The Eat Story in Tapovan area of Rishikesh, India.
I spent a total of 5 weeks in Rishikesh, India. 4 weeks studying yoga at Siddhi Yoga and 1 week exploring and enjoying.
My favorite vegan spot in Rishikesh is The Eat Story. I’ll talk about this spot first.
The Eat Story is tucked behind the Green Hills Suites on Badrinath Highway in Tapovan area of Rishikesh. I stayed approximately 500 feet from The Green Hills Suites for 4 weeks and never knew about the restaurant available to the public until the very last week of my stay. When my friends showed me this vegan gem I was kicking myself for not having gone to this spot sooner! I was walking about 20 to 30 minutes to other vegan spots in town the whole time. Who knew some of the best vegan food Rishikesh had to offer was right next door?! Typical of India to surprise ya like that, for sure! Wow.
After I found out about The Eat Story I visited about 3 or 4 more times for my favorite breakfast in town before I left Rishikesh ( they serve breakfast all day- yay!). Great ambiance all around. Smoking allowed outdoors despite the sign inside that says no smoking. I feel this is typical of Rishikesh and its “rules”. The Eat Story does accept credit card, one of the few restaurants in town that does. When you find a spot that accepts cards, consider that a luxury and fewer trips to the ATM! You can’t always depend on the nearest ATM to work- especially on Sundays. So always be prepared in this city with extra rupees in your pocket, so you don’t go hungry.
The breakfast I always returned for- The High Protein Pancakes and Sinus Reliever Smoothies. I would order two smoothies at the least each visit because their smoothie portions are tiny!
My first time at The Eat Story was when my friends from the yoga school I attended had suggested it. It was an evening after a long day of classes and a private beautiful meditation for just us gals, led by Evie. We were starving and headed to The Eat Story. We saw options to eat in the open outdoor area, or the cushioned half-indoor, half-outdoor area. We chose the comfy cushioned room. Upon entering, we debated between the large table occupied with a European couple, smoking and wrapped up in conversation. Or the table with the man sitting by himself, eyes closed, and in deep peaceful meditation. We chose the table with the couple since they acknowledged our presence and nodded to us to sit down. The 6 of us quickly melted into the cushions on the carpeted floor and proceeded to chat amongst ourselves for over an hour along with great food and vibes.
The same owners of The Eat Story also own the very popular and always busy Beatles Cafe, near the Lakshman Jhula bridge. They are sister restaurants and even their menu looks very much the same. The menu has fun spiritual and art inspired quotes on the inside. The menu also discusses the benefits of a plant-based diet. A huge plus is there’s always groovy 60’s music playing to set the chill vibe along The Ganges River. At The Beatles Cafe, you are able to order special raw vegan meals at the takeout counter- including raw vegan cheesecake. If you’re a raw vegan and in Rishikesh don’t miss out on that rare opportunity for a prepared raw meal! You must order this meal one day in advance at The Beatles Cafe.
Another great spot for vegans and raw vegans is the Pumpernickel German Bakery and Babylon Restaurant. This spot is found on the Laxman Jhula Road, Near Post Office in Rishikesh. This bakery/restaurant does not take credit cards. There is no exact address or website for this spot. It is the worth the trip if you find it! Seeing a wide variety of vegan dessert options was always worth the 25 minute walk from my hotel and over the bridge for this place. ‘Vegan Resses Balls’ for the win!
In summary, being vegan in Rishikesh was more difficult than expected. I did get sick the first week I arrived because I made the mistake of brushing my teeth with the hand washing sink water. I was sick in bed for 24 hours and missed the first full day of classes at Siddhi Yoga. I was very thankful for Siddhi Yoga providing vegan meals, daily. Oats and fruit were always served for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, it always varied between rice and beans, rice and lentils and salad, or rice and soy balls. I didn’t have to go out much for my meals other than Sundays and the last week I was in town after graduating from the yoga program. So my top 3 spots for vegan food which I’ve discussed in this blog are as follows: The Eat Story, The Beatles Cafe, and Pumpernickel German Bakery and Babylon Restaurant.
“All you have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to you” ~ Lord of the Rings
This India journey has taught me that THIS lifetime is precious and I don’t intend on wasting it. Of all bodies, I have incarnated into this one. Now is the time to give from my overflowing, over-grateful heart center.
“Shakti awakened- her spirit sores. She has risen to new heights. She has conquered new territory. Unstoppable with this awakened force, she has to remember to share. Where did ego dissolve and will it return? Why are there questions where there once was peace? Balancing heart and mind she returns to her center and the only place she calls home. Her Sat Nam. Her divine truth.” ☬
Hey,This is a very nice blog which has shared by you.
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Really useful article! Thank you! Would you say it´s easy to get vegan food at all the yoga schools in Rishikesh? I know there´ll be no meat but I worry about there being a lot of ghee and other dairy products. Would you particularly recommend one school over another? Thanks!