Explore the city,
April 01 2024
There are over a million vegans in the UK, with plenty more adding vegan dishes to their regular diet. The popularity of January’s Veganuary, the rise in plant-based meat alternatives and more ethically conscious consumers has seen an explosion in vegan food, especially in the capital. So we’ve picked out some of the best places to get your vegan food in London.
At these sensational restaurants, you can enjoy 100% animal free fine dining.
Tucked alongside the BFI in central London, off Tottenham Court Road, Studio Gauthier is London’s top vegan hotspot. Here, you can slide into a plush velvet booth and watch chefs in the open kitchen preparing seasonal dishes. It’s all very relaxed and unpretentious, and the menu is blissfully affordable. Combine that with winning dishes – think black truffle tortellini and crispy tuna sushi – and you’ve got yourself a memorable vegan dining experience.
Opened as a vegetarian restaurant in Soho back in 1988 to a very niche set of diners, Mildreds is now a fully vegan London institution with a loyal following. It has an eclectic menu of dishes – hot mango pepper chicken without the chicken, whipped feta without the cheese and crème brûlée without the dairy. There’s plenty of added zing, juiciness and finger-licking stickiness to make this a delightful experience.
Itadaki Zen was Europe’s first vegan Japanese restaurant. Since it opened, this super-friendly restaurant has done a roaring trade thanks to its low-cost and deliciously healthy food. With its tapas-style sharing menu and soft sushi rolls, it’s a great place for a group of friends to hang out. There are fragrant curries and rich ramens, and the mochi ice cream is worth leaving space for.
Londoners love to brunch, and London’s vegan brunches are next level. These places deliver the perfect meat-free brunch.
Founded by best friends Cait and Soph, WAVE serves up the perfect vegan brunch in a stylish setting. From 8:30am, you can order pancake stacks, stuffed baked rolls and breakfast bowls full of nutritional goodness. At the Hackney café, there’s lovely outside seating for sunny days, and there’s a smaller branch in Stoke Newington.
To win over a meat-eating friend with a vegan brunch, hot foot it to Mallow in Borough Market, London’s foodie mecca. It has a pleasingly large brunch menu with sweet Black Forest chocolate pancakes, a spicy brunch thali and a fantastic full English. There’s a Mallow in Canary Wharf too – both locations serve up heavenly cocktails if you want to make it a boozy brunch.
Whether you’re craving a vegan sweet treat or a quick burger, here’s our pick of the best vegan snacks in London.
Putting a vegan spin on the classic British kebab, What the Pitta in Camden and Brick Lane nails the meat-free kebab using soy chunks marinated in a secret sauce and blended. When you unwrap your pitta and bite in, you’ll know why this place is so popular. These pittas are packed with flavour. This is an ethically conscious takeaway too, with sustainable packaging, minimal food waste and eco-friendly suppliers.
Step inside this bright pastel shop in Covent Garden and pick out a stuffed vegan Floozie Cookie. It might not be a quick decision when you’re in Floozie Cookies, with so many treats vying for your attention. Most customers get a box with a selection of six flavours: Pecan Pie, Strawberry Cheesecake and Cinnamon Crunch are just a few of your options. If you leave London wanting more, you can now order them to any UK postcode.
If you fancy a meat-like vegan burger alternative, try Halo Burger at Pop Brixton. The burgers are stacked high with vegan cheese, salad and the signature Halo pink sauce. And the pink salt fries on the side are delicious! We recommend the vegan lotus Biscoff milkshakes too.
When you’ve had your fill of vegan food treats, spoil yourself with a stay at one of our Thistle Hotels. With locations in desirable central London locations, like Thistle Bloomsbury Park and Thistle Hyde Park Lancaster Gate, you’re in the ideal spot for dining out in London’s best vegan hotspots.
