Ten places to try plant-based food in Abu Dhabi for World Vegan Day

Enjoy a scoop of vegan ice cream

It proved such a huge hit on opening in Dubai, it was inevitable that creative ice cream shop iScream would expand into Abu Dhabi. What was perhaps less obvious is that the parlour would add some fairly safe flavours to the 60 wacky options such as curry, wasabi and tabouleh (we’re not sure if we fancy those three, to be honest). Now, joining the likes of Emirati coffee, red velvet, and date, are coconut and chocolate flavours. The difference with these ones? They’re vegan and gluten-free. So, head to My City Centre Masdar in Abu Dhabi for a Dhs16 scoop of each of them. We’ve also got it on good authority that if these flavours go down well then there might be more iScream vegan ice creams to look forward to in the future.

Dhs16 per scoop. My City Center Masdar, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi and La Mer, Dubai, www.iscream.ae.

Check out vegan restaurant Wild and the Moon

Another place for those following a plant-based diet to feast is Wild and the Moon, which has opened its first branch in the capital. So what can you expect when you visit? There are more dairy-free, gluten-free and plant-based goodies than we could possibly list but there’s plenty to be excited about. Breakfast includes the likes of chia pudding, granola bowl, moon porridge and matcha bowls. Going for lunch? Take you pick from dishes like focaccia of the day, daily soups and more. If it’s a snack you’re after then the wild bars, kale crisps, banana cake, date cookies and more that could hit the spot. Plus there are loads of fresh cold pressed juices, hot drinks and coffee, smoothies, vitality shots, nut milks and more to keep you hydrated and energised.

Open Sat-Thu 9am-8pm; Fri 10am-10pm. The Cultural Foundation, Qasr Al Hosn, between Zayed the First Street and Hamdan Street www.wildandthemoon.ae

Go vegan at Café 302

One place that has long had vegan interests at heart is Café 302. And the former Time Out award-winning spot has just increased its vegan offering with 12 new dishes. The new additions means the venue now offers a vegan afternoon tea, breakfast, lunch and dinner and sweet treats. Some of the latest offerings include tofu benedict, blueberry rice pancake, crispy tofu quinoa noodles, vegan burgers, kale and wild Mushroom Wrap, cherry and almond brownies, and a baked cinnamon pumpkin tart.

Various prices. Café 302, Al Maha Arjaan by Rotana, Fatima Bint Mubarak Street (02 610 6666).

Vegan afternoon tea anyone?

Looking to offer another great option for vegans in the capital, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas has launched a brand new vegan afternoon tea. The plant-based spread promises to deliver the best aspects of afternoon tea without compromising on taste. On the menu for guests are vegan scones, in both plain and raisin varieties, plus a range of other dishes, We don’t know about you but we always find it difficult to say no to a scone. We’ll have jam too, please.

Dhs199. The Library, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas, Saadiyat Island (02 407 1234).

Tuck into a vegan brunch at Sweet Greens

Providing healthy and wholesome meals, Sweet Greens is one of our favourite new places for a guilt-free lunch or a tasty smoothie. The cool spot is also hosting a vegan brunch for World Vegan Day on Friday November 1, and it sounds pretty awesome to us. For Dhs149 you can eat as much as you like from the vegan-friendly buffet spread, which includes some new dishes created especially for the event. Then, once you’ve finished eating, you can relax and listen to talks from health coaches about why the vegan diet is so beneficial. The friendly restaurant is only big enough to seat 14 people, so make sure you book your spot in advance.

Dhs149. Fri Nov 1 noon-4pm. The Clubhouse, Rihan Heights (02 633 5563).

Tuck into a Beyond burger

BurgerFuel UAE now stocks the Beyond Burger, a plant-based patty as part of their menu. The popular fast food chain has long been serving some veggie options but the latest edition is the first vegan burger to make the cut. Named the Beyond Beleaf (see what they did there?) the burger feature on Beyond Burger patty, vegan cheddar cheese and BurgerFuel vegan aioli. Plus the burger is free from GMOs, soy, gluten, dairy and is naturally high in iron and protein so it’s pretty much healthy, right? The Beyond Beleaf burger is available at all BurgerFuel stores in the UAE and can be ordered online. All this talk of burgers is making us hungry.

For more information, visit www.burgerfuel.com

Check out the raw vegan menu at Al Meylas

The luxurious Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi also has a love for vegan food. In fact, the Al Meylas lobby lounge has launched a special raw vegan menu, and it looks all kinds of amazing. Made with fresh, local ingredients and designed to fit with a healthy lifestyle, the dishes are available at lunch and dinner time. Highlights of the menu include mixed field mushroom ceviche, baby gem tacos, raw kale Caesar salad, classic raw vegan pizza, nachos and pad thai. There’s also a choice of sweet (but still healthy) desserts, too. This includes decadent banana pie, fudge chocolate cake and blueberry cheesecake.

Prices vary. Daily 9am-1am. Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island (02 333 2222).

Get a slice of vegan pizza

Freedom Pizza is already a takeaway staple for vegans in the UAE thanks to its planted-based Free-Gan pizza. Two words: vegan cheese. The home-grown UAE-based pizza company has only gone and upped its game with the Beyond Pizza. The new plant-based pizza will be topped with chunks of Beyond Meat – a meat-free alternative made using pea protein and that’s free from GMOs, soy, gluten, dairy and is naturally high in iron and protein so it’s pretty much healthy, right? The Beyond Pizza is the first on the market to be served with the plant-based meat alternative and will also be topped with vegan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelised onions, cherry tomatoes and beetroot.

Various locations across the UAE, www.freedompizza.ae.

Go vegan in a steakhouse or a sports bar

The Foundry has become the first steakhouse in the capital to serve the very popular, vegan Beyond burger. Containing even more protein than beef and with a fantastic taste, we reckon this fantastic dish will look, smell and taste so amazing that it will even tempt a few intrigued meat-lovers into trying it too. Sports bar Blu Sky Lounge & Grill, found just upstairs at the Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, has also added it to its list of pub grub offerings as well.So whether you’re after fine dining or a casual bite, they’ll always be a Beyond burger waiting for you at this welcoming hotel.

Dhs75. Open daily noon-3pm; 6pm-11pm. The Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiyah (02 818 4888).-midnight. Centro Capital Centre, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street (02 409 6514).