Student Bloggers

I have been a vegetarian since I was 4, and vegan since I was 15. When I was first leaving to go abroad for a semester, I was worried about being able to find places where I could eat, and eat well. I was gearing up for a semester of chipotle and subway, and even though I went there a couple times when I was feeling homesick for some Nashville staples, I was able to find so many new places to eat at and enjoy. Whether it was for morning matcha or a nice dinner, I was able to try so many new foods.

Coffee & Breakfast

• Blank Street - Coffee Chain in London & Edinburgh
  My absolute favorite spot for coffee and matcha while I was in London was Blank Street. They had a location across the street from Arcadia London Center, and I always loved going between classes to get a drink! They make all of their matchas with oat milk, and they also have allergy menus available if you need. My personal favorite was their seasonal Strawberry Shortcake Matcha. They are so kind and helpful there, and it will be my first stop the next time I am in London!
• My Old Dutch - Holborn
  My favorite breakfast place I went to was called My Old Dutch. It was also just down the street from Arcadia London Center, and I passed it every morning on my walk from the tube station to class. They have massive 12” pancakes that can be made vegan! They also have vegan milkshakes. When I went, I got a chocolate and strawberry pancake with a banana milkshake. They have so many options that it is almost overwhelming, but that means that there is something for everyone!
• Land & Monkey - Montmartre
  If you find yourself in Paris, you have to go to Land & Monkey. It is an entirely vegan bakery that has everything from croissants, to focaccia, to macaroons! I went there almost every day that I was in Paris so I could try something new each time. It is also relatively cheap! There is sometimes a line out the door, but it is completely worth it when you get to try a bite of one of their mouth-watering baked goods. My favorite was the rainbow macaroons. I had never had one before because they are not usually vegan, so I was super excited to be able to try one in Paris!

Lunch & Dinner

• CoCo Fruit Bar - Brighton
  When I visited Brighton, I absolutely loved this casual restaurant. They let you choose a bag of chips and then mix up the nachos in there. They had plant base cheese and beef, and other veggie nacho options. It was a perfect snack for my beach day. They also had dessert nachos and other cool options!
• Mestizo - Camden
  Every year on my birthday, my family goes out to my favorite hometown Mexican restaurant. Because I was in London for my birthday this year, I wanted to find somewhere to go with my friends. They have a taco platter with vegan chicken and all the sides you can imagine! I also went here when my parents came into town, and we all absolutely loved it. There is also a Mexican grocery store right next door that is connected to the restaurant, and they sell food that is not as easy to find in most other grocery stores. I went there a few times to pick up some food to make in my flat!

Groceries

• Aldi
  While I was in London, I got all of my groceries at Aldi. There was an Aldi a ten minute walk from Princess Elizabeth House, the Arcadia in London housing, which made getting groceries a breeze. And it was so cheap! I was usually able to get two weeks of groceries for 20-30 pounds. I loved making spaghetti, nachos, and tofu nuggets in my flat each week. Me and my roommate shared a room and a kitchen, and we would take turns meal-prepping for the week so we could each keep our fridge stocked up. There is also a fridge and microwave at Arcadia London Center, so it made it easy to pack lunches for class!