Our vegan friendly travel destination of the week is Tel Aviv!
So many of us are consumed by wanderlust. However, for vegans traveling can be a daunting task unless you plan to fast while you travel. If not, you know the struggles of finding vegan-friendly food options around the world. Thus, travel must be approached like a space mission. Everything has to be strategically planned, namely the destination.
Yet, there are some places that openly welcome our kind. One such place is Tel Aviv, Israel. Tel Aviv is a city on Israel’s Mediterranean coast. Tel Aviv is Israel’s cultural and commercial capital. Most well known for its prominent museums, restored neighborhoods like the ancient Port of Jaffa, Neve Tzedek and the White City of Bauhaus style buildings you will never bore. It has endless places to explore.
Vegans will also never starve because it is a haven for both local and visiting vegans. In fact, Israel is the second highest ranking country for vegetarianism and veganism, with 13% of the population following a vegetarian diet. There are over 400 restaurants in Israel that accommodate vegans. Let’s check out some of the top choices.
Best Vegan Food In Tel Aviv
Meshek Barzilay, located in Neve, Tzedek, is a fan favorite. The menu is primarily vegan. However, Meshek Barzilay is most known for their breakfast menu. Offering dishes like vegan shakshuka, savory frittata topped with vegan cheese and homemade granola served with soy yogurt, Meshek Barzilay dishes are a vegan traveler’s dream come true. Meshek gets a little creative with the lunch and dinner menu. Taking recipes and flavors from traditional Israeli dishes, they also incorporate Indian, Thai and Italian elements. Some dishes include vegan pizza, Indian thali, roasted cauliflower salad, green smoothie and strawberry crumble dessert. Whether sitting inside of the restaurant or on the large outdoor terrace overlooking the quaint shops, bakeries and beautiful architecture Meshek Barzilay is sure offer vegan travelers a delightfully charming experience.
Anastatia is one of Tel Aviv’s very first vegan cafes, est. 2014 conveniently located in the city center on Frishman Street. It’s also very close to the beach and shopping on Dizengoff Street. Serving an all vegan menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner Anastatia is likely one of the most popular vegan restaurants in Tel Aviv. They have an open table breakfast which comes with a variety of creative dips including sunflower aioli and hazelnut butter, salad, a vegan omelet, bread, and coffee. Most notable is that the kitchen makes soy, almond, and rice milk in-house. Though the real show stopper is Anastatia’s impressive vegan cheese board of nut-made cheeses served with bread and vegetables. However, this likely comes as no surprise to most as Tel Aviv is, after all, home to some of the best vegan cheeses in the world. Anastatia also doubles as a café and small shop selling various packaged vegan foodstuff. At Anastatia expect generous portions, well executed dishes and an overall aromatic, delicious culinary experience.
If you’re in the mood for some Italian flair then you’ll want to stop by the Green Cat. Opening their doors in 2014, the Green Cat is reported to be the first fully vegan pizza place in Israel. Just want a slice? No problem, Green Cat has the option of pizza by the slice or custom created pizza pies. Each pizza is topped with their home-made cashew cheese. Additionally, Green Cat offers a variety of toppings including artichoke, portobello mushroom, dried cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives and soy mozzarella. There are also more inventive toppings like seitan pepperoni and baked yam. So if you find yourself in the mood for a more casual dining experience be sure to check out the Green Cat.
Four One Six is a chef-operated vegan restaurant offering vegans the fine dining experience with fusion fare. Some of the dishes include seitan shawarma, panzanella salad, polenta fries, lemon parfait, cheezecake, vegan steak, and taco salad. All menu items are vegan, of course. Four One Six is a New York style restaurant that has a creative menu along with an inspiring setting that is perfect for groups or date night.
Dosa Bar is a quaint, vegan, Indian, street food restaurant specializing in dosas. Dosas are gluten-free pancakes with fillings like potato, sweet potato, and greens. Each dosa order comes with soup, a side salad, and chutney. Another popular item on the menu is the thali, which is a platter of Indian specialties like dal, rice, and curry. Other items on the menu include malai kofta, palak paneer, uttapam and other Indian snacks. Dosa Bar is also one of the most photogenic restaurants making it the perfect place for a relaxed evening with some good company and spiced chai.
Vegan travelers will definitely not experience any food crises in Tel Aviv, Israel. Options are endless. There is literally a dining experience for every vibe. The options will likely be pleasing to both vegans and non-vegans alike. Comment below if you’ve visited Tel Aviv and tried any of the restaurants listed.
So do you agree that Tel Aviv is a vegan friendly travel destination? Have you been there? What restaurants had the best vegan options?
