Ahhh! It’s great to be back in potato Europe! (tiktok & twitter joke) Here’s my take on the Berlin Vegan Food Guide.

Deemed the second vegan mecca of the world, Berlin stands to compete with London. Although they’re two very similar cities, the pace of life, the way of being, and the environmental awareness of the Germans make Berlin an even easier city for vegans. Its complex history and captivating vibrant metropolis have made it arguably the counterculture capital of Europe. 

Berlin is a multicultural city where you can find restaurants from every corner of the globe. If it has thought me anything is that you can find a vegan option everywhere no matter the cuisine. 

As you can guess, putting together a guide to veganism in Berlin is quite a challenge, due to the number of places to name; something I’ve never really experienced before. But in this post, I’ll be sharing with you the places that I visited and loved!

This post is broken down into four different sections: Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch/Dinner, Breweries/Beer gardens, and Airport/Airplane. I’ll also identify the fully vegan and the vegan-friendly; this way you know what to expect from the menu before you visit. I hope this Complete Berlin Food Guide helps you find great food on your visit!

Are you ready to see all the vegan food you can find in Berlin? Take notes!

VEGGIEJEVA’S COMPLETE BERLIN VEGAN FOOD GUIDE (2023)

Breakfast/Brunch

Plant Base (Vegan)

Starting off strong with my favorite eat of the trip! This place not only has incredible vegan breakfast/brunch, they also have an amazing atmosphere. This is one of those places that made me wish I could stay longer in the city so I could go back many times. Let’s just say this place is everything I wish I had in Puerto Rico. Their tofu scramble was one of the best I’ve had in restaurants, and their bread was incredible! In the end, I couldn’t leave without their cookbook!

My Deli Love (Vegan-friendly)

Amazing place for smoothies on a hot summer’s day; their açaí smoothie was the perfect pick-me-up for the day after a long travel day. 

Lunch/Dinner

FREA (Vegan)

I couldn’t visit Berlin without stopping by one of their Michelin-rated vegan restaurants. Back in 2022, FREA was awarded a Green Michelin Star for being at the forefront of the zero waste industry. They make all the ingredients themselves, have a farm-to-table mostly locally sourced concept, and have their own compost machine right in the restaurant. Quite literally, nothing goes to waste.

As for the food, it was beyond anything I could’ve imagined! Their mushroom ceviche was to die for, as well as the aubergine-tomato dish. With their ever-changing seasonal menu, I had no idea what to expect which was a fun challenge for the planner in me.

Brewdog (Vegan-friendly)

This was the first stop after a long travel day, and it couldn’t have been a better choice. Pizza & beer is definitely the way to my heart! This place prides itself on being 50% plant-based and even hosts fully vegan Mondays and 2-for-1 pizzas on Thursdays. I went with their Vegan Spicy Meaty which had seitan strips, mushrooms, chili flakes, fresh red chili, smashed Napoli tomatoes, and vegan mozzarella.

Curry at the Wall (Vegan-friendly)

Believe it or not, this was my most anticipated stop. They offer both vegan currywürst & vegan bratwürst right in front of one of the many portions of the Berlin Wall and the Topography of Terror gallery. Now, I’ve never had currywürst before, but I can definitely say that the vegan version lives up to the hype. Next time I’m there, I’ll make sure to try the vegan bratwürst!

BRLO (Vegan-friendly)

This brewery was impressive, to say the least! They had a great indoor space and an even better outdoor space that functions as a beer garden (that was packed to the brim!). Their food concept works as a shared plate menu, which proved to be perfect to go along with the beers. One thing that took me by surprise was that their menu is entirely vegetable-focused, and meats are only side options. My favorite dishes were the roasted potatoes (no green sauce) and the wheat malt with jalapeño pesto. Brownie points for the beer puns!

Vedang (Vegan)

This place came up in almost every single vegan Berlin guide I read and with good reason! Vedang is a vegan fast food restaurant located right in the middle of The Mall of Berlin food court, which is something that can only be dreamed of on this side of the world. I wanted to try something different so I went for their impressive chicken burger, and, I honestly don’t know how they did this, but their fries tasted just like ~the clown’s~ fast food does!

Curry 36 (Vegan-friendly)

If you find yourself hungry in the streets of Berlin past midnight, look no further. Although I’m sure there have to be other places and other options, nothing beats currywürst and an ambient-temperature beer after hours!

GeorgBræu (Vegan-friendly)

This place wasn’t on my list at all; it’s one of those places that you simply stumble upon when you’re walking around. While waiting for a round of beers, I realized that their menu had vegan options! And it ended up being a great vegan lunch on my last day in the city. 

Viet Bowl (Vegan-friendly)

This is a great place to eat when you want something other than potatoes, pizza, and currywürst. Located in the Potsdamer Platz, their outdoor sitting right next to the pond proved perfect for a nice evening dinner. Ultimately, I went for their teriyaki tofu which was really good.

Other Breweries/Beer Gardens

Berlin Pavillion

Truly the beer garden that stole the show! It was so close to the hotel, and right in front of the Reichstag; making it the perfect place to stop for sitdown or to-go beers! At one point I went for a to-go beer just for the walk from there to the Victory Tower. 

Hofbräu Wirtshaus Berlin (Vegan-firendly)

You may have heard of Hofbräu beer at some point in your life; it’s one of the most acclaimed German beers. With their hometown being Munich, I was surprised to stumble upon one of their Hofbräuhaus in the middle of Berlin. And once again, while waiting for a round of beers I noticed that their menu had vegan options like schnitzell, which I hope to get to try next time.

Capital Beach

Another one of those places that you simply just stumble upon when walking. I spotted this place while crossing the bridge from the Berlin Central Station; their atmosphere with house AND live music and pink outdoor seating really stood out. I knew I couldn’t leave the city without stopping there for a round. 

Café Viktoria

Another one of my favorite spots! This beer garden gives you a full view of the Victory Tower and makes for the perfect place for a relaxing/people-watching afternoon. 

Olympiastadiom

If you ever find yourself going to a concert in Berlin, the Olympiastadiom has vegan options at its food stands and, I’m guessing that depending on the concert, a full beer garden just outside the stadium. Unfortunately, even with all of the research I did previously, this information didn’t come up so I went the safe route and ate beforehand.

Airport & Airplane Food

Condor Airlines

Flying from Puerto Rico to Berlin is no easy feat, and doing so while vegan can make for a stressful journey. I’m not going to lie, an 8-hour flight is already daunting as it is, not to mention when you have to think about airplane food. Thankfully, I could count on Condor Airlines! While researching, I was surprised to find out that for their long-haul flights, they offer vegetarian meals across all booking classes, and for an additional cost, you can order yours to be vegan or gluten-free. Below are the meal options that I had on both of my flights with them; keep in mind that the menu varies from departure airport.

Berlin and Frankfurt airports

Contrary to popular belief, Germany is a country with a rapidly growing population of vegetarians and vegans. So it came as no surprise to see so many vegan options at both airports. On my departing day back to Puerto Rico, I ended up having breakfast, more like brunch at 9 am in Frankfurt. Although there were plenty of grab-and-go options, I wanted something warm and filling for the long flight ahead, and ended up finding a bar with a Beyond burger on the menu. The burger tasted great with avocado, quinoa, lettuce, and tomatoes, but unfortunately, I had to eat really fast and wasn’t able to get a picture.

If you found this post helpful, let me know in the comments below. And share it with your friends and family on social media; don’t forget to tag me @veggiejeva!

If you have Pinterest, you can find me here and Pin the following picture, if you like.

All images & content are protected. Please do not use my images or content prior to permission. If you want to republish this blog post, please link back to this post. Thank you for supporting VeggieJeva!

Disclosure: This post contains 1 exchange collaboration with Condor Airlines. It’s important to mention that I will never recommend anything that I don’t use myself or strongly believe in.

Previous vegan food guides:

Amsterdam

Iceland

The post COMPLETE BERLIN VEGAN FOOD GUIDE (2023) appeared first on VeggieJeva.

Just in time for the holidays and gifting season, here are my 2021 Holiday Gift Guide; for Foodies, Wellness Gurus, Fitness Devotees & More.

Gift Guide For the Foodie

1. The Black & White- Vanilla Bean & Chocolate Tahini Bundle: Use both the Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Tahini as a sweet dip for fruit, pretzels, or fingers. Perfect in baked goods, over pancakes, or as an ice cream topping. The possibilities are endless!
2. Vegan By Food52: Think sweet pea hummus, tempeh kebabs, and roasted cauliflower, and freekeh salad. The recipes are so delicious that we think you might end up getting a set for yourself.
3. Cultures For Health Vegan Yogurt Starter: A vegan yogurt starter kit is the gift that will keep on giving. Use this culture with soy milk, coconut milk or other non-dairy milks to make a smooth, mild yogurt that’s miles better than store-bought. The Vegan Starter Culture contains 4 packets of starters. It is a direct-set culture – meaning each packet will only make one batch.
4. 4-Piece Matcha Starter Set: We all know that vegans are obsessed with matcha, right? If your loved one isn’t equipped with a whisk, spoon, sifter, and everything else they would need for a proper green tea ceremony, their not doing it right. The Art of Tea At Home Matcha Kit is our classic take on making matcha. Their newly designed kit combines everything you need for a contemporary matcha ceremony to help you master your ultimate brewing experience.
5. Virtual vegan cooking class: There are some who muddled through the pandemic by ordering takeout, others embraced their culinary chef within. Either way, we could all benefit from learning one or two things in the kitchen and be challenged by vegan cuisine. From beginner to advanced, there’s a virtual vegan cooking course for everyone out there. Here are some courses you should check out: Essential Vegan Desserts, Wicked Healthy, Forks Over Knives, My Brownble, Food Future Institute, Veecoco, and The Vegan Chef School.
6. Online Plant-Based Meal Planner: The same team who brought us the famous “Forks Over Knives” documentary is now offering meal plans to help you discover a healthier way of living. Whether you’re a brand new vegan or just looking to take your health to the next level, this meal planner offers recipes, meal prep guidance, grocery lists, and meal plans.

Gift Guide For the Wellness Guru

1. Vegan Bath Bombs Gift Set: These bath bombs are made with all plant-based ingredients from coconut oil to baking soda, herbs, sea salt, and different essential oils like lavender, tea tree, lemon, and rosemary; all beautifully decorated with colors, rose petals, and salt rocks. Bonus points for including 3 bubble bars!
2. Organic Yoga Meditation Pillow: We can all need some more zen in our lives! How about a meditation pillow? Because there’s not going to be much relaxation of your mind if your body is not comfortable. This buckwheat-filled pillow made from natural and organic vegan materials can give you just the right support while thinking happy thoughts or trying to clear your mind.
3. Simon & Schuster Gratitude Journal: Emotions, we all feel them. Let this journal know all about them! This 90-day journal gives you a path to creating a habit of daily gratitude that you can carry with you throughout your life. It’s the perfect place to record and celebrate anything that you are grateful for and to preserve important memories.
4. Bodha Aromatherapy Eye Pillow: With so many hours in front of a computer, by the end of the day my eyes are practically begging for some rest. Anthropology’s Lavender Scented Eye Pillow is the perfect complement to your beauty, meditation, or sleep ritual. It helps release facial tension by gently engaging acupressure points to soften the delicate muscles around the eyes while imparting a sense of calm serenity with a relaxing scent of lavender and chamomile flowers.
5. The Mindful Vegan Book: Are you ready to get to the roots of your challenges around food– whether it’s gratuitous snacking, compulsive or emotional eating, indulging cravings, overeating, or other disheartening habits? Be ready to get mindful. Lani Muelrath gives us a new perspective and goes to the root of challenges around food and mindset. From emotional eating to cravings for unhealthy food and overeating, this lovingly written book sets you on a path to cultivating your capacity for genuine happiness and a more peaceful life– in a way that is personally satisfying and aligned with your deepest values
6. Lord Jones High CBD Formula Bath Salts: Get ready to be the MOST relaxed you’ve been in your life. These bath salts offer a detoxifying bath soak infused with 240 mg of CBD, calendula flowers, arnica flowers, eucalyptus, and citrus oils. Perfect for whenever you’re sore from a workout, need to soothe an overworked body, or deserve an indulgent night of self-care. 

Gift Guide For the Fitness Devotee

1. Terra Thread Eco-friendly Gym Bag: This stylish & high-quality bag is made from cotton and vegan leather. Despite its minimalistic design, the bag features a small inside pocket to organize your belongings which makes it a perfect companion for shopping trips, festivals and so much more. Each purchase supports Feeding America‘s campaign to end hunger by helping donate meals to kids and families in need.
2. Girlfriend Collective Sustainable Activewear: Sustainable active apparel that focuses on both quality and community. Get everything from sports bras to bike shorts, pajamas, workout dresses and more, that’s ethically made from recycled materials.
3. Manduka EKO® YOGA MAT 5MM: A yoga mat that provides a naturally grippy surface, while being completely eco-friendly and biodegradable. This non-Amazon harvested tree rubber yoga mat firmly supports both your practice and our planet.
4. COLD.RDY Running Shoes: My personal favorite line of running shoes! COLD.RDY running shoes with responsive Boost cushioning combine with springy Bounce for a smooth ride, and the soft knit upper strikes that perfect balance of flex and support. These shoes are made with Primegreen, a series of high-performance recycled materials; 50% of the upper is recycled content and no virgin polyester. This gets bonus points for being water repellent. 
5. Anti Pollution SPF 45+ Sunscreen: Exercising outdoors is no joke. Between the car fumes, the dirt, the sweat, and the sun, our skin takes a toll. Here’s a broad spectrum SPF 45 with a daily formula that’s hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and vegan. This works incredibly great under makeup, protects against both UVA and UVB radiation, it’s made with a Zinc Oxide mineral filter that does not bleach corals or harms marine life. As a bonus, it’s also safe for babies. Your skin is going to be the envy of all your sunburnt fitness besties.
6. CBD Muscle, Joint, and Skin Balm: This butter balm combines hemp extract, arnica oil, and essential oils with shea butter to provide relief and nourishment to wounds, skin, joints, and muscles. Just as its name says, apply locally to muscles, joints, and damaged skin on an as-needed basis. 

Gift Guide For the Beauty Expert

1. Ultimate Essentials – 10 Piece Brush Set with Bag: For the vegan in your life who loves to get made up. Here’s a MUA sworn-by set of Ultimate Essentials-10 Piece Brush Set with Bag, that’s good for both face and eyes. that are totally cruelty-free.
2. Colourpop Charged Up Lip Set: Gift 3 incredible shades of Colourpop’s extra matte, creamy, yet comfy Matte X Lippie Stix! These deliver one swipe pigmentation in shades Chakra Wave (warm nude), Best Intentions (bold mauve), and Energy Field (striking merlot).
3. Glossy Glow Full Face Set by Milk: This set from Milk Makeup is for glowing makeup and volumized lashes. It includes a full-size electric glossy lip plumper and mini-hydro grip primer, matte bronzer, and KUSH mascara that will def be a part of their daily makeup rotation, all stashed in a sunny reusable bag.
4. Nuria’s Gentle & Mighty 3-Step Ritual: Here’s a simple 3-step routine to cleanse, moisturize, and refresh even the most sensitive skin. You won’t have to compromise efficacy for comfort with Nuria’s Calm collection, packed with skincare wisdom from North & South America to calm, moisturize, and nourish your skin.  Made without added fragrance, this entire routine is clinically shown to be safe for even the most sensitive skin.
5. Raedia Facial Cleansing Brush: Upgrade your daily facial cleansing routine with Vanity Planet’s new Raedia Facial Cleansing Brush. Their improved features effectively remove dirt and buildup with two adjustable speeds to remove makeup, debris, and dead skin at the pressure you prefer. Invigorating in the morning, and relaxing at night, the three changing heads can be easily customized to suit needs and changes of season.
6. Dear Sundays Vegan Nail Polish Box of 3: This thoughtful and customizable box is the perfect way to give the gift of safe and healthy beauty to those you care about. This Wellness Gift Box includes 3 non-toxic, vegan, and cruelty-free nail polish colors of your choice.

Gift Guide For the Outdoors Enthusiast

1. Coalatree’s Wanderer Hammock: Relax anywhere with Coalatree’s double hammock, a lightweight backpacking hammock built for two. Perfect for anywhere you may venture, be it backpacking through the deep woods, a lazy afternoon at the local park, or a sunny day at the beach.
2. Coalatree’s Kachula Adventure Blanket: Your next go-to blanket for any camping trip, festival, beach day, picnic, family adventure, international vacation, and more, the Kachula Adventure Blanket is ready for it all. The blanket stuffs into itself for use as a pillow, has a snap-attached hood to convert it to an emergency poncho and is packable, water-resistant, and durable. 
3. Moab 2 Mid GORE-TEX® Vegan-Friendly Hiking Boots: Experience out-of-the-box comfort in a pair of GORE-TEX® waterproof hiking boots that’ll give your feet ample support without feeling heavy or bulky while you hike. With durable synthetic leathers, a supportive footbed, and Vibram® traction, the Moab has been worn on the feet of nearly 20 million people since it first came out.
4. Women’s Benton Springs Full-Zip Fleece Jacket: Another personal favorite! A Columbia zip-up fleece that’s perfect if you need to stay warm. This modern-classic fleece with zip-up hand pockets is perfect to layer on top or underneath other layers.
5. Porter Commuter Bundle: Bring-your-own drinks and meals to your next outdoor venture, and do it sustainably with W&P’s Commuter Bundle. It’s comprised of Porter essentials like an Insulated Bottle (16 oz), a Seal Tight Bowl (24 oz), and a Utensil Set to take your food and drinks on the go.
6. Stojo Collapsible Cup: An unreasonably lovely leak-proof coffee cup that collapses into a disk. It’s the perfect accessory for leaving the house, that’s sure to leave enough extra space in your bag when going out. 
7. BONUS- Nomadik Subscription: An outdoorsy subscription box that’s a perfect fit for people who’re always venturing outdoors and know good gear when they meet it. They deliver monthly themed boxes, packed with the latest gear from best-in-class brands and an outdoor challenge to match.

Gift Guide For the Homebody

1. Otherland Chandelier Candle: Gift the ICONIC Chandelier candle that’s vegan, and paraben- and cruelty-free with a really long burn time. This is perfect for a home that wants to be a toxin-free zone, because it’s free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and is always cruelty-free. A.k.a. the best company for a relaxed night or morning in.
2. Assorted Teabag Sachet 6-Section Gift Box: A beautifully rich, faux-leatherette box with an assortment of 6 delicious teas packaged in eco-friendly tea bag sachets that’ll satisfy any tea-lover’s cravings. The set includes 6 tea bags of each of the following popular teas and tisanes: French Lemon Ginger, Earl Grey Creme, White Coconut Creme, English Breakfast, Green Pomegranate, and Mint Green Tea. 
3. Pottery Barn Faux Shearling Slippers: A pair of very cozy slippers to keep their feet warm. Inspired by the throw so soft you want to stay under it all day, these slippers will make lounging your new winter sport. In your choice of luxe neutrals, they’re crafted for easier spot cleaning with a texture like so-soft shearling.
4. Clean Cult Complete Home Bundle: Everything you need to start your new clean routine, at our best value! Clean Cult’s fullest set is packed with over 30% off in savings, essentials, and more! This bundle includes their entire suite of refillable glass bottles in your choice of color, a complete set of our best-selling CocoClean Technology Formulas for every room in 32 oz & 16oz refill cartons, 4 of our customer favorite bar soaps in bamboo lily, grapefruit basil, sea spray & aloe, and juniper & sandalwood. Disclaimer: This bundle includes wool balls, which are not vegan-friendly.
5. Plum Pretty Sugar Robe: This long robe is beautifully crafted on high-quality and luxurious rayon for getting ready, unwinding, or relaxing. It may also be worn as a bridesmaid robe, bridal robe, or maternity robe and is a unique gift and keepsake for anyone for any occasion. It’s a versatile robe and multi-tasks a cover-up for the beach or pool.
6. Pottery Barn Cozy Pom Pom Sherpa Throws: The super soft feel of this throw gets a hint of playfulness with a pom-pom trim. Whether styled on the sofa or wrapped around your shoulders, it’s a cozy layer your loved one will love year-round. It’s also certified non-toxic and contributes to healthier indoor air at home by choosing products tested for harmful chemicals and VOCs.

Gift Guide For the Style Icon

1. Veja Vegan Condor Sneakers: Sneakers that are totally on-trend, and don’t use animal products? Yes, they’ll love them. While some Veja styles do incorporate leather, they have a large selection of shoes made from non-animal materials. With a throwback-inspired silhouette, this slightly chunky sneaker from Veja features an innovative and comfortable design made of vegan suede, natural and recycled materials.
2. 100% Compostable Phone Case: Designed to fit iPhones and Androids alike, Pela cases are the world’s first truly sustainable phone case. They are durable enough to protect your phone from drops and scratches and are also compostable! As part of their mission to create a waste-free future, Pela is a proud member of 1% for the Planet so they can support organizations that are working hard to better the planet.
3. Matt & Nat Faux Leather Wallet: A wallet that’s made with different recycled materials such as nylons, cardboard, rubber, cork, and windshield resins. All of the interior linings of their bags are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, and the company is completely vegan and cruelty-free. 
4. Durable Vegan Leather Belt: This super stylish faux leather belt from Corkor is made from 100% cork leather, removing the need for animals to be harmed. Dressed up or dressed down, it’s functional, durable, and will effortlessly pull your look together. 
5. KIMOMT Vegan-friendly Watch: Despite all of the wearable technology available to us, a statement, analog, the watch is a useful accessory that will never go out of style. KIMOMT  makes stunning watches for all made with PU leather. It comes in 19, it’s everyday waterproof and comes in an elegant gift box.
6. Pixie Mood Bag: Who wouldn’t love a new classic black crossbody bag? Or maybe a new fanny pack? Whichever you choose, Pixie Mood bags are made of recycled vegan leather and recycled bottle lining, perfect as everyday essentials that’ll look great worn with your favorite sweatsuit or dressed up.

Gift Guide For the Furry Friend

1. Wild One Care Kit: A sampling of Wild One’s daily care essentials! The Care Kit includes the must-haves for snacking, cleaning, pooping, and staying well. Inside you’ll find a bag of our organic and tasty baked treats, natural ingredient supplements, vegan shampoo, hypoallergenic grooming wipes, and eco-friendly poop bags. Use this code WODOGS15 to get 15% off.
2. Wild One Walk Kit: Set your pups upright with Wild One’s popular on-the-go essentials. The Walk Kit comes with our easy-to-clean, waterproof dog collar, our dirt-resistant leash, and our color-matched poop bag carrier, the perfect home for their plant-based poop bags. Use this code WODOGS15 to get 15% off, on top of the already $20 off when you purchase the Walk Kit. 
3. Wild One Toy Kit: A toy kit for your doggos to tug, toss, and chew their heart out. Bundle Wild One’s triangle tug, twist toss, and bolt bite, all the toys your dog will love. Made with 100% natural rubber, 100% natural cotton, and designed so you don’t have to compromise on aesthetics or functionality. Each toy has a reinforced core for added strength and thoughtful design features to heighten engagement; a perfect toy set for puppies. Use this code WODOGS15 to get 15% off. 
4. Wild One Organic Baked Treat Kit: For the hungry dog, or pup that simply can’t pick a favorite, a three-treat variety pack that takes out the need to choose. A bag of each organic baked treat flavor- PB&J, Fruit Salad & Veggie Burger – bundled into a kit for easy single-click purchasing and built-in discount. Plant-based, Certified USDA Organic, and made with only 9 ingredients each, these snacks contain no artificial colors, flavors or fillers, and are free of corn, wheat, and soy. Simply clean and delicious treats for good dogs! Each 8 oz. bag contains about 60 dog treats. Use this code WODOGS15 to get 15% off. 
5. Dr. Brite Wellness Bundle: Give your furry family member a complete wellness care system, since their comfort is just as important as yours. Grooming wipes naturally clean and hydrate the skin and fur while eliminating pet odors. The anti-plaque pen helps remove plaque buildup & gently soothes gums. The oral spray helps banish bad pet breath. Promote your pet’s wellness and health naturally so that costly vet visits are less frequent.  Use this code BRITE5 to get 5% off. 
6. Not Pot CBD Pet Oil: Your best friend’s new best friend. Not Pot’s vet-approved, pet-approved CBD oil is broad-spectrum, super yummy, and formulated to soothe furbabies of all spots and stripes. Each bottle contains 1000 mg of sustainably sourced, hemp-derived CBD that’s the USA grown, lab-tested, and gently extracted.

Gift Guide For the Minimalist

1. Make A Donation: You can help your loved one give back to charities committed to making life better for people, the planet, and animals. There are several to choose from, from the Humane Society and Animal Legal Defense Fund to localized organizations. Chilis on Wheels, for instance, delivers free plant-based meals to communities in need.

Homemade Gifts

The best category of all: homemade gifts! Let your creativity run wild and make something from the heart for your loved one from scratch. Here are some ideas:

• Baked goods
• A custom-made piece of art (if you’re not an artist, you can have something special made on Etsy or by a local artist)
• A love letter, poem, or song
• A self-made coupon book
• Breakfast in bed
• A homemade candlelit dinner
• An adventure you plan

If you found this post helpful, let me know in the comments below. And share it with your friends and family on social media; don’t forget to tag me @veggiejeva! If you have any questions, feel free to leave it in the comments!

All images & content are protected. Please do not use my images or content prior to permission. If you want to republish this blog post, please link back to this post. Thank you for supporting VeggieJeva!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may make a small commission if you decide to purchase something through one of my links. It’s important to mention that I will never recommend anything that I don’t use myself or strongly believe in. Don’t worry, you get the same price! This will help pay for web hosting, email delivery, domain registration, and other various fees that help keep VeggieJeva operational. I appreciate your support!

The post 2021 Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on VeggieJeva.

Since publishing my COMPLETE ICELAND VEGAN FOOD GUIDE (2021), I’ve received tons of requests for me to share what we actually did on the trip besides eating. I’m super excited to finally share this with you!

This should go without saying, but just in case, Iceland Summer and Iceland Winter are polar opposites. Before planning your trip, consider the weather and daylight hours. As much as we love the cold and snow, we found ourselves very limited with the 5-hour daylight back in December 2019-January 2020. 

On our Summer 2021 trip, we got to experience SO much more with the 24-hour daylight. And we would do it all over again! Just so you can get an idea, the first time around we were only able to do Reykjavik, the Golden Circle, and Vík in 10 days. This time we got to do the entire Ring Road in 10 days, plus a couple of extra days in Reykjavik. 

If you want to see what I ate, check out last month’s blog post: COMPLETE ICELAND VEGAN FOOD GUIDE (2021).

Here’s a look at our 17-day Iceland Trip:

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is the perfect walking city. Here we visited lots of museums as well as sightseeing; everywhere you look is like a painting. When you get to Iceland, make sure you spend a couple of days there before heading out for the rest of your trip, and also a couple of days winding down before going back home.

Things you can’t miss:

• Hallgrimskirkja 
• Perlan Museum
• Sun Voyager
• The Icelandic Punk Museum
• Aurora Reykjavík
• Golden Circle

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

This area is just 2 hours away from Reykjavik, you can either make this a one-day trip or the beginning of the Ring Road road trip. After our visit, we drove to Blönduós for our stay for the night. 

• Ytri Tunga
• Búðir Black Church
• Svörtuloft Lighthouse

Akureyri

From Blönduós, we headed to Akureyri next. We had breakfast and walked around the city until it was time to check in to our Airbnb for the night. Then we went to the first collaboration of the trip at The Beer Spa to enjoy a relaxing time!

• The Beer Spa
• Akureyri Botanical Garden

North East and East

If I had to choose one of my top places in Iceland, it would be the east! Specially Seydisfjordur, it holds my heart. To get there you have to drive down the road where Walter Mitty longboarded down Do not skip the east during your Roadtrip!

• Krafla Crater
• Mývatn Nature Baths
• Hverir
• Stuðlagil Canyon
• Seyðisfjarðarvegur
• Seydisfjordur

South East

This is THE place to see glaciers and hike them. This being my 3rd glacier hiking experience, and my 2nd in Iceland, I can confidently recommend Glacier Adventure for your glacier hike, as they’re an environmentally conscious company and vegan-friendly! 

• Höfn
• Breiðamerkurjökull (Vatnajökull National Park)
• Jökulsárlón Iceberg Lagoon
• Diamond Beach
• Fjallsárlón

Vík & South West

Truly our favorite part of the island. Vík is just such a beautiful tiny town that you can’t miss during your trip. We loved Vík so much the first time around, that we made this the end of the road trip and stayed there in the same rental and for 4 nights! We got to do SO much, including a 9-mile hike in Fimmvörðuháls to the Bridge (and back), which can’t be done during the winter, and swam in the famous Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool!

• Vík i Myrdal Church
• Reynisfjara Beach
• Dyrhólaey
• Solheimasandur Plane Wreck
• Solheimajokull
• Skógafoss Waterfall
• Fimmvörðuháls (to the Bridge or to Þórsmörk)
• Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool
• Seljalandsfoss

Thinks to keep in mind when planning your Iceland Trip:

It’s important to note that this trip was thoughtfully planned. I don’t believe anyone should go to Iceland without a plan or in a “go with the flow mood”, this is the best way to guarantee you’ll waste time and money. You’ll also need proper time to rests between cities and areas of Iceland. Staying up enjoying the 24-hour daylight might be tempting, but roads are long, and driving tired can be dangerous.

Roadtripping around Iceland is not possible without a proper car; I strongly suggest renting a 4×4/AWD even during the summer. We saved money by renting a Cactus Citroën, but it ended up costing us time, as most non-main roads in Iceland are gravel/dirt and required non 4×4/AWD to drive really slowly. But on the brighter side, it did give us 50 miles per gallon of gas. 

As for accommodation, we stayed in Airbnb’s and one guest-house. Many people choose to do the Ring Road road trip in vans, however, that is not our style at all. During our 10-day road trip, we stayed in a different rental every night with the exception of Hoffell (2 nights in a guesthouse) and Vík (4 nights).

I hope this blog post helps you plan your trip to Iceland for late-Spring, Summer, or early-Fall. As always I’d like to make a disclaimer: out of respect for the country that you’re traveling to, only travel if vaccinated and to places with high vaccination rates. Take the necessary precautions (get tested, wear a mask, follow restrictions, etc.) before, during, and after your trip. In my opinion, traveling unvaccinated is big Christopher Columbus energy and we ain’t about that life here.

If you have any questions feel free to send me a DM on my socials or leave me your questions below. 

All of the photos in this post were edited using my presets, coming out this Saturday (10.02.21). Mark your calendar!

The COMPLETE ICELAND VEGAN FOOD GUIDE (2021) is also on the blog

If you found this post helpful, let me know in the comments below. And share it with your friends and family on social media; don’t forget to tag me @veggiejeva!

If you have Pinterest, you can find me here and Pin the following picture, if you like.

All images & content are protected. Please do not use my images or content prior to permission. If you want to republish this blog post, please link back to this post. Thank you for supporting VeggieJeva!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may make a small commission if you decide to purchase something through one of my links. It’s important to mention that I will never recommend anything that I don’t use myself or strongly believe in. Don’t worry, you get the same price! This will help pay for web hosting, email delivery, domain registration, and other various fees that help keep VeggieJeva operational. I appreciate your support!

The post A Summer in Iceland (2021) appeared first on VeggieJeva.

Never did it cross my mind that I would go back to Iceland as soon as I did. The last time I was there (December 2019-January 2020) a pandemic was breaking loose and somehow I knew that traveling was not going to be in the cards for a while. A year and a half later the opportunity presented itself, we took it and we got to do the most epic road-trip around Iceland with lots of vegan foods inloved!

For a brief moment, Iceland seemed like the great escape, where only vaccinated people could go and COVID was essentially nonexistent, and it was for the people who managed to get there during the first 3 weeks of July. A couple of days after we left, the virus started spreading again and restrictions were put in place. I want to make a small disclaimer before I continue with the post: out of respect for the country that you’re traveling to, only travel if vaccinated and take the necessary precautions (get tested, follow restrictions, etc.) before, during, and after your trip. In my opinion, traveling unvaccinated is big Christopher Columbus energy and we ain’t about that life here.

So just like last time I have to mention that, to the surprise of no one, Iceland is insanely expensive. A plate of food can go anywhere from $15-$30+, and this goes all throughout the island. Also, there aren’t many vegan restaurants in Iceland, in fact, I believe that there are only 3 and one of them is currently closed. However, most restaurants are vegan-friendly or accommodating. Something else that I want to point out is that Iceland is an extremely beautiful place, yet they’re not particularly known for their cuisine; so you’ll run into a lot of burgers, pizzas, fries, and hot dogs. 

Luckily for you, I’ve done the research and been there twice now, so I know the BEST places for you to get vegan food around Iceland. I’ve prepared a comprehensive guide for you along with pictures so you’ll know what you’ll get. You’ll notice that I didn’t get to visit some of the places that I did last time, that because many things have changed during the pandemic; lots of restaurants closed (rip Veganæs) and some changed their management hence their menus.

Are you ready to see all the vegan food you can find in Iceland? Take notes!

(in order of visits, except Reykjavik)

Reykjavik

Being Reykjavik the Capital of Iceland, finding vegan food is much more easier here!

Restaurants

Dominos Pizza

Trust me, this was not my first choice. But when you arrive to your airbnb at 10pm after 14hrs of traveling, and decide that it’s the perfect time to take a stroll around the city, next thing you know it’s 2am and Dominos is open to save you. They have several vegan pizzas available.

Pho Vietnam Restaurant

This place was such a nice throwback!

Laundromat Café

Fuego

So good we went there twice, and that second time was worth almost missing our bus to the airport. Their Oyster Mushrom Tacos were the bomb!

World Vegan Peace

Another one that’s so good that we went there twice! Would’ve gone there 4 times if I knew that if existed before! This is a relatively new restaurant in Iceland, and it’s fully vegan. They have a HUGE Asian vegan menu, and we loved everything we tried!

Dürüm

BioBorgari

When I found out that a Puertorican co-owned this place, and that their vegan burger was awarded Reykjavik’s Best Vegan Burger in 2020, I HAD TO GO.

Reykjavik Chips

Bars

Bastards Brew

Literally our first stop straight out of the airbnb!

Bryggjan Brugghús

Although they still have some vegan items on the menu, we were super disappointed to find out that they changed management and their menu. This was the home of THE BEST risotto I’ve ever had, now it offers burgers; they have one vegan burger and cauli-wings. We stuck with the beers!

Einstök Bar

Right in the middle of downtown Reykjavik you can find a bar fully dedicated to Einstök!

Kofinn

This place was our go-to when we wanted a beer or to rest after walking a lot. I’ve never seen it closed, so maybe it operates 24/7. It’s a great place to listen to latinx music and feel a little bit at home.

Hús máls og menningar

Book store/library/coffee shop by day, disco by night! Need I say more???

Dessert

Valdís

Omnom

From Reykjavik to Blonduós

This is the beginning of our 10 day road-trip around Iceland; here are my vegan finds!

Restaurants

Kaffi 59 (on our way)

After exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, this was a great stop with a vegan burger.

N1 Gas Station

Okay so, it was never our plan to eat at a gas station, but sometimes things don’t go as plan and google tells you the wrong closing time for all the restaurants in the middle of nowhere Iceland. Luckily this gas station saved the day with a couple of vegan options. I went for a cheeseless pizza. 

From Blonduós to Akureyri

Restaurants

Café Berlin

This place takes the award for the most expensive avocado toast I’ve ever had… really good coffee tho and plenty of other vegan options available.

Bjórböðin-Beer Spa (Collab)

This was the first collaboration on our trip! After an amazing visit to their beer spa, we opted to have dinner there and it did not disappoint! Cauliflower wings?? Cauli-tacos??? Amazing!

Bars

Einstök Tasting Room

Y’all we were the first Puertoricans to put a pin on their map! Talk about wins!

From Akureyri to East Fjords

Restaurants

Daddis Pizza (on our way)

After hiking to the Krafla Crater this place was the perfect stop with vegan pizza and GARLIC INFUSED olive oil!!!

Salt Café & Bistro

This place has one of the most ample menus that I ran into in Iceland; never did I thought that a non-vegan restaurants would have SO many vegan options. They had pizzas, burgers, wraps, tacos, soups, salads, nachos, etc. I went for their falafel wrap.

From East Fjords to Hoffell

Funny thing about Hoffell and Höfn, if there are 20 restaurants there, 17 of them serve only langostine dishes. The two places below where literally lifesavers.

Restaurants

Úps

This place was recommended by the lovely people at Glacier Adventure. They had many vegan options. Their jackfruit tacos were amazing!

Hafnarbuðin

Dinner/fast food vibes. Good place for a vegan black bean burger and fries!

Homemade Meals

From Hoffell to Vik

After a couple of days on the road, arriving to Vik was heaven! As amazing as the rest of the island was, it was great arriving somewhere we already knew. We loved Vik so much the last time, that we stayed there for 4 days! 

I’m 99.99% sure that there are only 3 restaurants in Vik, and we only love 2 of them, so we alternated those between the 4 days. The rest of our meals we made them ourselves. 

Restaurants

Systrakaffi (on our way)

The Soup Company

I can’t believe we missed out big time on this place the last time, because the soup here is bomb! Plus all you can eat bread!!!

Smidjan Brugghus

The vegan burger here is TOP TIER! It was just like I remember and their beers are SO good as well. They also have cauliflower wings available!

Homemade Meals

From Vik to Reykjavik

Fridheimar (Collab)

The moment I had been waiting for during the entire trip… An experience you can’t miss out on! Truly my favorite restaurant in Iceland, and this time they had even more vegan options; they completely revamped their menu, but the most important part remained the same: Tomato Soup! Don’t miss out on the tomato beers, their new tomato-apple crumble pie dessert and to ask for vegan butter & sour cream for your soup.

Ölverk Pizza & Brewery

We could not end our road-trip without stopping here. Amazing creative pizza and good beers!

Breakfasts

You’ll notice that there aren’t many breakfast spots on the above list, that’s because, just like the last time, we opted for making our own breakfasts. Eating out every single meal can add up to a lot of money, luckily groceries like fruits, veggies, oats, bread and nuts are not expensive at all, and, if you’re creative, they can make a plethora of breakfasts. Of course, this is only possible when staying in airbnbs with kitchens or in guesthouses that offer breakfast. 

Here are some of the breakfasts that we made:

Breakfasts at the Guesthouse we stayed at in Hoffell:

Airplane Food

On our way to Iceland I prepared before hand 2 meals for us each. Our flight was pretty early (2am), so I knew we were going to be hungry during our layover and during our second flight. I made overnight oats (not pictured) and a veggie sandwich with vegan salami and cheese.

Going back home, we didn’t have the opportunity to prepare 2 meals for our flights. We still made sure to have lots of snacks and a bowls of potatoes and carrots (not pictured) just incase. When we got on our flight we realized that they had a vegan soup available, and that’s what I had.

Would you like another post about the details of the entire trip? Let me know in the comments below!

If you found this post helpful, let me know in the comments below. And share it with your friends and family on social media; don’t forget to tag me @veggiejeva!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Karla | Vegan Recipes (@veggiejeva)

If you have Pinterest, you can find me here and Pin the following picture, if you like.

All images & content are protected. Please do not use my images or content prior to permission. If you want to republish this blog post, please link back to this post. Thank you for supporting VeggieJeva!

Disclosure: This post contains 3 exchange collaborations, which means that I was given a free experience It’s important to mention that I will never recommend anything that I don’t use myself or strongly believe in. Don’t worry, you get the same price! This will help pay for web hosting, email delivery, domain registration, and other various fees that help keep VeggieJeva operational. I appreciate your support!

The post Complete Iceland Vegan Food Guide (2021) appeared first on VeggieJeva.

Anyone miss vegan traveling?

As I prepare for my upcoming trip, I thought that it would be a good time to share how I plan and travel as a vegan. I’ve prepared vegan guides before (Amsterdam and Iceland), but never really talked about my pre-travel process. These tips are particularly important now that everything is opening up again.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have been born into a family that taught me to travel from an early stage in life. Learning the rules of the road early has made the transition to vegan travel easier, but this greatly depends on the country visiting and not everyone runs with the same luck. The truth is, immersing yourself in a culturally different country can sometimes be complicated for a traveler with dietary restrictions. As travelers, vegans face obstacles that a person with an omnivorous diet and without allergies does not usually encounter… But nothing is impossible, I’ve been a vegan traveler for almost 6 years and I’ve picked up some tips along the way that I’ll be sharing today.  

If anything, the takeaways from this post should be to 1. plan ahead, and 2. prepare for the unexpected. Those two things together create a synergy that will prepare you, and make traveling a breeze. After my last trips, I have outlined a series of steps to follow to prevent unpleasant experiences.

How to Travel as a Vegan

1. COVID-19

Let’s get this one out of the way first. For all of us who love to travel, 2020 felt like an eternity after not being able to move for such a long time. Fortunately, we’re already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with some countries gradually opening their borders and the vaccination plan that is being implemented. 

But this doesn’t mean that things are going to go back to the way they were, especially because not all countries are at the same level of progress in the fight against covid. Some airports have chosen to close down all their restaurant’s and some countries still have curfews and restrictions. Like I said above, the key to traveling is to PLAN AHEAD and to do your due diligence in terms of research (I’ll go more in depth below).

Let’s also not forget that traveling and moving to other areas increases the risk of contagion, especially with the new variants. So ideally, out of respect for the country that you’re visiting, travel to places where the virus is controlled and where the vaccination rate is high.

2. Plan ahead

Airplanes & airports

There’s no way around this, airports are difficult and expensive. Most travels out of Puerto Rico require some sort of layover, so I always opt for carrying snacks and one simple meal like a sandwich or overnight oats. Some restaurants at airports have vegan options, but this can vary per terminal, and sometimes there are massive lines/waiting times. 

For long flights, some airlines offer complimentary meals. If you have any dietary restrictions you just have to call a couple of days ahead to let them know. For shorter flights, some offer snacks and meals to buy, but always research and plan ahead for availability. 

Lodging

My preferred method of lodging is rental homes/apartments; most of my travels involve moving around a lot, so homes and apartments with kitchens work best for me. Being able to cook for yourself on trips can save you a lot of money, and it can also be really helpful when it comes to road trips and long hikes. 

However, cruise ships are very accommodating and there are certain hotels and hotel-lines that have turned vegan-friendly through the years. For hotels, check VeggieHotels, but also don’t be afraid to reach out to a certain hotel and ask.

Tourism & activities while traveling

Riding elephants in Thailand, taking camel rides in Morocco or Dubai, swimming with dolphins in a dolphin cove, are all tourist attractions that contribute to animal exploitation. Animals should not be an attraction for anyone, especially when they’re physically and psychologically mistreated at the expense of entertainment.

Sometimes tourist companies can promise guided tours with visits to animals in “freedom”, but in the end it can be far from that. Research the hell out of a tourism package so that they don’t sell you a product that comes with abuse by advertising it as “natural reserve”. 

If you really wish to see animals during your trip, watch them in their natural state or through a legit sanctuary. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing animals in freedom enjoying their life.

Food in general on travels

When traveling by cruise, food is covered and my experience is that they are extremely accommodating to your every need. But that’s not the case when traveling by plane. 

The way that I plan for food on my trips is by reading vegan blogs, Happy Cow, and Pinterest. As I gather information, I drop pins into Google Maps identifying vegan, vegan-friendly and vegan accommodating places. As of today I don’t have dietary restrictions beyond veganism, and although I mostly eat plant-based, I try to not limit myself even more during trips and just embrace the vegan food that’s available. 

I recommend planning lodging and activities around available places to eat. As well as renting apartments or homes with kitchens if you’re able to cook for yourself.

3. Get to know the place your traveling to

If you are going to a country that is really unfamiliar to you, taking a look at the traditions as well as the regional ingredients can help you get an idea of what you might face. There are some countries that are much more vegan-friendly and allergen-free than others, that’s why planning ahead is key. Find out about the typical dishes of the country offered in restaurants, as in some cases they can be vegan or veganized easily, as well as the type of cuisine, the most used ingredients, if it’s a country rich in fresh vegetables or if it tends to eat more processed products.

It’s also a good idea to know what the country’s traditions are so that you can avoid some visits, like meat/wet markets, restaurants that solely focus on animal derived ingredients, and animal-related attractions. 

4. Carry snacks and meals

Let’s say there are no vegan hotels or restaurants, and that fruits and vegetables are not abundant. Your solution will have to be bringing snacks from home, and staying in rental homes/apartments with kitchens so you could cook for yourself. 

For snacks, dried fruits, nuts, cereal bars or any food that can withstand extreme temperatures and a long time in your luggage. These can come particularly handy for road trips and hikes.

As for meals, finding lodging with kitchens and doing some grocery shopping can save your life. This option is also cheaper than eating out at restaurants for every single meal, so this is my go-to even when there are restaurant options available.

5. Toiletries

Hotels and rentals often provide things like soap, shampoos, conditioners and lotions. But more often than not they contain animal derivatives, and are not cruelty-free. When in doubt, it is better to avoid them and use our own vegan products. So I find it easier to bring toiletries and cosmetics from home; one less thing that I have to worry about while traveling.

Remember that liquids must be carried in individual containers with a capacity of no more than 3 fl.oz, and to follow TSA guidelines.

6. Travel partners

Travel partners can make or break your travel experience, but also your relationship. Differences can create many conflicts throughout the trip as we get exposed to extreme situations like tiredness, finances, etc., that push our emotions to the limit. I will say this, when traveling with other people, conflict is inevitable; but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be kept to a minimum.

When travelling with non-vegans it’s important to set boundaries and express your expectations for the trip beforehand. Make your partner(s) part of the planning process and show them the restaurants that you wish to visit. You have to make sure that there are fundamental points shared: the same taste, intentions and way of eating. 

As harsh as this may be, it’s truly best to avoid travelling with people who’re not understanding your lifestyle. If they’re not accommodating in your everyday life, they’re certainly not going to do so while traveling. Choose your travel partner(s) wisely!

7. Prepare your mindset

There are many ways to do veganism, in my case I like to keep it pretty much plant-based. But when it comes to traveling, if the food that’s available to me is mostly processed, I tend to not fuss about it. So if you have any limitations while being vegan (100% plant-based, raw, SOS, only eating at vegan restaurants, etc.), I truly suggest to loosen up and embrace what’s available. 

Loosening up does not mean throwing veganism out the window, it means to not restrict yourself towards the vegan food that is available. This is not only going to make the trip less stressful for you, but also for your travel partner(s). Have fun!

Check in with me

Make sure to follow me on Instagram to see more behind the scenes of how I prepare for my trip, travel photos and the amazing food that I’ll have there. 

Did you enjoy this post? When you leave feedback it helps me improve and grow, leave me a comment below.

If you have Pinterest, you can find me here and Pin the following picture, if you like!

All images & content are protected. Please do not use my images or content prior to permission. If you want to republish this blog post, please link back to this post. Thank you for supporting VeggieJeva!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may make a small commission if you decide to purchase something through one of my links. It’s important to mention that I will never recommend anything that I don’t use myself or strongly believe in. Don’t worry, you get the same price! This will help pay for web hosting, email delivery, domain registration, and other various fees that help keep VeggieJeva operational. I appreciate your support!

The post How I Prepare for Traveling as a Vegan appeared first on VeggieJeva.

Well, Reykjavik & Vík.

Searching for a vegan restaurant in Iceland? There are very few full vegan restaurants in Iceland, maybe only one; but most restaurants in Iceland offer a couple of vegetarian & vegan options on their menus, in and out of the main city. 

Before you head out on your trip, you need to know that Iceland is very expensive (I can’t stress this enough). Most of your travel budget will go towards food; vegan or not, a plate will go for $15-$25. Actually, I was surprised to find out that vegan food in Iceland is less expensive than non-vegan food, especially when grocery shopping.

You’ll find that this guide does not include breakfast and/or cafés; given that Iceland is expensive, we opted for buying a couple of groceries and making breakfast at the airbnbs. Also, you’ll find in this guide that I’ve included Breweries. If you follow me on Instagram you know that there’s a special place in my heart for craft beer, and it seems like it’s Iceland’s untold specialty.

Here are the spots that I visited & what I ordered! 

Full Vegan

Veganæs: This is probably the only fully vegan restaurant in Iceland, and it did not disappoint. I tried both, the Seitanic Steik and the Seitanic Burger, with fries & ordered vegan mozzarella sticks on the side. They literally had the best seitan I’ve tried.

Vegan-friendly

Kaffihús Vesturbæjar: This was the only place that I visited for breakfast purposes, also the first place I visited straight out of the flight. Ordered the hummus toast made with their freshly baked sourdough bread, a side of berries & avocado.

Friðheimar: When I heard that there was a tomato greenhouse that doubled as a restaurant, I knew I had to see it for myself. Every single dish that they served had tomato as the main ingredient. Even their beers were made from tomatoes! I had the best tomato soup I’ve had in my life, which was served with vegan-friendly bread and topped with cucumber salad & freshly cut basil. Fun fact: this place served as an inspiration for one of last’s week’s recipes. 

Pylsa Hlemmur Square: This place is located right on the main Reykjavik bus stop. They had a couple of vegan options, but I knew that I couldn’t leave Iceland without trying a vegan sausage/hotdog, so that’s exactly what I ordered. 

Pho Vietnamese Restaurant: I’ve never had vegan-friendly fried rice in a restaurant before, and this one came with it came with pan-fried tofu & soy strips!!! I spent New Years in Reykjavik, after midnight, returning to the airbnb, I walked past this restaurant which had fireworks coming out from the front. It was hard to not notice the “we have vegan food” sign, and I was surprised because while researching vegan-friendly restaurants in Iceland, Pho Vietnamese Restaurant never popped up. I’m glad I ran into it.

Fjörukráin-Viking Village: One of the most unusual places I’ve ever visited, a viking restaurant located in a viking village, just outside of Reykjavik. I was super surprised to find out that they had a vegan “burger”, and even more surprised to see that the place was so authentic to traditional viking food, that the “burger” that I ordered came out deconstructed lol. So I got to try a vegan viking burger yay!

Breweries & Bars

Pablo Discobar: This place doubles as both, a restaurant (Burro) on the first two floors and a bar (Pablo Discobar) on the third one. Their menu had some vegan options, yet I only visited the bar which had amazing cocktails. 

Bryggjan Brugghús: The BEST vegan meal that I had in Iceland was here! Even though Bryggjan Brugghús is not vegan, they have the most impressive vegan dish that I’ve tried while eating out of my house: Mushroom risotto with giant portobello mushrooms & veggie stuffed croquettes, topped with walnuts & grapes. They also had vegan burgers, appetizers, desserts, and amazing brewed on-site beer. 

Smidjan Brugghús: A brewery right in the center of Vík; this is where I had the BEST beers! They have an ample menu including an amazing vegan burger topped with avocado, vegan garlic aioli & ONION RINGS. The burger there reminded me a lot of the burger that I had in Amsterdam at the Vegan Junk Food Bar. Make sure to get a flight of beers with your order and try their seasonal beers. 

Ölverk Brugghus: A micro-brewery, located right in between Reykjavik & Vík solely dedicated to beers and pizza. They had two different vegan pizzas, pesto and a Mexican one. I went for the Mexican style pizza which had: vegan cheese, vegan ground beef, peppers, nachos, pickled red onion, vegan sour cream, and cilantro. Easily, one of my favorite vegan pizzas that I’ve tried. They also brew beer there and the one that I liked the most was the seasonal Christmas beer. 

Micro Bar: A microbrewery bar for beer nerds, which supports small brewers from all over Iceland.

Bastards Brew & Bar: This is where we closed off our New Year’s celebrations! A fantastic place to enjoy Icelandic craft beer and classy cocktails, filled with cool art everywhere, and amazing music playing in the background.

Snacks

Geysir: Located on the Golden Circle, this place is a visitor center, a gift shop and a restaurant all in one. They offer a couple of vegan options like pizza, sandwiches & soups. We didn’t actually eat there, we just stopped there to shield ourselves from the heavy rain. 

Reykjavik Chips: A place dedicated to the best food in the world- potato fries! They also have a couple of vegan-friendly dipping sauces to choose from. 

Svartafjaran: Located right in Reynisfjara, the Black Sand Beach. They had a couple of vegan options, I opted for their vegan onion rings and turnip soup. 

Valdís: A cute ice cream shop located in the heart of Reykjavik. They had two vegan options when I visited: cherry, and the one that I ordered, coffee.

The Laundromat Café: This might sound a bit unusual, but this place is just like the name implies, a laundromat and a café. Even though I didn’t actually eat anything here, I just went there to do laundry (and had some beers while waiting), they did have a couple of vegan options. 

Not vegan, but were able to accommodate

Reykjavik Fish: The only thing that I could order off their menu was roasted potatoes, which were the bomb! Ordered two sides of these potatoes, and made it a full meal. 

Strondin Bistro and Bar: Located in Vík, this restaurant only had one veggie option- a vegetable pasta- they were able to make it vegan by removing the parmesan cheese.

Grocery shopping & Gas Stations

With the expense of eating out, it made a lot of sense to go grocery shopping and cook at the airbnbs. Having groceries at hand will also end up being lifesaving during days that the weather gets really harsh; we spent an entire day indoors because it was so windy that the door could barely open. Just make sure you pick lodging that has kitchens with basic cooking necessities. When it comes to grocery shopping, the most vegan-friendly were Bonus & Kronin (they can also be found all throughout the island); both carried an ample selection of fresh produce, vegan meat substitutes, vegan cheeses, snacks & desserts.

For the most part of the trip, we used a rented car which meant visiting a couple of gas stations. The ones we visited had a variety of vegan snack foods, sandwiches, and wraps, which can help hold you over during road trips. 

Well, that’s it! I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide and that it serves you well when planning your trip to Iceland. For more vegan-friendly restaurants across Iceland, use the apps Vegan Ísland & Happy Cow. 

Also, here are some of my non-food related photos

The post Iceland (Reykjavik & Vik): Vegan Food Guide appeared first on VeggieJeva.

Searching for a vegan restaurant in Amsterdam? Most restaurants in Amsterdam offer some vegetarian & vegan options on their menus, but there are actually so many full vegan & plant-based restaurants, in and out of the city. Here are our favorite spots & what we ordered!

Note: Some places don’t have photos, either because we couldn’t take them, or because the end result wasn’t good.

Full Vegan

Vegan Junk Food Bar: Out of every place that we visited, this was our favorite. Seriously, in eight days we went there four times. The best part? Everything is plant-based.

Mastino V: The most authentic Italian pizza we’ve ever had! The first 100% gluten-free & vegan pizzeria in Amsterdam, ran by actual Italians. They use homemade vegan cheeses & dough. To top it all off they had vegan tiramisu! Dead.

Vegan Tiramisu

Vegan Brownie

Maoz: Previously Maoz Vegetarian, now Maoz Vegan Fast Food! We knew we couldn’t leave The Netherlands without trying their traditional fries with mayo; here they had the vegan version of that & more!

Dutch Fries with Curry & Garlic Sauce

The Dutch Weed Burger Joint: Don’t be fooled by the name, the weed in Weed Burger is SEAWEED! We actually didn’t order any burgers, we had enough of those already. We ordered Shawarma Wraps with fries & a Chocolate Milkshake that still has me dreaming of it.

Vegan Friendly:

The Mexican: This place was the first place we visited. After delayed & missed flights, we literally went with the first place that we ran into. We had nachos, which turned out to be really good and authentic.  

The Avocado Show: Avocados are my favorite fruit, so naturally I was dying to try this place since I ran into it while researching for the trip. “The Avocado Show serves visually stunning and incredibly tasty signature dishes made with love from sustainable and socially responsible avocados.” And they’re not wrong about the visually stunning & tasty dishes part.

Vegan Poke

Wok to WalkThis is actually one of our favorites! I think we ate there three times, because it was super simple & hassle-free. We popped into the store, ordered to-go, and went along with our schedule as we ate.

Wok wit: Coconut Curry Sauce, Shitake, tofu, bell peppers, onions & broccoli

Dominos: Normally, I’m not the type of person who travels to a whole different country to experience a whole new culture, just to end up eating at chain restaurants that I have back home. We notice a lot of people eating at American Fast Food Chains and to be honest, it drove us crazy. But when we ran into this Dominos with a huge vegan sign upfront, we really couldn’t resist. Probably because the Dominos back home doesn’t have anything remotely close to vegan except for a cheeseless veggie. For real, they had like five different vegan options! We went for the spicy. 

De Foodhallen: This place! If there’s one way that I could describe this place as, it would be as the 2025 version of Lote 23 in Puerto Rico. There are so many vegan options that it was really hard to decide what we actually wanted. We tried nachos from Taquería Lima & Vegan Temaki from Meneer Temaki.

Jacketz: This place is one that had very limited vegan options, yet that day was chilly & we felt like eating some comfort food. The potatoes were huge! I loved the green curry filling.

Happy Pig Pancake Shop: While researching for the trip, I ran into a page that said this place had the best vegan Dutch pancakes! This place is the original house of the rolled pancakes, and we were really taken by surprise by how amazing the vegan pancakes were.

Coffee & Others

C | T Coffee & Coconuts: A couple of months ago Raya from Rayawashere visited this place in one of her vlogs, I fell instantly in love with the place. Then I visited and it was so much beautiful than I imagined; three floors in an old cinema, with tropical vibes & amazing coffee.

La La Ijs: As we were walking towards De Foodhallen in 90 F weather at 8pm, we ran into a glorious sign that said “Vegan Ice Cream Here”, my jaw dropped. It was so hot that day that I didn’t know if I was hallucinating or not.

VegabondWe loved this place, and we wished we could have gone there more, but it was kind of far out of our daily commute. However it’s conveniently located near the Anne Frank House, so while you’re waiting for your entrance slot, you can pop into Vegabond for some snacks and a coffee.

Rijksmuseum Cafe: Have coffee within art? Check! That’s literally the only vegan thing on their menu. However it was great coffee & it gave us the energy we needed to tour the museum for four hours.

The Dutch Vegan Bakery: This was one of those places that we didn’t know that existed, we just ran into it & turned out to be a vegan gold mine. The bakery is located outside of Amsterdam, in the nearby city Zaanse Schans.

The post Amsterdam: Vegan Food Guide appeared first on VeggieJeva.

On June 10th, my family & I went on a Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean International. We visited four beautiful Islands in one week. Here are some of my favorite pictures.

First stop: St. Thomas. Being this our fifth time here, we decided to go straight to the closest beach. We ended up un Esmeralda beach which was less than 10 minutes away from the port.

After an entire day of cruising, on day four we stopped at Curaçao.

We went to the Curaçao Liqueur Factory & found out that my favorite liqueur is vegan. YES the original Blue Curaçao is vegan!

Otrabanda gave out some Netherlands vibes…

…but somehow it still felt like I was on the Caribbean

On the fifth day of the cruise we went to Aruba. This Island is so beautiful & the people were incredible; this was my favorite of all of the stops

This is the bus that took us around

We visited the Ayo Rock Formation…

… & the dreamy California Lighthouse that looks like it came out of a Wes Anderson movie.

We also stopped by a white sand beach; Eagle Beach

& the Marketplace that’s right next to the port.

Lastly, we stopped by St. Kitts 

We went around in a taxi that took us to this view…

ps. find the volcano

& to Carambola Beach on the south side of the island

To find out more of our trip, visit my last post about the Plant-Based meals Royal Caribbean has for us non-meat eaters.

The post Travel Diary: Caribbean Cruise appeared first on VeggieJeva.

Food is the first thing that comes to mind when traveling; especially when cruising. There’s so much (SOOOOO MUCH)  food that’s already included in the price, making it hard to resist all of the goodness that are processed carbs, fats & sugars. But don’t’ worry, eating healthy & maintaining your lifestyle while cruising, isn’t impossible. For me, cruises are the least stressful form of travel when it comes to food; but that is if you plan ahead. Most Cruise Ship Agencies will be happy to accommodate any dietary restrictions, this is more likely on international cruise lines; they receive people from all over the world with different cultural backgrounds & eating habits.

Here’s  what I did & how I did it, on Royal Caribbean International:

• Alert the cruise line as early as possible. I did this two weeks in advance & also made sure that I was listed as one of the plant-based travelers at check-in.
• Bring some pre-packed snacks on board. Snack bars, pre-packed soups, chips, ect.
• The buffet is your best friend for lunch (& sometimes breakfast). Huge salad bar, roasted potatoes, sautéed vegetables, sandwich station, veggie burgers & huge assortments of fresh fruits.
• Bring water with you on the first day & avoid paying $2 a bottle on board.
• If you can’t live without coffee, soy milk is available upon request in the buffet.
• Don’t get scared with the dining room’s main menu. On the first day ask for their special menu; they made me: tofu, fried rice, baked potatoes, sweet & sour soy chicken, different styles of pasta, mushroom soup, veggie onion soup, vegan pancakes(at breakfast, & bowls of strawberries too. I didn’t eat the same thing twice.
• Alcohol. You may want to skip the cocktails with bright colors, since they tend to be very sugary. Good news is, most beer is vegan!
• Not food related: If you’re into exercising, take advantage of the free gym & jogging track; especially on those “at sea” days.
• The sucky part is the lack of plant-based desserts; they only have a platter of fruits & fruit sorbet.

Here are some bad quality pictures (the lighting was terrible, sorry in advance) of my favorite meals on cruise:

buffet: Salad, mushrooms, chickpeas, almonds, raspberry dressing | steamed carrots & broccoli | toasts & roasted potatoes

dining room: pasta with pomodoro

 buffet: veggie burger (upon request) with everything from the burger section | ketchup, mustard & sriracha

dining room: vegetable & tofu fried rice

dining room (breakfast): eggless pancakes with peanut butter, banana & berries

johnny rockets: veggie burger with sauteed onions & mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes & mustard | fries & onion rings

dining room: veggie minestrone soup | pitta bread & hummus

dining room: baked potato with butter | sauteed mushrooms | soy meatballs with tortilla chips

dining room: chocolate covered strawberries

The post Plant-Based While Cruising appeared first on VeggieJeva.