Food
The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants
IntroThe jury’s out on whether an all-raw diet has any health benefits, but there’s no doubt that unprocessed, uncooked plants should make up a significant part of the food we consume. Raw food restaurants offer strict adherents the opportunity to sample complex and adventurous dishes they might not be able to replicate at home, while omnivores can enjoy a healthy and fascinating detour from their usual dining experience.
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The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
Wild FoodAt London’s Wild Food Café, diners can choose from a variety of foods likely to challenge what most people expect from a raw kitchen, including the unlikely “oyster in a shell.” However, the seasonally changing menu also includes tried-and-tested staples like raw burgers, salads and bowls. Located in the colourfully cramped Neal’s Yard retail alley, it keeps excellent company with similarly organic-minded businesses. wildfoodcafe.com
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The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
BarkettBerlin, arguably the vegan capital of the world, has been slow to catch on to the raw trend. However, as usual, once they do it, Berliners get it right. Case in point: Barkett, a vegan bar and live music venue that serves a Sunday brunch that does itself a disservice by labelling it “detox.” Whilst the idea of clean eating after a possibly less than clean weekend on the town may sound appealing, it’s actually a delicious spread, rich in variety, served in an inviting space. barkett.berlin
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Food
The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
Raw Food CafeAmsterdam’s Raw Food Café is part of the Zest for Life vegan lifestyle emporium, which also includes a juicery and shop, in addition to health and beauty services. The cosy, friendly space in the museum quarter is a great place to take a break from art browsing. The food leans toward comfort, with yummy options like pizza, pancakes and soup, all to be chased down with a key lime pie and smoothie. If that sounds delicious, but not necessarily healthy, you’ll be surprised to learn that everything is also (refined) sugar- and gluten-free. rawfoodcafeamsterdam.com
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Food
The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
SimpleRawWith the still-burgeoning Scandinavian food movement focused largely on plant flavours and experimenting with food preparation techniques other than cooking, it comes as no surprise that Copenhagen has its fair share of vegan and raw food restaurants. At simpleRAW, ingredients don’t adhere to the locavore philosophy promoted by restaurants like Noma, but the colourful and innovative presentation of plant-based dishes makes for a great #nordicfood moment. simpleraw.dk
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Food
The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
Raw and RoxyNo matter what your normal diet looks like, the fresh, plant-based fare on offer at Cape Town’s Raw and Roxy makes for a welcome change from the mostly heavy, meat-focused South African cuisine. The restaurant on the artsy Bree Street is a feast for all senses, with its shabby (or perhaps raw) chic interior, filled with colourful baskets of fruit, vegetables and flowers everywhere. Edible blooms often find their way into the beautifully presented dishes, which will make you forget about braai in a flash. rawrawandroxy.wixsite.com
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Food
The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
PlantlabWhen talking about raw food restaurants, you can’t get past Matthew Kenney. The vegan chef has published almost a dozen raw food books, and his company Plantlab operates restaurants in the US, London and Bahrain, as well as a culinary academy for plant-based fine food. The best place to experience Kenney’s (mostly) raw food philosophy is the Los Angeles incarnation of Plant Food + Wine. The first branch of that restaurant in New York once blazed a trail for raw gourmet food; now Kenney’s serving his blend of colourful, inventive cuisine to health-conscious Angelenos. plantlab.com
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Food
The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
Rockin RawNew York City’s Rockin’ Raw is, as the name would indicate, a hip restaurant where the enjoyment of food takes centre stage. The health benefits of the organic, gluten-free, raw vegan building blocks of that food are, if anything, an afterthought, as the menu encourages you to indulge. The unlikely mix of Peruvian (there’s even a mushroom ceviche!) and New Orleans-Creole style cuisine is a welcome departure from the raw fare found elsewhere. rockinraw.com
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Food
The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
Chef SaraChef Sara’s Raw Vegan Academy & Cafe is a vegan oasis in the desert near Phoenix, Arizona. The eponymous Sara is on a mission to convert the world to a raw vegan lifestyle, and proclaims its healing powers. Luckily, the restaurant doesn’t evangelise unprompted, so anyone can enjoy the delicious, fresh and no doubt healthy food, regardless of whether they adhere to a raw or vegan diet. Sara is also rather fond of the term Rawgasmic and – although no actual When Harry Met Sally moments have been reported – the food is likely to induce lots of mmmh-ing and aah-ing. chefsara.com
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Food
The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
New Earth CafeRaw food tends to be more appealing in warmer climates, so it’s no surprise that Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has more raw food options than foodie capitals Sydney and Melbourne. At New Earth Cafe, patrons enjoy raw, organic food perfectly suited to the local 24/7 alfresco lifestyle. Enjoy the quiet courtyard in the sun, the free music sessions “under the tree”, or take your freshly made smoothie down to nearby Coolum Beach. newearthcafe.com.au
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Food
The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
AlchemyRaw foodies on a blissed-out holiday in Bali are spoiled for choice, with a handful of fully or mainly raw choices amongst the countless vegan restaurants. Between the beautiful beaches, lush landscape, yoga retreats and surf camps, health-conscious, cruelty-free food fits right in, especially in hippie-trippy Ubud. Alchemy, founded by four self-described tree-huggers “with a passion for live food, green juice, and raw chocolate”, claims to be the first 100% raw vegan café in Bali. It certainly has the best selection of all-raw goodies on the island. alchemybali.com
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Food
The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
Divine EarthFor a truly original concept, head to Divine Earth in Kuta, where patrons can enjoy a free movie screening nightly at the upstairs Cinema Club. Although kicking back in a sumptuous little private theatre to enjoy a Hollywood blockbuster accompanied by some vegan snacks is extremely appealing, the food alone is worth a visit. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, dishes range from pizza, burgers and raw bread to a range of Balinese, Indian and other Asian-inspired options. divineearthbali.com
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Food
The World’s Best Raw Food Restaurants.
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vegankarenLA
Posted at 19:16h, 16 NovemberMissing my favorite: Suncafe Organic in Los Angeles. Best shakes ever, raw nachos, amazing raw desserts including Almond Butter Cheesecake.