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Temple Lodge bingin - healthy vegan cafes in Uluwatu
Eating Out

A Guide to Healthy Vegan Cafe’s in Uluwatu

The food in Bali is just incredible, there are loads of healthy cafes and restaurants all of which have menu’s chock full of nourishing Vegan cuisine!  The hot climate and rain bursts mean that there is an abundance of tropical fruit and vibrant vegetables, meaning there is lots of delicious and fresh food to feast on! There are lots of healthy vegan cafe’s in Uluwatu so you really are spoilt for choice, and could easily have 5 hearty meals a day and not run out of awesome options.  The hardest decision of the day is deciding where to go what to order!

Having been to Bali twice this year (I can’t get enough!) I’ve crammed in a lot of foodie research that it would be rude not to share…

Uluwatu is a must visit location, a surfers paradise with idyllic views and a super chilled out vibe. Here are my tops health food hangouts!

Temple Lodge

Temple Lodge is a laid-back boutique hotel right on the cliff front above Bingin Beach.  Offering daily yoga classes and a million dollar view, the restaurant is the perfect spot to grab some breakfast after a yoga class, or lunch after a morning at the beach.   The menu includes Ayurvedic juices, coconut porridge and tempe noodle bowls.  A lovely hidden gem, this place offers a quiet haven from which to soak up the ocean views…

The Cashew Tree

Another gem serving healthy fresh food, The Cashew Tree is within walking distance of Bingin beach.  All the food is locally sourced and organic, with the menu featuring kombucha, smoothies and raw desserts! Dishes include Tempe Soba Noodles, Burritos and Rice Paper Rolls.  On Thursday’s the place goes off, with live music and partying!

Yoga Searcher

One of my firm favourites, I already have a whole post dedicated to this awesome organic restaurant.  I’d recommend visiting for breakfast and arriving hungry – I usually order a coffee, juice, smoothie and main dish like these beautiful vegan pancakes!  As a fully fledged yoga haven, facilities include luxury poolside huts,  yoga classes, a cute shopt and a spa where you can book a massage.  There are also weekly evening detox sessions (think sauna –> steam room –> ice bath –> steaming hot pool –> camp fire!) that you can enjoy before a nourishing dinner…seriously epic.  Located on the main road towards Uluwatu Temple it’s easy to find, so you’ve no excuse not to drop in!

Bukit Cafe

Another cafe with serious credentials is Bukit, located on the main strip between Bingin and Padang Padang it’s a great place to pop into between surf sessions.  It has has super friendly staff, a delicious menu and a mountain of fresh coconuts by the bar – what’s not to love!  Offering the obligatory avocado on toast, veggie fajitas and vegan pancakes there are plenty of vegan options for breakfast, lunch or dinner, plus a fridge full of raw desserts!

Single Fin – Nalu Bowls

Whilst Single Fin is mainly renowned for it’s huge Sunday night parties, there’s a softer side to this legendary clifftop venue.  Bali’s famous smoothie bowl bar Nalu Bowls have a shack at Single Fin.  It’s the perfect place to spend your morning – enjoying the gorgeous views of the ocean and checking out the surfers doing their thing!

The Badest Bowls in Bali | @nalubowls | with the Badest view in Bali | @singlefin_bali | via @xploreyourfit 🙌🌴

A post shared by Surf Shop | Cafe | Bar (@singlefinbali) on

Reminiscing about all my favourite healthy vegan cafe’s in Uluwatu has me longing for the tropics – there is such a relaxed vibe there! Together with the incredible food, friendly people and stunning scenery, I miss this special island and it’s safe to say I will be back again soon!

Ruth x

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Eating Out

The Elephant Restaurant, Ubud

The Elephant Restaurant Ubud is nestled up on the hillside just off the main road through Ubud.  The menu is 100% vegetarian, and the ethos is focused on sustainability and ‘Earth friendly food’.  In their words ‘we strive to be an ethical business and are recognized by the slow food movement for our environmentally aware and socially fair work practice’ – full marks for conscious cuisine!

The location is idyylic and they definitely get the prize for the best view.  The restaurant overlooks the beautiful Tjampuhan Ridge.

At £3-£4 for a main meal such as coconut noodle soup or a huge salad, you are truly spoilt for choice here. Almost all dishes can be adapted to be Vegan, and there are loads of delicious sides and extras on offer.

There is a huge menu of healthy drinks – Kombucha (pro-biotic fermented tea – really delicious!), fresh juices, smoothies and even cocktails served in a pineapple!

The Rosella Kombucha is delicious, a favourite drink of mine and a great replacement for wine if you’re avoiding alcohol.

The Elephant Restaurant Ubud - Rosella Kombucha

The Strawberry Cooler didn’t last long…

The Elephant Restaurant Ubud - Strawberry Cooler

I really did try an awful lot of items from the menu, as soaking up the view from the comfy sofa was just what I needed after a busy morning! This is the Mango & Dragon Fruit Smoothie…

The Elephant Restaurant Ubud - Mango Dragonfruit Smoothie

If you’re after a cocktail then Spike’s Jungle Fever is one to try – Absolute, muddle fruit, lemon basil, lime & honey, served in a whole pineapple!

The Elephant Restaurant Ubud - Beverages

This is the White Tiger Salad which is a beautifully presented combination of green leaves, roast pumpkin, sesame, carrot, tempeh, pickled ginger, edamame, nori and cucumber. Nutritionally dense and fresh, this salad is chock full of vitamins and minerals. I chose the lemon tahini ginger dressing which was divine!

The Elephant Cafe Ubud - White Tiger Salad

What does The Elephant’s philosophy of Earth friendly food mean? ‘We are trying to create food that is delicious and health to eat but which doesn’t endanger the health of the planet in it’s making’.

I love visiting and discovering amazing sustainable and health restaurants like here at The Elephant.  It warms my heart to support businesses that put so much effort into providing an incredible experience whilst focusing on working closely with the environment.  The team at The Elephant grow their own herbs, filter rainwater, use recyclable packaging, 75% of food is locally produced, 60% is Organic and they are taking steps to switch to eco-friendly cleaning products.

The Elephant Restaurant Ubud - Green Juice

If you’re off to Ubud, be sure to check out The Elephant for a lazy afternoon soaking up the view and a menu that will leave you spoilt for choice!

To get the seats with the best view visit the website to book a table: The Elephant Restaurant Ubud

Happy Travelling,

Ruth x

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Yoga Searcher Bali - Buckwheat Pancakes
Eating Out

Yoga Searcher Bali

Bali is such a beautiful country, it’s pretty difficult to pick a favourite place, Uluwatu is definitely very high on my list though.  There are some incredible beaches, cafes, hotels and yoga centres – heaven for a health nut like me.  It was on the way to Uluwatu Temple that I first spotted the amazing Muz Kitchen restaurant at Yoga Searcher Bali as I whizzed past on a moped!  When I’m on holiday, the days are as much about discovering the best Vegan cafes as they are discovering the idyllic beaches.

Muz Kitchen is a must visit if you’re a serious foodie.  As usual with the best health food hangouts, the menu is awesome, offering everything from Acai Superfood Bowl’s to homemade Vegan Banana Bread.  Yoga Searcher pride themselves on offering fresh, organic, plant-based food – Earth friendly and cooked with love!

On my first visit to Muz Kitchen after a morning of yoga, I was pretty hungry and in the market for a breakfast feast.  Following much deliberation, I decided on the vegan Buckwheat Pancakes. It’s rare to find vegan pancakes so I absolutely have to try these whenever they’re on the menu! An extremely good decision…

Yoga Searcher Bali - Buckwheat Pancakes

The pancakes are d i v i n e!  The toppings consist of a perfect combination of caramelised banana, strawberry cardamom cream, pecans, and dried cranberries.

The smoothie pictured is called ‘Midnight Chocolate’, a lovely decadent mixture of blueberries, coconut, vanilla, cacao nibs and homemade almond milk.  The quality and freshness of the ingredients is just great – there’s nothing like local grown fruit and homemade dishes. I’ve got to say the food in Bali is the most fresh and delicious of anywhere I’ve been.Yoga Searcher Bali - Logo

I’ve got to confess that I ended up visiting Muz Kitchen twice in the same day… The food is so delicious and the venue so chilled, I couldn’t help myself.

At night the restaurant is completely transformed into a super cosy and tranquil space.

Yoga Searcher Bali - At Night

Yoga Searcher Bali - Entrance

It’s always best to eat a light meal for dinner, so decided on this really tasty burger with a gluten free bun …

Yoga Searcher Bali - Vegan Burger

…washed down with this delicious watermelon juice

Yoga Searcher Bali - Watermelon Juice

And naturally I had to finish off with the Apple Tart and Cashew Icecream 😉

Yoga Searcher Bali - Apple Tart

If you’re planning a trip to Bali, make sure you stop off at Yoga Searcher in Uluwatu.  They have an Organic Spa, Yoga Retreat, gift shop and gorgeous boutique villa accomodation… as well as amazing food! What more could you want?

I’ll be visiting again later this year and I’m counting down the days…

Check it out here: yogasearcher-bali.com

Ruth x

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Blabar Salad
Eating Out

Nordic inspiration at Blabar Cafe in Putney

I visited Blabar cafe in Putney a couple of months ago, fresh off the plane from Bali.  I’d been spoilt with superb fresh vegan cuisine for a whole two weeks in Bali, so my standards were even higher than usual! Safe to say Blabar cafe delivered an incredibly delicious lunch and gorgeous setting over which to catch up and relay stories from my holiday.

Blabar Cafe Putney

The Nordic concept store & café  is owned by couple Sandra and Oliver.  Their aim was to ‘to create an environment to inspire and provide a full Nordic experience, which you can then take home’.  Blabar is decorated with beautiful products, all oozing the timeless design and quality craftsmanship typical of Scandinavian brands.

Nordic Product Showcase at Blabar

Oliver designed the relaxed contemporary space himself, a careful curation to showcase the unique homeware, interior and lifestyle products.  Having worked on films such as Love Actually and Alice in Wonderland, Oliver explained that some of the beautiful and quirky pieces of furniture are fresh off the film set.  In fact, the beautiful space inspired by Nordic Nature has recently been featured by ELLE Decoration as ‘interior of the week’, and quite frankly I’m not surprised.

Blabar Cafe Product Display

Most of the products, even the lighting and crockery, can be purchased.  Even better is that all the quality brands and products are chosen based on sustainability.  Part of the Blabar ethos states ‘we only have one world, let’s take care of it’ – amen to that!

Blabar Cafe Nordic Inspiration

Let’s talk about the food…

The menu comprises of such delights as open sourdough sandwiches and quinoa salads, alongside naughtier treats such as cinnamon buns.  For less than a fiver, you can enjoy a generous portion of delicious fresh vegan salad – you can’t say fairer than that! Fresh, healthy and nutritious. Great value quality Food.

Delicious vegan salad at Blabar

With Jet-Lag kicking in, I decided to order a coffee too. When the blend is deliciously rich and imported from a special supplier in Sweden, it’s pretty much obligatory to try it.  I was delighted to discover the options of Almond or Soy Milk too. Having lived in Australia I know a good coffee when I meet one, the coffee at Blabar is great.

Blabar salad

The mission of Blabar is to inspire London dwellers to live life more Nordic. I’ve definitely been inspired and am interested in Scandinavian design since visiting.  It’s certainly offering a gorgeous space in which to catch up with friends, relax or watch the world go by.  The inspiring environment is one which will make you want to tidy your room when you get home, to make space for the gorgeous things you just bought from the cafe… 🙂

This place is an absolute charmer – Be sure to check it out if you can!

Ruth x

Nordic Interior at Blabar

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F&K Rainbow Juice
Eating Out

Flax & Kale – Barcelona’s Best Healthy Restaurant by Theresa Carles

Who says healthy can’t be scrumptious? Flax & Kale is Barcelona’s best healthy restaurant for nutritious juices, healthy dishes and beautiful design!

F&K Rainbow Juice

 

Eat better, Be happier, Live longer – is the motto of Flax & Kale. A motto well worth remembering in everyday life to motivate you to reach your health & fitness goals. Opened by Theresa Carles, a sustainable veggie restaurant pioneer in Spain, Flax & Kale attracts models and artists as well as locals and tourists. It’s a beautifully designed space inspired by Soho restaurants in New York.  Bright, spacious and a feast for the eyes as well as the tummy!

Theresa calls Flax & Kale a ‘flexitarian’ restaurant, no red-meat is served, but there’s a giant menu of vegetarian and fish dishes. 80% of the menu is plant based, and everything is clearly labelled as raw/gluten free/vegan.  It’s one of the most incredible healthy menu’s I’ve seen, gave me the ‘eye’s bigger than belly’ syndrome big time!

In their words ‘We feel passionate about feeding you better thus you can be happier and live longer with an optimal health’ – Amen to that!! The range of options on offer is huge – there’s raw starters, fresh salads, tacos, gluten-free pasta, not to mention the most incredible selection of smoothies, nut milks and cold-pressed juices. I’m deadly serious when I say that the hardest part of the day was deciding what to order!

F&K Breakfast

Eventually I decided on an Acai Bowl with banana, blueberries, chestnut crumble, agave syrup, hemp seeds and goji berries + a Green Love Juice of apple, spinach, cucumber, celery, ginger and lemon.

Flax & Kale Barcelona F&K Breakfast Acai Bowl

The juices, milks and smoothies need a special mention as they are all made with nutritious organic ingredients. To maximise and preserve all the nutrients, Teresa and her team use a huge cold-press machine imported from the U.S. There is a Juicery and a whole room dedicated to making the perfect beverages – serious dedication!  Obviously I couldn’t resist a second visit to this gem, the second time reserving a spot in the outside area they have in the edgy Raval square. There’s also a gorgeous rooftop garden that is quieter and perfect for enjoying a laze in the afternoon sun.

This has to be the best health food hang out in Barcelona. Theresa’s Juicery alone is enough to make a health nut like me giddy at the knees! I highly recommend a visit… or two! I had to make one last drop-in to pick up a piece of Teresa’s Rainbow Cake & an ‘Antiox’ Juice for the trip to the airport, leaving me with a healthy and happy glow!

If you’re off to Barcelona for a long weekend this Summer, make sure you check out this awesome restaurant.

Some of the amazing items on the menu….

Quinoa and Blueberry Muffin
Acai Smoothie Bowl with Hemp Seeds + Goji Beries
Chia Flax Bagel
Kale Salad w Sprouts + Nori Seaweed
Raw Vegan Lasagne
Coco Masala Chai Nut Milk

Flax & Kale, Carrer dels Tallers, 74, Barcelona
www.teresacarles.com
http://teresacarles.com/fk/index_en.html

F&K Theresa's Juicery

When you visit this gem, let me know what you think 🙂

Ruth x

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