Vegetarian Travel Destinations and Restaurants I Love
The best vegetarian travel destinations and restaurants changed how I think about food forever. I used to stress about every trip, scanning menus in a foreign language, hoping I wouldn’t end up eating plain rice for a week. Then I started planning trips around cities that actually celebrate vegetarian food. Suddenly, travel became delicious again. I stopped surviving on side dishes and started having the best meals of my life in places I never expected.
1. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Northern Thai cuisine has a vegetarian soul most people overlook. The old city is packed with temples, and the Buddhist influence means plant-based food is everywhere, not as an afterthought, but as the main event.
I spent two weeks eating at Pun Pun, a restaurant attached to a temple that grows its own organic produce. Their khao soi with tofu blew my mind. The Sunday Night Market on Ratchadamnoen Road also had at least a dozen stalls selling vegetarian pad thai, mango sticky rice, and papaya salads made without fish sauce. A full meal cost me about $2. I’m still not over it.
2. Udaipur, India
India is the obvious answer for vegetarian travelers, and I almost didn’t include it because everyone says “just go to India.” But Udaipur specifically deserves its own spotlight because the entire city runs on vegetarian food. Most restaurants don’t even serve meat.
Millets of Mewar served me a thali that had eleven different dishes on one plate, all vegetarian, all for about $4. The street food near Jagdish Temple was equally ridiculous. Kachori, pani puri, and fresh lassi on every corner. I ate four meals a day there and regret nothing. If you’ve been putting off India because it feels overwhelming, Udaipur is gentle, beautiful, and absurdly well-fed.
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3. Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan surprised me more than any other country on this list. Buddhist vegetarian restaurants are scattered across Taipei, and many operate as buffets where you pay by weight. The variety is staggering.
Loving Hut has multiple locations across the city, and while it’s a chain, the food is genuinely great. Their sesame noodles haunted me for months afterward. But the real magic is the night markets. Raohe Street Night Market had grilled king oyster mushrooms on sticks, scallion pancakes, and stinky tofu (yes, the vegetarian version exists and yes, it’s worth trying). Taipei’s MRT system makes getting around effortless, so you can hit three different food spots in a single evening without breaking a sweat.
4. Tel Aviv, Israel
Tel Aviv might be the most underrated vegetarian travel destination on the planet. The city has one of the highest percentages of vegans per capita in the world, and that energy shows up on every block.
I practically lived at Anastasia Cafe in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood. Their shakshuka (made vegan with tofu scramble) paired with fresh-baked sourdough was a daily ritual I didn’t want to break. The Carmel Market is a must, not just for produce shopping but for falafel stands that take the craft seriously. Abu Hassan in nearby Jaffa served me a hummus plate so perfect I genuinely considered extending my trip. The portions are massive and the price is small.
5. Berlin, Germany
Germany isn’t the first country you think of for vegetarian food, which makes Berlin’s plant-based scene even more fun to stumble into. The city has reinvented itself as a haven for creative, affordable vegetarian and vegan restaurants.
Kopps in Mitte serves a brunch buffet on weekends that could convert the most dedicated meat lover. Their cashew-based cheese plate was absurdly good. For something quick, Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebab always has a long line, and the roasted vegetable kebab is worth every minute of waiting. I also loved 1990 Vegan Living for Vietnamese-inspired bowls. FYI, Berlin is also one of the cheapest capital cities in Western Europe, so your food budget stretches further here than in Paris or London.
6. Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Ubud has become a wellness hub, and with that comes an almost overwhelming number of vegetarian and vegan cafes. Some of them lean too hard into the “influencer aesthetic” for my taste, but the food at the best spots is legitimately excellent.
Sage in Ubud served me a raw lasagna made with zucchini, cashew ricotta, and sun-dried tomato sauce that I still think about. Alchemy is another favorite, a raw food cafe with a build-your-own salad bar and smoothie bowls that taste like dessert. The traditional warungs (small local restaurants) also offer dishes like gado-gado and tempeh satay that are naturally vegetarian and cost almost nothing. Just ask for “tanpa daging” (without meat) and you’re golden.
7. Mexico City, Mexico
This one catches people off guard. Mexican food without meat? Absolutely. Mexico City’s street food scene has more vegetarian options than you’d expect, and the flavors are anything but boring.
Por Siempre Vegana Taqueria changed my entire understanding of what tacos could be. Their al pastor taco, made from marinated soy protein, tasted so close to the original that my non-vegetarian friend did a double take. The markets are also packed with options. Mercado de San Juan has fresh fruit stands, quesadillas with huitlacoche (corn fungus, sounds weird, tastes incredible), and esquites (corn cups) that are naturally meat-free. I also loved Forever Vegano for their pozole. Mexico City proved that vegetarian Mexican food isn’t a compromise. It’s a full experience.
8. Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal is a fish-and-meat country at its core, which makes Lisbon’s growing vegetarian restaurant scene feel rebellious and exciting. The city has embraced plant-based eating in the last few years, and the results are impressive.
The Food Temple near the Alfama district served me a multi-course vegetarian dinner in a tiny room with about eight tables. The chef came out and explained every dish personally. It felt like eating at someone’s home. Ao 26 Vegan Food Project, near the Principe Real neighborhood, does a buffet lunch that rotates daily and never disappoints. Their feijoada (traditional bean stew, made fully plant-based) was rich and deeply satisfying. Even the traditional pastel de nata is vegetarian, so you’ll never struggle for dessert in Lisbon.
Best Vegetarian Travel Destinations and Restaurants for First-Timers
If you’ve never planned a trip specifically around vegetarian food, start with a city where the infrastructure already exists. Chiang Mai, Taipei, and Berlin all have apps like HappyCow that show dozens of verified vegetarian restaurants with reviews and photos. I use HappyCow on every trip and it hasn’t steered me wrong yet.
Pack a small card with dietary restrictions translated into the local language. I printed mine from a site called SelectWisely. It saved me from awkward pointing-at-menus situations more than once. Also, book accommodations with a kitchen for at least part of your trip. Some of my favorite meals came from cooking with ingredients I found at local markets.
How I Budget for Vegetarian Food Travel
IMO, vegetarian travel is genuinely cheaper than omnivore travel in most countries. Meat is often the most expensive item on a menu, so skipping it naturally cuts costs. In cities like Chiang Mai and Udaipur, I spent under $15 a day on food while eating three full meals plus snacks.
For pricier cities like Tel Aviv and Berlin, I balanced sit-down restaurants with street food and market meals. A falafel wrap in Tel Aviv costs about $5 and fills you up for hours. In Berlin, a full kebab is under $6. I also cooked breakfast in my Airbnb most mornings, which kept the overall daily spend around $25 to $30 even in expensive cities.
FAQs
Is it hard to find vegetarian food while traveling internationally?
It depends on where you go. Cities like Chiang Mai, Udaipur, and Taipei make it incredibly easy because vegetarianism is culturally common. Other places require more planning, but apps like HappyCow and Google Maps reviews make finding good spots faster than ever. I’ve rarely gone hungry, even in countries known for heavy meat dishes.
What are the best vegetarian travel destinations for budget travelers?
Chiang Mai, Udaipur, and Ubud are the top three for stretching your money. You can eat multiple full meals daily for under $10 to $15 total. Street food and local markets are your best friends in all three cities. The quality is high and the portions are generous, so you won’t feel like you’re sacrificing anything.
Which apps help find vegetarian restaurants abroad?
HappyCow is the gold standard. It lists vegetarian, vegan, and veg-friendly restaurants worldwide with user reviews and photos. Google Maps also works well if you search “vegetarian restaurant near me” in any city. I cross-reference both before choosing where to eat, and I’ve found some of my favorite spots that way.
Can you eat well as a vegetarian in Mexico City?
Absolutely. Mexico City has a growing plant-based food scene, and traditional Mexican cuisine already includes many naturally vegetarian dishes. Quesadillas, tamales, esquites, and bean-based dishes are everywhere. Dedicated spots like Por Siempre Vegana Taqueria prove that you can enjoy tacos, tortas, and pozole without any meat.
How do I communicate dietary needs in a foreign language?
Print or save a small card that explains your dietary restrictions in the local language. Sites like SelectWisely sell downloadable cards for dozens of languages. I’ve also used Google Translate’s camera feature to scan menus in real time. Learning two or three key phrases like “no meat” and “only vegetables” goes a long way too.
Conclusion
Vegetarian travel destinations and restaurants have made me fall in love with food all over again, sometimes in the places I least expected. Every city on this list gave me meals I still crave years later, and I hope at least one of them ends up on your next itinerary. Which destination are you most excited to try first?
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