Vegan restaurants London

Vegan places London

In the early 2000s, it was hard to find just one vegan restaurant in London. Though some did exist, they were so few that they could barely serve even a small population of non-meat-eaters. Fast forward to 2023, and the UK’s capital has become one of the most vegan-friendly places in the world. Now with hundreds of vegan restaurants, London has something for everyone, whether it be exotic Asian cuisine, traditional English dishes with a meat-free twist or something entirely different. 

With more and more restaurants opening all the time, almost every part of the city now has its own selection of plant-based eateries. Central London has one of the larger concentrations and boasts some of the top vegan restaurants in the country. For example, Camden Town has the privilege of being the first place in the UK with a vegan pizzeria. Called Purezza, which means “purity” in Italian, its cool decor provides a relaxing environment for customers to enjoy a delicious meat-free pizza or alternative options like their gluten-free lasagne.

Elsewhere in Camden, fans of plant-based chicken can find Temple of Seitan, which crafts all manner of vegan delights, such as chick’n wings, fillets and bites, using the high protein meat substitute it is named after. Just a few minutes away is one of several Neat Burger restaurants, where vegans can get hold of scrumptious plant-based burgers. A number of new branches of this popular fast food business have been opened both at home and abroad since it secured the support of world-famous Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton. Those in London include one that is just a few minutes walk from Victoria Station and another beside Liverpool Street, while restaurants in the United States and Dubai have won them fans on foreign soil as well. 

North London is another area with a wealth of good quality vegan restaurants. Near King’s Cross, there is Itadaki Zen, a Japanese restaurant that serves high end tapas filled with organic tofu, seaweed, noodles and other traditional ingredients. More burgers are available alongside dairy-free soft whip ice cream at Ready Burger, which has one restaurant in Frognal and another in Crouch End, while those who want a healthy vegan meal can check in at Plant Club in Newington Green, with its organic and gluten-free Italian food, including antipasti, pasta and pizza. Down the road in Angel, Tofu Vegan sells meat-free Chinese fare, and fans of Caribbean dishes can pop into Jam Delish, which makes vegan versions of Jamaican classics like jerk chicken wings and curry goat. 

Crossing the river to the south of the city opens up further opportunities to stimulate your plant-based tastebuds with a range of culinary delights from around the globe. Close to the southern end of London Bridge, in the historic Borough Market, one of Mallow’s two London restaurants can be found. Overseen by head of food development Sarah Wasserman, a highly experienced plant-based chef, its menu features colourful vegan dishes made with locally sourced ingredients to keep things fresh and sustainable. Mallow is easily walkable from Waterloo Station, as is Beza, whose talented chefs cook up flavourful Ethiopian food. Meanwhile, over in Battersea Power Station, those on the move can grab themselves a burger from Holy Carrot Canteen to keep them going throughout the day. Upstream in South East London, there is a second helping of Ethiopian cuisine at Addis Vegan Kitchen, with its authentic dining experience, and Peckham’s Naifs adds a Middle-Eastern option to the mix.

Back on the north side of the river, East London hosts some of the capital’s most unique vegan restaurants. In the East End, Unity Diner, which donates all of its profits to animal rights charities, has built up a reputation for creating incredible vegan burgers, and Shoreditch’s Club Mexicana offers up meat-free Mexican food such as tacos and nachos alongside refreshing frozen margaritas. Homerton’s The Spread Eagle is the UK’s first vegan pub, with a seasonal menu that offers pub classics like pie and mash and sticky toffee pudding made with vegan only ingredients. Further east, beside Hackney Wick tube station and not far from Stratford, lies The Hogless Roast – the first and so far only 100% vegan hog roast in the UK – which was created by an award-winning chef as an alternative to the bean burgers typically seen in vegan fast food restaurants.

Over on the other side of the city, West London has its own selection of plant-based establishments, including Mali Vegan Thai – a family-run vegan business that serves authentic Thai food based on dishes the owners ate growing up in their native country. Close by in Fulham, customers can get a taste of vegan meals from different parts of the world at 222 Vegan Cuisine. Chef Ben Asamani uses special methods to preserve the nutrition of his low-fat, low-salt, organic ingredients, even preparing raw dishes, such as his Pure Avocado Soup, to bring a selection of healthy options to the nation’s capital. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, London’s vibrant West End contains plenty of meat-free eateries, including one of the best vegan restaurants in London. Based in the fashionable Soho district, and owned by Michelin star vegan chef Alexis Gauthier, Gauthier Soho is a place where diners can indulge in a French fine dining experience that is entirely plant-based. Customers can turn up at 5pm Tuesday to Saturday to sample the 5 course Petit Dîner tasting menu or arrive later in the evening to enjoy the luxury of Gauthier’s 8 course Grand Dîner menu, which is made up of exquisite dishes with fancy French names like Brioche Feuilletée and Fleur de Courgette Farcie. All of this takes place in a romantic setting befitting of its owner’s home country. 

A little further to the west, in the affluent Mayfair district, is another one-of-a-kind vegan restaurant called Plants by Deliciously Ella. Set within walking distance of the bustling Piccadilly Circus and just a little bit further from Paddington Station, it not only serves as a place to eat delicious dishes like asparagus ceviche or cauliflower schnitzel, it is also the home of Ella’s ever-growing plant-based food and wellness platform. From cookbooks to a recipe app to meat-free food products, Ella has done it all in the world of vegan cuisine, and her restaurant is the perfect place to get just a small taste of what her work has achieved.

Elsewhere, on the eastern edge of the West End in touristy Covent Garden lies Mildreds – one of the capital’s oldest and most popular vegan chains. Having opened their first restaurant in Soho way back in 1988, they have grown into somewhat of an institution in central London. Their menu incorporates influences from various cuisines, as seen in the urid dahl, which is a vegan Indian dish that comes as part of their pakora aubergine pocket, and the Korean flavours of the kimchi fried rice that is served with their bokkeumbap. Continuing the trend of top vegan locations in the city’s entertainment district is Flower Burger – a burger place with a difference. Their tasty plant-based patties are sandwiched between colourful buns that come in bright tones like violet, green and pink.

In April 2022, Vogue produced an article detailing 11 of the best vegan restaurants in London. Attention from such a well-known lifestyle magazine shows just how successful the vegan movement has become in the city. With its number of plant-based restaurants only set to increase, London could just be one of the greatest places on the planet for vegans.