Cities are often bursting with different restaurants of various cuisines to choose from, but where is best for those who follow a vegan diet?
Bristol has long been dubbed the ‘Vegan Capital’ of the UK, but in a new study a different city has taken the crown.
The study analysed Tripadvisor and Google search data to identify the top spots for vegans to find plenty of dining options.
Edinburgh came out as the most vegan-friendly city and boasts 132 restaurants with vegan options per 100,000 people.
Overall, it bagged a near-perfect vegan-friendly score of 99.8.
The Scottish city was the first European capital to sign the Plant-Based Treaty in 2023, paving the way for its vegan restaurant scene to grow.
It was the second place in the UK to adopt the treaty, which launched in 2021, after Haywards Heath Town Council in West Sussex.
Manchester followed in second place and has 99 restaurants where vegans can find something to eat per 100,000 people.
Edinburgh came out as the most vegan-friendly city and boasts 132 restaurants with vegan options per 100,000 people
The northern city has a range of options, from high-end plant-based bistros to a vegan street food scene.
Meanwhile, Bristol ranked third in the study by catering supply experts Alliance Online, and had the highest amount of interest across the country with 3,913 searches.
The popular city has 88 vegan-friendly restaurants per 100,000 people and scored 79 out of 100.
Another northern spot, Newcastle Upon Tyne, placed fourth and scored 62.7 overall, followed by Glasgow in fifth.
Leeds, Brighton and Hove, Cardiff, Plymouth and London rounded off the top 10 vegan-friendly cities.
When the UK’s ‘Vegan Capital’ signed the Plant Based Treaty back in 2023, it pledged to promote vegan food over animal products.
An Edinburgh council report at the time said: ‘Overall, the science is clear: Meat and dairy consumption must reduce to achieve climate targets.’
Council Leader Cammy Day said: ‘By endorsing the Plant Based Treaty the Council is expressing support for a treaty to be negotiated at a global level as a companion to the Paris Agreement on climate.
The Scottish city was the first European capital to sign the Plant-Based Treaty in 2023, paving the way for its vegan restaurant scene to grow (stock)
‘The Plant Based Treaty is not legally binding and is modelled on the Fossil Fuel Treaty, which Edinburgh endorsed in March 2022 as the first city in Scotland.’
As for vegans looking to go further afield, the Vegan Society recently revealed the destinations where veganism is gaining ground.
Though New Zealand is known for its pasture-based farming and high-quality lamb and beef, there is a growing vegan scene with many cafes and restaurants offering diverse plant-based options.
The Vegan Society’s latest report found that New Zealand has the most dining options for vegans globally per capita (344.81 restaurants per million people).
