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Must-Visit Vegan Places in New York | FOOD TO FASHION VEGAN NEW YORK GUIDE
New York is hands-down one of the best cities for vegans (why not the most? I am still undecided between LA, Berlin, and NYC). I've spent a considerable time in New York this year when I was in the city for a vegan TV show styling project. New Yorkers are spoilt for choice when it comes to vegan foods - you can pretty much find whatever cuisine you are craving. Additionally, the city offers a host of vegan activities (other than food) for everything from shopping to beauty to vegan festivals, pop-up shops, and vegan cooking demos. And of course, there is Whole Foods and Westerly Natural Market with a large selection of vegan food, home cleaning, and personal care products.
Here is a list of 6 must-have vegan places in New York that can't leave New York without. It includes the best vegan restaurants and vegan fashion stores (there are vegan shopping options for guys too).
VEGAN FOOD IN NEW YORK
New York is home to so many vegan gastronomic pleasures that it's hard to list all. I've rounded up my favorite vegan restaurants and cafes that you must absolutely explore.
Beyond Sushi
Whether or not you are vegan, you will fall in love with the vegan Japanese restaurant - Beyond Sushi. Vegan sushi may sound like an oxymoron but you'll be pleasantly surprised when you get a bite of their delicious fish-free sushis. My friend Ashley Morganic (NYC based vegan blogger) introduced me to this vegan sushi place and I immediately fell in love it. I must have visited their expansive Midtown restaurant countless times - it is one of their newest locations with gray recycled wood and metal interiors, high ceilings and a live open-kitchen where you can watch all the magic happening. Their colorful sushis and rolls have earned quite a reputation for not only being vegan but also free from white rice. They use organic short grain brown rice, Chinese black forbidden rice, organic purple barley and other healthier substitutes that not only look cool but are also packed with flavor and taste. My favorites were Spicy Mang sushi rolls - a crunchy sliced cylinder of avocado, mango, cucumber, and julienned vegetables rolled up in black rice and served with toasted cayenne flavored sauce and Nutty Buddy rice paper wrap - baby greens, soba noodles, jalapeño peanut butter, carrots, cashews, avocado, baked tofu, and cilantro wrapped in rice paper. Both of these were truly out of the world. Their menu isn't all about sushis but they also serve rice paper wraps, noodle bowls, dumplings, salads, and soups.
The founder Chef Guy has expanded to five locations in Manhattan in just five years; no wonder because they serve the best plant-based sushi in town. Considering that over 80% of their ingredients are organic, the place is quite pocket-friendly - sushi rolls cost about $7 and wraps are $6.25.
Contact
62 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019, USA; Tel. +1 646-964-5097; 11am-9.30pm; Website
Caravan of Dreams
One of the oldest vegan restaurants in Manhattan, Caravan of Dreams is an unpretentious East Village vegan heaven sans vegan vibes. Its cozy decor with brick walls, mismatched floors, colorful art on the wall, ancient wooden floors and a quaint outdoor seating adds a charming and somewhat romantic touch to the place. While I visited the place in the morning, I'm pretty sure it will be perfect for a date night. Its eclectic menu is a mix of Italian, Spanish, Middle Eastern, Asian cuisine and even has vegan French toast (unfortunately they ran out of it by the time we reached). Everything from appetizers and salads to main meal was simply delicious. I loved the tacos that were topped with fresh avocados and vegan cream. Warm and friendly service, the person who attended us was very patient and helpful and even customised a Jain vegan meal for me (no root veggies, mushroom, broccoli, etc). They also have a section of raw dishes on their menu that I will definitely try the next time. If you are a large party or want to host a small gathering they have a private red dining room for just that!
P.S. I would save some space for the dessert for another great vegan dessert place in East Village.
Contact
405 E 6th St, New York - 10009; Subway: L to First Ave, 6 to Astor Pl; Tel. 2122541613
Mon-Fri, Sun 11am–11pm; Sat 11am–midnight
Website
Dun-Well Doughnuts
My favorite part of a meal is always the dessert and New York is full of great vegan dessert places. In fact, even most of the non-vegan joints serve vegan options. . Right after our meal at Caravan of Dreams, we headed to the famous Dunwell Doughnuts on the adjoining street for a sweet treat fix. It's often listed as one of the best doughnut shops in New York (not just for vegans), and after a bite of their cinnamon dusted pillowy ring of wonder I knew why. Soft, fluffy and super yummy it's really worth the hype. We also ordered a vanilla chip vegan ice-cream and it was worth every single delicious calorie. If you love doughnuts, make sure to visit them (I hear their Peanut Butter+ Jelly doughnut has a cult following). They not only serve doughnuts; they're also famous for their coffee and we also spotted vegan egg-cream on the menu. Their main location is Brooklyn, which is where they started from.
Contact
102 St Marks Place, NY 10009; Tel.· +1 646-998-5492
Su-Th 9AM-10PM & Fr-Sa 9AM-11PM; Website
Beatnic (formerly by Chloe)
Even the vegan naysayers will fall in love with Beatnic. A quick serve grab-and-go concept with hip black and white interiors, their adorable West Village restaurant (close to Soho) was my hotspot while my time in New York. Beatnic is definitely a heaven for foodies and is always busy so you may need to queue up for your order. Finding a table is not-so-hard since most people quickly leave after finishing their meal. The restaurant has individual and shared tables, which was great for meeting new people. A 10-minutes walk from Soho, close to the famous Washington Square and right in the middle of buzz-y night-life of the NYU it's a great vegan place at any time of the day with a stellar location. From the yummiest vegan cupcakes to cold pressed juices (charcoal to kale they've got everything) and smoothies to the avocado toast and burgers everything at this restaurant was a pure delight. Even the salads are super delicious. Not one of the healthiest, it's the perfect place for some guilty pleasure. Their cinnamon rolls are sinful.
I took my meat-obsessed Canadian friend Natasha to Beatnic who was very skeptic of stepping into a vegan place initially. However, she enjoyed her meal to the very last bite and later told me "You can't even tell it's vegan".
Contact
185 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012; 11am-11pm; Website
Candle 79 (Permanently closed now)
For the perfect vegan fine dining experience Candle 79 on the Upper East side is one of my favorites of all the vegan restaurants I visited in New York. Since the menu is loaded with names of meaty dishes (I know they're all vegan), I was a little disappointed at first but the server was nice enough to customise a vegan Jain meal for me while my friends enjoyed the delicacies from their menu. Their food is definitely top-notch and the server told us it is also all-organic. Romantic low lights, plush seats, and elegant decor make this bi-level restaurant a perfect date night pick.Their guacamole timbale, Mexican chocolate brownie, and burgers are to die for. It is walking distance from Central Park and is worth every penny.
Contact154 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10075 (at Lexington Ave); Tel 212-537-7179
Dun-Well Doughnuts
My favorite part of a meal is always the dessert and New York is full of great vegan dessert places. In fact, even most of the non-vegan joints serve vegan options. . Right after our meal at Caravan of Dreams, we headed to the famous Dunwell Doughnuts on the adjoining street for a sweet treat fix. It's often listed as one of the best doughnut shops in New York (not just for vegans), and after a bite of their cinnamon dusted pillowy ring of wonder I knew why. Soft, fluffy and super yummy it's really worth the hype. We also ordered a vanilla chip vegan ice-cream and it was worth every single delicious calorie. If you love doughnuts, make sure to visit them (I hear their Peanut Butter+ Jelly doughnut has a cult following). They not only serve doughnuts; they're also famous for their coffee and we also spotted vegan egg-cream on the menu. Their main location is Brooklyn, which is where they started from.
Contact
102 St Marks Place, NY 10009; Tel.· +1 646-998-5492
Su-Th 9AM-10PM & Fr-Sa 9AM-11PM; Website
Beatnic (formerly by Chloe)
Natasha looks happy with her first vegan food experience
Even the vegan naysayers will fall in love with Beatnic. A quick serve grab-and-go concept with hip black and white interiors, their adorable West Village restaurant (close to Soho) was my hotspot while my time in New York. Beatnic is definitely a heaven for foodies and is always busy so you may need to queue up for your order. Finding a table is not-so-hard since most people quickly leave after finishing their meal. The restaurant has individual and shared tables, which was great for meeting new people. A 10-minutes walk from Soho, close to the famous Washington Square and right in the middle of buzz-y night-life of the NYU it's a great vegan place at any time of the day with a stellar location. From the yummiest vegan cupcakes to cold pressed juices (charcoal to kale they've got everything) and smoothies to the avocado toast and burgers everything at this restaurant was a pure delight. Even the salads are super delicious. Not one of the healthiest, it's the perfect place for some guilty pleasure. Their cinnamon rolls are sinful.
I took my meat-obsessed Canadian friend Natasha to Beatnic who was very skeptic of stepping into a vegan place initially. However, she enjoyed her meal to the very last bite and later told me "You can't even tell it's vegan".
Contact
185 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012; 11am-11pm; Website
Candle 79 (Permanently closed now)
For the perfect vegan fine dining experience Candle 79 on the Upper East side is one of my favorites of all the vegan restaurants I visited in New York. Since the menu is loaded with names of meaty dishes (I know they're all vegan), I was a little disappointed at first but the server was nice enough to customise a vegan Jain meal for me while my friends enjoyed the delicacies from their menu. Their food is definitely top-notch and the server told us it is also all-organic. Romantic low lights, plush seats, and elegant decor make this bi-level restaurant a perfect date night pick.Their guacamole timbale, Mexican chocolate brownie, and burgers are to die for. It is walking distance from Central Park and is worth every penny.
Contact154 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10075 (at Lexington Ave); Tel 212-537-7179
Website
VEGAN SHOPPING IN NEW YORK
Veerah
I truly believe that the right pair of shoes can break or make an outfit and always invest in a good quality pair. Finding good vegan shoes is not one of the easiest feats but New York for one has some of the best vegan shoes options. My favorite is hands down Veerah - a luxury vegan shoe brand with a shoe studio in the heart of Soho that you can visit with a prior appointment. I met the Founder of the brand Stacey at her studio. She showed me her entire collection, shared her brand story and I must I was impressed! Her luxury ethical shoes have become my favorite. They're not only vegan but also sustainably crafted using eco-friendly materials. The best part is that Veerah aces style and comfort to perfection. Their vegan heels feature memory foam padding, organic cotton lining, and anti-slip pads to make sure you stay comfortable in the heels all day. Her unique concept of accessorizing every Veerah pair allows you to create multiple styles with one pair of shoes by dressing it up or down with tassels and ankle straps that double up as bracelets.
Her studio is right outside E 8 /Mercer street subway, and next to Pure Green juice shop where you can grab a fresh smoothie or green juice after exhausting yourself trying all those amazing vegan heels. You can also shop Veerah shoes online here (ships worldwide).
Moo Shoes
I have a thing for shoes, and I could not satiate myself with just one shoe store. During my East Village tour, I made sure to visit the multi-brand vegan shoe store Moo Shoes (they also have an online store) that also stocks vegan handbags, organic socks and vegan belts for men and women. A small but bright and roomy store with minimal chic white and wood interiors, Moo Shoes had various styles that range from stomping-the-sidewalks-all-day boots and everyday sneakers to chic heels from brands from across the world. From LA-based Susi Studio to Portuguese brand NAE to British Bourgeious Boheme to Sydney brown to their in-house brand Novacas they have a good selection. I think the store could up its ante by stocking more chic heels, classic pumps and adding printed and colored options. They had plenty of options for men too for all their shoe needs and also the hard-to-find quality vegan belts.
Orchard Grocer
East Village is full of vegan options and right next door to Moo Shoes is vegan grocery shop cum deli Orchard Grocer. I was in love with this place - they had everything from vegan cheese to vegan chocolates, vegan sour cream, yogurts, mayonnaise, ice-creams, whipped cream, vegan milks, pasta, ready-to-eat meals, salad dressings and other everyday foodstuffs from popular brands like Kite Hill, Daiya, Soy Curls. Fabanaise, Heidi Ho, Herbivorous Butcher and more. It was like a vegan heaven. The best part? Everything in this grocery store was also palm-oil free! The grocery store also had a vegan deli serving fresh vegan coffee, sandwiches, salads, bagels, and soups (takeaway only).
I made sure to pay a visit to Orchard Grocer before I was flying back home to stock up on vegan foods I wouldn't get back in Dubai or Mumbai.
Contact
VEGAN SHOPPING IN NEW YORK
Veerah
I truly believe that the right pair of shoes can break or make an outfit and always invest in a good quality pair. Finding good vegan shoes is not one of the easiest feats but New York for one has some of the best vegan shoes options. My favorite is hands down Veerah - a luxury vegan shoe brand with a shoe studio in the heart of Soho that you can visit with a prior appointment. I met the Founder of the brand Stacey at her studio. She showed me her entire collection, shared her brand story and I must I was impressed! Her luxury ethical shoes have become my favorite. They're not only vegan but also sustainably crafted using eco-friendly materials. The best part is that Veerah aces style and comfort to perfection. Their vegan heels feature memory foam padding, organic cotton lining, and anti-slip pads to make sure you stay comfortable in the heels all day. Her unique concept of accessorizing every Veerah pair allows you to create multiple styles with one pair of shoes by dressing it up or down with tassels and ankle straps that double up as bracelets.
Her studio is right outside E 8 /Mercer street subway, and next to Pure Green juice shop where you can grab a fresh smoothie or green juice after exhausting yourself trying all those amazing vegan heels. You can also shop Veerah shoes online here (ships worldwide).
Moo Shoes
Orchard Grocer
East Village is full of vegan options and right next door to Moo Shoes is vegan grocery shop cum deli Orchard Grocer. I was in love with this place - they had everything from vegan cheese to vegan chocolates, vegan sour cream, yogurts, mayonnaise, ice-creams, whipped cream, vegan milks, pasta, ready-to-eat meals, salad dressings and other everyday foodstuffs from popular brands like Kite Hill, Daiya, Soy Curls. Fabanaise, Heidi Ho, Herbivorous Butcher and more. It was like a vegan heaven. The best part? Everything in this grocery store was also palm-oil free! The grocery store also had a vegan deli serving fresh vegan coffee, sandwiches, salads, bagels, and soups (takeaway only).
I made sure to pay a visit to Orchard Grocer before I was flying back home to stock up on vegan foods I wouldn't get back in Dubai or Mumbai.
Contact
Moo Shoes & Orchard Grocer
78 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002, USA; Tel. +1 212-254-6512; Website
Vegan Pop-Up Market (every month in Brooklyn)
Once a month Pine Box Rock Shop - a vegan bar in Brooklyn hosts a vegan pop-up market and I was super lucky to be in New York in one of their pop-up weeks. When I arrived on a rainy morning, the place was bustling with music and people eating, shopping and enjoying the great vibe of the place (including me). From home-made vegan treats to popular vegan vendors and brands everyone displayed their vegan goodies at the pop-up market. Vegan cupcakes, chocolates, macaroons, vegan cheese, pizzas, burgers, vegan lipsticks and beauty products, t-shirts with cool vegan-themed slogans, mock meats I was spoilt for choice. I had a serious vegan cupcake overload (there were so many super yummy options) and even made a few friends.
Contact
12 Grattan St, Brooklyn, NY 11206, USA; Tel. +1 718-366-6311
78 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002, USA; Tel. +1 212-254-6512; Website
Vegan Pop-Up Market (every month in Brooklyn)
Contact
12 Grattan St, Brooklyn, NY 11206, USA; Tel. +1 718-366-6311
Sundays (vegan nail bar)
New York is obsessed with nail bars and the great thing is the city even has two vegan nail studio in New York. Can you imagine? Its earthy Scandinavian inspired decor and well-trained staff along with the use of clean and vegan nail care products made me fall in love with this place. They offer manicure, pedicure and massages using their 10-free and vegan nail paints and clean beauty products. I got myself a basic mani after spending almost two weeks running around the city for my styling job. It was relaxing and I strongly recommend you to try it too.
Website
All images have been taken by me. Please do not use it without prior permission.
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