Healthy restaurants in Cape Town and the surrounding area

For information only: we traveled as a family through South Africa, i. we were a group of different eaters. Two men who like to eat meat sometimes, my sister who has to eat gluten-free and of course me who likes plant-based and sugar-free food. That’s why the restaurants and cafes in this post are not all total “healthy places”, but rather restaurants with healthy options. A vegan Cape Town guide has the love of Mia Hey Lila Hey on her blog.

Nourish’d
By far one of the best healthy places in Cape Town. Nourish’d is tiny, but the menu is fantastic! The juices are highly recommended, as are all the avocado breads and, oh well, everything!

Harvest Cafe
Located directly on the Bo-Kaap is the Harvest Cafe. Here we had a great breakfast of avocado bread, smoothie bowls and chai porridge. For Halloween, they even made us latte art with ghosts. Must visit!

Janse & Co
Janse & Co is an haute cuisine restaurant and relatively expensive for Cape Town. Haute cuisine is not really my cup of tea because I like big portions, but Jansen’s was really delicious! Next time I would take four courses instead of three, just because the portions are rather small.

Oranjezicht Market
My absolute highlight in Cape Town! Through my sister, we got to know the designer behind the Oranjezicht Market, which was totally inspiring for me. The Oranjezicht market runs through a complete concept: the ground is covered in bark mulch, all signs follow a uniform design, the decoration is uniform and everything is just so beautiful! The market is open on Saturdays and Sundays and an absolute must for every foodie!

Biscuit Mill Market
The Old Biscuit Mill Market is very different to Oranjezicht and more of a market for shopping and strolling. But again, the food court is fantastic. Our highlight was the “Edos” – quasi sushi burritos and a small great bakery with gluten-free, vegan and sugar-free desserts.

Hout Bay Harbor Market
You should visit Hout Bay Harbor Market especially on Friday evenings because there is always live music. The Hout Bay Harbor Market has a completely different flair again than the two aforementioned markets. But there are also many local designers, healthy food stalls and the typical African souvenirs.

Woodlands Eatery
If you would like to try cauliflower pizza (cauliflower pizza), I would recommend the Italian Woodlands Eatery. It was not the best restaurant in Cape Town, but a good restaurant for groups with different eaters. I really loved the Cauliflower pizza and would go back for it!

Kalk Bay

The Courtyard Café
After a great day in Kalk Bay and Boulder’s Beach we went to the Courtyard Café. The chef personally guided us through all the cakes and cookies of the day, explained how the vegan cakes were made and what was used instead of gluten-containing flour. Not all cakes here were vegan or gluten free or sugar free, but at least they’re on it.

Franschhoek

We stayed in Franschhoek for four nights and this was also where our South Africa holiday ended. Between mountains and vinyards. Partly we ate at the wineries, but I can also recommend these three restaurants or delis.

Good food
We went to Good Food after a shopping trip in Stellenbosch. The food was delicious and great for lunch. Good food has many vegan options (I think it was just veggie and vegan) so we even got an Iced Almond Milk Latte there. Yum!

Marigold
Short shock moment for my father: having Indian food in South Africa? Oh yes, because the Marigold, an Indian restaurant was just fantastic! We were there in the evening, so I did not take pictures, but it was really fantastic Indian food and again proof that you can eat well anywhere in South Africa.

Roca
We spent our last evening in Cape Town at the Roca – and that was exactly the right decision. With breathtaking sunset over the vineyards, we enjoyed the great food (there are vegetarian and vegan options) and let the great holiday review again. Also no food pictures, because we just enjoyed our last meal in South Africa.

Stellenbosch

De Warenmarkt
This restaurant belongs to a friend of my sister’s, which is why I am of course a little biased. But de Warenmarkt is really a great concept store and a kind of small food hall. There is a sweet little shop with South African specialties, buy the hibiscus vinegar, fantastic bread and a waffle and crepe station.

Highlights in Cape Town and the surrounding area

Free Walking Tour
On the first day, we joined a free walking tour in Cape Town. We had booked it in advance and were not disappointed! We had chosen the apartheid tour, which I can recommend to everyone! The tour really is for free, but of course everyone gives a tip at the end of the tour, which was not small in our case, because our tour guide was great.

Lion’s Head
Of course, you can not leave Cape Town without first visiting Lion’s Head or Table Mountain. We deliberately chose the Lion’s Head because the hike is more beautiful and according to my sister Lion’s Head is less crowded than Table Mountain.

Bo-Kaap
The typical colorful houses attract tourists from all over the world. Incidentally, Harvest Café has this great view of the Bo-Kaap and Table Mountain and Lion’s Head!

Day trip to the penguins
On Boulder’s Beach you will find the famous South African penguin colony. Of course, this was also a highlight for us. My tip: go a little further south, to beat the crowds. On the southern end of the beach, you can even go swimming. And with a little luck, you might find a penguin swimming next to your. 

Shopping tips in Cape Town

The three markets I’ve listed above are already holding true treasures. Especially if you value regionalism and fair fashion, you will find it at Biscuit Mill Market. We did not really have much time for shopping, but we found what we were looking for in the markets and in the V & A Waterfront.

V & A Waterfront
V & A Waterfront is a very touristy area and right on the waterfront I’m not sure how the shops are there because we left them out completely. Although the waterfront is touristy, I found it fascinating. There is also a small food hall and behind the food hall a much larger hall with many small local shops. Here you can find great souvenirs and most of them are really made in South Africa.

Mungo & Jemima
The absolute favorite business of my sister and now also of me is the business Mungo & Jemima. Here you can find fashion of South African designers, which was mostly produced there.

This was part 1 of my healthy south africa travel guide. Part 2 will be all about the Garden Route, vineyards and safari!

If you have any capt town recommendations, please let me know in the comments below!

xx Lynn

The post My healthy South Africa travel guide – Part 1 Cape Town appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

I’m so happy to finally share my favorite places in Lüneburg today. I am proud to live in this beautiful small city, and I don’t think that Lüneburg needs to hide behind its big sister city Hamburg. Obviously, Lüneburg is not Hamburg, but small cities got their perks, too, and I have to say that I feel very comfortable here.

Cafés and Delis

Bell & Beans

Everyone who knows me, knows how much I love the Bell & Beans Café. I used to go there every single day when I still lived right in the city center. This café is also my preferred place to go with friends and family to show them that Lüneburg can be as cool and hip as Hamburg. To be honest, I have not found something like the Bell & Beans in Hamburg yet. So I assume it’s safe to say that Lüneburg has a better coffee culture than Hamburg. Of course I’m completely making this up to get everyone to visit Lüneburg (and me!) so that I do not always have to hear my friends say “I’m sorry, I can’t come – Lüneburg is so far away”. Thank you Bell & Beans for being the best café in Lüneburg! I love you!

Glockenstraße 1
21335 Lüneburg

Café Edelstahl

I just discovered this amazing place yesterday! Lüneburg finally has a healthy deli and café! I could not believe it, and I also could not believe that I am only discovering it now, when it opened already a month ago. Café Edelstahl offers everything my healthy heart desires: smoothies, smoothie bowls, power salads, gluten-free, vegan and refined sugar-free salads for reasonable prices! Of course you’ll find every plant-based milk on the menu, too, so now you know where to get your oat milk latte from now on. I think it’s safe to say that this is my new dream deli in Lüneburg!

Salzstraße Am Wasser 2
21335 Lüneburg

Unfortunately, Café Edelstahl is closed for good.

Café Zeitgeist

The Café Zeitgeist used to be my favorite café in Lüneburg when I moved here in 2014. I have not been there for a while (mostly because I discovered Bell & Beans), but every time I walk past it, it is crowded. I love the beautiful interior decor, the friendly staff and it’s child friendliness. Most cafés in Lüneburg are pretty small, but Zeitgeist is actually pretty spacy, so I can meet my sister-in-law and niece here. Café Zeitgeist is not a healthy café, but a café with some healthy (or at least vegan) options.

Heiligengeiststraße 36
21335 Lüneburg

Avenir

Perhaps the most sustainable café in Lüneburg is the “Avenir“. Founded by five sustainability-conscious people, Avenir is a café and beer store that sells sustainable and local products, and offers fair coffee and homemade cakes. Of course there are also vegan choices such as plant-based milk for your coffee and vegan cake.

Katzenstraße 2
(Im Heinrich-Böll-Haus)

Das kleine Café

You could call this café my “house café” as it is right in my neighborhood. It’s cozy, beautiful, and the staff could not be friendlier. It’s not your typical healthy café with chia puddings and vegan cheese, but you get oat milk with your coffee, they offer daily lunch dishes (sometimes vegetarian and vegan), and delicious homemade cakes and pies (sometimes vegan). Vera and Maja, the owners, also serve gluten-free porridges. This is by far my favorite café in Lüneburg.

Wilschenbrucher Weg 27/At the corner of Feldstraße
21335 Lüneburg

Annas Café

Annas Café is not your typical healthy café. Like most restaurants and cafés in Lüneburg, it’s a café and deli with some healthy options. It is mostly known for its homemade cakes, but you can also get some delicious, vegan and sometimes even gluten-free food here. Like I said, there are some healthier options, but don’t visit Annas Café to find superfood salads. Visit Annas Café if you’re looking for a cozy café with lovely outdoor seatings with a beautiful view over the Lüneburg harbor.

Salzstraße Am Wasser 6
21335 Lüneburg

Restaurants and Delis

Esszimmer

I was devistated when Shiraz, my favorite Persian deli, closed its doors last year. Long story short, the Persian family that used to own Shiraz just made some structural changes. If you’re living in Lüneburg, then I’ll give you a quick update. As of recently, the restaurant “Esszimmer” now offers the Shiraz cuisine, and what used to be the “Esszimmer” cuisine is now sold across the street at 0,75l. For everyone else, all you need to remember is that the “Esszimmer” offers delicious Persian soups, vegan (but not gluten-free) sandwiches and different daily meals. I believe that it’s only to go as of now. I especially love the soups and the rice dishes.

Rackerstraße 7
21335 Lüneburg

Soraya

I took my sister to Soraya last December, and she was beyond happy. Going out to eat can be difficult in smaller cities if you have celiac disease, but Soraya was able to accomodate her needs perfectly. The persian restaurant offers the most delicious food. I went there with one of my girlfriends with Iranian roots, and she confirmed that is was close to the traditional Persian dishes that she knew. Long story short: this is one of my favorite restaurants to visit if Jannis and I feel like treating us to something special.

Lünertorstraße 18
21335 Lüneburg

Viscvle Kitchen & Bar

Viscvle Kitchen & Bar is not a healthy restaurant. But it’s still one of my favorites if I’m looking for a nice and relaxed evening with friends or family. There is always a vegetarian or vegan dish on the menu, the wine and beer selection is great and the interior decor of the restaurant reminds me of hip places in the Hamburg “Schanze”. The food is not healthy per se, but the kitchen uses mainly local ingredients and the menu changes daily. I can highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a special night out with your partner or friends.

Salzstraße Am Wasser 3 – 5
21335 Lüneburg

Quán Ăn Ngon Lüneburg

Living in a small city has its perks and its down sides. One downside is definitely the missing Asian restaurants in Lüneburg. That’s why I was beyond happy to hear that a new vietnamese restaurant opened up in Lüneburg last summer. It might not be the best vietnamese restaurant, but it’s definitely fresh and delicious food, and I love going here. Just like most vietnamese restaurants, they use quite a lot of sugar in their sauces, but I still love their food.

Obere Schrangenstraße 1
21335 Lüneburg

Shopping

I have to admit that I am not the biggest shopping queen at the momet. I have put most of our interior projects on hold at the moment, because we have spent quite a lot of money on the move last summer. But there are some interios projects that are next on my list, such as our living room and hallway, and bathroom.

Feinsinn

One of my favorite stores in Lüneburg is Feinsinn. A super cute concept store with my favorite partner brand Brote Copenhagen, L:A Bruket, Lovely Linen, Pfeffersack & Söhne and other amazing interior and food brands. Whenever I need a gift, this is my first and only stop, because you always find something special.

Heiligengeiststraße 35
21335 Lüneburg

Bekleidungsraum

The first address for fair fashion in Lüneburg is the Bekleidungsraum. The store carries brands such as Armed Angels or other fair fashion brands. It’s not exclusively fair fashion based, but I definitely love the style and feel of this local and independent store.

Untere Schrangenstraße 12
21335 Lüneburg

The post Healthy Eating in Lüneburg – Cafés, restaurants & delis appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

*For this post I was invited by Rosenberg Ayurveda. All opinions are my own. Always.

Ayurveda. Something I’ve obviously heard before. But honestly, I had close to no clue what Ayurveda really meant. When I thought of Ayurveda, I thought of turmeric latte and turmeric porridge. So when I was invited by Rosenberg Ayurveda to visit one of their regenerative retreats, I was overly excited.I opted for the regeneration retreat “Rasayana”, aimed at people seeking stress release and some relaxing days away from everyday life. After an exhausting apartment move, and before the start of my masters thesis, this seemed like the perfect retreat to recharge my batteries.

Before my arrival, I had mixed feelings about the whole thing. Obviously I was existed to try something new, but of course, there were some concerns when I headed towards Birstein.

What I was looking forward to:

• 5 days of no cooking, no doing the dishes, but still being served healthy food. Yay! Yay! Yay!
• Massages. Massages. Massages. (Coming from the person who has had 1(!!) massage in her life.)
• Long walks in nature.
• Learning about Ayurveda and how it may help decrease stress in everyday life.
• Lots of delicious recipe inspirations for the blog.

Needless to say, there were a couple more things that worried me prior to arrival:

• Will the place be packed with older men and women, hence – will I be the youngest?
• Am I even allowed to go to a stress relief retreat? After all, I don’t have kids, I’m not a manager and my life is pretty great at the moment to be honest.
• Will I come back all yellow (you know, because of all the turmeric?)
• Will they have WiFi?
• Will it be very spiritual?
• Can I even relax? Like am I physically capable to wind down and do nothing?

Arrival or „Am I too young to be stressed?“

The first night starts with a welcome round in the yoga room. Our retreat coach Sonja greets us, and talks a little bit about organizational things and the daily schedule for the next five days before we all head over to dinner together. I am thrilled to hear that the menu was carrot curry soup with apple and banana, sautéed mangold with almond sliced, grilled bell pepper and roasted potato wedges with sesame and rosemary. Me gusta Ayurvedic food very very much!

After dinner we go back to the yoga room and begin with everyone introducing themselves. I quickly realize that I am the very youngest (by far), and get the feeling that I have no idea what stress is – given the resumes of all of my fellow retreat buddies. But oh well, I’m here now, so why not tell them that I’m a 27-year old food blogger and master student with probably less stress than most of the people in the room combined. Ok, I have to admit that this isnt’t completely true, but I figure that most of the other guests probably wouldn’t know that food blogger can be stressful and getting your Masters while working full-time also takes its toll on you.

After introductions, Sonja guides us through a lovely meditation. I’m having trouble relaxing though because my neighbor breathes so intensely that her breath is all I can focus on. I make a quick mental note to switch mats next session. Sonja also reads us a poem by Charlie Chaplin “The day I learnt to love myself”, and I start smiling as I listen to each word that she reads.

Before we all head to bed, we are each given a heating pad and a tea pot with warm water that are supped to drink right after we wake up the next morning. I wonder if they’ve read my mind, because I had thought about brining my heating pad, but decided that this would be a bit too much grandma-styke even for me. Relaxed and happy with my heating pad I head to bed, and begin to write down my daily experiences.

Daily Highlight: the 78-year old couple who “wanted to try something new” and signed up for the Ayurveda retreat. Serious 78-years-old goal!

Day 1 or the one with the foot massage

I’m usually an early bird, but getting up at 6:30 am is hard on the first full day of my retreat. After two cups of warm water, I get ready for our first yoga class. The yoga practice is a lot (a lot!) milder and easier than what I usually practice at home. I think it will take some getting used-to, because my body has way too much energy and wants to do a handstand or chair pose rather than child’s pose all the time. But I’m open minded to the idea that this gentle yoga will do me good.

After yoga, we head to the breakfast room where we are served grain porridge (rice and millet) with stewed apples, almonds, dates, honey and Ghee. I start with just a little Ghee because I’m not sure about adding it to my sweet breakfast just yet, but I am surprised how much I like it over porridge.

My schedule tells me that I have my first short consultation with Sonja after breakfast, and we talk about why I’m here and what my issues are (high blood pressure, migraines, acne prone skin). Sonja tells me not to study for my exams while I’m here, but I’m not sure if I will (can) follow her advice just yet. But I am willing to try.

Before lunch I also have my first Ayurveda treatment: Padabhyanga or foot massage combined with a gentle face massage. Because I’m all for teaching experiences, I allow the massage apprentice to observe while Nicole massages my legs and feet and face with warm oil – I’m in heaven and can completely let go. The apprentice also guides me to my room after the treatment to make sure that my blood pressure doesn’t drop down too quickly (though I wish it would) and I rest for a while and before showering and heading downstairs to lunch. The rest of the day is relaxing and very quiet.

Daily highlight: my first Ayurvedic foot massage

Day 2: The day I had my first experience in a „sauna in a box“.

My second day starts once again with a gentle morning relaxation yoga practice. I still feel like I have way too much energy for such gentle morning „workouts“, but I try to keep an open mind about it. Breakfast is a delicious kamut porridge with baked apples and almond slices – my new favorite thing!

Right after breakfast I have my whole body massage – one hour of pure relaxation. My massagist Bärbel also has me spend 7 minutes in the sauna box (or at least that’s what it looks like), which is supposed to open my pores and increase sweat production to get rid of unwanted substances. Afterwards, I am supposed to rest for an hour, which I gladly do. It’s crazy how normal it already feels to lie in bed at 10 am in the morning.

Daily Highlight: My massagist Nicole tells me excitedly that my blog taught her to make almond butter. I could not get the grin off my face afterwards.

Another Highlight: A long conversation with a fellow retreat patient, who is a professional life coach and gender equality manager. So inspiring!

Day 3 or the one where I had oil dripping down my forehead

I can’t believe that we’ve reached the middle of the retreat already. It’s a tradition at Rosenberg that Wednesday is Sirodhara-Day, a forehead drip treatment that is one of the most well-known ayurvedic treatments aimed towards achieving ulitmate relaxation. Well, since I was still not really able to relax constantly, I was sceptical but willing to give it a chance. And what can I say – the moment the warm sesame oil touched my forehead and hair, I was hooked. It felt like Bärbel, the massagist, was massaging my forehead. During the treatment I was convinced that she used her hands, too. But no, the warm oil did everything! It literally felt like my chaotic thoughts were washed away, with every drip. I think I need to teach Jannis how to do this…

Sirodhara-day is easy to recognize for a non-retreat person, because it’s the day where all retreat patients walk around in a turban. Especially amusing were our two male patients who looked like Ali Baba in their haarem…

Daily highlight: washing away the chaos in my head with Sirodhara

Day 4: The one with leisure stress

In contrast to Wednesday, where relaxation and „me-time“ was predominant, Thursday feels almost stressful because there were so „many“ workshops on the schedule. The most important question: how do I successfully and sustainably implement certain ayurvedic measures into my stressfuly daily life? We learn that it’s almost impossible to implement the full Ayurvedic morning routine after getting home. However, there are a few easy Ayurvedic practices to take home with us: drinking plenty of warm water throughout the day, oil pulling, eating lots of ghee, warm meals such as porridge, Indian Dals, curries, roasted vegetables with lots of warming spices. Since there won’t be anyone serving us Indian food at home, the fantastic chef teaches us how to make Indian pancakes, which we’re having as a side dish for dinner. It’s the first step towards more Ayurveda food at home. I feel bad for all of the women who have a families at home who refuse healthy, and “weird” food such as curries with Indian spices.

Daily Highlight: We all spend the last evening watching the movie “The Hundred-Foot Journey” (one of my all-time favorite movies), have a glass of wine and just enjoy the last hours together. With an almost sad feeling, we go to bed, knowing that our Ayurveda retreat was coming to an end.

Day 5 or „How do you express thankfulness?“.

The last morning starts quietly. There is a feeling of agony and excitement in the air. For some, five days of Ayurveda was enough. For some it was not long enough. We’re all ready to go home, we miss our loved ones. But we are also in a state of tranquility. Not ready to let go. Not ready to go back into the hectic life that awaits most of us at home. It’s hard to put in words what an Ayurveda retreat is really like. Everyone experiences it differently. For me, doing nothing was the hardest part. Before we each go our seperate ways, we exchange email adresses and I notice a big change of newsletter subscribers on my blog. Our retreat-grandpa Heinrich fights with tears, which makes saying-goodbye extra hard. I hope to keep in touch with some of them. With the lovely newly-weds. With the yoga teacher and entrepreneur from Munich. With the business woman from Kiel who is now a HLH-reader, too.

Daily Highlight: Watching Heinrich shed some tears at the good-bye session – this also made me tear up a little.

Takeaway:

You may have noticed how my writing has changed throughout the post. While there was a certain easiness in the beginning, my thoughts were deeper, more severe and mature in the end. I did not know what to expect when I began my journey to Birstein. I feared that it was right for me. Speaking of fears, let’s take a look at my fears before the retreat:

• Will the place be packed with older men and women, hence – will I be the youngest?

Absolutely. Since the retreat is not cheap, you’ll find a certain age group to make out the majority of retreat patients. However, age did not matter, because we shared so many similarites. We all had our package to carry and that’s why we got along so well.

• Am I even allowed to go to a stress relief retreat? After all, I don’t have kids, I’m not a manager and my life is pretty great at the moment to be honest.

Rasayana retreats are highly preventative. Kowing how much stress can harm our body, I am thankful to have had the chance to be allowed to relax for five days. We all need some „me-time“ from time to time. If it’s not an Ayurveda retreat then it’s the tea in the afternoon or the yoga class at night.

• Will I come back all yellow (you know, because of all the turmeric?)

No. However, turmeric is one of the most important spices in Ayurveda. It’s used in the food but also in teas, in milk (you already know my turmeric latte recipe, don’t you?), and even on wounds or acne treatments.

• Will they have WiFi?

Yes! But only in the café and not in the rooms. And I did not miss it!

• Will it be very spirituell?

No. Even though Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation have the spiritual component, the focus was not on spirituality at all. Rather, we learned tangible ideas how to make our lives a little healthier with the help of Ayurveda. Of course, you cannot have an Ayurveda treatment completely free of spiritualtiy, but it wasn’t the focus of the event.

• Can I even relax? Like am I physically capable to wind down and do nothing?

Yes and no. The first two days, I did not go for a run, and really tried to relax. However I noticed that I can relax a lot better after I exercised, so I went for a run on the last two days. This way, I got to really enjoy the forehead drip treatment, which helped me get into a state of total relaxation. I even kept my cell phone off most of this day.

Summary:

If you are interested in healthy eating, then you probably already know a thing or two about Ayurveda. Before the retreat, I had a basic knowledge on the life philosophy. I knew that it includes a lot of warm dishes, spices and warm water, but there’s so much more to the Ayurvedic lifestyle than just warm water. What I especially loved about the retreat was that you’re not overwhelmed with information and esotheric. It was just the right amount of relaxation paired with easy-to-digest amount of specific information. For me, the group retreat was perfect, but if you’re more of an individual, then an individual retreat might be better for me. Since I always vacationed with groups in my life, I enjoyed the retreat especially because of the people. The atmosphere in our group was very harmonic and friendly, which also added to the relaxed feeling of the whole week

*If you’re interested in the Ayurveda retreats at Rosenberg, you’ll find all the information on their website. If you have specific questions about what retreat is best suited for you or if health insurance offers support, you can call or email them directly.

*I am beyond grateful to Rosenberg Ayurveda for inviting me to the retreat and giving me the opportunity to experience such a retreat first hand. All opinions are my own. Always.

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

The post My Ayurveda Retreat – or how to relax? appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

This is the final part of my healthy bali guides. Find Part 1 and Part 2 here.

Our final stop in Bali was the magical Ubud. You could neither compare Ubud to Uluwatu nor to Canggu – it’s the health capital of Bali, it’s a Yogi’s paradise and the spiritual center for all those going to Bali on a mission to find themselves. It was definitely not our intention to find ourselves in Bali, so we saved Ubud for last, but I wish we would have had more time to explore Ubud’s hidden gems and treasures. If you skip the busy tourist attractions such as Ubud market and Ubud palace, then you will find many quiet and beautiful places in and around the village. Ubud is not big, but pretty populated, so it can be confusing at first. But it does not take long until you can find your way around the city. For healthy eaters, Yogis and nature lovers, Ubud is definitely worth a visit.

How to get around:

Once again, the scooter was the best way to get around. It gave us so much freedom, and enabled us to see much more of Ubud and its culture than we would have by foot or driver. Ubud traffic can be a bit more chaotic than down in Bingin, but after 12 days in Bali, we were already quite well at navigating through the Bali roads.

Where to stay in Ubud

We had two completely different accommodations in Ubud. They could have not been more different, but they were both absolutely amazing. The first two nights we got to spend at Como Shambala Resort, which we will forever treasure in our hearts, and the last two nights we slept in a tiny homestay in a village 20 minutes outside of Ubud.

Como Shambala Estate

We spent two nights at the most amazing health hotel ever. It was too amazing to write it all down in a few lines, so there will be a complete blogpost about it coming very soon.

Villa Omah Lembu

Bukit Sari

Healthy Eating in Ubud:

Just like in Canggu, there is a healthy restaurant or café on every corner. Some of them are too hippie for my taste, but most of them serve high quality food, always with a special touch. I especially loved the Yellow Flower Café and the Alchemy.

Yellow flower cafe

We went to the Yellow Flower Café through a recommendation of my friend Mia, and I’m so glad we did, as it was the perfect little hidden gem to visit on our first day in Ubud. The view from here is spectacular, and it’s so wonderfully quiet up here. The way to Yellow Flower Café is so cute, too. You will have to leave your scooter at the main road and then walk up some cute stairs to find it. The best part of this café was their expertise. We had a bit up a stomach ache when we visited it, so we asked the waiter for a recommendation. She brought us activated charcoal drinks, and after about 30 minutes, we already felt much better. How amazing it that? Absolutely my favorite little café in Ubud!

Lazy Cats Cafe

We found Lazy Cats through a recommendation of a friend who actually lives in Ubud (frankly, she owns parts of the cafe), and she helped design the interior, which was one of the reasons you have to check this place out. According to Jannis, the coffee was amazing, the avocado toast wasn’t super exciting, so coffee and lunch would be best to visit the lazy cats cafe. The interior is absolutely stunning, so also a must-visit for me.

The Elephant

We went to the Elephant on our first night in Ubud, and we were not disappointed. Elephant is trying very hard to be a sustainable and organic restaurant, the food is delicious and offers lots of plant-based, gluten-free choices. We ate the Pad Thai, and the coconut noodle soup and started with the spring rolls, which was all delicious. However, I would have liked a broader selection of Indonesian dishes, because the Thai focus of the elephant confused me a little. But it was still one of the best dinners we have had in Ubud.

Alchemy

We went to Alchemy on our very last lunch at Ubud, where we met with a couple that we had met in Canggu a few days before. Alchemy is an all raw and vegan holistic restaurant, with an attached little health shop. The food here really was delicious, my friend Keira and I had a salad from the salad bar with pink sauerkraut, raw pad thai, basil coconut chips (which tasted like Parmesan) and cauliflower tabbouleh, and Jannis and our friend Jared both had the raw Mexican burger, which was surprisingly delicious (according to the guys).

Yoga Barn

I loved Yoga Barn! Though I did not have time for yoga in Ubud (we only had 2 days), I loved the yogi feeling of this town. Yoga barn is the best known yoga place in Ubud, so naturally this place has a certain yogi-vibe to it. It might be too much for some people, and I was there very early in the morning, when it was still quite empty, but the whole sourroundings if this place are so beautiful. The breakfast was delicious, the juices and coffee as well. It’s a place to check-out if you love yoga and healthy food, and everything that comes with those two things.

Biji Bali

A friend of mine just recently started her own chia pudding start-up called Biji Bali. They are just starting out, so you will need to check out their Instagram account for pop-up locations and events. Their turmeric soursop chia pudding is too die for! Healhy and delicious at the same time. If you love chia pudding, then you will love Biji Bali.

Bali Buda

We only spent 30 minutes at Bali Buda, and only has a smoothie, so I cannot speak for the food at Bali Buda. It did sound delicious, and the prices were reasonable as well. It’s not an “Instagrammable” location such as Lazy Cats Cafe or Alchemy, but definitely a quiet place to escape the busy Ubud center.

Things to do in Ubud:

• Visit a yoga class (I did not go to any classes in Ubud, but I heard only good things about Intuitive Yoga and Yoga Barn.
• Book a cooking class. We went on one that included a tour through a market and the cooking took place on an all organic farm about 25 minutes away from Ubud. Our class was not that great, so I will not name it here, but I’m sure there are many good and healthy ones out there. Alchemy also offers lots of exiting classes, which you can find on their website. They even have classes, where you can learn how to make your own natural body products.
• Visit a local market – so interesting!
• Go on a hike. There are beautiful waterfalls and vulcanoes around Ubud, so next time I’m there, I will definitely participate in more outdoor-activities.
• Drive around on a scooter. What we loved most about Ubud was the drive in and out of town. We stayed about 20 minutes south of Ubud in a small village, so the bike ride into town provided lots of real-Bali life impressions, which was exactly what we wanted to see.
• Visit the green school: unfortunately we switched this plan with the Cooking class, which was such a bummer, because the cooking class wasn’t all that great. Next time I’m in Bali, I will make sure to visit this unique and sustainable school.

Things to leave out:

• Monkey forest
• Tegalalang rice terraces. They are beautiful, no doubt about that! But the only fun part about our trip to Tegalalang was the scooter ride through a back-road, which took us through way more beautiful landscapes than the touristy and garbage-covered popular Tegalalang fields. We were obviously impressed by the view of Tegalalang, but the masses of Chinese and other tourists were simply too much, so we left after a few minutes.
• Ubud market. Just lots of bad quality mass ware and all the tourists it attracts. I have to admit that we did buy some souvenirs there, but just because we only had little time left in Bali. I would not go back.
• The big temple near Ubud market.

This was the last part of my Bali Guides. I hope that my three guides (including Uluwatu and Canggu) were helpful to some of you, and interesting even if you’re not planning on visiting Bali any time soon). If you have anything to add (be it accomodations, restaurants or things to do), please let me know in the comments below. There will be a last Bali-inspired blogpost about our stay at the number one holistic hotel Como Shambala Estate on the blog next week (including an exciting giveaway) so stay tuned!

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The post Healthy Bali Guide (Part 3) – Ubud and the spiritual jungle of Bali appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Part 2 of my Healthy Bali Guides. This one is all about Canggu.

After five days at Bingin / Ulu Watu, we drove north to Canguu. While Bingin fascinated me with its tranquility, it’s empty beaches (except for Padang-Padang), we also fell in love with Canguu for a very different reason: its beach, its people and its countless hipster cafes. If you’re looking for a little more things to do, entry-level surfing classes, beautiful accommodation and amazing food, then Canguu will not disappoint. However, the beach is “crowded” even in the low season (I say “crowded” because it’s only true in some parts where the best wave breaks are, the beach itself is several kilometers long and you will certainly find a quieter place somewhere.

The most beautiful ethno-style bungalows: Jungle Room Bali

We stayed at Jungle Room Bali* and we could not have loved it more. *Disclaimer: the jungle room invited us to stay for two nights, but we loved it so much that we paid for the additional two nights of our stay. The jungle room is perfect if you are looking for a mid-budget accommodation in the rice fields overlooking the river, if you’re a young couple, if you love a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, if you LOVE unique interior design, if you value the kindness and of amazingly accommodating staff, if you’re simply looking for a unique hideaway a little further away from the buzz of Canguu’s main street.

Originally, we had booked the River View Bungalow through AirBnB, that’s how I found the Jungle Room in the first place. A little before our arrival, they told us that we had been upgraded to the villa if we wanted to (how could we not?!). The villa mango was an absolute dream! It consists of a private pool and three double rooms, each with their respective bathroom, a wooden/ concrete – style kitchen and a seating area. If you’re in Bali with three or even two couples, the villa is even totally affordable as it’s 130 Euros per night including healthy breakfast and yoga. The rooms in the villa are all uniquely designed, with a close eye for detail, including vases, rocking chairs, straw hats and many many more. Two of the three bathrooms had an outside shower, but the room with the interior shower was the one I loved the most and that we stayed in.

Of course we fell in love with our villa, but there was one thing in particular that made me even happier than all the luxury in the world: our very own mango trees!!!
The first day, we kept hearing something fall from the trees and since we had been in Bingin before, we figured it’d be monkeys. But it were Mangos! OMG! I was in mango heaven! If you’ve never been to Asia before (like us), then the mangos will taste so much different than what you are used to. I totally loved it!

Speaking of which: the breakfast at the Jungle Room was all I hoped it would be. You can choose between coconut chia pudding, coconut pancakes, avocado toast with poached eggs, fruit, granola and scrambled tofu together with coffee. If you wanted to criticize anything at the jungle lodge, then I guess that there is no juice included in the breakfast price. For around 40,000 IDR (around 2,50 Euros) you can of course add them to your menu.

Where to eat in Canggu

Canguu is the place to be if you love healthy food. Even Jannis started laughing at one point, because it was as if all our favorite European eateries were combined on one street. Healthy eating after healthy eating after healthy eating. We were in food heaven. However, when I told my sister about it, who had recently visited the Philippines, she was shocked to learn about the prices in Bali. For us as Western travelers, spending five euros on a healthy burger with fries obviously seems cheap, but if you’re used to Southeast-Asian prices, seven euros for a meal may sound outrageously expensive.
But do not worry, we have mainly tried to find more authentic Indonesian warungs with vegetarian and vegan choices, and we found them! Thanks to Mia from HeyLilahHey.

Warung Dandelion

Warung Dandelion was our Canguu-favorite. This is the place where you go to when you want to have real Indonesian food, and no hipster flair. The food here is incredibly cheap even though you feel like you’re eating in a high-end restaurant. Jannis tried the Mie Goreng and I absolutely adored their Tempe and tofu curry! Seriously one of the best spots to eat at in Bali. The biggest plus is the amazing view of the rice terraces next to “Canggu Avenue”.

Warung Varuna

We came to Warung Varuna the second night of our stay and we loved it’s laid-back feeling, the locals inside and the expats who looked like they had lived in Bali for a while. This is the best option if you want authentic Indonesian cuisine for a bargain price. My veggie Mie Goreng was 1,50 Euro! They also have great vegan options with brown rice, vegetables, Tempe and tofu, but also fish and meat for your non-veggie companion. I’m sorry for the bad photo, but it was already dark when we ate here. Definitely great if you’ve spent 20 Euros on a lunch at Cafe Organic.

Cafe Organic

At Café Organic we had our most expensive lunch, but I absolutely loved the interior of this place. All white, with siting hammocks outside and lots of plants for shade. I had a rather expensive bowl, which was delicious, but Jannis’ sweet potato burger was definitely better. Most dishes are plant-based or can be made plant-based and gluten-free.

Peloton Supershop

Peleton Supershop is a rather new spot in Canguu, but already pretty popular. They are known for their incredible jackfruit dishes, which taste like real meat! While I’m definitely not the meat-substitute type, their burgers and plant-based Nasi Campur have really surprised me. It’s definitely a must-visit in Canguu, but price-wise a bit higher than regular.

The Shady Shack

We have had by far the best vegetarian burger at the Shady Shack. It’s an all vegetarian and mostly vegan hipster place, which gets pretty crowded at night. The whole vibe of this place was incredible and the food absolutely delicious, but pricier than other dinner places.

Earth Café

You should visit Earth Café if you fancy a quiter, less crowded and popular lunch with health ingredients and a laid-back athmosphere. Earth Café has an amazing selection of juices, smoothies, and other goodies. We tried the wrap and the sandwhich, both of which were delicious!

Shopping in Canggu

On our second to last day in Canggu, we met a completely like-minded couple from near Sydney, and we soon felt like long-time friends, because we had so many similarities. Keira introduced me to a sustainable fashion brand from Australia, which produced ethically responsible in Bali called Yöli & Otis. I instantly fell in love with their clothes and ended up spending 100 Euros in their store for a tank top and a pair of beautiful shorts. It was the best souvenir I bought in Bali, and I will treasure it forever. Canguu is also great for shopping if you like surfer clothes, concept stores and hipster stores selling pineapple (I do, haha).

Working out in Canggu

Surfing is probably the number one sport in Canggu, followed by Yoga and other mindful activities. We took a surfing lesson right by the beach with two super nice locals. In hindsight, however, I would definitely not recommend following our example. The waves are pretty rough in Canggu, so please please book a surfing class in advance – one that prioritizes safety. Our German yoga teacher Danijela at the Jungle Room recommended a surfing teacher to us after we had already booked our lesson. You can definitely ask Danijela for advice on that topic (and other Canggu topics as well), as she is a blogger as well over at Rebelheartyogi.

Healthy restaurants, that we did not have time to visit, but will definitely check out next time.

• The Slow
• Crate
• Nalu Bowls
• Bali Bowls

Beaches in Canggu

Berawa Beach

My favorite beach in Canggu was Berawa Beach. It was less crowded than Batu Bolong, the most popular beach in Canggu, and the ride to the beach is simply beautiful. You will pass rice fields, lots of local warungs and hipster cafés, and the ride alone is worth the journey to the beach. The water is pretty rough and the waves are high, so it’s not ideal for kids (at least at the time that we were there).

Batu Bolong

This beach is definitely pretty crowded at the beginning, but once you pass the temple and the beach huts, you’ll find quieter spots. The whole west coast of Bali seems to be endless, and so is the beach. You can walk along the beach for hours – that’s why I loved Canggu so much. Just note that none of the beaches are your Instagram and Pinterest dream. However, even if they are not that pittoresque, they have a certain vibe, which I loved.

There are so many other amazing restaurants, accomodation and things to do in Canggu, and this guide is by far not complete, so please do let me know if you have anything to add. I am looking forward to going back there soon, and I would love to visit some new places next time I’m there.

*Disclaimer: The Jungle Room Bali invited for two nights, but we paid the full price for the other two nights of our stay. All opinions are my own. Always.

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The post Healthy Bali Guide (Part 2) – Canggu: eco bungalow, healthy restaurants & warungs appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

If you follow me on Instagram (or read my blog thoroughly), then you’ve probably noticed that I have been travelling around Bali tthese past two weeks. It was an incredible experience, my first time really travelling in an Asian country, and it could not have been more perfect. This trip had been on my bucket list for years, and I do not even remember why I put it off for so long. Bali is the place to be if you love healthy food, being active, nature and meeting new friendly people (both Indonesian and Internationals). I fell deeply in love with the friendliness of the Balinese people, and have come to admire their take on life. In Bali, no one rushes, it seems like everyone is mindful of the present, not worrying about the future or the past. Mindfulness is one big word that is realyl being practiced in Bali. Since I’ve gotten so many request both during and after my trip, I decided to split my Bali experiences into three guides: Uluwatu & South Bali, Canguu and Ubud. This might seem quite a lot given that this is a food blog and not a travel blog, but Bali is THE island when it comes to healthy living, so everyone with a healthy mindset should read this and travel to Bali once in their lifetime.

Our travel route

The question that we got most often (and that we asked ourselves plenty of times before we booked anything) was where we stayed and where we did not go. After reading lots of blogs and travel guides, we decided to start our Bali trip in Uluwatu, more accurately in Bingin Beach, then head into the busier and trendier Canggu and then spend the final four days in Bali’s cultural centre Ubud. This route turned out to be the perfect mix for us, and I would definitely take this route again. The South of Bali is perfect for first-time visitors as it’s quieter, not crowded at all and also a great place to start riding on a scooter. If you’re looking more for nightlife and shops, then Seminyak or even Kuta would be your best option (not for me though), and if you’re into scuba diving or snorkeling you might want to take a look at North and East Bali. It all depends on your wishes and needs.

How to get around

Exploring Bali without a scooter is pretty much pointless. You will be missing out on a major part of the Bali culture – everyone drives a scooter! Neither Jannis nor me had ever ridden a scooter before, and we managed to get a hang of it within half a day. Starting your Bali trip in Uluwatu is perfect for first-time scooter-drivers, because the roads are almost empty and life is generoulsy more relaxed down there. However, if you’re leaving Uluwatu and you’re headed into Kuta or Seminyak, things can get pretty crazy on the streets. Switching to a cap when in the bigger cities is as advisable. Wearing a helmet should also be a no-brainer. Getting gas is also experience itself because it is sold on the street in empty vodka bottles, which cost about 80 Cents a liter.

The best sunset in South-Bali

Working out in Bali

Where to stay at Bingin Beach

Mu Bali

Mu Bali was our very first accomodation in Bali and it was definitely a lovely way to begin our special trip. We treated ourselves to the one and only cliff bungalow for two nights. It’s way over our student-budget, but I had always wanted to sleep in a cliff, so we decided to go all in and pay for the 170 Euros/night. The view from our bed was definitely priceless, but so was being woken up by monkeys stealing our toiletries. To my defense (and the monkey’s) we did arrive very late at night, and nobody had told us about the monkeys, and I totally forgot about them after traveling for more than 24 hours. So of course we left our toiletries in the open bathroom.

Because A) how amazing is an open bathroom and B) how amazing is an open bathroom – oh and C) monkeys???

So of course the monkeys stole our toothbrushes and Jannis’ lotion, but who can blame them. After all, it was us that invated their territory. The super friendly staff gave us slingshots to make noise (NOT to throw stones at them!), because otherwise you were never alone when you went to the bathroom.

I do not know if I would recommend staying at the Cliff Bungalow if you are scared of monkeys or insects, because unfortunately we did have ants in our bed the first night. The second night was fine, as we paid much more attention to the mosquito net. The view from the room was of course incredible, but I think I would stay in one of the other bungalows next time, which seemed more tranquil and monkey-free.

However, the breakfast was amazing, so was the staff and the infinity pool speaks for itself. Mu is definitely a beautiful place to stay, especially with kids, so I would recommend staying there (just not in the cliff).

The Temple Lodge

Healthy eating in Uluwatu and Bingin Beach

Café Bukit

Muz Kitchen

Kelly’s Warung

Warung Bingin Ombak

Beaches in South-Bali

Bingin Beach

Balangan Beach

Uluwatu Beach

Padang-Padang

Sites: Uluwatu Temple

Excuse me, but how clever are those monkeys?

Finally, some general tips and recommendations:

• If you’re sugar-free like me, be sure to ask for “no sugar added” in restaurants. The Balinese like it sweet!
• The money can be quite confusing, so double check before you pay cash – a 10,000 and a 100,000 bill can easily be confused.
• Don’t plan too much – the best days were always the ones that we did not plan through.
• Learn a little bit of Bahasa or Indonesian. A simple “Terikma Kasihh” or “Suksama” (Bahasa) will be returned with the biggest smile.
• Do not only eat in expensive Aussie-run health spots. There are amazing Warungs run by locals who also have pitaya bowls and superfood smoothies.
• Enjoy the Bali-life! It’s the best!

Have you used this guide or do you have anything to add? I would love to hear about it in the comments below!

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The post Healthy Bali Guide (Part 1) – Uluwatu, Bingin & South Bali – Restautants, Eco Lodges & Health Spots appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

My healthy Porto trave guide – everything you need to know to experience a healthy Porto trip.

Our trip to Porto may have already been a few months ago, but now that summer is almost here, I really wanted to share my Porto experience with you, because some of you might be flying to Portugal this summer. If you do, please do not only visit the Algarve coast, but rent a car and drive all the way to the northern part of this beautiful country. Porto amazed me – it was by far one of the best city trips I have ever taken, and I think you will love it just as much as I do.

Eating healthy in Porto was not as easy as it is in many other European countries these days. But we did find some delicious and healthy places, you just have to look a little bit more thoroughly, and you will be treated with cute cafés, restaurants and buffet-style delis. My Porto highlight was this cute little Espresso shop on the river. It only had two chairs and a wodden table on the tiny pathway that seperated it from the railway tracks of the tourist cable car railway. It served the cheapest coffee I have ever had (I think it was 80 Cents) and they sold frehly pressed juices for just 1,20 Euros.

This experience basically sums up our Porto experiene. We were almost always sure that the waiter must have missed something on our check, because everything was so affordable. If you’re looking for a budget travel destination in the sun, Porto is your go-to place.

Best Travel Time:

We visited Porto in October – which ended up to be the perfect choice for us. It was definitely a little chilly in the morning and at night, but when the sun came out, you could totally walk around in tshirt and shorts. Since you have to take the train a little bit out of the city to go the beach, I would not necessarily recommend Porto for a beachy summer trip. However, the area around Porto is well-known amongst surfers, so if you’re a surfer, then summer would be your ideal travel time.

Getting to Porto:

You can easily reach Porto with budget airlines such as RyanAir from many cities in Europe. We flew in from Bremen, the flight was just about three hours. From the airport, we took the train into the city, and walked the few meters to our AirBnB. Of course you could take a taxi, too, but the train is super comfortable and cheaper. We also rented a car for two days to explore the sourroundings of Porto and all its little fishermen towns. Best decision ever! It was one of the most special days in Portugal and definitely my favorite part of the trip.

Where to Stay in Porto:

As with all European cities, my answer is always: AirBnB. We stayed at the cutest little AirBnB right in the cool art-district in Porto. If you’re looking for an affordable cute little place to spend four lovely nights in Porto, Maria has your back. She runs a furniture shop right across from her AirBnB building, so she was always there to answer our questions. I believe there are three apartments that she rents out, and we had the one on the ground floor, but there are also bigger ones upstairs with a balcony. The building has a cute little garden where you can take your breakfast or coffee at, and there is even a place to do laundry if you’re staying for a longer period of time.

Healthy Eating in Porto:

O Diplomate – definitely my breakfast recommendation

Of course we found O Diplomante on our last day – such a shame, because I could have eaten there every single day. It kind of has a student vibe, serves the most delicious acai bowls and pancakes (both for for 3.50 Euros) , and cappuchino for 1.10 Euros. I still cannot believe how affordable food is in Porto. Unfortunately O Diplomate does not have an outside sitting-area, but the food definitely makes up for that.

Quintal Bio Shop – cute little organic shop and café

This place was just a few minutes away from our AirBnB, so if you decide to take me up on my AirBnB recommendation, you will want to visit Quintal for breakfast or just your morning coffee with organic plant-based milk. There is a small shop in the front and a little deli and café in the back. They even have a green outside sitting area, which I loved.

Cultura Dos Sabores – vegetarian und vegan Buffet

Culura Dos Sabores, a buffet-style restaurant, is located just across from O Diplomata, and serves affordable lunch and dinner options for vegetarians and vegans. It is an all-veggie restaurant, so if you’re traveling with a loving meat-eater, be sure to tell him or her before going there. For Porto, Cultura dos Sabores is a bit pricy, with the dinner buffet coming around at 17 Euros, but if you consider that they have sushi, dessert and several hot dishes, it is definitely worth it. Plus you get to eat your food on a swing – how awesome is that?

Daterra – a vegetarian and plant based dream buffet

Obviously we found Daterra on our last day and had already eaten when we passed it. I nevertheless went in and almost felt like crying because we had just shuffed down a not-so-healthy-sandwich. So we did not eat at Daterra, but we looked and smelt – and it looked and smelt amazing. Especially exciting is the large dessert section with things like acai or apple tarte or avocado mousse. Definitely my secret tip for amazing looking plant-based foods.

Essencia – a more upscale place for a date-night in Porto

We found Essencia through TripAdviser and we were not disappointed. It is more upscale then the previously mentioned places, and you need a reservation to get a table. The prices are a bit more expensive for Porto standards, but they are still absolutely ok. We paid about 30 Euros each for an appetizer, entrée and half a bottle of wine, which is worth the money. I had a mango pine-nut salad and a curry and a glass of red wine. Essencia is located a bit further outside the city, so take the train or a taxi if you do not want to walk.

Casinha – cute and modern boutique and café

Casinha is a cute little place located just across from Daterra and it is more a place for a quick shopping break than a big dinner. I really liked the modern interior and the modern vibe in this café. They serve acai bowls, salads, quiches and of course, juices, smoothies and coffee. It’s not all healthy, but definitely has some healthy choices. It also has a beautiful garden, even though it is located in the busiest street.

Mercado do Bohao – THE farmers’ market in Porto

If you love fresh fruits and veggies, then you should definitely visit the Mercado do Bolhao. We went there on our first day, ran there, bought some groceries and walked back home to our apartment (which was really stupid, because running was so much faster than walking). The famous market needs to be on your must-see list – you can get anything from fresh breads, to tiles and even superfoods such as goji berries for just 1.50 Euros.

Drinks und Crêpes im Mao Travessa

Mao Travessa was our go-to place at night. It’s a place especially for locals, but they do have an English menu. We ordered their delicious crepes and bruschettta and of course a pitcher of sangria. Definitely a nice place to end an exciting day in Porto.

My secret garden tip – Rota de Cha

We discovered Rota de Cha by accident, when we heard music coming from behind the street where our AirBnB was located. I had seen the facade of rota de cha a couple of times when we passed it on our way to or from our AirBnB. One day, I decided to have a look – and I was not disappointed. It was like entering a different world. A world of tea, japenese culture mixed with portuguese tarts and treats.

Shopping in Porto

Armazen – Vintage Shopping & Bar

We discovered this hidden gem while running up and down the massive stairs of Porto (our morning workout). We came back in the afternoon, because I just had to admire all the vintage furniture. Armazen is basically a huge vintage hall with a small bar and café on the inside. There is also a nice outside sitting area, where we enjoyed some drinks and vegetarian sandwiches.

Coracao Alecrim – the cutest sustainable interior shop in Porto

You probably guessed it – Coracao Alecrim was my favorite store in Porto. It has a focus on sustainability, and everything in the store is absolutely beautiful. It is a bit more pricy, but worth every penny. Definitely a must-visit if you love vintage and indie shopping.

Things to See:

You will find all the must-sees in every Porto city guides. I definitely recommend visiting the library where J.K. Rowling was apparently inspired to write Harry Potter, the train station and the crazy high bridge Ponte Dom Luis I that connects the two parts of Porto. If you are afraid of heights (or lows like me), then you might have to cross the bridge rather quickly. Also, the entire area near the river is definitely worth exploring. Be sure to walk up and down the major stairs, stop and admire the tiles on the wall and the breathtaking view over the river.

Places, we did not visit, but that have great ratings on TripAdvisor:

The Traveller Café

Lupin

Picaba Natural Café

Liquid Baixa Porto

La Bombarde

Zenith Brunch & Cocktails Bar

Have you been to Porto yet? Do you have other recommendations of tips? Let me know in the comments below.

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The post Healthy Porto Travel Guide appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

My travel guide to healthy eating in Marrakech.

I’ve only been back from Marrakech for two weeks, but it already feels like a dream when I reflect on my experiences. Marrakech is different. Marrakech is not your average weekend get-away as I already mentioned in my previous Marrakech travel guide. It is busy, it is loud, it is colorful, it is full of surprises. I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on our trip and I must say that it was one of the most exciting, crazy and meaningful experiences I have had in a while. A trip to Marrakech is definitely something special – different, but special – that you won’t forget so easily.

Since I love to travel almost as much as I love to cook, there will be more healthy travel guides coming your way soon. Before I go anywhere I always check out where to have lunch or dinner and I even mark the places either on my phone or even on an actual physical map. Knowing where you’ll be for lunch or dinner makes any (weekend) trip so much easier as you don’t have that – OMG where are we gonna eat – moment. So here you go, here comes my guide to healthy eating in Marrakech.

My favorite – Café des Epices

Café des Epices was definitely our most frequently visited restaurant / Café in Marrakech. What got us the most was the stunning roof terrace and the delicious menu. The prices are reasonable, however, the portions were enough for me, but would not have fed my 2 meters tall boyfriend. I suggest ordering a couple of things on the menu instead of just one. Must try is their vegetable tajine (plant based) and the house salad (plant based as well) AND definitely try the roasted potatoes as a side dish. My friend loved the chicken tajine, which she recommends for all the non-vegetarians. I also had a delicious spiced coffee with cardamom, cinnamon, coriander and black pepper. They do not have plant based milk, so make note of that before you order a milk-based drink. Do order a mint tea (thé à la Menthe) unsweetened (!) and enjoy the sunset and the view of the Atlas Mountains.

La famille – the most beautiful little restaurant in the Medina

La famille was definitely the most beautiful place I’ve visited in Marrakech. Yes, it looks like a place you would find in Amsterdam, but I absolutely loved it! Unfortunately they were completely booked (even for lunch) while we were there, so do make reservations for lunch right at the beginning of your Marrakech trip or shoot them an email before you leave to be on the safe side. I cannot say anything about how their food tastes, but we peeked at the tables of some of the guests when we visited the shop, and it looked beyond delicious! The shop is definitely worth a visit, even if the tables are filled. It is a bit pricier than the Souks, but definitely better in quality.

Le Jardin – the most magical place for a Moroccan dinner

We visited Le Jardin on our first night and were instantly mesmerized by its beauty. Everything shines in Smaragd green, and the menu is more than delicious. As with all places that we tried, the dishes are not really that big, so do order a full menu or at least a starter and a main dish if you’re really hungry. Big plus were the delicious olives they serve complimentary.

Nomad – Marrakech’s hippest restaurant

Well, Nomad. This is probably Marrakech’s number one place to visit. It’s hip, it’s sceny, and beautiful – no doubt about it. The view on the terrace is breath-taking, and I immediately fell in love with their black and white bar. However, we were very disappointed by the food. I normally don’t like to talk bad about a place, and I really hope that we just visited this restaurant on a bad day. Our tajines were both cold and not cooked through (more like raw). I really liked the roasted potatoes that we ordered as a side and I also loved the Moroccan spiced popcorn and chickpeas they served as a starter. So, I still recommend this place as it is THE place in Marrakech and has a breathtaking view, but I think that there are other places that we liked more.

Cafe Kessabine

Café Kessabine is my lunch tip and a great place to escape the busy Djemaa Al-Fna during lunch hour. They serve everything from couscous to tajines, and offer an amazing view over “la place”. It’s not as crowded as the touri places such as Café France, and the prices are very reasonable and the staff friendly. Enjoy a juice, a salad or an omelette (like my friend did) and simply watch the happenings below.

Hygiene: We had absolutely no problem with the foods in the restaurants, and none of us got sick while we were in marrakech. We made sure not to drink tab water, and only drank water out of plastic water bottles. We also brushed our teeth with the bottled water just to be safe.

Finally, I wanted to add that we did not eat on the Jamaa el-Fna food stands or juice stands for various reasons. First of all we were told that they do not clean the dishes there enough to kill bacteria, so if we were to eat there, we needed to make sure to be served the food on plastic containers. Since I hate plastic plates more than anything, it was a no-brainer for us anyways not to eat there. The other reason was that many juices on the square are served with ice cubes, which you cannot eat without suffering later (you know what I mean). However, apparently the food itself is really fresh and food standards and hygiene standards are supposedly pretty high, too. Yet, we did not want to risk getting sick.

These are my recommendations for Marrakech, but I’m sure there are plenty of other amazing restaurants that we did not have the time to visit. If you have any other recommendations, please leave me (and other readers) a comment below.

If you liked this post, then you might like my Marrakech Travel Guide or my other Healthy Travel Posts.

My Moroccan Inspired Chickpea Stew Video with Kitchen Stories

A big thank you goes out to Kerstin from Off White for her wonderful and helpful recommendations.

The post Healthy Eating in Marrakech appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Before I visited Marrakech, I spent a lot of time scrolling through blogs for advice and it helped me so much that I decided to write my own Marrakech travel guide. I think that normal travel guides that you can buy in bookstores are always great, but they do not cover all the topics that you are really interested in like “Two blondes in Marrakech” (or do they? – please fill me in!). I decided to split my Marrakech experiences into two different posts: this Marrakech travel guide and a post about healthy eating in Marrakech, which I will release in just a few days. I hope you will find both helpful for future travel plans, and if not, then I hope you’ll at least enjoy some of the photographs.

Where to stay in Marrakech?

I definitely recommend staying in one of the Riads in the Medina. Riads used to be the residences of Moroccan men who needed a place to host their multiple women. Yup, the rooms in the Riads hosted the men’s mistresses or several wifes. Talking about a  mansion… We decided to stay at Riad Alboraq, which I could not recommend more! The staff was super friendly and helpful and the Riad itself was beautiful and the interior very elegant. The pool was not open yet, as it wasn’t warm enough, but it’s definitely nice in the hot summer months.

There are, however, some people that I wouldn’t recommend to stay in the Riads. Those people are families with small children as the Riads are very small and normally very loud. I also don’t know if I would recommend it to my parents. The reason for this is that the Riads are hidden in the middle of the Medina and often require some sort of orientation to find it. This can be especially tricky (and scary) at night, so if you don’t like the idea of strolling through dark alleys and tunnels at night, maybe one of the hotel complexes might be a better choice for you. I usually would never say anything like that, because I love living like a local when going on a city trip, but this time, I think you should consider it, when planning a trip to Marrakech.

What to see in Marrakech?

I am not really that into site-seeing to be honest. That does not mean that I do not appreciate culture – I love watching and talking to locals, eating at restaurants where locals eat and preferably even living with them. Living in a Riad is already part of the Marrakech experience, and eating out in delicious restaurants is another way to get to know the city. Of course we visited the usual sites: Jardin Majorelle, Palais de la Baharia und die Koranschule Medersa Ben Youssef, which I can all definitely recommend, but you will experience the real Marrakech outside of the sites.

You will ultimately find yourself in the middle of the Jemaa El-Fna, “la place” or “the square” as it is called in Marrakech. It is the city center, UNESCO world heritage, and definitely a big part of the Marrakech culture. The square is definitely worth a visit, however, this was the only place where I felt uncomfortable during my stay. There are too many people, henna women touching your arms every other minute, chained monkeys, tooth extractors (no kidding) and serpent charmers. Yes, it is magical, but also very touristy and I could never spend more than five minutes on the square.

Where to shop in Marrakech?

There is no way to go to Marrakech and not lose yourself in the Souks (markets). The Souks are a variety of different streets in the Medina of marrakech where street vendors sell anything and everything you can think of. After a while you realize that the Souks do follow a system: there are the spices Souks, the shoe Souks, carpet Souks, clothes Souks, wood, lamps, and so many other Souks. It can be tricky to navigate, but when you get lost, simply ask a friendly vendor for “la place” and will guide you in the right direction.

Bargaining is definitely part of the Moroccan culture and considered as polite – so keep on bargaining. If a vender tells you a price, you can expect the price to be up to two or three times higher than what you need to pay. Bargaining is fun as long as both sides gain from the deal, so if you can afford it, don’t be too tough, but be aware of vendors selling “originals” that are clearly mass merchandise.

When to go to Marrakech?

I would definitely always go back in March. It was the best month to visit Marrakech – it wasn’t too hot yet, but not too cold either. Honestly, I don’t think visiting Marrakech in the heat of the summer if very pleasant as there is no sea to dive in. So spring, fall and winter are great times to visit Marrakech.

Two blonde women in Marrakech – wasn’t that a little risky?

Not at all. But I need to say that both my friend and I are experienced travelers (though she is more of a back-packer, I’m really not). We knew what we were doing before booking the trip and we took the necessary precautions while touring through the Medina. As long as you know where to go, have a working phone with GPS in your hand and a smile on your face, you don’t have to worry about safety. We always dressed appropriately (long pair of pants and a shirt that covered our shoulders), and treated the traditions of the locals with respect (a no-brainer but certainly not a given considering some tourists that we passed).

How long should you stay in Marrakech?

In my opinion, three full days (four nights) are definitely enough to cover Marrakech. However, Morocco is a beautiful country and if we had had more time, we would have definitely taken a trip to the Atlas mountains, the famous waterfalls and the Sahara. In the end, we spent a total of three days in Marrakech and went on a day trip to Essaouira, a harbor town by the Atlantic Sea, which was definitely one of our highlights.

Day Trip to Essaouira

A friend recommended a day trip to Essaouira and it was by far the best tip we had gotten previous to planning our time in Morocco. While Marrakech is a tad bit hipper and more interesting, Essaouira has the surfer vibe, the Mediterranean flair and the brisk winds that make it feel more like a vacation spot than Marrakech. Contrary to  the red city of Marrakech, Essaouira sparkles in white and blue, reminding me of the Greek islands in a way.

I loved strolling through the little alleys of the town by the Sea, it is less crowded, less noisy, less dusty than Marrakech and definitely more airy, more fishy and more laid-back, too. Shopping in Essaoira was a blast, and I got all of my souvenirs (including wooden spoons, and an original Beni Ourani )from the fishermen’s town. There are two bus companies driving back and forth between Marrakech and Essaouira several times a day. I recommend the company Supretours and their Comfort busses with free Wifi! The comfort bus is definitely worth the extra charge.

A few last tips:

GPS: The Moroccan Medinas can be quite tricky to navigate. We saw countless tourists get lost with their maps in their hands (totally useless if you ask me). What really works is pre-loading the walking routes on Google Maps in your Riad or any restaurant with Wifi. Even if you have switched off cellular data, the GPS will track you without any cell phone costs. The GPS  helped us A LOT when we strolled through the Souks or searched for sites to visit.

Walking vs. taxi: I definitely recommend walking through Marrakech. We even walked to the new part of the town and back, which took us 40 minutes each way. Taxis usually overcharge and they don’t even bother to turn on their taxometers. Walking is more fun and part of the experience. 

Dress code: Morocco is a Muslim country, so women are supposed to cover up. We always wore long pants and t-shirts or jackets that covered our shoulders and legs. In the Riads it is ok to show some more skin, but even there, we did not feel too comfortable doing so. Wearing longer clothes made us feel more secure and made us worry less about being foreign and blonde. 

Expectations: Before we flew to Marrakech, lots of people warned us how hectic, exhausting and dangerous Marrakech was going to be. To be honest, the taxi drive to our Riad was very adventurous and the walk through the dark alleys and pathways was more than an adventure – it was scary. However, since we expected to be completely overwhelmed by this city, our expectations were thankfully not met. It was not as loud, crazy and overwhelming as we thought it would be, so we quickly felt comfortable walking through the Medina and the Souks. It’s all about expectations and the right mindset if you ask me. 

My Marrakech summary:

Go visit Marrakech! It’s not your usual Ibiza, Bali or Amsterdam trip, but it takes you right into a different world where princesses still exist and you expect genies to jump out of all the Aladdin’s lamps any time. Of course Marrakech is not all flowers and mint tea, there is lots of poverty and a big gap between the rich and the poor. However, tourism is a major source of income for the people of Marrakech, and you can see how much effort they are putting into their city. I came back with so many memories, new experiences (such as buying my first ever handmade carpet) and the friendliness of the people really stuck with me. Would I go back? Definitely, but Marrakech is not a city that you have to visit every other year. We’ve had five wonderful days in Morocco and I would definitely recommend anyone with an open mind and a sense of adventure to go visit Marrakech.

Thank you Kerstin from off white blog for your wonderful recommendations and thank you Elena for the amazing photos. 

The post Marrakech Travel Guide – My travel diary, experiences, and tips appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

This post is long overdue, you guys. Seriously overdue, as we were in Paris last June. So I had to check if the places I was going to mention in this post actually still existed. They did, thankfully. I guess life just happened and food post were more appealing to you, so that’s why it took me so long to write this travel post.

So, we were in Paris. And we loved it so much. I had been there before a couple of years ago, but only for a day due to a delayed flight, so this was truly my first real Paris experience. We were lucky to stay with two of my friends back from college, who are are French and have the cutest apartment in the 17th arrondissement. Unfortunately they had to go to a wedding the weekend we were there, but we managed to have dinner the day before they left and they kindly had us stay in their flat while they were gone for the weekend.

So we really had a true Paris experience and sort of felt like locals, if only for a few days. Not like we looked anything like those fashionable French people, but hey, we tried. Also, even if this post is called “healthy eating in Paris”, don’t think for a second that we only ate healthy while we were in the French capital. Oh no, there was lots of baguette, red wine, and cheese. But I was nevertheless amazed by the healthy food spots in this magical city. Here are my favorite places for healthy eating in Paris:

Wild & the Moon – raw café with extraordinary flair

I think Wild & the Moon was my favorite spot in Paris. It is one of those super hipster cafés, but it is just absolutely beautiful inside and outside. Just take a look at the pictures, they say it all. I especially loved the industrial interior combined with all the green plants. The food is mostly raw, but you can get salads, juices, smoothies, raw desserts and special drinks such as turmeric lattes. Definitely worth a visit!

Season – your typical health spot with smoothies, sandwiches and salads

Season is a great place to grab a healthy and wholesome lunch in Paris. I also loved its location on a beautiful little “place”. It’s interior is a mix of marble, white tiles and rustic chairs – so it absolutely hit my taste. They also had extremely delicious salads and burritos (even gluten-free ones). I think this place falls in second.

Café Pinson – cute organic café / juice bar / restaurant in the Marais

We stopped by Café Pinson right before we went to see a musical, so we only had a crumble and tried two different juices. I loved the interior in this cute café, with the stone walls and mix of various patterns and styles. Café Pinson serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can literally stop by any time of the day.

Juice Lab – small juice bar in the Marais

Juice Lab is not a place to hang out, but it is perfect for a quick vitamin stop before climbing the stairs to Sacre Coer. We tried two different juices (I had one with carrots, ginger, turmeric and apple cider – obviously) and Jannis went for some green juice mix. Very delicious! They also sell my favorite Ombar chocolate, so that was another reason why I loved Juice Lab.

Le Stand and Corossol – Marché des Entfants Rouches

Le Marché des Entfants Rouches is a rather small market with various food stands from vegetarian, to oriental, Caribbean and typical French food and wine – you’ll find something for every taste here. We just browsed through as we weren’t hungry, but “Le Stand” with its vegetarian and vegan food looked amazing, and so did the colorful Corossol.

Do not be scared if you see the entrance of the market. I think it has three different ones, and the other ones look at lot more welcoming.

Places we want to visit on our next trip:

Uma Mi – Matcha Café

Health Inside – cute little restaurant in Le Marais.

My Paris tip:

Stay away from the touristy falafel places in Le Marais – most of them are called something like Falafel King or Falafel Paradise. We made the mistake of going into one of those places (to our defense we have to say that it was raining cats and dogs, and we needed to find shelter quickly). It was our saddest food experience in Paris as it is stuffed with people, and your falafel are served on plastic plates. No, this wasn’t for us.

Where to stay:

We stayed at a friend’s place, so we did not have to worry about that. The apartment was in the 19th arrondissement, which felt like the best place to stay at. The Eiffel and Tower and the Arc de Triomphe were reachable in walking distance, and so were many restaurants, boutiques, parks and cafés. Otherwise I would suggest staying in Le Marais.

Running in Paris:

Wherever we go, the first morning we usually spend exploring the surroundings of our accommodation running. It’s the best way to establish a basic feeling of your surroundings and get to know the city a little better. We lived close to the “Parc Monceau”, a small park near Arc de Triomphe. Every morning, this park was a lovely place to start the day in, surrounded by other joggers, fitness groups and personal trainers. The park is rather small so the first morning, we ran to the Eiffel Tour, to check that off our list. It was a proper way to start the day in Paris, that’s for sure.

Now you: do you have any other tips for delicious and healthy restaurants, cafés, or health spots in Paris? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

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After two years of Berlin abstinence, I finally made it back to our capital a month ago, and I was amazed how easy healthy eating in Berlin can be these days. Berlin is probably the best city to live in if you are into healthy, clean or plant based food. I was invited to spend an incredible weekend with the online women’s magazine SisterMAG, Grundig Germany and Schott Ceran, but I also got to check out a few healthy places while I was in the capital. The list is not as long as my other healthy eating city guides from Amsterdam or London. I will continue to update this list, depending on how often I’ll be in the capital in the near future. If you’re interested in what I did besides eating during my weekend with SisterMAG, you can check out my German post with a more detailed re-cap of this fabulous weekend. 

I only visited three restaurants in total on my last trip to Berlin. Two of them are your typical healthy eating delis, and one is something completely different, using only groceries that would have gone to waste otherwise.

Restlos Glücklich (roughly translates into „Wasteless Happiness“)

I visited Restlos Glücklich with Toni, from SisterMAG, and a couple of other bloggers including Klara from Klara’s Life, Mia from HeyLilahHey und Pauline von Living the Healthy Choice. We had a lovely evening with a delicious 3-course menu. „Restlos Glücklich“ is a charity that only cooks with ingredients that organic supermarkets such as Denn’s oder BioCompany could not sell anymore due to wrong labelling or other EU norms. They also use „misfits“, which are fruits and vegetables that do not fulfill the EU shape-norms. So you might find a heart shaped potato or a carrot with „fingers“ on your plate.

The fascinating thing about this restaurant is that all service staff, except for the chefs and bar personel, are volunteers and do not receive any compensation for their work. What you should know, when you order a dish in this cute place in Berlin-Neukölln, is that you HAVE to finish your food. Which makes sense given the restaurant’s name and philosophy.

Daluma – Clean Eating Deli in Berlin Mitte

Daluma is one of your typical clean eating places. It serves juices, smoothies, breakfast and lunch bowls, as well as coffee and other hot drinks. Compared to Berin prices, Daluma is a bit pricey, but it is definiely worth it. I tried the buckwheat porridge with acai and blueberry topping, and I loved it. The interior is also very inviting, and a place for hipsters and students with money to work and meet up with friends. It also has a great outside seating area, from where you can definitely do some people-watching.

The Bowl – The IT-Restaurant in Berlin Friedrichshain

I met with the lovely Sandra from Beerenlecker when I was in Berlin and we grabbed lunch at The Bowl, which I have been wanting to visit for the longest time. The Bowl is probably THE healthy eating place in Berlin. It is located on top of the vegan supermarket Veganz, and it is a dream for health concious, vegans and people with food intolerances alike. Their entire menue is plant based, with many gluten free options. Trying one of their „Bowls“ is a must, especially when they look this this:

I tried their Zucchini Carbonara and Sandra tried a Superfood bowl, if I remember correctly. We topped the food with some delicious drinks of raw chocolate smoothie and a turmeric latte. I couldn’t recommend The Bowl more, though it is also a bit pricey for Berlin standards. Just remember that it’s all organic and will definitely make you feel awesome afterwards. The Bowl proves that healthy eating in Berlin is super easy and fun!

Do you know any other healthy places in Berlin?

Can’t wait to add more delis, restaurants or juice bars to this list.

Many photo credits in this post go to A Tale of Two Hearts! Thank you for the wonderful photos!

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So today I’d like to announce a special day for my blog: I am launching my first ever Vlog. If you are not familiar with the term “Vlog”, don’t worry, I did not know it before either. My boyfriend came to me the other day, and was outraged by a magazine cover that in his opinion misspelled the word “Blog”. So I introduced him to the term “Vlog”, which is nothing other than an abbreviation for Video-Blog.  If you’ve known this term for a while and I am boring you already, then please forgive me, but some of us are just not able to keep up with the fast changing media, blogging and social media inventions. Anyway, this is my first attempt on “Vlogging”, and I am not really sure if I’ll keep it up. But this blog is my baby, and so I thought I’d give it a try and see how it goes. 

Of course this “Healthy Eating in London Vlog” is anything but professional, it just shows you the honest and unretouched reality of a sister weekend in Berlin. We really mostly ate, but we also went shopping and biked around the whole city, which is why we were always hungry when we stopped at the many restaurants and delis. We also went running in Hype Park in the morning, so overall, we had a pretty healthy weekend in beautiful London. For a list of all the places we went to, take a look at my Healthy Eating in London blog post.

How do you like healthy travel vlogs?

Would you like me to post more of these kinds of videos or videos in general? I’d love to hear what you want to see or read.

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