The National Restaurant Association reports that 70% of U.S. restaurants now offer vegan or vegetarian menu items. Meanwhile, the global plant-based food market is expected to reach 77.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2025 and could double over the next 5-10 years. Now, vegetable-forward menus are emerging in unlikely places like Spain, Paris and Tuscany.
There’s always been a significant farm-to-table element across the European countryside. Still, many of those areas are better known for their decadent pastries, unique wines and diverse cuts of meat. Now, as healthy eating and wellness spread across the pond, these romantic food-facing regions are doubling down on herbivorous and flexitarian options for diners.
Saint James Paris
The 16th arrondissement of Paris has plenty to see and do, from the Auteuil greenhouses to the Fondation Louis Vuitton to the Palais de Tokyo. There’s also plenty to eat, and lots of green area to explore – the Bois de Boulogne is one of the green lungs of Paris, including a lake and a zoo.
But tucked behind wrought-iron gates, you can also find the only château hotel in Paris. The Saint James brings together Michelin dining, sustainability and urbane charm. The romantic winter garden restaurant Bellefeuille is a testament to its local sourcing, organic ingredients, and low-impact gastronomy. It boasts a Michelin Green Star.
Local farms in Île-de-France, as well as Saint James’ own organic gardens and homegrown honey, inspire the raw ingredient and terroir-focused dining options. Finish dinner or relax in the Library Bar, featuring unique cocktails and bold, honeyed pastries.
Podere 1384
If you’re looking to double down on culture and sustainability, check out Podere 1384, in the hills of Chianti, Italy. Away from the hustle and bustle of the larger cities, there’s still plenty of art and culture to explore, in an estate dedicated to the earth, with solar power and a biodynamic farm.
At the estate, guests learn to farm or cook the traditional Tuscan way. For the best experience, try being a Chef for a day at their farm to table all-vegan restaurant, Il Sorbo 1384. You’ll learn how to properly prepare and plate dishes, just like you were a culinary artist at an Italian version of The Bear. To eat at Il Sorbo 1384 is vegetarian heaven. Each dish reflects the harvest outside the kitchen door, with vibrant vegetables, aromatic herbs, and olive oil made from estate-grown Pendolino, Moraiolo, and Frantoio olives.
Visitors can walk, bike or take a winery tour and taste the Sangiovese-fueled pairings straight from Podere’s own cellar. Or if they just need a little “me time,” they can relax in Podere’s regenerative AQUA space, featuring a Turkish bath, a sensorial shower, and a sauna with hydromassage.
Can Bordoy Grand House & Garden
There’s something especially romantic at this tranquil oasis right in the heart of Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Tucked behind a boring looking facade, half covered in overgrown greenery, Can Borday is the closest hotel to the harbor and only a quick jaunt to major shopping and cultural attractions. But step inside, and the outside world feels miles away.
The hotel’s Botànic Restaurant is the first of its kind in the city, and they make vegetables the star of the show. Seasonal produce reimagined with culinary elegance is the star of the show, with fish and meat playing supporting roles. Enjoy your meal with expertly crafted cocktails, made from a wide range of local gins and homemade whiskey blends.
The building was originally a 16th-century home and was refurbished into a hotel in 2019. Butler services let guests experience the old school hospitality once restricted to the old nobility. The heated swimming pool and wellness pergola are tucked inside a secret garden in the hotel’s interior, the largest green area in the district.
Cannúa
Back on this side of the Atlantic, built from the ground up as a celebration of Colombia’s biodiversity, Cannula is dedicated to sustainability through gastronomy and life. Nestled high in the hills and protected forests of Antioquia, Colombia, guests are not so much connected to as immersed in the land around them.
Committed to living in harmony with the earth, Cannúa’s restaurant menu is crafted from seasonal fruits, native herbs, and edible plants. Diners experience tradition and innovation in a mix of modern Colombian cuisine fashioned with ancestral techniques.
But the experience doesn’t stop there. Visitors can get their hands dirty while contributing to Cannúa’s commitment to sustainability and conservation. You can plant veggies in their garden or native trees around the property. Guests can also hike, paraglide across the valley, or birdwatch in the country, which has the most bird species anywhere.
Harvest of Good
As wellness and eating healthier become more a part of our lives, it’s no surprise that our vacation spots might also start offering more of these options. Farm-to-table may soon become more the norm rather than an alternative. And the best part of these offerings is that they aren’t just for vegans and vegetarians. Even if you don’t order a side of meat or fish, the fresh, vegetable-forward offerings at these restaurants are flavorful and complete, unlike what most people are used to back home.
