Trying the cuisine attached to a language you are learning is an important aspect of cultural immersion. It gives you a deeper understanding of the history, geography and people of a country.
However, if you have specific dietary requirements, you may need to take a closer look at which language you choose to learn before you start.
For instance some cultures are big meat or dairy eaters, which might not mesh too well if you are a vegan. What vegan food options are on offer in a foreign country, if any, can vary greatly.
So if you are looking to learn another language, but have a plant based diet, check out where to find the best homestay destinations for vegan language learners.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin is well known across the vegan community for being one of the best cities for vegan food in the world. In fact, with over 600 of them, it has the highest number of vegan venues across Europe.
So if learning German is on your agenda, as a vegan you will absolutely get to experience German cultural immersion through food in this vibrant and progressive city.
There’s a constant uptick of exciting new places being added such as Klunkerkranich which is a rooftop bar and cultural centre with a fully vegan food menu. It’s perfect for socialising.
But don’t miss some of the old favourites too like Yoyo Foodworld which is considered to be the oldest vegan fast-food restaurant in Germany.
There’s even FREA, the zero-waste and vegan Michelin Green Star restaurant which fine diners will love. Also don’t miss The Green Market Berlin which hosts 100% vegan street food markets. The food is great and it’s a really fun place to practise your German.
Prague, Czech Republic
Traditional Czech cuisine involves a lot of stewed meats, dumplings and heavy sauces. Which means vegan chefs have had to get very creative with their take on the local dishes.
And whilst it might be a challenge in other parts of the country, these days the fairytale capital of Prague is very much a vegan paradise with over 50 vegan restaurants and cafes.
The most popular is Shromaždiště, which serves delicious traditional veganised Czech dishes. The vegan schnitzel at the social enterprise, Sociální Bistro Střecha, is a must. And if you want to try a vegan version of the traditional chimney cake head to Café U Kajetána.
In addition to discovering Prague vegan food, there are lots of famous cultural attractions to visit. Don’t miss Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square, the Prague Astronomical Clock, Petrin Hill and Lenten Park.
But what makes the city even more attractive is its laid back vibe. People are naturally friendly, which is just what you need when visiting a foreign country to practise your language skills.
Edinburgh, UK
When it comes to Edinburgh vegan food you’ll be spoilt for choice. Not only are there loads of totally vegan restaurants, but any eatery in this small city without at least a couple of vegan options is quite rare.
So from fine dining at high end restaurants to brunch at cosy cafés, as a vegan language learner you’ll be in your element if you choose an English homestay in Scotland’s capital city.
For tasty lunch options head to FacePlant for their legendary mac and cheese or decadent Haggis and cheese melt. The mouthwatering vegan rarebit at the Black Rabbit grab-and-go deli is a must. Also don’t miss the strawberry and banana pancakes at Seeds for the Soul.
Something really awesome about vegan travel in this city is that Vegan Edinburgh hosts small welcoming meetups of 4-6 people. They are the perfect space to practise your language skills with people you have something in common with.
And if you fancy something more energetic, there’s also an Edinburgh Vegan Runners club that meets every week.
Bali, Indonesia
Surrounded by lush rainforest and picturesque terraced rice paddies dotted with Hindu temples, the Indonesian island of Bali is a truly alluring place to visit.
But what about for vegan language learners? Well somewhat surprisingly Bali scores really high on the list of the most vegan friendly places worldwide. This is because tempeh, which is made from fermented soybeans, is actually a staple food in Indonesian cuisine.
The tropical climate also provides perfect conditions for growing a large variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs to be used in Bali's abundance of plant-based dishes.
Ubad, the spiritual and cultural centre of Bali, is the main mecca for vegan eaters. But from Canggu to Uluwatu, the whole of Bali is incredibly accommodating to those with a vegan diet.
Don’t miss the traditional Balinese restaurant Siboghana Waroeng which has lots of vegan options, the almost too good to eat smoothie bowls at Sage and the daily vegan buffet packed with fresh flavours at Sawobali.
Of course while Indonesian is maybe one of the more obscure and challenging languages to learn, because it is phonetic and uses a latin alphabet it is not so difficult to master. Moreover, the hospitality of local homestay families in Bali is second to none.
New York, USA
Asking if New York is vegan friendly is like asking if the sky is blue, because of course it is! In fact it’s a global leader in the vegan movement with well over 1000 eating out options.
What’s more, the city being the melting pot that it is, means that there is a seriously diverse level of vegan food options available.
When planning your dining adventure don’t miss the famous Screamer’s Pizzeria for the best vegan pizza around, Orchard Grocer for a classic New York Bagel vegan style and Peacefood Cafe for their scrumptious Vegan New York Cheesecake.
New York, aka ‘The City That Never Sleeps’ is full of unlimited energy and inspiration, so it’s the perfect place to practise those English speaking skills.
Also jumping on one of the many vegan walking tours around the city is a great way to practise your English listening skills and meet like minded people to chat with.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Considering that Asado (BBQ) is the national dish of Argentina and that the country is one of the biggest meat consumers in the world, veganism can be seen as rather odd here.
Beef and dairy in particular have long since been at the core of the Argentinian diet and culture.
However in the capital of Buenos Aires, there’s very much been a shift in the tide. Over the last few years vegan places to eat seem to be popping up all over this vibrant South American city.
A new and exciting mix of eclectic restaurants are rapidly evolving and it’s a great latin scene to practise your Spanish language skills in.
La Revedere Parrillita Vegana is Argentina’s first vegan grill and they also do great vegan empanadas too. Sablee Vegana is the place to go for vegan medialunas, doughnuts with dulce de leche and Alfajores. Buenos Aires Verde also has some great lunch time deals.
There’s loads of things to do in Buenos Aires and in addition homestay hosts tend to be awesome ambassadors of their city and know all the best places to go.
London, UK
After securing the title of the world’s most vegan-friendly city in 2019, London continues to be one of the best European cities for vegans with over 350 fully vegan establishments.
There’s so much choice, it can almost be a little overwhelming. And from vegan markets to vegan festivals, there are so many vegan events on London’s calendar that it can be a challenge to keep up.
Taking a vegan food tour is a good place to start when it comes to things to do in London. That way you can practise learning a language whilst discovering all the good places to eat.
Just to give you a head start though, must-eats are Thenga Cafe which serves delicious Indian dishes, Moko for Afro-Caribbean vegan 'soul food', and fine dining at Gauthier Soho with an 8-course vegan tasting menu.
Because veganism has been growing in popularity in England since as early as the 1800’s, it is very much part of the culture and history of the country. Certainly all homestay hosts and language exchanges in London will be very used to having vegan guests.
Seoul, South Korea
Fascinatingly, the traditional Korean diet was predominantly plant-based in its origin. Buddhist temples across the country have long since recognised the health benefits of veganism. With cooking very much seen as a spiritual practice and an expression of devotion to nature.
Since Koren culture has such deep roots in Buddhism, it should be no surprise that the dynamic capital of Seoul has some of the best vegan restaurants in the world.
One of the best places to sample local cuisine in Seoul is Maru JaYeonSik Kimbap. The rice-bowl-of-the-day at On the Move is a super tasty lunch option. And the spicy noodle soups at Moninjam are absolutely a must try too.
For students of Korean, the city has a perfect blend of vegan friendly homestay hosts and awesome things to do. Take a Korean temple food cooking class or visit one of the many vegan markets for culturally immersive ways to practise your listening and speaking skills.
Turin, Italy
Travelling in Italy as a vegan can be quite difficult compared to other European countries. This is because historically Italian food traditions included lots of animal derived ingredients.
But this northern Italian city has done quite the u turn when it comes to veganism. And the reason is twofold. Firstly, the region is known for its hazelnuts, chestnuts, white truffles and Porcini mushrooms, hence some local dishes have just ended up vegan by chance.
Secondly, the city used to have a pro-veggie mayor who pushed a more progressive restaurant scene and there are now over 30 meat-free, plant-based eateries.
Plin E Tajarin is a small bistro with a separate vegan menu, focusing on the local pasta dishes of the area. Try the Plin (small dumplings) and Tajarin (handmade spaghetti). Then there’s the homemade croissants filled with a legendary Gianduja cream at L’Orto Bistrò.
Don’t expect English menus at these places either, so you really will have to lean into the Italian immersion experience and make the most of your homestay in Italy.
Chaing Mai, Thailand
The land of smiles is hands down one of the best countries for vegan food. Conventionally a Buddhist country, the tendency to follow a plant based diet stems from the nonviolent principles that are central to the religion.
Because of this lots of Thai dishes are already plant based, so vegan options are very easy to find. Helpfully restaurants will also have a yellow and red "je" symbol outside so you know they are vegan friendly.
Plus the relatively cheap prices mean that you can eat out every day without breaking the bank.
Bee Vegan is where it’s at for authentic vegan Thai food, try the Morning Glory stir-fry and the Khao Soi. The green curry fried rice and mushroom burger at the all vegan Reform Cafe are top notch. And the vegan dark chocolate ice cream at Ice Love You is also not to be missed.
Certainly when choosing which language to learn, Thai might not be the most popular choice. However it is a really fun language to study and one that will stretch your language acquisition skills if you are already a bilingual speaker.
In Conclusion
As you can see, when it comes to the best destinations for vegans, there are plenty of different places all around the world. So when choosing which language to learn as a vegan, you have a good deal of options.
For European language learners, be sure to check out our homestay and language exchange options over at Lingoo.There’s lots of different choices of hosts and you can register for free.