If you’re a vegan and haven’t traveled to Ubud, I suggest you put it at the top of your “To-Travel To” bucket list. This town is like a gathering place for everyone on a plant-based diet and you can pretty much get your hands on anything you’re craving in a vegan version. This list could be miles long but I’ll keep it short with five places you gotta visit when traveling to this traditional town.
Living Food Lab
1.) Living Food Lab
This small café has a whole lot going for it even besides the vegan options. Connected to Hubud, the town’s most popular co-working space, the vibe at LFL is quiet and entrepreneurial. Seats are mostly taken up by digital nomads, making a living from their laptops. While they offer up sandwiches, a Mediterranean plate and “lasagna,” the best part is their fridge filled with raw desserts. The Key lime pie and vanilla infused coconut water are some of my favorite things to have there. Another perk–it overlooks the rice fields and is connected to a communal “yard” for lounging.
Tukies
2.) Tukies
This place is known as the “Coconut Shop” and can easily be identified by the pile of coconuts in its display window and outside its door. While you can grab a cold, whole coconut or a fresh squeezed sugar cane juice, their most delicious offering is the coconut ice cream. Topped with coconut brittle and coconut “jelly”, a cup of this creamy goodness is heaven for the texture lovers. The shop itself has a few other vegan desserts as well as jars of locally made coconut butter and candies.
Falafel at Down To Earth Cafe
3.) Down to Earth Café
I almost fainted when I saw the menu at this café. All of my vegan dreams came true. From nachos with tofu sour cream to a Reuben sandwich and mock tuna, you can pretty much have any dish you’re craving without the meat. The falafel and avocado/zatar on toast tie for my favorite meal and the raw rose chocolate was hands down my favorite dessert. Speaking of dessert, their fridge has options I’ve never even seen in a vegan version. Tofu cheesecake, apple pie and a whole selection of cookies call out my name on every visit.
9 Warung
4.) 9 Warung
This restaurant/Co-op holds a special place in my heart for providing a deeper meaning to a meal. The vegetarian/vegan buffet allows you to choose what you want, add up your own bill based on the extremely cheap price list and leave what you owe in a jar on the table. All they ask is that you wash up your dishes when you finish. The owners use the restaurant as a sharing community and they offer free dance lessons, a library of books and sometimes free coffee tastings.
Mexican Lasagna at Seeds of Life
5.) Seeds of Life
This raw/vegan café and tonic bar takes its job seriously in providing healthy and creative dishes to the vegan community. They have a fridge full of Kombucha, a dessert fridge full of raw chocolates, and weekly special dishes. You can find Mexican lasagna, Italian lasagna, American style “Hamburgers” and chocolate banana pancakes. The menu is also full of smoothies, elixirs and exotic teas that are listed to describe their healing properties in detail. You may see people meditating on the floor cushions, dealing out tarot cards to their dinner partners or discussing what went on in their latest yoga class here.
About the author: I am a vegan nomad who has been traveling around the world for over 2 years. I know how to sniff out the best restaurants in a new destination and I love dessert. You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram at @livesabroad and Twitter at @livesabroad1.
Image source: bidadarivillasubudbali.com
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