This is where you want to go!
Are you on a city trip, but still want to enjoy the greenery? At these ten organic markets, city farms and other green hotspots you can escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy delicious food and drinks.
1. Copenhagen: Noma
What: Noma, the Danish restaurant that was voted World’s Best Restaurant for many years and has two Michelin stars, recently changed its formula into an urban farm concept with only natural products. The restaurant is located on the trendy, former industrial estate Refshaleøen. The kitchen focuses entirely on the seasons with a focus on Scandinavian fish dishes from January to June, vegetables in the summer months and organic meat from October 15 to December 21.
Buy/taste: Be surprised by the chef, because all culinary delights in this restaurant are equally delicious. Make sure to reserve in time.
Info: Refshalevej 96 in Copenhagen, noma.dk
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2. London: Mayfield Lavender Farm
What: Within fifteen minutes from central London you can reach this lavender farm, where you will see fields of purple flowers as far as the eye can see. Wonderful to walk through or book a tractor tour through the fields. You can also have a picnic here at the cozy long tables, they serve fresh lunch every day. And a cup of lavender cream tea should not be missed. Please note: only open from June 1 to September 19.
Buy/taste: Definitely worth a try: the alcohol-free lavender cream lavender cider. And after a visit to the farm, you can buy the tastiest oils, bath products and lavender bunches for home in the shop.
Info: 1 Carshalton Road in Banstead, mayfieldlavender.com
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3. Haarlem: Het Veerkwartier
What: A greenhouse on the outskirts of Haarlem, on the water and surrounded by greenery. Everything inside is furnished with second-hand, sustainable materials. You can eat delicious and healthy food here (with a leading role for seasonal vegetables), but you can also really relax in nature. In the summer it is wonderful to relax on the city beach, and there are also regular performances.
Buy/taste: They serve a delicious chocolate-blackberry pie with a fruit compote.
Info: A. Hofmanweg 62 in Haarlem, hetveerkwartier.com
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4. New York: Union Square Greenmarket
What: New York’s largest green market on Union Square. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, farmers and fishermen from the region, artisan bakers and cheese makers come here to sell their tastiest organic products. On Mondays and Saturdays you can also shop for clothes and accessories.
Buy/tast: You can’t visit this market without tasting the raspberry-apple cider from Red Jacket Orchards and no one can resist the different types of healthy pretzels from Martin’s Pretzels.
Info: E 17th St &, Union Square W in New York
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5. Barcelona: Woki Organic Market
What: An organic market, a restaurant and a take-away in one in the heart of Barcelona. You can stroll around here to buy the tastiest organic products, you can order dishes from the menu all day long, and you can also have them packed to take with you for a picnic in one of the city parks. Also recommended: the organic tapas.
Buy/taste: Woki has the tastiest vegetarian burgers. If you are going to eat or stroll around this organic market, be sure to visit the section with organic beauty products.
Info: Ronda Universitat 20 in Barcelona, tribuwoki.com
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6. Amsterdam: The gilded unicorn
What: A city farm from 1702 located in the middle of the greenery of Amsterdam. There is a cozy restaurant and you can eat in a converted old cowshed. The ingredients for the dishes are purchased from local farmers, and from spring onwards you can enjoy a drink in the beautiful picnic garden, which is an oasis of peace. You almost forget that you are actually in the city.
Buy/taste: The pumpkin hummus made from roasted pumpkin, pumpkin seed and lime is highly recommended, served with farmer’s bread. And they have different fresh cakes every day.
Info: Ringdijk 58 in Amsterdam, verguldeneenhoorn.nl
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7. Los Angeles: Vegan Street Fair
What: The best vegan street party in Los Angeles on March 23 and 24, with dozens of vegan restaurants and street tents where you can taste mini dishes everywhere. A perfect way to discover how delicious vegan food is. In addition, every Sunday from April they will organize Vegan Sunday, a market with 100 percent vegan products on the streets of Noho, a neighborhood in north Los Angeles.
Buy/tast: In addition to tasty snacks, you can also buy nice clothes, bags and recyclable drinking cups at this market.
Info: Vegan Street Fair: Chandler Blvd (between Tujunga and Vineland), Vegan Sunday: 5300 Bakman Ave (between Chandler and Weddington), veganstreetfair.com
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8. Milan: Cascina Cuccagna
What: In the heart of Milan there is an old city farm that has been all about healthy food, urban agriculture and sustainability since 2012. Walk past the fruit trees and herb beds with the many butterflies fluttering around. You can also eat there – everything is organic and from the region. And every Tuesday there is a farmer’s market with products straight from the land.
Buying/tasting: Of course you should taste the olives from the region here, delicious in combination with an organic wine from one of the wine growers in the region.
Info: Via Cuccagna 2 in Milan, unpostoamilano.it/en/cascina-cuccagna/
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9. Dordrecht: Villa Augustus
What: A hotel and restaurant located in a former pump building in the middle of a vegetable garden on the water. The chefs get their vegetables all year round from their own garden, which is over 1.5 hectares in size and includes a vegetable garden, orchard and an Italian garden. Upon entering you pass a market, where you can buy fresh sourdough bread, the tastiest cakes and organic vegetables, herbs and fruit (also from your own garden!), but also homemade antipasti or seasonal salads.
Buy/tast: Villa Augustus has a delicious afternoon tea with homemade cakes and cupcakes. At the market you can not only buy food, but also the nicest garden items such as birdhouses and insect hotels.
Info: Oranjelaan 7 in Dordrecht, villa-augustus.nl
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10. Berlin: Kollwitzplatz
What: A large organic farmer’s market in Berlin’s artists’ district of Prenzlauer Berg, every Thursday and Saturday. More than fifty stands with fresh organic products from local farmers, but also many nice handmade bags, jewelry and clothing. The market on Thursdays does not start until noon, so that farmers can harvest vegetables and fruit that same morning and deliver them to Kollwitzplatz. Extra fun: there is often live music.
Buy/taste: The fresh asparagus (when it is in season) that Berliners queue up early for, because it is the best in the city. And you should definitely try the vegan spelled waffles.
Info: 10435 Berlin Prenzlauer Berg
Text: Mireille Sneekes & Jill Waas | Image: Adobe Stock
