I recently went out to the beautiful island of Koh Tao, Thailand to host a fitness retreat with New Horizon Escapes. Considering how small this sunny patch of land is, it has a surprising amount of nutritious cafe options, including tonnes of vegan friendly spots. These were my favourites:
The Factory Cafe
This little known spot only opened up a month ago and is already a hit with locals and tourists alike. They serve up a mean all-day brunch menu including vegan pancakes, smoothie bowls, various egg dishes, cinnamon spiced bircher muesli and so much more. If their menu isn’t enough to tempt you, they have gorgeous modern architecture and interior design as well as cuddly resident cats and dogs!
Vegetabowl
This healthy vegetarian and vegan cafe is the stuff dreams are made of. With dishes including the “zen bowl”, “nourish bowl” and “mexican bowl”, its hard to know what to choose. One thing’s for sure, don’t miss their banana peanut butter shake and their vegan cookies; they’re the best I have ever had!
Darawan Restaurant
Best known for their gorgeous rooftop terrace with views of the island, Darawan serve up some seriously delicious wholesome food. Don’t miss the satay cauliflower, the vegan feta and avocado on toast and their fresh juices. Portions are fairly small so don’t be afraid to grab a couple of dishes to share with friends. Plus their booths upstairs are serious interior goals!
Fitness Cafe
Located directly outside Gym and Fitness gym, this cafe serve up nutrient dense food including breakfast plates, wraps and smoothies. If you’re tracking macros they have all the stats you need and the meals are packed full of flavour. I loved their chocolate dream protein shake which has avocado in it for extra creaminess. The decor is a little worse for wear, but that is pretty typical of Thai cafes and what really matters is the food!
Big Bite
Located on a dirt track down a back street in Chalok, this cafe takes some effort to find but is totally worth it. They have an extensive menu including meat dishes as well as tonnes of veggie and vegan options. My personal favourites were their smoothie bowls and homemade kombucha!
Coconut Monkey
This beachside cafe has a gorgeous view of the ocean. Their best known for their fridge full of homemade healthy treats from raw carrot cake to lemon energy balls and even cookies! They also have a huge menu of breakfast and lunch options as well as homemade iced teas. Plus it is a great cafe to work in with fast wifi and plug sockets.
Living Juices
As the name suggests, this super healthy cafe offers a range of fresh juices; but it doesn’t stop there. They also have beautifully decorated smoothie bowls, light snacks and healthy desserts. They’re also located right next to a crossfit gym, providing perfect post-workout fuel!
Safe travels!
