Beyond Butter: Discovering Plant-Forward Paris

From paloaltoonline.com

By Laura Stec

Everyone seemed to be chasing croissants, steak frites, and escargot in Paris, but I went chasing vegetables. Don’t get me wrong—I happily indulged in some French classics (perhaps a future Food Party! on the best French onion soup is in order), but one of my goals was to discover the city’s best vegan and vegetarian restaurants. I’m fascinated how different cultures approach plant-based cooking, and Paris surprised me once again. From inventive fine dining to tiny neighbourhood gems, these weren’t restaurants making do without meat—they were celebrating vegetables with confidence, creativity, and plenty of French flair.

To help you plan your own plant-powered adventure, I’ve mapped the four restaurants featured here. They’re spread across several Paris neighbourhoods, making each one a delicious excuse to explore a different corner of the city—from the elegant Champ de Mars to the lively Canal Saint-Martin district.

1. Bodhi Vegan (11th Arrondissement)

A local neighbourhood for wandering.

Bodhi Vegan was my first stop in Paris, and it set the tone for the plant-based discoveries that followed. Just a short walk from Canal Saint-Martin, the cosy Vietnamese restaurant buzzed with locals while I settled onto the sidewalk patio and watched Paris walk by. I ordered a bowl of pho, fragrant with fresh herbs, silky rice noodles, tofu, crisp vegetables, and a deeply flavourful broth that proved meat isn’t necessary for richness (€12.50). Paired with an ice-cold Tsingtao, it was exactly what I needed after a long day of travel. Recharged, I wandered over to Canal Saint-Martin, jumped in for a swim, and then treated myself to an Amorino gelato crowned with one of the chain’s signature macarons. What a perfect introduction to the city. With its extensive menu, generous portions, and affordable prices, Bodhi Vegan is an easy recommendation for anyone craving flavourful, satisfying vegan comfort food.

While You’re There:

• ·  Canal Saint-Martin (10-minute walk)
• ·  Place de la Bastille (famous square and gathering place)

2. Apeti (7th Arrondissement)

Gateway to the Eiffel Tower.

I wasn’t expecting to order vegan lasagne in Paris, but curiosity won out. At Apeti, a cosy neighbourhood restaurant in the 15th arrondissement, the classic Italian comfort dish is reimagined with a distinctly French sensibility. Rather than trying to imitate a traditional meat lasagne, it celebrates seasonal vegetables and lentils layered beneath a silky plant-based béchamel. It felt more French than Italian—and that was exactly its charm. As a chef, I would have brightened the sauce with a little more lemon, garlic and fresh oregano for an extra lift, but served alongside a simple green salad, it was a satisfying, wholesome meal. Apeti’s commitment to organic ingredients and fresh produce shines through, making it the kind of neighbourhood spot locals appreciate and travellers are happy to discover.

Vegan Lasagna

While You’re There:

• Champ de Mars – stroll to the Eiffel Tower through this famous park

3. The Friendly Kitchen (11th Arrondissement)

One of Paris’s hippest neighbourhoods.

The Friendly Kitchen is one place you might want to reserve ahead of time. I arrived hoping to experience the six-course tasting menu (€59), only to learn it was sold out. Disappointing, yes but it speaks to the restaurant’s popularity. Ordering à la carte turned out to be a delicious consolation. I began with the Summer Ajo Blanco Cream (€11.50), where green beans, tomato chutney with Andaliman berry, pickled peaches, and nasturtium sprouts drizzled in tahini dressing was as beautiful as it was refreshing. My entrée, tofu Malfatti—pillowy gnocchi crafted from tofu and served with green curry, charred zucchini, broccoli, cashew gomasio and basil shoots (€19.50)—was one of the most memorable dishes of my trip. What a great use for tofu—the texture was remarkably light, and flavours vibrant. I left inspired to make it at home and immediately asked Chat GPT for a recipe. The Friendly Kitchen isn’t trying to imitate meat; it’s showing just how inventive and satisfying plant-based cuisine can be.

Summer Ajo Blanco Cream

Tofu Malfatti

While You’re There:

• Père-Lachaise Cemetery – final resting place of Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Édith Piaf, and Frédéric Chopin. Enjoy with Rick Steves free audio tour (16 min walk)
• Marché d’Aligre – top shopping in Paris (15 min walk)
• Place de la Bastille – historic square and gathering spot

Edith Piaf gravesite

Jim Morrison gravesite

4. Dessance (Le Marais, 3rd/4th Arrondissement)

Dessance was the restaurant I couldn’t stop thinking about. Tucked into the Marais, it serves a vegetarian tasting menu (€100) that gives vegetables the same reverence Michelin-starred chefs have long reserved for foie gras, lobster, and wagyu. Course after course arrived looking like modern art, each one showcasing peak-season produce transformed through impeccable technique.

Amuse bouche, fresh bread and spread. Sweet peas with foam bubbly and intensely flavourful. Carrot in Three Acts refreshing and filling. A green pea ragù came alive with a wild kiwi BBQ sauce. The server was wonderfully descriptive, but it was hard to understand all he was saying. But at least I knew it was all plants and ate with abandonment and curiosity. At the end a double dessert! Kiwi-lemon sorbet with puffed rice, followed by a buckwheat mousse and deep cacao sorbet adorned with the crunchiest of yummy crunchies. Just when I thought the experience was over, an unexpected and whimsical plate of petit fours provided a playful finale. The open kitchen added another dimension, allowing diners to watch the quiet choreography behind every beautifully composed plate. Take a seat at the counter and get a front row seat to the action.

Encore une fois, I left inspired. Dessance proves vegetables deserve centre stage, elevating humble produce into unforgettable cuisine. It was one of the finest plant-forward meals I’ve enjoyed anywhere—and compelling evidence that Paris is redefining fine dining one remarkable vegetable at a time.

Heat Wave Dining Tip

Unfortunately, summer heat waves are becoming increasingly common in Paris. So be un-trendy and book early. I arrived for opening—6:30 or 7 p.m. By the time dessert arrived, places with little or no air conditioning were just beginning to fill up (and heat up). Arriving before the crowd made for much more comfortable—and enjoyable—meals.

While You’re There:

• Musée Picasso (7 minute walk)
• Place des Vosges – Paris’s oldest planned square.
• Notre-Dame Cathedral (20 minute walk)

Musée Picasso

Notre-Dame Cathedral

• photos courtesy of LSIC

https://www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/the-food-party/2026/07/27/beyond-butter-discovering-plant-forward-paris/

These Are The Best Vegan Cities In The UK

From plantbasednews.org

A study has ranked the top vegan-friendly cities in the UK based on the number of searchers, restaurants, and positive reviews 

A new market research study has ranked the best vegan cities in the UK.

SIXT, a mobility service provider, reviewed data on tourist search volume for vegan options and the number of vegetarian restaurants, the number with five-star reviews, and other criteria to determine which UK city is the best place for vegans.

According to SIXT, the top 20 vegan cities are London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bradford, Salford, Birmingham, Brighton, Wolverhampton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Sheffield, Glasgow, Coventry, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, Cambridge, Wakefield, Cardiff, and Sunderland. While London topped the list, SIXT noted that the UK’s vegan food scene is “flourishing far beyond the capital.”

Bristol was officially the best spot for vegans outside of London, with at least 50 restaurants scoring 4.5 stars or higher on Google. Edinburgh was found to be the best Scottish city for vegans, while Manchester was named the best northern city. SIXT also praised Salford, Cambridge, and Wakefield, all of which have a good ratio of vegan restaurants to residents and plenty of positive restaurant reviews.

“Wakefield, in North Yorkshire, just outside Leeds, may be a smaller city, but it has made a big impact on this list, ranking as the third best city for vegans per capita,” wrote SIXT. “With 127.88 vegan restaurants per capita, and half of those rated 5 stars or higher, Wakefield is a hidden treasure for plant-based travellers.”

The best vegan cities in the world

SIXT also looked at the best vegan cities in the world. London once again topped the list, followed by New York City in the US, Berlin in Germany, Singapore in Singapore, Vienna in Austria, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Paris in France, Seoul in South Korea, Zurich in Switzerland, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

Barcelona, Spain, took 11th place, and is the home of Asanta, a cafe that Happy Cow crowned the single best vegan restaurant in the world for 2025.

Asanta is a fully vegan eatery located in the Sants-Montjuïc district. Its menu includes a range of classic dishes, such as an olive, truffle, shiitake, and mozzarella focaccia; a mozzarella, tomato, olive, and roasted red pepper focaccia; shakshouka, a tomato-poached egg dish from the Greater Maghreb; and the cafe’s “classic” eggs Benedict.

https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/travel/these-are-the-best-vegan-cities/

‘I Spent 50 Hours In Paris Looking For Amazing Vegan Food’

From plantbasednews.org

Fifty hours, five arrondisments, and one flaky croissant later, Paris proved it can do vegan 

Paris is famous for butter, croissants, and cheese; not exactly a vegan’s dream. But Dénes Marton, known for his YouTube channel Daynesh, decided to challenge that stereotype. In a 50-hour trip to the French capital for a family wedding, he set out to find the best vegan food in Paris, a city still clinging to its dairy roots.

Armed with a checklist that featured a vegan croissant, a baguette, cheese, an éclair, and a traditional savoury French dish, Marton wandered through the city determined to prove that France’s plant-based scene is alive and growing.

Along the way, he discovered pastries, world-class vegan meals, and even a cheese counter that would impress any non-vegan Parisian.

Land & Monkeys: The vegan croissant test

Marton’s first stop was Land & Monkeys, the city’s most famous vegan bakery. “The goal while we’re here in Paris is to find one vegan baguette, one vegan croissant, a vegan cheese, a vegan éclair, and a traditional French savoury dish that’s vegan,” he says.

The croissant looked the part, golden, flaky, and delicate, but didn’t quite deliver on flavour. “Overall, the croissant was good. I’d give it a 7 out of 10,” he says, before sampling a pain au chocolat that failed to hit the mark.

Still hungry, he and his family ordered a vegan quiche Lorraine. The texture was “pretty good”, but the flavour, he admits, was “all right,” especially compared to what he would discover later. Still, the visit checked off two items on his list: the croissant and a classic savoury French dish.

Sushi, storms, and a slow start

Next, Marton visited a highly recommended vegan sushi spot, brEAThe Restaurant, one of many suggestions from his Instagram followers. The creative dishes surprised him, but the overall verdict was lukewarm. “We all thought this place was okay, but none of us thinks we would necessarily come back here or recommend it. I definitely wouldn’t.”

The first 24 hours left him unimpressed. Despite Paris’s growing vegan reputation, he found that “even though there were vegan restaurants, if I walked into a place at random, I struggled to find anything besides maybe the occasional attitude.”

That began to change when he stumbled upon Aujourd’hui Demain.

Aujourd’hui Demain: Vegan paradise in Paris

YouTube/DayneshThe vegan donner nachos were a good start to a great vegan meal, including Juicy Marbles steak and a vegan croque monsieur

Tucked away in the 11th arrondissement, a borough that holds three of the city’s most famous squares, was Aujourd’hui Demain. The business is both a restaurant and a concept store, and for Marton, it was the turning point of the trip. “We could not have picked a better spot,” he says.

The meal started with doner nachos loaded with soy chunks and creamy vegan cheese, then escalated quickly. “This meal was one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life,” Marton says. The croque monsieur was “amazing,” the plant-based ham and cheese tasted disturbingly real, and the potatoes “were cooked to perfection.”

Even the mushroom dish, which he admits he “didn’t really understand,” impressed him with its “super cheesy” flavour. But the showstopper was the Juicy Marbles vegan steak. “That’s crazy. Yeah, that’s disturbingly close,” he says.

Dessert sealed the deal: a pretzel-crusted, salty-sweet creation so good they immediately ordered another. “Not even kidding. One of the best desserts I’ve ever had. Crunchy, salty, sweet, pretzly, creamy. Unbelievable.”

By the time they left, the restaurant was packed. “If you want to come here, make sure you reserve,” he warns. “We almost missed out on an amazing opportunity.”

Daynesh described his meal at the plant-based Parisian restaurant Aujourd'hui Demain as one of the best of his life - Media Credit: YouTube/DayneshCheese and baguettesThe vegan éclair proved impossible to track down, but Marton ended his 50-hour mission strong. At Aujourd’hui Demain’s market section, he found an impressive range of French vegan cheeses, including the beloved brand Jay & Joy. “Someone working there was kind enough to help us pick out some good ones,” he says.Back home, tasting the cheeses was the grand finale. “This was absolutely outstanding cheese on a completely different level,” Marton says. “That plus the meal at Aujourd’hui Demain gave me the kind of feeling that makes you think, damn, this is how good vegan food can be.”He discovered that most baguettes in Paris are naturally vegan, a small victory that rounded off his quest with a touch of irony.As Marton puts it, Paris may not yet be the easiest city for plant-based eaters, but “when it hits, it hits.” And after 50 hours of croissants, cheese, and unexpected finds, he proved that the French capital’s vegan future looks bright and delicious.Find more vegan travel content on Marton’s YouTube channel.https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/travel/i-spent-50-hours-in-paris-looking-for-amazing-vegan-food/

Vegan Dining in Paris: How Restaurateur Alice Tuyet Is Transforming French Cuisine

From guide.michelin.com

At Faubourg Daimant, a lively vegan bistro tucked in Paris’ 10th arrondissement, the energy feels more like a fete than a weekday lunch. It’s the kind of place where hand-selected vegetables sit artfully with condiments and sauces, conversations ripple across tables and everyone — omnivore or otherwise — feels welcome. That sense of warmth and celebration is exactly what owner Alice Tuyet set out to create. “I want people to unplug, have fun and rediscover pleasure through plant-based cooking,” she says.

When Tuyet opened Faubourg Daimant in 2022, her goal wasn’t to convert diners to veganism but to celebrate the sensuality of French cuisine through a new lens. The restaurant’s signature croquettes cochonnes — crispy, creamy and unapologetically indulgent — embody her philosophy. “Vegan food doesn’t have to be pale or polite,” she says. “It can be bold, silky and utterly irresistible.”

That exuberant approach has since expanded into a trio of plant-based ventures. Plan D, her first and smallest outpost, is known for its gourmet sandwiches, while Daimant Saint-Honoré, the latest opening, caters to the fashion crowd with rotisserie-style cooking and seasonal plates like roasted squash agnolotti in a luscious orange sauce. Across each location, Tuyet’s vision remains consistent: “We revisit France’s culinary heritage to build the cuisine of tomorrow.”

Her passion for restaurants runs deep. A former ballet dancer trained at the Opéra de Paris, Tuyet later studied business before finding her calling in gastronomy — a love story that began at home. Her father, an avid fan of The MICHELIN Guide, introduced her to fine dining by saving up for special meals to mark family milestones. “He’d buy multiple copies of every edition the day it came out,” she recalls. “For each birthday, we’d choose a restaurant from The Guide. I still remember crying with joy at my first meal at L’Ambroisie.”

                                                                                                         © Léo Kharfan

That early exposure to French gastronomy shaped Tuyet’s culinary identity. When Faubourg Daimant appeared in The MICHELIN Guide two months before her father’s passing, the recognition felt deeply symbolic. “He was proud, even if he didn’t quite understand vegan cooking,” she says with a smile. “In his culture, meat symbolized success. But I think he’d be happy to see that I’m carrying on his love of food — just in my own way.”

At Faubourg Daimant, that legacy lives on in every dish: playful, precise and undeniably French — proof that plant-based cuisine can be as decadent and joyful as any feast.

                        Vegan restaurant Faubourg Daimant in Paris and its signature "croquettes cochonnes". © Léo Kharfan

What was the last restaurant you went to with a real wow factor?

I don’t go out much, but I adored La Joie, an unpretentious Sri Lankan spot in the 11th district, so much that I’ve been back there twice. It’s a joint venture by restaurateur Florent Ciccoli and Minod Dilakshan, one of his former chefs who’s from Sri Lanka. I’ve tried two of their curries, both of which were fantastic — packed with flavor, impact and spot-on spices. Also, affordable yet welcoming is mắm from Hanoi, an authentic Vietnamese restaurant with a killer tofu bún bò.

On the more upscale side, the last gourmet restaurant that genuinely impressed me was Arnaud Lallement’s Assiette Champenoise, located outside Paris, where I tried the veggie menu. I consider myself a traveling vegetarian: I eat 95% vegan and 5% non-vegan because I don’t want it to be a social barrier or stop me from trying new things.

When I know it’s well-sourced, I go for it. Lallement is a master at making sauces, and that really came through; he just blew me away, again and again. The next Starred restaurant on my list is Arnaud Donckele’s Plénitude at the Cheval Blanc Paris hotel.

As a former dancer, where do you go if you want some groove with your food?

That’s easy, head to Tekés by Chef Assaf Granit, whose food is in a similar vein to what we do here and is also all about emotions. They’re Israeli, so being festive is part of their art de vivre. I’ll also sometimes pop into Déviant after work, where there is always great music that makes you want to let your hair down. Allan, the maitre de salle, is a dance champion who actually takes part in competitions over the weekend, and he’s incredible on his feet. Since the restaurant overlooks the street, he often performs his show right there. I’m not kidding. Allan is amazing!

Where do we go if we’re craving a sweet vegan treat after all that dancing?

Boneshaker Donuts, where everything is handmade and delicious. I like my donut pared-back, just regular glaze, no cream, no sugar. Respect is also due to Pierre Hermé who has put a great deal of work into his vegan patisseries, including an all-chocolate cake with red berries and blueberries. It’s wonderful! He isn’t vegan, but he is open to the idea and curious, thinking, “The future will be plant-based, so we have to get on with the program.” I actually don’t have a massive sweet tooth. I’m more of a bread fiend who can devour an entire loaf of sourdough by myself, without any fixings.

Impressive. What’s your go-to for your carb fix?

My girlfriends at Mamiche, of course! They have a wide selection of these big, handsome hunks of bread. For the restaurants, we really wanted to work with people who use organic flour, so we get our loaves from the Marais boulangerie Dupain.

The decor at Faubourg Daimant is a pastiche of 1900s brasseries, with lots of pots and pans plastered across the walls. Where do you get your cookware?

It’s a classic pick, but I can spend hours milling around E. Dehillerin in les Halles, checking out the pots and pans or the Victorinox stainless steel knives, even though I already have thousands. They sell just the right tongs or pipettes you need for plating. I also love the fact that their retail assistants are decked out in these spiffy white coats. Also, a big shoutout to the staff at Merci Beaumarchais, who saved my life last spring! The candle holders that we’d ordered for the new restaurant didn’t arrive in the right size, so I sped over to Merci to buy up all their candle holders hours before we opened that evening. They must have thought I was nuts.

Finally, what does Paris taste like?

Like butter. Not old-school butter, mind — the reinvented no-butter butter we do at Daimant. The recipe? Emulsified high-quality vegetable oils. It’s served all light and fluffy, smoked with a bit of beech wood.

Alice’s Address Book:

L’Ambroisie, 9 Place des Vosges, 75004
mắm from Hanoï, 39 Rue de Cléry, 75002
Plénitude, 8 Quai du Louvre, 75001
Tekés, 4 bis Rue Saint-Sauveur, 75002
La Joie, 117 Rue du Chemin Vert, 75011
Déviant, 39 Rue des Petites Ecuries, 75010
Boneshaker Donuts, 86 Rue d’Aboukir, 75002
Pierre Hermé, various locations
Mamiche, 45 Rue Condorcet, 75009
Dupain, 20 Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, 75011
E. Dehillerin, 18-20 Rue Coquillière, 75001
Merci, 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003
Outside Paris - Assiette Champenoise, 40 Avenue Paul-Vaillant Couturier, 51430 Tinqueux

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/travel/vegan-dining-in-paris-how-alice-tuyet-is-transforming-french-cuisine