The hotspots with the coolest restaurants
EVERY week our Holiday Hero NEIL SIMPSON takes an in-depth look at a brilliant holiday topic, doing all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week, he reveals why we should all try vegetarian or vegan restaurants on holiday.
THINK vegetarian or vegan food is worthy but dull? A new generation of super-chefs and restaurateurs are lining up to change your mind. Food critics say the coolest restaurant openings in the world’s hottest tourist cities are increasingly likely to feature nothing but plant-based food. Here’s where to find healthy grub – served with a dash of style, celebrity and sunshine on the side.
SIDE ORDER OF STYLE: Berlin
Vegan fine-dining has come of age at Germany’s award-winning Lucky Leek. Cookbook author Josita Hartanto runs the kitchen with a light, imaginative touch: think an array of beautifully presented plates in the fivecourse chef’s menu for €59 (£50). Reservations are recommended and may soon be essential – rumour has it that a Michelin star isn’t that far away. Want something more casual? Berlin also has Voner, a cafe serving a vegan alternative to the doner kebab.
SIDE ORDER OF CELEBRITY: Los Angeles
Head to Hollywood and you might see musician Moby helping out at his Little Pine vegan restaurant in trendy Silver Lake. It’s a casual menu, more mac and cheese than tasting menus, but it has a strong following and all profits go to animal welfare charities.
Want more star power? Vegan restaurant Crossroads on glitzy Melrose Avenue has hosted everyone from Bill Clinton to Sir Paul McCartney.
SIDE ORDER OF SUNSHINE: Tel Aviv
Pick a table by the big windows or in the garden at Bana and it’s easy to linger as you start brunch with waffles with cashew cream or end dinner with a glazed pear on an almond crust and covered in agave toffee. Relax even more by ordering a signature ‘almond milk with ouzo’ or a glass of hot sangria with your meal.
Tel Aviv is going vegan-crazy, and at last count there were more than 400 other plant-based restaurants.
SIDE ORDER OF SMILES: Amsterdam
It’s a social media sensation so you’ll almost feel obliged to photograph your (very green) meal at The Avocado Show.
Purists will complain because there are non-veggie items on the menu (though they’re easy to identify – pancakes with bacon is called the Sinner Stack).
The good news for British fans is that the team behind the restaurant want to expand across Europe.
SIDE ORDER OF CELEBRATION: Sydney
It’s the ultimate New Year’s Eve city – and plant-eaters can party with the best of them at Yellow, where a seven-course, meat-free tasting menu on December 31 ends with a raspberry yogurt sorbet and liquorice honeycomb at midnight. The menu is £60 on New Year’s Eve and £55 at other times, and there’s an extensive à la carte menu as well. The restaurant is set in what was a 1950s art gallery and there are tables alongside its very yellow walls outside. Alternatively, try Little Turtle for vegan Thai food, where ‘fish’ curry has a fish-free ingredient.