link above I’ll make a tiny commission at no extra charge to you. Probably about the cost of a coffee. So go ahead, buy through a link and save those around me by being attacked by a caffeine deprived me…

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Top 10 vegan restaurants in Rome

This is possibly my favourite city guide that I’ve done (and one of the biggest, crikey!). Rome, one of my favourite cities in the world, plus some of the best vegan food I’ve ever eaten? Heaven. So without further ado, on to the food, because as Caesar would say: veni, vedi, cenavi – I came, I saw, I ate.

Fine Dining

Ranging from the extremely high end to the price of a nice meal out, this is my selection of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Rome that are something special, and not to be missed.

HOTEL RAPHAËL – vegetarian

At the end of 2015 Hotel Raphaël turned the hotel eco and organic, and the restaurant became entirely vegetarian. The restaurant is on the terrace, and in nice weather you can sit out and look over one of the best views in the city. Not only that, but the menu was designed in the style and with the help of Pietro Leeman, one of Italy’s most renowned vegetarian chefs and the creator of Joia. Each dish is so beautiful that I wanted to frame it and hang it on my wall, but luckily I overcame that urge and ate the food instead. It was as delicious as it looked, and I especially liked the addition of pansies on each of the dishes to tie them all together.

The beautiful view from the terrace.

If you want to stay the night as well as eating lunch or dinner there, then you can book a room here. Each floor has a different design, and the whole hotel is also eco and organic – right down to the toiletries in the rooms which are vegan and cruelty free. The breakfast bar is a thing of awe and wonder. Everything is organic, and although it caters for the carnivores there are more than enough vegan options. No staying here and having to survive on the fruit platter in the morning! There’s a huge juicer and a fresh orange juicer, too, so you can get your nutrient fix first thing.

Gazpacho with Russian salad, and an actual salad

Tempura (left) and artichoke with grilled tofu.

Pumpkin ravioli with pear (left) and almond creme with raspberry sorbet.

A meal for two: €100-150 without drinks.

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LA CAPRA CAMPA – vegan

La Capra Campa opened 4 years ago as a vegetarian restaurant and changed to vegan almost immediately, alongside the owner’s personal shift. It’s a small but cosy restaurant with outside seating, a little outside the city centre and the tourist attractions but well worth the trip out. The menu is inventive, offering vegan versions of traditional Italian dishes and even homemade nut cheeses that have been seasoned for a month. You can also buy these in blocks. The food was exceptional – some of the best I’ve had – especially the seitan dishes. Even though we were stuffed we managed room for dessert, and I was particularly impressed by the cardamom and bergamot cream.

Nut cheese platter.

Homemade seitan.

Amazing desserts.

A meal for two: €50-80 without drinks.

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BIBLIOTHE – vegetarian

One of Rome’s longest running vegetarian restaurants, Bibliothe serves Ayurvedic food and runs events and readings on Ayurvedic and Indian philosophy. If you’re not familiar with the concept of Ayurvedic food, then it’s a little different to what we think of as Indian food. It’s created to be balanced for the body, rather than overloading with spices and flavour. When I went around 1pm, it was packed with locals on their lunch break, all eating the Thali which is a plate of rice and several small dishes. It was served with a bowl of bread, which was homemade and delicious. The menu is a mixture of vegetarian and vegan, but the cakes are almost all vegan. I tried the zucchini cake with spices and toasted almonds, and the apple crumble. Thinking about that zucchini cake now makes me want another piece, here… mmm. I wish I could make them like that. If you’re in Rome and want a break from pizza and pasta, Bibliothe is the perfect choice.

The Thali plate (left) and apple crumble.

A meal for two: €30-50 without drinks.

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IL GECOBIONDO – vegan

Il GecoBiondo (a clever name that includes the words eco and bio, look closely) opened in 2007 and turned vegan in 2008, and so claims the title of being the oldest fully vegan restaurant in Rome. It’s a Trattoria, which means the dishes change day to day, so there’s no menu – you just choose how hungry you are (the second option comes with pasta) and then the dishes start rolling out. Because it’s more buffet style the presentation left a little to be desired, but the food was very good nonetheless. Like several of the other restaurants on this list, it’s not very central but if you’re hungry after a long day of sight-seeing, then it’s worth the visit as the food is tasty, healthy and filling. It’s also all locally sourced and organic – even the alcohol.

Salad (left) and seitan with tofu cream, capers and nutmeg, jerusalem artichoke and chicory.

Roman gnocchi (left) and zucchini with apple cider vinegar.

A meal for two: €40-50 without drinks.

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Buffets

Rome boasts 2 totally vegan buffets, one pay by weight, one all you can eat. Both are fresh, creative and delicious.

PASSIONE VEGANE – vegan

Passione Vegane is a fully vegan buffet that’s a little out of the city, close to Ciampino airport. Many of their customers are omnivores wanting to eat more healthily who go there on their lunch break. Unlike Ops! below, which is a pay by weight, Passione Vegane is all you can eat, so make sure you’re hungry. In the evening it costs a little more, and you get a few extra options like seitan and a different pasta dish. There are gluten free options, but there’s contamination in the kitchen so it’s not suitable for severe coeliacs.

The desserts are extra, but are amazing. They served me the first creme brûlée I’ve eaten since I went vegan, and it was perfect. The biscuits, too, are exactly like the non-vegan Italian biscuits I used to eat as a child when I went for Sunday morning coffees across the road in the Italian coffee shop with my dad. If you’re on your way to Ciampino, or if your hotel’s a little out of the city, then it’s a perfect place for lunch and dinner.

A meal for two: €40-50 without drinks.

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OPS! CUCINA MEDITERRANEA – vegan

If you’ve heard vegans who’ve been to Rome talking about the restaurant options, then you’ve probably heard of Ops! already. It’s a pay by weight buffet close to the centre of Rome, not far from the Borghese. If you go, make sure you’re hungry as there were so many delicious looking options I couldn’t help but fill up my plate with food.

A meal for two: €40-50 without drinks.

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Pizza

There are pizzerias all over Rome, but relatively few with vegan cheese. Of all of them, there’s one that stood out.

RIFUGIO ROMANO – veg-options

The only pizzeria where I found a decent number of vegan options with vegan cheese, Rifugio Romano is run by a family, most of whom are vegans. They still serve meat, there seem to be more vegan options appearing all the time – and impressively the menu has tempeh, tofu, vegan cheese and vegan desserts. It’s not in the prettiest area, but it’s very conveniently located as it’s right by Termini, so very central. The pizza was good, and the cake afterwards was to die for.

A meal for two: €40-50 without drinks.

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Cafés

Rome has a coffee culture, but not a coffee shop one. So if you want to find somewhere vegan to chill with a coffee between sight-seeing, you’re a little short of options. There is an amazing one, though (although it’s actually a bistro), and it has cats.

ROMEOW CAT BISTRO – vegan

Finally a cat café makes it onto one of my vegan food guides! I generally avoid animal cafés as they’re a form of animal tourism that’s often overlooked on the lists of things you shouldn’t support. The cats in most cat cafés are pedigrees, bothered and hassled during the day and locked in cages at night. Adopt don’t buy, and don’t support businesses that buy either. But… Romeow, like some others now popping up, is a cafe with rescue cats where the customers aren’t allowed to force the cats to come to you. The staff clearly genuinely love the cats, too, and seem very happy in their feline-filled workspace. There are 6 cats, and you can watch them wandering along the walkways and sleeping in the sunny spots as you drink your latte and eat a piece of cake. I did try the food, and it was good (although small portions) but the desserts… oh the desserts… were incredible. My personal favourite of the ones I tried was the chocolate mousse cake that had a caramel layer between the base and the mousse. Oh so good. So so good.

A meal for two: €40-50 without drinks.

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Gelato and desserts

This is something Rome does particularly well, and you won’t be short of options if you have a sweet tooth. Two in particular stood out.

OLIVE DOLCI – vegan

Most gelaterias offer sorbets, and a few even offer soy options, but if that’s not your cup of tea (or cone of ice) then head down to Olive Dolce, where they’ve replaced milk with… olive oil. This is one of those things that made me raise my eyebrows to start with and go: “what?! Olive oil gelato?” but once I tried it I was sold. You’ve got to taste it to believe it. They’re experimental with their flavours, and the mild flavour of the olive oil allows them to really shine through and be much stronger than with regular milk. I tried black tea, baobab, goji and naranjilla. I could have easily returned every day.

4 scoops in a tub: €4.50

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GREZZO – vegan

Grezzo, tucked away in the cute little alleyways of the Monti neighbourhood, is the first pastry, chocolate and gelato shop in the whole world to serve fully raw, vegan and gluten-free recipes using only organic ingredients. Looking at the counter and the beautiful creations on offer, I couldn’t quite believe that is was all raw and vegan. I could have easily eaten half their stock, but I was restrained and tried just one orange and chocolate cake. Next time, my lovelies, next time.

One cake: €6

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Going Vegan has changed our travel – before and after stories from vegan travellers

Years ago I used to budget travel as an omnivore, and I always returned sick, skinny, and run down. Food just wasn’t a priority! When I turned vegan in 2012 my first thought and biggest concern was: “how will I keep this up while travelling?” and actually I intended not to. Little did I know that four years on not only would I be eating incredible food all over the world (and writing about it!) but that my whole travel ethos would have changed. Vegan travel has given me an amazing network of friends. I’ve stayed with vegan couchsurfing hosts, slept in vegan restaurants when I didn’t have a bed, and met up with countless other travellers through vegan networking. I was worried that it would leave me isolated and starving, instead I’ve been given something that’s an instant connection when I meet another vegan, and it’s also left me quite a bit heavier than when I left the UK two years ago.

I asked eight other long-term travellers to share their experiences of how a vegan diet and lifestyle has changed not just what they eat, but their entire travel style.

JEN & DAVE – LONG HAUL TREKKERS

We became vegans mid-travel, after some vegan friends joined us on our European cycle tour in the summer of 2015. Longtime vegetarians, we had debated whether or not to commit to a vegan diet before leaving, ultimately deciding it would be too difficult on cycle tour. However, once our friends show us how simple it was to eat vegan while traveling, we decided to test it for a month.

Since going vegan, we visit far fewer bakeries, due to the lack of treats available for us! Eating out can pose an issue, especially meat-centric places like the Balkans or South America, but it also allows us to discover the hidden vegan dishes within a particular culture. We often stay with hosts and will whip up an amazing vegan meal as a thank you, leaving them in awe of the flavors of a plant-based diet. Veganism has allowed us the opportunity to educate others about veganism around the world.

We are Jen, Dave, and Sora, the Australian Shepherd, from Portland, Oregon. In May 2015, Sora convinced us to quit our jobs and take her on a world cycle tour. We have cycled from Oslo to Athens, via the Balkans and Turkey and are now slowly making our way from Patagonia to Portland.

PAUL – VEGAN FOOD QUEST

I find myself writing this 854 days (and counting) into a vegan travel adventure that has been life changing in so many ways; I had never left my home town of Southampton, England for more than 40 days prior to our Vegan Food Quest beginning so had to deal with being away from my wonderful family, my crazy friends, my beloved football team, also sustaining a vegan diet when you can no longer speak the language, read the menus and understand the labels on everything you buy presented a huge challenge for me.

How has my travel changed?

Vegan travel has helped me be more compassionate and understand that life (and the big wide world) is a very tough proposition for many of those who call it home; whether these are other humans that have to deal with living conditions that we would never encounter in England, or the animals that are treated in ways that are quite simply not acceptable, only this week an adult elephant died just 10 minutes from where I am currently based in Siem Reap, having collapsed from exhaustion after 15 years of ‘offering’ tourists rides around Angkor Wat.

I could go on about how every day is now filled with me trying to find new and exciting vegan food to eat, but those of you who are vegan and reading this will already know that, and those who are not enjoying a plant based diet might think I am exaggerating, so I won’t write about that and bore you with my NEVER ending quest for delicious vegan food…

Paul is 1 half of Vegan Food Quest who are on a full time adventure ‘finding, eating & writing about the best vegan food in the world’ and currently based in Siem Reap, Cambodia loving their 3rd year of vegan travel.

CHRISTY – THE BLISSFUL AND FIT CHEF

Being vegan has changed my travel in many ways. Mostly because I think about food all day and where I will get my next meal. Us vegans love to eat and don’t want a disappointing meal if we can stand it! Before I even choose a location to visit it must pass an unwritten vegan litmus test by going to HappyCow to see how many vegan and veg-friendly places are in the area. Then my accommodations are chosen in an area of town that has the most vegan food options. I often will choose to stay in a hostel or somewhere with a kitchen so I can make many of my meals. Not only does this save money but you know what is going into your food. I carry the Vegan Passport book with me if I’m ever stuck in a situation where I can’t communicate my dietary needs. It has never been easier to travel as a vegan. We are so spoiled!

Another thing that I was faced with while in Koh Phangan is witnessing animal cruelty first hand to produce vegan foods. I was walking out of a vegan café and saw a monkey in the trees. He had a leash tied to him and was forced to get coconuts down from the tall palm trees. I had no idea this was happening so that I could drink fresh coconut water! It was so eye-opening and jarring to think I was contributing to this without even knowing it. Sometimes our vegan foods are not free from cruelty and aren’t really vegan in the big picture. We are forced to think and act more compassionately while traveling. Animals are used more frequently for transportation in foreign countries and their habitats are destroyed for food products. We must stand up for these animals along with farm animals.

How to travel as a vegan

At Sweet Freedom

Christy Morgan has been tantalizing taste buds for years as a vegan chef, cooking instructor, food writer, and cookbook author; now athlete and certified personal trainer and yoga teacher. She is the author of Blissful Bites: Plant-based Meals That Nourish Mind, Body, and Planet and the founder and creator of Blissed Out Retreats. Christy has been to 25 countries and counting! Follow her travels on social media and check out her website for more info about her retreats and services.

GISELLE & CODY – MINDFUL WANDERLUST

Since going vegan we have had no choice but to be conscious of what kind of food we eat; and since we don’t consider animals, and animal ingredients to be food, we ask a lot of questions. Inquiring about everything we consume has led us to eating a lot healthier while travelling. Instead of just finding random mystery street food stalls, or restaurants serving unhealthy food, we search out delicious, and healthy plant foods. Being vegan has also opened us up to a whole new world of incredible food that we wouldn’t have otherwise tried. What has changed the most about travelling since going vegan is our appreciation and love for good food that didn’t come from harm.

Giselle and Cody are creators of the ethical vegan travel blog Mindful Wanderlust. Besides their love for travel their interests include music, science, justice, animals, shapes, feelings, stuff, things, and vegan food.

WENDY – THE NOMADIC VEGAN

I’ve become much more of a foodie traveller since I became vegan. As a budget traveller who was trying to make my money stretch as far as possible, in the past I didn’t give much priority to eating well. All too often I would settle for greasy fast food in the interest of saving a few bucks. Now, however, I definitely allow myself to splurge more often on great dining experiences at vegan, vegetarian or even just veg-friendly restaurants. And those meals often turn out to be what I remember most about a trip!

While nature and wildlife were always major attractions for me when travelling, I now also seek out opportunities to interact with the less “exotic”, and often abused, animal species. While travelling around the island of Crete in Greece, I visited a sanctuary that cares for abandoned and abused donkeys. I’m now planning a week-long getaway next month to somewhere quiet (I’m calling it my “writer’s retreat”), and I’m hoping it will be at a farm/sanctuary in Portugal that is home to horses, dogs, cats and chickens. One drawback to my nomadic lifestyle is that it’s really not possible to have companion animals as part of my family, so I’d love nothing more than to spend a relaxing week cuddling some furry and feathered friends!

Wendy Werneth is an intrepid traveller, vegan foodie and polyglot who is on a mission to show you how you can be vegan anywhere and spread compassion everywhere. You can follow her adventures at The Nomadic Vegan and download her free ebook, 8 Steps for Fun and Easy Vegan Travel. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

SAM – INDEFINITE ADVENTURE

I think for me, becoming vegan at the beginning of 2014 has been one of the most positive and rewarding decisions I’ve made in my life so far. While yes, it has influenced the way I travel in that I’m always looking up options for vegan food in the destinations I’m interested in (and indeed it sometimes even informs the specific decisions about which places to visit), the really impressive thing is that it has opened a door to a wonderfully welcoming, friendly community of awesome people.

Through veganism I’ve made some great friends, both online and offline. Sharing food has always been a very sociable activity for me, but sharing it with others who have similar attitudes to compassionate eating and finding interesting ways to make good food is for me, a fantastic way of forming new relationships and strengthening existing ones. Engaging with people who examine their choices and don’t follow the crowd just because it’s the done thing is something that has always interested me. Vegans are experts at this so they are often my favourite kind of people!

Traveling as a vegan

Sam is a blogger, freelance writer and occasional EFL teacher originally from London but now based in Berlin who travels with his husband, Zab, and blogs about it. Together, they’re always on the look out for the most hipster cafes, cool street art, quirky things to do and of course the best vegan food.

DONNA – GREEN EARTH TRAVEL

Because I have been vegan for so long and a travel agent almost as long I probably have a different perspective. I became vegan in I think 1983 and became a travel agent in 1985. I think that travel comes first and then the food.

When I first started traveling countries like England and Ireland, the food was just boring. In Germany and Austria I ate at Chinese restaurants because there was nothing else. Spain and France – I was an alien to them! For my clients I had to beg and plead on the cruise ships and call special services and fax them, and I had to yell at the airlines to make sure that they understood what vegan was (now there is just no food at all).
So that is why I have never let food options or lack of stop me. That said, I wanted to make it easier for my clients to be able to go out and see the world.

Now it is so easy it’s ridiculous! You can get vegan Gelato in Italy without asking. Germany where there was only cabbage and beer has become the mecca of veganism in Europe with over 200 restaurants in Berlin alone! There are so many stories I could write a book. I am happy to tell you some of them if you want to chat.

Donna was the official travel agent for the March on Washington For the Animals in 1990 and 1995 and that is when things began to take off for her. She runs www.greenearthtravel.com and www.irelandtrips.com, “Destinations That Make A Difference” you can contact her by email on on Facebook.

CHARLIE – CHARLIE ON TRAVEL

I experimented with travelling vegan for Veganuary, I had a huge amount of support and encouragement from other vegan travel bloggers. At the time, I remember being worried about being judged if I made a mistake or didn’t stay vegan afterwards – but that never happened. Everyone was so supportive, giving me advice when I needed it, encouragement when I was down, reminding me that mistakes happen and that becoming vegan takes time and dedication.

The vegan travel community were so incredible that I wanted to meet with other vegan travellers whenever I could and I always refer to their blogs all the time when I travel. It’s changed the way I travel. Now I seek out all the same awesome vegan places and meet up if we happen to be in the same area.

I make vegan food choices over vegetarian ones because I’m so much more aware of where my food is coming from and how it made it onto my plate. I shop in local food markets, look out for farmer’s markets and local produce, buy local foods, eat fruits and veggies that are in season, and eat in cafes run by local people too.<

Can I travel as a vegan

Charlie is a traveller from the UK who writes a travel blog about sustainable, slow travel and loves eating local-sourced vegetarian and vegan food around the world. Charlie took up a vegan travel challenge as part of Veganuary 2016 and travelled vegan in Bulgaria and Macedonia.

Have you tried being vegan or gone vegan while travelling? Let me know in the comments!

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Oil, bread, and tomatoes – Vegan in Andalusia – Plant-Powered Nomad

Spain isn’t a country that most think of as being a haven for vegans, especially being vegan in Andalusia, where I fled to in February when Ireland and the UK got too cold for me. Unfortunately it was still cold in Andalusia, but without the benefit of central heating. Oops. Didn’t think that through, did I. Some day I need to go and learn lessons from seals on how to grow blubber under my skin to stay warm.

Luckily, food was something that was still in my life, so I might have been freezing but at least I wasn’t starving too. And although the main fair for vegans in Andalusia is tostadas con tomate y aceite (toast with crushed tomato and oil), a regional breakfast that you can ask for anywhere, there are plenty of other vegan options too. Here are my vegan adventures in Andalusia.

TARIFA

In off season Tarifa is small, sleepy, and very pretty. As the kitesurfing season kicks off, tourists and part-time residents flood in and it becomes a kitesurfer’s haven. It was quiet, but I loved it in February as it was just starting to warm up and there were lots of opportunities for windy beach walks and hikes.

The EcoCenter – vegetarian

Tarifa EcoCenter is a restaurant with an organic shop at the back where you can buy things like seitan, tempeh, and various healthy type foods. For €10 you can also order an organic seasonal vegetable box that comes every Tuesday.

Everything I ate at the restaurant was excellent, from their pizzas to their salads. It’s mainly vegan, but it’s worth checking.

Cost: midrange.
Taste: yummy
Would I return?: for a nice dinner, definitely!

Chilimosa – vegetarian

I was so excited to discover that Chilimosa was right next-door to my first apartment in Tarifa… only to discover that they’d gone away on holiday for a month. Visiting Tarifa in off-season definitely has its downsides!

Cafe Azul – serves meat

If you’re looking for a place that does a good, cheap soy latte (caffe latte con leche de soja) and a tostada con tomate y aceite, then look no further than Café Azul. It’s not got wifi, and it closes in the afternoon for siesta (like everywhere else), but if you want somewhere to meet for breakfast it’s perfect.

CADIZ

Cadiz definitely isn’t as vegan friendly as Tarifa, but it’s an extremely pretty town to walk around for a day. A little bigger than Tarifa, there are lots of winding streets that all look the same and are easy to get lost in. If in doubt just follow the sound of the sea.

La Isleta de la Vina – serves meat

They may not be veggie, but they have a clearly labelled vegan tapas menu and their food was good. As it’s tapas one won’t fill you up – we split 5 between two of us and it was a decent amount of food. They have hummus, falafel, and a ‘burger’ which is more like a vegan quiche thing.

SEVILLE

Seville has some pretty amazing vegan food, and even… gasp… vegan cake! It’s not too big a city, so take the extra time to get to the vegan friendly places rather than relying on regular restaurants, or you’ll be eating a lot of espinacas con garbanzos (chickpeas with spinach), the vegan friendly tapas that’s on almost every menu.

Bar Cardomomo – vegan

The owner is one of the sweetest women I’ve met, utterly enthusiastic and friendly. I popped in there at the end of the day and we spent quite a while using google translate to have a conversation. I only tried one tapas – the burger – because I was curious what a tapas burger was like. It turns out it’s a really really tiny vegan burger, but a tasty one. I tried a piece of cake too, and it was decent.

Cost: cheapish.
Taste: like tasty home cooked food, miniaturised.
Would I return?: sure, but mainly for the owner’s company.

Veganitessan – vegan

This is my favourite place on the list, hands down and no contest. It’s a small stall in an indoor market, but there are plenty of options on the many and an amazing selection of cakes and pastries. We tried two of the burgers, which were tasty and the potatoes that came with them were amazing. I know it’s a little odd to rave about the potatoes, but they were some of the best I’ve ever had. I took away a chocolate croissant to eat on the bus the next day, but ended up eating it at 1am instead… it was calling to my from my bag, and my willpower caved.

Cost: cheap.
Taste: burgers were good, desserts were amazing.
Would I return?: definitely, and in fact I did later that day.

Bar Ecologico Gaia – vegetarian

Attached to a giant health food shop, Bar Ecologico Gaia is a more upscale restaurant than the others on this list and is well established in Seville as a vegetarian restaurant. About 50% of the menu is vegan, and there are some interesting options. I tried the bulgar wheat which was delicious and was a nice change from the oil and bread.

Cost: moderate.
Taste: delicious and healthy.
Would I return?: for a nice meal out, yes.

Mama Ines – serves meat

Best (and cheapest!) breakfast I had in Andalusia of tostada, latte and orange juice. I would have gone here every morning if it was closer to where I ended up staying. The tostada bread was light and fluffy with a crusty outside, and the tomato was thick and tasty. The tostada, orange juice and latte cost €2.50.

Cost: cheap.
Taste: mmmmm… *daydreams*
Would I return?: definitely.

Have you been to Andalusia? What did you find to eat that wasn’t bread and oil?

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Oil, bread, and tomatoes – Vegan in Andalusia – Plant-Powered Nomad

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