Escaping to a beautiful island paradise with turquoise blue waters, powdery white sands, and bright sunny skies seem like a great idea. However, deciding which island to visit can be tricky if you're vegan. Luckily, many beautiful islands are now embracing the vegan lifestyle and catering to the needs of plant-based eaters. Here are the top 5 islands to visit as a vegan.
#1. Reykjavik, Iceland
While Icelandic cuisine is generally meat-heavy, many restaurants in Reykjavik serve plant-based food options, such as steamed veggies, salads, and veggie burgers. Veganism has significantly grown in Iceland over the past few years, so it's not surprising to find vegan-friendly foods at various supermarkets and restaurants with several vegan options.
Krúska is one of those restaurants known for its mouth-watering vegan dishes. While it's not an entirely vegan restaurant, it doesn't rely heavily on animal products. Their vegan versions of quiche and lasagne served with homemade vegan bread are a must-try!
#2. Vis, Croatia
Vis is one of Croatia's most gorgeous islands and a great way to explore here is by luxury cruise, this will also take you to many of the other stunning isles in Croatia. This small Dalmatian Island is also famous for its vibrant food scene, thanks to the bounty of natural ingredients and the locals' love for good cuisine. While most cuisines in Vis are centred around fish and seafood, there are also several plant-based options.
One of the best places to dine in Vis is a family restaurant called Kod Paveta. They have a dish made of artichokes cooked with lots of breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, and broad beans, perfect for the vegan diet. Don't forget to order a glass of local wine to go with it.
#3. Isle of Skye, Scotland
Famous for its rugged landscapes and towering mountain peaks, the Isle of Skye is one of the world's most beautiful destinations. However, as a vegan traveller, visiting this Scottish island requires planning and research. Thankfully, there's now a growing number of restaurants on the island with several vegan choices.
In the main town on the island, you'll find many dining places offering a range of vegan dishes. One of these is Cafe Arriba, which has a wide selection of dairy-free drinks, bread, and pastries. They also have vegan salads and veggie burgers that you can request to remove the sauce to make vegan. If you don't mind cooking your meals, check out Jackson's Wholefoods Store in Portree, which sells vegan-friendly food products and ingredients.
#4. Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza is one of the best islands for vegans, thanks to the growing number of vegan restaurants in this popular tourist destination. There are also many stunning holiday villas in Ibiza, providing the perfect place to relax whilst visiting. Many eateries have excellent vegan options, with some offering inventive plant-based dishes.
Mikasa is a boutique hotel with a restaurant famous for its delicious plant-based menu. From juices and smoothies to salads and desserts, Mikasa has all your favourite vegan treats.
#5. Crete, Greece
Crete is the best island for vegans in Greece because it's a big island home to numerous restaurants. Many of these restaurants serve healthy and incredibly nutritious plant-based dishes made from herbs, greens, and legumes and cooked in various ways.
Head to Chania, where you'll find To Stachi, one of Crete's most popular vegan restaurants. They have traditional Greek cuisines of plant-based ingredients, such as the vegan boureki, made of zucchini and sweet potatoes stuffed with rice and herbs.
What about you, have you been to any islands that offer great vegan options? Feel free to share any tips & advice below!
