Vegan in New England
Last week, my mom and I embarked on a Mother's Day trip to New England. ♡ While Boston is famously celebrated for its seafood (and yes, seafood was plentiful), I was curious to experience the culinary scene from a vegan lens... and I was far from disappointed. New England had a fabulous selection of restaurants and menu options across various cuisines, all offering excellent vegan choices. From Thai food to pizza to pastries and beyond, here are my top vegan-friendly dining spots in New England!
b r e a k f a s t
My mom and I are fans of Café Landwer (653 Boylston St, Boston, MA) wherever we find it. We make it a point to brunch there at least once every week. It was a wonderful discovery to find that the Boston location offers an extensive vegan section on its menu, including a variety of tasty falafel dishes, a vegan burger, and more. We ordered a small plate of Lotus and oat milk lattes. 10/10
The Central Perk Café (205 Newbury St, Boston, MA) is a fabulous tribute to "Friends." The staff is incredibly kind, and while I didn't take a look at the food selections, I can confidently state that their cold brew ranks among the best I've ever had. The allure of that exceptional cold brew and the cozy Friends atmosphere had me coming back multiple times. I drink my cold brew with oat milk in the U.S. Based on my experiences, almond milk is often served sweetened, whereas oat milk usually comes unsweetened. This combination of cold brew with oat milk is incredibly refreshing. PS Located in the fashion district of Boston, this is the perfect spot to grab a coffee before diving into a shopping spree!
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Pie in the Sky Bakery & Café (10 Water St, Woods Hole, MA), located outside the city in Woods Hole, charmed us during our coastal drive around Cape Cod. This quaint bakery & café has a warm, hometown atmosphere, enhanced by an exceptionally friendly staff and a bountiful selection of baked treats, including a variety of vegan options. Their menu features treats like vegan cowboy cookies, vegan muffins, and much more, along with several plant-based lunch choices. I ordered a vegan falafel wrap, a cowboy cookie, and an apple cinnamon muffin for later that day. While everything was delicious, the cookie alone is worth a daily visit.
Life Alive (Harvard Square, 22 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA ) champions a plant-forward diet, so naturally they have an abundance of vegan selections. I ordered the Spicy Peanut Noodles, comprised of roasted tofu, shaved vegetables, jalapeño, cilantro & mint, black sesame seeds, peanut crumble & ramen noodles with peanut lime sauce. This meal was delicious and satisfying. If you find yourself in the Harvard area, this is a must-stop for lunch or dinner.
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Piattini (226 Newbury St, Boston, MA) is a charming Italian restaurant with a beautiful outdoor patio for al fresco dining and a cozy, romantic ambiance indoors. I chose the vegan pizza, opting out of vegan cheese due to personal preference. It was exceptional—the crust and sauce were flavourful, and it was generously topped with a vibrant assortment of vegetables. It might just be the best vegan pizza I've ever had. However, Piattini's claim to fame is their pasta. According to my mom, her pasta alla vodka was delicious, and she highly recommends it.
Thai Basil (132 Newbury St ste B, Boston, MA) is the best Thai food restaurant I've ever been to. That's a huge statement for me being a massive Thai food lover. I ordered the Curry Puff as a starter, which both my mom and I loved. For my main I ordered the Pad Thai with tofu; be sure to request the veggie sauce. 10/10!! We will definitely be visiting again.
d e s s e r t
Emack & Bolio’s (290 Newbury St, Boston, MA) is a cute ice cream parlour offering an array of vegan choices. I ordered one scoop of vegan chocolate pudding and one scoop of vegan caramel ice cream. Both were delicious!
The sorbet shown in the photo is a peach sorbet from Piattini. This was incredibly refreshing!
