The 7 Best Cities in the World for Alternative Diets

Portlandia

fans are probably already familiar with the now-famous local

chicken skit in which a Portland couple asks seemingly one million questions

about the specific chicken they’re about to order, which turned out to be named Colin -- or the equally-funny allergy pride parade sketch. But in reality,

Portland really is one of the best cities in the world for vegan

and vegetarian diners alike. There are a

ton of g-free pizza parlors, bakeries, and food stalls all with vegan and

vegetarian options. Try out Harlow in

Southeast Portland, known for its delicious gluten-free breakfast options, such as the Lemon Babycakes: lemon poppy seed quinoa pancakes with

strawberry compote, lemon cashew cream, maple syrup, and a choice of dairy or

vegan butter…yes please!


 Hotel Vintage Plaza, a Kimpton Hotel

Denver has a reputation for being a healthy, active, and progressive

city with beautiful scenery and a fun culture. Locals enjoy hiking, cycling and

otherwise dabbling in the city’s booming arts culture. And luckily for

alternative dieters, not only is Denver awesome in general but it also has a

ton of options for vegan and vegetarian eaters, as well as those who are allergic to gluten. Try out True Food Kitchen, where there is a fantastic

brunch menu equipped with options like the “Inside Out” Quinoa Burger; it’s

g-free and vegetarian, and is served with hummus, tzatziki, tomato, cucumber, red

onion, avocado, and feta. Now if you’re more of a sweet tooth, Beet
Box Bakery & Café is 100% vegan and has tons of g-free options, like the

carrot cake with toasted walnuts and ginger frosting. 


 Crowne Plaza Denver

When you think London, you may think of high tea, bangers and

mash, and fish and chips. But London has actually topped PETA’s list of

vegetarian-friendly cities. With loads of vegetarian cafes popping up all over

the city, and an abundance of ethnic food restaurants with plenty of meatless

options, London has a strong vegetarian culture that just keeps getting better.

If you find yourself in London and want to try out the meatless fare, we recommend The Gate, one of London’s

most famous vegetarian restaurants. Opt

for the Mushroom Stuffed Gnocchi, served with cheese gratin, sautéed spinach

and mushrooms, blushed tomatoes, and cheese sauce. Or, if you’re especially

hungry, they serve up a fantastic Middle Eastern platter with homemade pita.


 Cadogan Hotel


Watch Our Video on London's Best Spots for High Tea

Chiang Mai is the northern culture capital of Thailand, and

it has tons of yummy, natural

vegetarian options. In fact, you can hardly walk 20 feet in Chiang Mai’s old

city without spotting several veg-friendly restaurants. One of the best

things about veggie fare in Chiang Mai is that you truly don't have to sacrifice any complexity in flavor . Free Bird Café is

one of our absolute favorites in Chiang Mai; it serves up fresh, Burmese/Thai

fusion. Try the Khao Soi; it’s a northern Thai specialty that the restaurant does particularly well. Khao Soi is a soup-like dish made with a mix of deep-fried, crispy egg noodles and boiled egg noodles, pickled cabbage, shallots, potatoes,

lime, ground chilies, and a curry-like sauce made with coconut milk. Free Bird

has several gluten-free options as well, but Blue
Diamond Breakfast Club has more variety.


 U Chiang Mai

Ireland actually has one of the highest rates of Celiac Disease in the world, so Dublin restaurateurs make sure there are plenty of

options for everybody. If you eat gluten-free and are traveling to Dublin, don’t

worry -- you actually don’t have to miss out on their famed fish and chips. Beschoffs offers battered, gluten-free fish and chips that

everyone can enjoy; the fish is prepared in

separate oil with flour-less batter. Two other great gluten-free restaurants in town are

Opium and The Farm Restaurant, serving up Thai/Vietnamese fusion and Irish food with international influences, respectively. 


 Dylan Hotel


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Austin is probably best known as a live music capital of the world. And as the city continues to build its reputation as a funky, fun and progressive spot, young people are increasingly flocking to Austin to live and work. What you may not know, though, is that Austin is becoming a mecca for vegans and gluten-free eaters as well. One of Austin's most famous vegan restaurants is actually a food truck called Vegan Yacht. The truck has become famous for its "freeto burrito," made up of organic tempeh chili and corn chips wrapped in a tortilla and grilled. Though Austin has more than just food trucks, we have to mention another of our favorites: Arlo's is another fantastic vegan option, serving up g-free burgers with house-made seitan bac'n, melted cheeze, mayo, ketchup, mustard, and all the fixin's. 


 Hotel Saint Cecilia

It’s been described as everything from the “Paris of the

South” to the “San Francisco of the East,” but no matter what you compare it to,

there’s no arguing that Asheville is an awesomely artsy, hipster community at the

forefront of new age culture. Self Magazine
even dubbed it “America’s Happiest City.” A popular tourist destination,

Asheville is home to tons of street performers, artists, festivals, and of course, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian food! Try out Farm Burger for local, grass-fed or vegan burgers. Customers

design their own burgers starting with freebies such as roasted garlic, fresh

jalapenos, and smoked paprika mayo, before adding toppings like bacon, cheese,

sprouts, caramelized onions or basil tofu mayo for an extra charge.


 Renaissance Asheville Hotel