From vegconomist.com
© Juan LaTorre | ASANTE, Barcelona
Barcelona’s Asante has been named the world’s top vegan restaurant in HappyCow’s 2025 Global Vegan Restaurant rankings. The list, which evaluates 81 vegan restaurants worldwide, is based on a detailed analysis of millions of user reviews. Asante, which holds the highest reliability score in the rankings, topped the list for its consistency and quality across a wide volume of feedback.
Decentralization in vegan dining
The rankings reflect a broader trend of decentralization in the global vegan dining scene, with top-rated establishments appearing increasingly outside major cities. This shift is evident in cities such as Cardiff and Bristol in the UK, and Kyoto in Japan, where high-quality vegan restaurants are thriving in smaller communities. Athens, Greece, also emerged as a key player, hosting the highest concentration of top-rated vegan restaurants, further underscoring its growing reputation as a vegan hotspot.
Claudia Torres, the new owner of HappyCow, noted the importance of authentic user reviews in maintaining the platform’s credibility. “Authentic reviews are crucial as they provide genuine insights and confirm that vegan options are truly available. Our community plays an essential role in ensuring that these venues continue to meet high standards,” Torres stated.
The 2025 rankings were determined using a unique algorithm that takes into account the volume and consistency of reviews, as well as their recency. This method helps ensure that the list highlights not just newly popular spots but also those with long-term, reliable quality.
Athens rises as a vegan capital
The emergence of vegan dining hotspots in cities like Athens, which houses the most-reviewed restaurant on the list—Vegan Beat—indicates the growing global influence of plant-based cuisine. Vegan Beat, with over 1,000 reviews, exemplifies the city’s vibrant vegan scene. In total, Athens placed three restaurants in the top 81, solidifying its status as a centre of vegan excellence.
In terms of regional representation, the United States leads the list with 19 restaurants, followed by the UK with 11. However, a notable trend in the UK is the dominance of small towns like Cwmbran, Shrewsbury, and Wakefield, where high-quality vegan eateries are making an impact.
Restaurants in the list span a range of dining styles, from high-end Japanese vegan cuisine at Saido in Tokyo to casual street food at places like Hoi Banh My Chay in Vietnam. This diversity reflects the broadening appeal of vegan food, which is no longer confined to fine dining but increasingly seen in casual and fast-casual formats as well.
Expanding beyond restaurant listings
This year’s rankings are the first major announcement since HappyCow was acquired by Claudia Torres a few months ago. Under her leadership, the platform is undergoing a technological overhaul, with plans to expand its offerings beyond restaurant listings to include eco-hotels, organic stores, and other plant-based lifestyle resources.
The 2025 list also reveals the continuing global spread of vegan cuisine, with high-ranking venues in diverse countries, including Vietnam, Mexico, and Portugal. The growing prominence of vegan dining in unexpected locations suggests that the vegan movement is becoming more deeply integrated into the global culinary landscape.
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