The Most Vegan-Friendly Cities Around the World

With the consistent rise of vegan diets and cruelty-free lifestyles across the globe, there has also been an increase in restaurants offering specialty vegan menus. Veganism has become firmly mainstream thanks in part to famous celebrities and athletes. Environmental and ethical concerns have also led people from all walks of life to adopt plant-based diets, with some cities assuming roles as pioneers in offering vegan food options. Let’s take a look at the most vegan-friendly cities around the world.

Actor Joaquin Phoenix is known to be a big champion of spreading the vegan message. The actor hit the headlines in February 2020 with his powerful Oscar’s acceptance speech, slamming the cruelty prevalent in the dairy industry. It has been reported that the actor has been vegan since he was just three years old. Grammy-winning artist Billie Eilish and Formula 1 racer Lewis Hamilton are also among other famous personalities who have adopted a vegan diet.

If you are looking for places that serve the best vegan food and have a variety of restaurants to choose from, know that London and Berlin have been named among the top destinations offering just that, as per passionate vegan community HappyCow. For those who are looking to travel and explore new destinations, here is a helpful guide on the most vegan-friendly cities around the world, as well as some of the best restaurants offering vegan cuisine in them.

Top vegan-friendly cities around the world in 2024

London

Veganism has grown exponentially in the United Kingdom, and it has been reported that more than half a million people in the country are now vegan. This has resulted in many restaurants exploring meat and dairy substitutes in the most exciting ways. In 2022, London was named the most vegan-friendly city in the world with a whopping 400 vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants across the city.

Since then, the numbers have further increased, with the London dining scene now offering a variety of vegan-themed restaurants featuring a variety of cuisines such as modern British, Japanese, as well as fast food. The city’s vegan-friendly eateries are spread across neighbourhoods catering to a wide population and include more affordable options for university students to high-end restaurants for a swanky date night.

Best vegan-friendly restaurants to try in London

Itadaki Zen
Location: King’s Cross

Gauthier
Location: Soho

The Gate
Location: Islington

Berlin

In the last decade, Berlin has slowly emerged as Europe’s vegan capital with over 200 vegan restaurants and over 1,600 vegan-friendly spots spread throughout the city. It was reported in 2023 that in a population of nearly three million, an estimated eighty thousand are vegans. Thus, the city boasts an impressive number of vegan restaurants. Considering the city is a melting pot for several cultures and nationalities, its food scene has seen an exponential change over the years. With the organic movement on the rise as well as the worldwide trend for eating with sustainability in mind, many Berliners have turned to vegan-friendly spots as their go-to food options. From burgers to vegan doner kebabs and tapas, this German city offers delightfully diverse options for every palate.

Best vegan-friendly restaurants to try in Berlin

FREA
Location: Mitte

Alaska Vegan Bar
Location: Reuterstraße 85

Gazzo
Location: Hobrechtstraße 57

Barcelona

Barcelona is on the must-visit list of places for many Travellers and the city’s burgeoning vegan food scene has become one of its major highlight in recent years. Several vegan restaurants are located near the city’s main attractions, with its easy accessibility highlighting its place as a go-to cuisine for many locals. The city has a plethora of vegan cafes as well as restaurants that specialise in plant-based cuisines. Among the top vegan dishes served in Barcelona, vegan sushi has emerged as a top choice. Also popular among locals and Travellers alike are vegan restaurants serving traditional Spanish small dishes.

Best vegan-friendly restaurants to try in Barcelona

Roots and Rolls
Location: C/ del Consell de Cent

Pastan Barcelona
Location: C/ de Josep Torres

Desoriente
Location: Carrer de Ramon Turró

Amsterdam

Even though traditional Dutch cuisine isn’t known to be vegan-friendly, the capital of Netherlands is rapidly becoming a top destination for vegan foodies. The city offers a wide variety of places to eat for those adhering to a vegan diet. Despite being the dairy epicenter of the Netherlands and having a cheese shop at every corner, Amsterdam is just as vegan-friendly.

In 2021, the Amsterdam city council revealed plans to encourage citizens to adopt a 50% plant-based diet by 2030. Plans were laid out to increase the availability of sustainable, Healthy food across neighbourhoods. The city also set a pioneering example for other European nations by becoming the first EU capital to endorse the Plant Based Treaty, a global movement for Healthier, sustainable plant-based diets.

Regional vegan wines have also become a favoured choice for travellers, as well as locals in Amsterdam. Apart from dedicated vegan food hotspots, many local restaurants have also begun incorporating vegan dishes into their menus. Restaurants such as De Kas have also been changing the game with their complete vegetarian and vegan menus. Entreating diners to settle in under the roof of their greenhouse, the restaurant has also became one of the first farm-to-table restaurants in the world.

Best vegan-friendly restaurants to try in Amsterdam

De Kas
Location: Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, 1097 DE

Bolenius
Location: George Gershwinlaan 30, 1082 MT Amsterdam

Restaurant Flore
Location: Nieuwe Doelenstraat 2-14, 1012 CP Amsterdam

Hamburg

From cosy cafes to trendy restaurants, Hamburg offers a vibrant experience for food lovers with plenty of vegan-friendly options. The German city focuses on the usage of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. With decadent vegan desserts and main courses options available at  the popular joints, the city promotes a diverse culinary experience for visitors as well as locals. Combining creativity and flavour, some of  the city’s best eateries not only provide satisfying meals, but also take the responsibility of promoting sustainable dining.

If you are looking for a variety of patisseries to choose from, one of the best vegan joints you can find is Kjeks. Offering splendid vegan cakes, cookies, and donuts as well as cheesecake and tiramisu in a bowl, the patisserie has become a popular spot for desserts.

Best vegan-friendly restaurants to try in Hamburg

Chay Vegan
Location: Lilienstraße 9​

Ta Vegan House
Location: Neue Große Bergstraße

Bodhi Vegan Living
Location: Borgweg 11, 22303

Portland

In the past few years, Portland has been named as one of the best cities in the US for vegan food. The number of restaurants serving meatless menu items has been on an increase. The city also boasts of several joints that serve vegan ice cream, Detroit-style deep-dish pizza, donuts, and dim sum, with dairy-free cheese shops also in abundance. An all-vegan doughnut shop and ice creamery, Doe Donuts has become particularly popular in Portland for those with a sweet tooth. The dessert shop offers classics such as Strawberry shortcake, German chocolate doughnuts, matcha cream-filled bomboloni topped with fresh raspberries, and more.

Visitors to Portland today are spoiled for choice, surrounded by dozens of bars and restaurants offering plant-based and gluten-free menus; but, the foundations for the same were laid years ago. In 2003, Emiko Badillo and Chad Miller opened Food Fight, a small vegan market serving gelatin-free Skittles, faux haggis, and more. It became the epicenter of the vegan movement in Portland in the early 2000s, and also encouraged more businesses to adapt to newer diets.

Best vegan-friendly restaurants to try in Portland:

Feral
Location: 1640 Northeast Killingsworth Street

XO Bar
Location: 906 N Fremont St

Astera
Location: 1407 SE Belmont St

Los Angeles

Another American city to have adapted the vegan food culture is Los Angeles. The city boasts a large number of vegan-friendly restaurants as well as grocery stores and markets selling vegan-friendly products. With over 200 vegan and vegetarian restaurants spread throughout its boroughs, it is also a city that is home to several Hollywood celebrities who have adopted a vegan lifestyle. The best vegan dishes to try in Los Angeles include slow-roasted carrot, and also a take on the traditionally egg-laden classic, Italian carbonara.

For visitors and locals in Los Angeles, the vegan food experience is not merely limited to visiting good eateries, but is also a way of exploring culinary innovation. Several joints in the city which challenge stereotypes about vegan food have become popular for serving dishes that are creative and sumptuous. Crossroads Kitchen in West Hollywood is one such establishment that has gained popularity for offering dishes such as cashew cheese and mushroom steaks.

Best vegan-friendly restaurants to try in Los Angeles

Crossroads Kitchen
Location: 8284 Melrose Ave

Shojin
Location: 333 S Alameda St Suite310

Paris

Paris has a thriving plant-based food scene that has become a part of the city’s famous French cuisine. The city is home to charming bistros as well as gourmet fine dining places that boast vegan and vegetarian menus. A strong impact on the vegan culinary scene in Paris was first observed in 2001, when renowned chef Alain Passard decided to remove meat from the menu at L’Arpége in Paris. Passard kept his Michelin star as a vegetarian restaurant and changed the way vegetarian food was seen in the city. While the chef later re-introduced fish and poultry to the menu in smaller quantities, the emphasis on fresh, local, and organic produce remained.

As for the vegan food scene, ONA by chef Claire Vallée became the first vegan restaurant in France to earn a Michelin star. Another renowned chef to make an impact on the vegan food culture in Paris is none other than Michelin-starred Chef Alain Ducasse, who focused on plant-based concepts when he opened Sapid in Paris. His restaurant mainly promoted sustainability and emphasised the reduction of food waste. He later also opened up Burgal — a vegan burger pop-up at Place de la Bastille. As a whole, Paris offers a good mix of strictly vegan and vegetarian restaurants as well as establishments that have incorporated creative vegan menus alongside classic French cuisine.

Best vegan-friendly restaurants to try in Paris

Wild and the Moon
Location: 19 place du Marché Saint-Honoré

Tekés
Location:4 bis rue Saint-Sauveur

Kitchen
Location: 74 rue des Gravilliers

Bangkok

The rise of vegan restaurants in Bangkok is credited mainly to youngsters who recognise the impact of meat consumption on climate change. At the same time, the promotion of vegan food culture by Asian celebrities and influencers has resulted in an increase in locals embracing meatless and dairy-free diets. With the rise of restaurants offering creative plant-based menus, the willingness to try the same has also impacted in the city’s ranking as a top vegan-friendly destination. Additionally, the use of coconut milk and tofu as substitutes for animal products makes vegan options an easy find among traditional Thai dishes.

The best vegan markets in Bangkok include the Chatuchak Weekend Market and the Or Tor Kor Market, where visitors and locals can enjoy the city’s fresh produce and also vegan street food snacks.

Best vegan-friendly restaurants to try in Bangkok

Veganerie Concept
Location: 35 2 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei

Haoma
Location: 231, 3 Soi Sukhumvit 31, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana

Mia
Location: 30 Attha Kawi 1 Alley, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei

Lisbon

Portugal’s capital city is on many travel lists, boasting an enthralling array of activities and hotspots to explore. If you are wondering whether it is a great destination for vegans, the answer is yes, increasingly so. Despite its popularity among pescatarians for its reputation for serving the best seafood dishes, this European city has seen a significant change in its food culture in the past decade. From sushi rolls loaded with jackfruit and eggplant to faux meat dishes, Lisbon’s vegan menus have embarked on an innovative journey. Featuring organic and local ingredients that come together to provide a fresh spin on traditional dishes, this trending food culture is seeing an uptick in the city.

The city of Lisbon boasts over 36 vegan restaurants, and has also passed a mandate requiring the provision of vegan food in public schools and prison. The city is also home to the Veganario Fest, one of the biggest vegan festivals in Portugal. Health and environmental sustainability concerns have been among the top reasons for locals in Lisbon to embrace and promote vegan food culture; in meeting this challenge, the city’s restaurant industry has delivered on maintaining zero food waste and increasing farm-to-table eatery options.

Best vegan-friendly restaurants to try in Lisbon

Ao 26
Location: R. Horta Seca 5, 1200-213

Al Sanpietrino Trattoria
Location: Beco da Lapa 31, 1100-331

Orteá
Location: Rua Dom Luís I 19, 1200-109

(Main and featured images: EMMAnulle/Pexels, Florian Wehde/Unsplash)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– Where is the best place to live as a vegan in US?

Portland tops the lit as one of the best places to live as a vegan in the US, followed by Los Angeles and Orlando.

– What culture is most vegan?

The world’s largest concentration of vegetarians and vegans is found in India. It is estimated that nearly 400 million people have either plant based or meat free diets.

– Which country has most vegan dishes?

Indian cuisine is known for having a variety of meat-free and plant-based dishes. United Kingdom also offers several vegan dishes.

– What does it mean to be vegan friendly?

Vegan-friendly diet means exclusion of food products made from meat, fish, shellfish, crustacea and also animal by-products including dairy products and eggs.