Interrailing is
a hugely exciting experience. Not only can you engage in a month full of
culture, exhaustion, awe and wonder, but you can also partake in culinary delights. Being a
vegetarian, you could be nervous about what kind of food there is to eat the
further east in Europe you go. If this is the case, you will be pleasantly surprised to hear
that a vegetarian can eat just as much amazing food as their non-vegetarian
travel partners. We take a look at the ten best vegetarian restaurant from Berlin to Venice.
Santa Maria | Berlin
With a
fantastic atmosphere, Santa Maria’s menu includes nachos, burritos, cocktails
and much more and is a must when visiting Berlin. Vegetarians everywhere will
love the Verduras Burrito. Stuffed
with lots of vegetables and beans, this is a filling delight for only 8 euros. Paying
an extra euro for cheese is a must. This option can be applied to quesadillas
and tacos and is not the only vegetarian treat on the menu. Keep an eye out for
the lunch menus and if you find yourself there on a Tuesday, it would be a shame to miss out on
Taco Tuesday. Wash it all down with some delicious cocktails or a refreshing
corona and enjoy the incredibly vibrant atmosphere of the place in one of
Berlin’s hippest districts.
Santa Maria, Oranienstraße 170, Berlin, Germany, +49 30 92210027
U Kroka | Prague
Roasted gnocchi with creamy spinach,
garlic and crispy green onions
with a small fresh salad, fresh bread, cider and wine on the side will only set
you back about 11 euros – a true steal if ever there was one. U Kroka is one of
the top restaurants in Prague and yet is unassuming and relaxed, despite the
upmost quality of the food served. Other vegetarian options include Creamy potato and sheep cheese gratin with
roasted fresh vegetables and herbs and Pasta
with mushroom ragout and white wine, flavoured with walnut oil, as well as
salads. Friendly staff, a busy atmosphere and ideally located near Vysehrad,
this restaurant certainly merits its top ten Tripadvisor status.
U Kroka, Vratislavova 12, Praha 2 – Vyšehrad, Czech Republic, +420 775 905 022
Café Camelot | Krakow
Café Camelot is a prime example of the fact that you need not spend a lot to eat extraordinarily well. To start, why not try their take on French onion soup? Even better still,
the delectable cream of leek soup which
tastes like heaven in a bowl. Move onto one of their vegetable tarts served with fresh salad, accompanied by a
refreshing raspberry beer, and
follow up with decadent chocolate cake.
Camelot offers an extensive menu which caters to everyone’s needs. The range of
breakfast, lunch and dinner options is remarkable and the list of desserts and
hot beverages covers the majority of the menu. The restaurant is in the heart of
the gorgeous old town, not far from the main square, and offers all of the
quirkiness that one would hope to find in such an area.
Café Camelot, Świętego Tomasza 17, Kraków, Poland, +48 12 421 01 23
Top Kino | Vienna
Non-descript
from the outside, just a simple cinema bar, yet you should not turn your nose
up at the food on offer at Top Kino. The kitchen offers soups, salads, toasties, pittas, burgers,
wraps, warm mains and dessert as well as a full bar. A vegetarian’s dream is
found in the pita plate, served with
houmous, falafel, aubergine and rocket. Simple, yet delicious. Here you
will find the artsy types, the independent movie-goers, yet the atmosphere is
not unwelcoming and on a nice day, you can enjoy the sunshine in a very relaxed
environment.
Top Kino, Rahlgasse 1, Wien, Austria, +43 1 2083000
Gelarto Rosa | Budapest
Gelarto Rosa is
clearly not restricted to vegetarians, yet to not mention it would be
unthinkable. The unique flower design is what initially draws you in to this
small gelateria in Budapest, very near to the impressive cathedral. Not cheap,
it is nonetheless worth getting at least two of their exciting flavours which
include: oreo, panna cotta and salted caramel, lavender and white chocolate, banana
and dark salted chocolate, lemongrass and basil and many more. Sit on the cathedral steps or wander around the
city and enjoy richness of this ice cream.
Gelarto Rosa, Budapest, Szent István tér 3, Hungary, +36 70 930 2217
Café Corso | Belgrade
Phenomenally
cheap (not even 2 euros) and delicious, the Serbian take on French toast is a
delight. Called prženice and
served with paradajz or ajvar (a tomato and pepper sauce), pavlaka
or kajmak (sour cream/ cream cheese) and feta cheese, this is a
brilliant vegetarian breakfast, brunch, or lunch option. Be sure to try some of
the natural yoghurt that accompanies many of the meals and wash it down with their
freshly-made lemonade. This café-bar-restaurant is open well into the early
hours of the morning and hosts an extensive cocktail menu as well as salads,
meats and pasta dishes. With plenty of seating outside, you can take in the
atmosphere of the busy Belgrade street while enjoying the food.
Kava Tava | Zagreb
The café
culture in Zagreb is intoxicating. Somewhere where you can really appreciate this
vibe is Kava Tava. Bask in the sunshine as you munch on an incredible tomato, mozzarella and rocket layered
toastie and people-watch. Most famous perhaps for their pancakes, it is
perfectly understandable. The management have brought American-style pancakes
to Croatia and have not held back. Feast on a huge stack with strawberries,
caramel, banana, chocolate sauce and much more, or indulge in a decadent ice
cream sundae. Fairly priced, there is something for everyone and for every time
of day.
Kava Tava, Ulica Ivana, Tkalčića, Zagreb, Croatia
Cacao | Ljublijana
For marvellous ice cream, smoothies and hot
chocolate, look no further than Cacao.
With a warm atmosphere, this is the place that students can spend hours sipping
coffee and reading a book. If you need to cool down on a hot day, go for one of
the extensive flavours of ice cream offered both outside and in at this
parlour. For a health kick, try a smoothie.
For utmost indulgence, try the ice cream
hot chocolate – vanilla and chocolate ice cream, in hot chocolate, covered
in cream, chocolate sauce and almonds.
Cacao, Petkovškovo nabrežje 3, Ljubljana, Slovenia, +386 1 430 17 71
Desideri e Auguri, Da Marino’s | Trieste
A little off
the beaten track, this is one that comes recommended by locals. With no real
menu, the owner explains to you what he can make for you that day upon arrival
at the cosy yet not cramped restaurant, where everyone appears to be friends.
Despite Marino (the rather eccentric Italian owner) proposing a large plate of
meat (which comes highly recommended), mention your vegetarianism and he will
whip up special dish of penne, tomato, garlic, aubergine, mozzarella and basil pasta. Name a pasta dish and the
chef will make it for you, no questions asked, dependent on the ingredients
necessary. Be sure to try the House Rosé
to really top off your evening spent brushing shoulders with the locals.
White Parlour | Venice
Ice cream
lovers will get very excited about this self-service ice cream parlour, where
you pay for the weight of your tub. Choose your ice creams, sauces, toppings,
fruits, and sweets. Not cheap, but fitting with Venice prices, this is an
exciting treat, different to other ice cream experiences.
Fondamenta Zattere al Ponte Longo, 922, Venezia,Italy
By Alice McAnulty