Sydneys Most Vegan Friendly Hotel

OVERNIGHT STAY AT OVOLO WOOLLOOMOOLOO
AND DINNER AT ALIBI

There are so many people that message Sydney Vegan Guide, asking where to stay when in Sydney. Being vegan and travelling shouldn’t mean you have to miss out, right? Well whether you are visiting Sydney or just after a special night away, the Ovolo Woolloomooloo is a must stay.

From the moment we walked in, we felt the electric and quirky vibe. The staff are very welcoming and run you through all the things that Ovolo have to offer. You’ll find this elegant hotel located on the beautiful wharf of Woolloomooloo surrounded by restaurants, bars, boutiques and more. But if you are like us, you came ready to eat at the Ovolo’s own plant based restaurant, Alibi.

We were very lucky and stayed in a suite on level 5. The hotel almost feels like you are on a cruise ship, with beautiful views of the water and high ceilings. The quirky and unique design offers a classic heritage style, mixed with modern vibes. Oh, and if you like freebies (who doesn’t?) you will love what they have to offer. In your room you have access to a FREE mini bar (you heard me), a carafe that can be filled up downstairs with vegan wine, a yoga mat to keep, snacks, and an espresso machine. Going to go ahead and say the slippers are the comfiest hotel slippers we have ever stepped foot in. This is all included in the Ovolo experience (so cool).

 

 Of course we filled up our carafe with vegan wine (which are all labelled on the bar menu) and dug into some vegan room service. The hot-dog seemed like an appropriate option to enjoy in bed, and it was delicious! The prices of the hotel room service were actually affordable which is good to know for those of us that have a big night out and want a late night snack. Oh and yes…there is happy hour downstairs in the bar too to kick start your evening.

But just when you think the amenities and offerings don’t get any better, Ovolo have gone in and put an Apple TV, an Alexa in your room as well. You’ll be pleased to know that the hotel body wash and shampoo/ conditioner aren’t tested on animals either.

Okay okay, we are almost to the yummy part but FIRST we have to tell you about the incredible bar. If we were to own a warehouse, we would quickly steal the designers from Alibi and ask them to renovate our entire space. You’ll understand how stylish and funky this place is the second you walk in. It would have been rude to not try their cocktails and we are glad we did, because they are simply incredible. The cocktails were almost potion like and embrace vegan alternatives like aquafaba instead of egg whites. We worked our way through a few and every element from texture, to flavour is thought out so well. Get those phones out because they are incredibly beautiful and totally insta worthy. Good luck trying to pick just one, the flower power sour was our favourite.

 

 

Alibi’s menu was consulted on by celebrity Chef, Matthew Kenney so it’s no surprise that it was something special. The menu is designed to share and has everything from pizzas, kimchi dumplings, to cheese boards. It’s a well thought out menu that really focuses on celebrating all things vegetables. Each texture and flavour is considered, and we know people that aren’t vegan will still enjoy this place. The service is attentive and each dish is explained to you by your friendly waiter, which always makes you appreciate the elements even more. Our favourite dish was the artichoke pie… by far. 

 

After an incredible spread at Alibi, we went back to our room and had an insanely comfortable sleep in their glorious hotel robes and bed. If you are like me and enjoy super comfy beds you may struggle to get out of bed, but if you were to get up, breakfast is always a good excuse to get going. You’ll find it breakfast downstairs in the Alibi restaurant which transforms into a cute and comfortable continental breakfast. Whilst the menu/buffet isn’t entirely vegan there is a decent range to choose from including fresh bread, hummus, fruits, cereals, coffee and juices. 

Oh and we should probably mention that if you are at the Ovolo for a hens, girls weekend, or your fam you may want to check out the vegan high tea they offer.

Next time you are headed to Sydney, this hotel is a must! It truly is such a relief to stay somewhere and have the hotel understand your dietary requirements and be highly considerate of your lifestyle. The staff are engaging and really do love to chat and be apart of your stay. You can check out their rooms here and don’t forget to tag @sydneyveganguide if you go!

Beyond Burger Review

HERES WHAT I THOUGHT OF THE BEYOND BURGER…

 

LOOKS, COOKS AND TASTE LIKE THE REAL BLOODY DEAL!

Being vegan for over four years, we never really craved that “meaty” taste. Nor did I miss it. First of all, according to the company the the beyond meat is designed to “look, cook and satisfy like real meat”. It can be found in selected grocery stores and used in chains throughout Australia,

My initial reaction when I put the patty into the pan was, ‘its too much’. It really is a product that looks, cooks and taste like actual animal and to me… I was freaked out.

When it got to the tasting part, I almost wanted out. Straight away I questioned, how is this vegan? (I am sure you may have had the same thought). The more I ate, the more it grew on me. However I still had this guilty feeling in my stomach that I had just consumed the real animal. Lets just say, if I was served this at a restaurant I would have sent my meal back assuming it wasn’t vegan.

Now for the facts. The mince is loaded with a whopping 20g of protein (per serve) and uses no GMO. It offers double the amount of iron with more protein than a. beef burger. And of course, so much better for the environment.

The demand for the product is only growing and you can now find it on the global market. How good!

Now for the next step. You know those people that just assume us vegans don’t shower, eat kale and carry around animal stickers in their bag? These are the types of people I want you to feed this product to (just don’t tell them its vegan). 

There is plenty of ways to cook the mince, but I reckon the best way to enjoy it is on a burger, grilled on the BBQ, in tacos, meatball pasta or even just some good old sliders.

For more visit https://www.beyondmeat.com/products/view/beyond-burger

Top 5 Vegan Eats in London

Gone are the days where being vegan was difficult to eat out. London has you covered from vegan burgers to healthy salads. Be prepared to be overwhelmed!

If you are visiting London, we strongly suggest jumping on a forum on Facebook and asking for opinions, or alternatively shoot us a message.

Our top picks (in no particular order)

 

  1. Deliciously Ella- It’s an obvious one to have this one on the list, there isn’t anything Ella can’t do. We are big fans of DE and have been for quite some time. We own her cookbooks, listen to her podcasts, so visiting her Deli for the first time was quite an experience. It’s slightly more on the expensive side, but you are paying for quality, location and their ethos.The deli is full of wholesome, plant based meals and delicious hot drinks.  If you own one of her cook books, you’ll be able to taste your way through Ella’s recipes. Don’t worry, there something for both sweet and savoury lovers! We LOVE the corn fritters and can’t go past a brownie on the go.

 

  1. Black Cat Café- Tucked away in Hackney, this is an all vegan café that is gives off a very hipster vibe. You’ll feel immediately like a local the second you enter this quirky space. The menu is written up on a chalkboard and gets changed up when needed. I went for both breakfast and lunch and prefer the lunch menu. They have a great selection of cakes and savoury goods. Portion sizes are really reasonable and its well priced.If you are a student or a freelancer, there is space to plug in your lappy whilst you much. If the vegetable pancake is on whist you are there, GET IT for us. Please and thank you! It’s a winner.
  1. Purezza- The place to take non vegans and don’t tell them it’s vegan! You know what we are talking about. The cheese is so good, they won’t even know whats hit them!Be prepared to wait for a while (it’s that popular). The dough is made from sourdough and is baked in a wood fire oven (how all good pizza should be). Take a few friends so you can try a range of different pizzas. P.S the cocktails are totally worth taking the tube.

 

 

  1. Eat By Chloe- Consider it a plant based diner, but fancy! You may have heard of this place or even visited them in New York. A delicious foodie spot with a fun, colourful vibe. They have everything from hot dogs, salads, drinks, sides and treats. You can’t go wrong with anything they make. Lets be real here… they have nailed the menu. Theres two locations to choose, Convent Garden and Tower Bridge. So you don’t have to travel too far for a delicious meal.

 

  1. Tibits- If eating the rainbow is your thing, this place is for you. An all vegetarian and vegan buffet, is a popular spot for a lunch. Choose from salads, hot dishes, a heap of vegetable and of course some dessert.

 

Top 5 Lunch Spots In Sydney

OUR TOP LUNCH DESTINATIONS

TOP 5 PICKS FOR LUNCH

We are all about big brekky and hearty dinners, but theres always room for lunch. It was hard to pick only five, but if we had to choose here’s what we would suggest.

In no particular order 

Bodhi, CBD- Surely you all know by now that Bodhi has the most incredible vegan yum cha available only at lunch time. Take a bunch of mates and try it all! You won’t regret it. 

Eat Fuh, Marrickville/ Darlinghurst/ Chatswood- Fresh, healthy, fast and DELICIOUS. There’s a couple of locations over Sydney including, Manly and Surry Hills. The perfect place to explore a plant based meal. 

Nalinis, Bondi- A entire plant based, gluten free menu. Ayurvedic food for the body mind and soul. The cafe is run by a mother duo, who are passionate about health and good quality food. Explore the menu full of colourful wholesome eats. Highly suggest visiting their ice-cream bar Cha Chas as well.

Shift Eatery, Surry Hills- Sydneys first all vegan deli, and darn its a good one. James and the team have you sorted with banging toasted sandwiches that you crave from pre vegan days. Don’t worry, theres lots of salads, smoothies and superfood lattes for those after a healthier alternative. A MUST TRY!

Vegan Lebanese St Food, Bondi- A relatively new restaurant, but NOT one to be missed. Healthy Lebanese food has never tasted so good and oh so fresh. The owners have put their heart and soul into what they do. They focus on not using oils, without skipping the flavour. 

Why I Went Vegan

WHY I WENT VEGAN

This is probably one of the most common questions I get asked about my journey with veganism. And, if I am honest I love hearing everyones stories around the topic but here is mine.


For me, it was a simple one. I was already vegetarian and had my own Instagram foodie page (so I could stop annoying my friends with pics of my food). In September 2014 a blogger I was following commented on an Instagram post of mine that said ‘Keep Calm And Go Vegetarian’, saying “Why not try going vegan”. This was the first time I probably thought about dairy. Whether I was pretending to not fully confront the dairy industry, or simply didn’t think being vegan was possible… but I decided to give it a go.

For a month, I would trial being vegan. Let’s be real, part of it was because I had no self control around chocolate and needed an excuse to ditch the dairy. I instantly felt better and why wouldn’t I? Dairy doesn’t make us feel good. It’s always funny hearing friends say “I am lactose intolerant”. Well of course you are, we aren’t made to drink animal juice.

Eating vegan quickly became a habit and honestly I felt great. Energy levels increased, I learnt compassion on a whole new level and my friendship circle opened up. Don’t get me wrong, it was hard. I lived at home and my mum was and still isn’t very supportive of it. But I knew I was doing something good for me and my health so I didn’t let that get in the way.

It was only later I discovered the impacts of the dairy and egg industry and felt somewhat cheated. Why hadn’t anyone told me this? As a feminist I struggled with the idea we drink the mothers milk and in-pregnant cows for our own consumption.

I suck at watching documentaries and still haven’t seen all the ones on the “how to turn vegan” list. But thats okay. I think it is important to come from a place of love when speaking to people about the benefits of a plant based diet. For me, the best way to spread the message is just to be yourself. Live your life to the fullest and prove that you can’t not only survive but thrive off a diet that is based on plants. 

Whatever reason you may go vegan whether it be ethical, environmental, health… that is okay. You are on your own journey and the best part is… you did it!

I don’t believe meat eaters are bad people, that was once upon a time. I simply believe we are all victims of a society that knew no better. But the good news is, now we do. You have a choice. You either ignore it or not.

For more information on reasons that a plant based diet can improve your health. 

Visit these links below:

https://www.ecowatch.com/vegan-diet-health-benefits-2608604362.html

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/21/lifestyle-change-eat-less-meat-climate-change?fbclid=IwAR1s4aDzbVsk_28V0u-fuV1El1oFeZhWjePo4Iuugiqh71cvw0iGvYmA6gY

https://deliciouslyella.com/2019/01/02/why-we-care/

https://plantproof.com/eating-plans/

WordPress

Top Vegan Bali Eats

WHERE WE ATE IN BALI

 

First of all, be prepared to be overwhelmed with choice. Everywhere you go, you will find vegan options. It’s really normal in Bali and very much the “new norm”.

In all honesty, we tend to avoid the touristy areas and headed straight to Ubud and Canggu. Both of which have incredible options. Where does one even start?

P.S The below are in no particular order.

 

UBUD 

Earth Café: A really beautiful place to wind down and enjoy a meal of any cuisine. They have everything from pizzas to traditional Indonesian food.

If you are after a place to collect some tasty treats or goods, this is the place to go. They even have movie nights, where you can enjoy a raw slice and chill out. 

Zest:

The favourite of the trip! Absolutely love the atmosphere, space, vibe and of course the food. Spoilt for choice, from savoury to sweet. A space to sit for hours and look over beautiful Ubud. In terms of the menu, you really cant go wrong. However we went twice and ordered the tapioca flat bread. Our theory is to always try and order something you can’t make at home.

. 

There is PLENTY of yummy raw cakes and healthy tonics too.

Clear Café: The space is very inviting, with a real Instagram worthy vibe. If you crave healthy, raw food… this is the place for you. Plenty to choose from, including all different types of cuisines. We enjoyed a burrito and a raw pizza. P.S Yay for having wine bottles full of kombucha.

Falafel Warung: Got to get your falfel fix when on holiday! These guys know whats up. Build your own pita pocket or salad. Add a pita this and a pita that. For fresh, healthy food that’s quick, this is one to pop in.


Image by Falafel Warung

Kokolato World: Raw, healthy vegan icecream. We went here twice, it was really light and refreshing. Not Bali prices, you pay for the product but it’s a really refreshing spot to go after a big dinner.

Vegan Cooking Class: Thisis a MUST DO! For an incredibly authentic, unique experience, make sure you book this.

You’ll get to visit the local organic market and try all the fruit, then go to the organic farm where you will pick your own organic herbs and veggies. And we haven’t even gotten to the cooking yet! You will prepare, make and taste 2 starters, 3 mains and a dessert. We suggest going hungry! Amazing value and you get to walk away with all the recipes to cook back home. You can review our experience here.

https://balifarmcooking.com/

 CANGGU

 

GIVE: Love, love, LOVE this place. It is owned by the same people as KYND, except does things a little differently.

With a mission to change the way people eat, think & GIVE. 100% Plant based with 100% of donations going to people and places that need itmost. Delicious and affordable Indonesian food, smoothie bowls or just a really relaxing place to enjoy a coffee. We left feeling very content, grateful and reflective.

Peloton Super Shop:

A mix of different food, from healthy Buddha bowls, local cuisine to a mock meat burger, there isn’t much this place doesn’t offer. If you like to eat the rainbow, you’ll love this! We found it hard to choose, as it all just looked so good.

Take a few friends and order a spread. You won’t regret it!

 

Plant Cartel:

A newer kid on the block, but not one to be missed. Think American Diner (but 100% plant based). All those meals you crave when hung over, but take away the animals, fat and replace it with plant-based products. The ultimate space to take a boyfriend, dad, or friend that doesn’t believe vegan food can actually taste good. We tried a range of burgers, loaded fries, sides and shakes. Our top pick was the jackfruit chickn nuggets and the cheeseburger.

 

Merah Putih: Blown away with the incredible vegan options. We went here for a fancier dinner and could not fault it. The space, the service and the food were insanely good. Recommended to us by Plant Proof. The dishes are made up of vegetables, traditional cuisine and flavours. Total proof that vegetables can be incredibly satisfying and versatile. Make sure you try the tempeh pancake. Great place to order a heap and share.

The Shady Shack: If you only have a bit of time in Canggu, add this beautiful shack to the list! It offers an earthy vibe with good quality food. Plenty of snacks, raw treats and killer smoothies! Take a book and wind down in the relaxed space. Whatever you do, GET A COOKIE! Maybe 10… and bring us home some too.

 

Mad Pops Bali: It’s no gelato blue, but we love the atmosphere and choice of flavours. All their gelato is vegan and a vegan cone option is available to. It’s too hard to choose one flavour, so we recommend a double scope. Because…HOLIDAYS

 

 

SOME HELPFUL TIPS WHEN GOING TO BALI:

  • Do your research!
  • Always wear a helmet 
  • Avoid high tourist areas (if thats your thing)
  • Be cautious of your possessions
  • Don’t get your money exchanged at a back alley money exchanger (we learnt the hard way)
  • Plan your foodie spots, there is a LOT!

    If you are heading to Canggu, we strongly suggest checking out LILA .

 

Top 5 Dinner Spots In Sydney

We are so lucky that Sydney now has so many incredible places to eat out at night. Whether you are a vegan yourself or just keen for a plant based feed, you won’t struggle to find something delicious. I am a big Inner West girl, so it is not often I get out of that area. But when I do, I always do my research. You’ll be surprised at the amount of places that can happily cater to vegans.

Dinner is my favourite meal of the day, especially when it involves going out with friends. There isn’t any cuisine I don’t like, so I am always up for something new. The vibe and feel of the venue plays a big part in my selection below.

Alright… here we go.

1. GIGI’S PIZZERIA
Newtown 

No surprises here! Gigi’s is worth your time, travel, pennies and even lining up. It is incredibly authentic Italian pizza joint. I suggest going with a small group of people to maximise the amount of things you can order. Trust me, you want to try it all. Entree’s, mains and desserts too.  The team are on the ball and the music is always on point. Good vibes, delicious drinks and the best dam food.

My favs: Pumpkin calzone

2. EMMAS SNACK BAR
Enmore

You may or may not have heard of Emma’s, but it is a real winner! Delicious lebanese food, hidden in a cute space in the back of Enmore. Almost the entire menu is vegan/ vegan friendly and is designed to share (so go with friends). Their groovy space tends to get super busy, so ensure to get in early. Enjoy a glass of vegan pinot noir, whilst devouring their quality homemade recipes.

My favs: GET THE POTATOES, ALSO THE BRUSSELL SPROUTS (YES I AM YELLING)

3. CHINESE NOODLE HOUSE
CBD and Enmore

Otherwise known as “grapes on the roof” or the “the best eggplant dumplings”. There ain’t nothing like a menu in a plastic sleeve folder, but honestly it’s so great. There is a fair few vegan items on the menu, just ask the staff if you are stuck. I am a big fan of the quick service. Be prepared to wait for a table, but it usually doesn’t take that long. I love just ordering a bunch of dishes and sharing it all. Everything is super affordable and full of flavour. BYO is available.

My favs: Eggplant dumplings and braised eggplant.

4. BANGKOK BITES
Bondi and Newtown

Not your most well done venue, but it is a good one. The main reason I love here is their quality of food. It is super fresh, colourful and the best part…HUGE! It is really good value for your dollar, sometimes I even pack a container to take half home. Just ensure you ask for the vegan option, asking for no fish sauce etc. The service isn’t always up to scratch but all up, pretty good. BYO is available.

My fav: Satay noodles!

5.THE HOLD
Manly

This place is a real winner! A fabulous place to go for a birthday, boozy dinner or just a friday night catch up. Healthy vegans, this isn’t the place for you. A ship like venue, that offers an entire vegan menu. Think burgers, chips, sides, mock meats and yummy cocktails. The burgers are well thought out and actually taste as good as they look. The staff do their best to help navigate the best options to suite your tastebuds.

My fav: Anything that has the mac n cheese onion ring on it.

Hope you enjoy my top picks (it was hard narrowing them down). If you dine at these places, please tag me @sydneyveganguide or @wholeheartedrenee. I love seeing where you guys go!

Self Care Routines

What works for me, may not work for you. I am a creature of habit and often don’t practice what I preach. So writing this is not only for for you, but also for me. So many people encourage physical health and well being. But what about mental health?

To me it is just important (if not more important) then obsessing over your physical appearance.

I think the first step in this conversation is allowing yourself to be vulnerable, honest and real. I really struggle to hold a genuine conversation with people who aren’t real with me. So open up… before you read this. Have a think about the last time

 

GET OFF YOUR PHONE

I recently got a new mobile phone that tracks how long I stay on my phone each day (Scary AF). My job is in social media and blogging, so I do naturally spend more time on my phone than others. But, the other day it told me I spent 7.5 hours on my phone… and that doesn’t even include my second phone. So get off it! Lock it in a draw and see if you can survive 2 hours without it.

 

MOVE YOUR BODY

Your body is the best, it allows us to do almost anything! So look after it. Not everyone loves running, so chuck on some 90’s bangers and GROOVE! Dancing off the day is always a fun way sweat a little. I highly recommend putting on some musicals too.
Find what works for you. Yoga, F45, crossfit or just a walk in the park. Honestly can someone tell me the last time they did a workout and regretted it? No ma’am.

 

COOK FROM SCRATCH
If you think about what our grandma’s used to do for entertainment or fun was to do things like cook or knit. In todays society we are somewhat obsessed with “doing something”. But lets get back to basics. Grab a recipe and bake the afternoon away. I am guilty of procrastibaking (aka the act of cooking instead of doing what you should be doing).

 

TAKE A HOT SHOWER
Have you ever been at a festival and felt dirty, grubby and ready to go home? If not, it truly makes you appreciate how good showers are. And, how lucky we are to have hot running water. So take one, take your time… and try practicing some mindfulness during it. Think about the water hitting your body, and how your body feels as a result. Sometimes being is the shower is where I come up with my best ideas.

HAVE A CONVERSATION

Oh gosh, this is one of my favourite! I see a psych and am very open about that. Not that I have anything “wrong” with me, but I am don’t believe you can put a price one self improvement. Having a conversation with someone who doesn’t pass judgement and is there to listen to just you is a really valuable thing.

Hope you enjoy some of my favourite ways to show myself self LURRRVVVVVVV.

Top 5 Lunch Spots In Melbourne

How does one ever pick somewhere to eat in Melbourne? Its virtually impossible to pick.

We narrowed it down to our top 5 lunch spots (in no particular order)

Eka Wholefoods, Seddon – A wholefoods shop and plant based cafe, that offers a variety of dishes that will guarantee to satisfy! We can’t help but feel like we are in a home away from home every time we visit Eka. Choose from baos, falafel bowls or their signature tofu scramble.

Smith and Deli/Daughter, Fitzroy – If you know Melbourne, you know Smith and Deli! To the best sangas in all of the land! A very popular spot to pick up a pie, sandwich, toastie or shop for some vegan goodies. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Be prepared to line up though, its worth it!

Particle Cinnamon, Avondale Heights- Gluten free and 100% vegan baby! Take your tastebuds to vegan heaven (we mean it). One visit and you’ll be hooked! Enjoy the best of both worlds with a menu full of savoury and sweet options.

One for the Crow, Maidstone –  A newbie, but not one to be missed. If you are all about comfort and relaxed vibes… you have found your new favourite cafe. An entire vegetarian menu with HEAPS of vegan food on offer. Look out for the weekend food specials, they always blow our mind!

Lucky Lockett, Brunswick – Not the most well known, but one that deserves a lot of credit! Burgers, tofu scramble, muffins, pancakes and more. A spacey, chill vibe with genuine service. Oh, we probably should mention they have mac n cheese balls… that are VEGAN! Run.. don’t walk.

If you think we are missing somewhere from the list, let us know!

Don’t forget to tag us if you visit one of these venues @melbveganguide