There’s nothing we love more than finding – and sampling – delicious treats that we can file under healthy – and not harmful on the environment. Whether you’re a full-time vegan, dip in on a part-time basis or just curious for some good healthy eats, we’ve scoured the globe to track down our new fave places to feast on vegan delights.
LA
Plant Food and Wine
1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
With chic minimalist decor and an absolutely gorge al-fresco dining patio outback, Plant Food and Wine is a gem amongst the commotion of Abbot Kinney. Run by chef Matthew Kenney, menus are prepared seasonally – and pair perfectly with organic wine (can’t complain there).
Try: the smoked hummus, the little gem caesar salad, and the absurdly divine chocolate espresso sundae (chocolate is starting to become a theme here).
Cafe Gratitude Beverly Hills
419 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
LA often calls to mind tropical palm trees, gorgeous pink smoggy sunsets that don’t exist anywhere else, and a firm command on every healthy food and supplement under the sun. Gratitude looks like the embodiment of all that clean eating, with a succulent menu to boot. The Asian Kale and Wakame Salad is top of my list, as well as the Soul Bowl, filled with deep-fried chickpea frittata, smashed yams and whatever black bean dirty rice turns out to be.
There are endless lists – and I truly do mean endless (about 200,000,000 results on google) if you’re looking for vegan done right in LA, but the above are perfect for enjoying La La Land’s appeal at the same time.
NYC
Dirt Candy
86 Allen St, New York, NY 10002
The first time I visited Dirty Candy, a friend had messaged to ask if I could do dinner at a time that sounded more like a late lunch or a very-early bird special. It’s the best, she promised, it’s super-hard to get a table, she continued, piling up superlatives until I very couldn’t refuse. I didn’t even know it was vegan.
It was amazing. We ordered several plates, which I believe included some kind of lasagna, another dish situated around a mushroom, and an insanely delicious hot fudge and peanut butter sundae that you wouldn’t know was dairy-free unless I told you – so there. As of September 2017, the restaurant no longer offers a la carte: guests can order the Vegetable Patch or the Vegetable Garden tasting menus. Don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed.
Olmstead
659 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
While not straight vegan, the beloved Prospect Heights farm-to-table establishment offers some of the best vegan fare I’ve tasted. The shaved beet salad was almost – almost – too pretty to pick apart. And then there was the rutabaga tagliatelle. When your server suggests you try this dish, you might be thinking: have I had rutabaga before? Do I like rutabaga? Does my supermarket even sell this? But none of those things matter, because you should just order – and not share – the rutabaga pasta perfection. There’s black truffle in it, and apparently brown butter – see if they can make it without. It’s worth it, promise.
Clementine’s Bakery
299 Greene Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
I was tempted t to keep this one to myself. It’s my local work-from-”home” spot and probably the best bakery I’ve tried – vegan or not. The team changes up the cakes every single day. My go-tos are the slices of banana and chocolate chip cake or the checkerboard with vanilla icing. They also fo cupcakes, loaves of vegan bread and these crunchy peanut-buttery type brittles that you should probably just order if they’re available. The other day I tried their avocado toast with sliced cucumber, chickpeas and some kind of zingy deliciousness drizzled over the plate, and I instantly fell in lust.
PARIS
42 Degrés
109 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 75009 Paris, France
A sublime mix of vegan culture, haute cuisine, organic, raw and gluten free dishes – this is the place in Paris for supremely stunnings plates of veggie-focused food. Every plate looks like it came straight from an episode of Chef’s Table: brilliant greens and root veggies, bright colors and unique food pairings. I would recommend virtually anything on this menu, and note if you need a cheese fix, this being France and all, there’s a great little selection to sample.
Cloud Cafe
6 Rue Mandar, 75002 Paris, France
Cloud Cafe is what sweet Parisian-people-watching dreams are made of. Painted a delicate sky blue with a glass wall that opens up for warm weather, Cloud Cafe is a treat with its rows of traditional French pastries, cupcakes and cakes that rotate daily and include raspberry vanilla sponge, carrot cake and chocolate peanut butter. The salad bowls are hearty and flavorful and make the perfect light lunch.
Le Potager de Charlotte
12 Rue de la Tour d’Auvergne, 75009 Paris, France
An industrious gourmet kitchen run by two brothers who’ve been eating vegan for years, La Potager de Charlotte has ample dinner and brunch menus. Set in a sleek, minimalist space in Paris’ Ninth Arrondissement, the restaurant is well worth the trek beyond the usual city sights. Start with the pumpkin soup with roasted seeds, toasted bread and chives, and definitely do miss the main course of soba noodles in a vegetable bouillon with carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and green onions.
LONDON
Ethos
48 Eastcastle St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 8DX, UK
Don’t get me wrong, Fitzrovia can be a bit fancy and Ethos fits the bill. This is a nice little date-night find, that has a flex ordering system by day, where you pay by weight at lunch. So, if you want to pile up plates of sweet potato salad and heritage tomato with avocados and roasted cauliflower – go right ahead.
By Chloe
Drury House, 34-43 Russell St, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5HA, UK
With outposts in NYC and LA, By Chloe has long been a staple destination for hungry travelers – not just vegans. The shop in New York’s West Village usually has a line around it and for good reason, so when news hit that Chloe was crossing the pond for London’s Covent Garden, Brit foodies started clamoring. The cupcakes are unbeatable, same goes for most of the dessert tray, but if you’re in the mood for something hearty: the tempeh-lentil chia-walnut burger patty, served with sweet potato fries, is what you want to order.
SYDNEY
Gigi’s Pizzeria
379 King St, Newtown, New South Wales, NSW 2042
If you’re vegan and living in Sydney, chances are you’ve waited in line at Gigi’s. The pizzeria went totally vegan a few years back, and is beloved for wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and antipasti that’s so delish even your non-vegan friends will have plenty to choose from. The croquettes are made of almond-coated potatoes, while the focaccia has all the garlic, rosemary and EVOO you’ve come to expect but without egg.
Coco’s Coffee
Coffee Cart – visit Instagram @cocos__coffee for location updates
Coco’s pops up at foodie markets and festivals all along the Coal Coast. I spotted a crowd of people assembling around the coffee cart at a weekend market in Wollongong, ordered a golden latte with turmeric and coconut milk and then stopped to stare – and smell – all the fresh-baked goodies. Coco’s isn’t entirely vegan, but its owners are, and that day they were selling chocolate chip hot cross buns, banana bread as well as various raw balls and treats. This was springtime in Australia, and the coffee went down like a treat.
Shift Eatery
4/241 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia
According to Shift Eatery, it is the first vegan deli in Sydney, doing “tasty AF sandwiches” in Surry Hills. I haven’t been to Shift yet, but I’m going for the Pad Thai Salad and the flavorful array of Toastes. The menu is enormous, with bowls, wraps, toastes and too many breakfast options to name, so there’s a little something for everyone. Enjoy!
I can’t wait to try the NYC and LA places! Thanks for this! ????
I can’t wait to try the NYC and LA places! Thanks for this! ????