Vegan eating has become more and more of a focus over the past few years, so much so that it’s now considered a lifestyle ‘trend’. And what a virtuous trend it is too. So much more than just a focus on diet, it’s responsible for entire communities coming together to celebrate the notion as well. Here, we round up the best of the best in London, from cute cafés with Instagrammable interiors to restaurants with ever-changing menus that promise to keep you coming back for more. Settle in for the read and bookmark the following as your next must-visit spots in the capital. Meanwhile, discover the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in London here.
Serving up vegan, sugar free and wheat free food in bright, beautifully put-together spaces (one in Shoreditch and one in Notting Hill), Redemption’s motto is to ‘spoil yourself without spoiling yourself’. It’s based around the idea that socialising needn’t mean sacrificing your health and it’s the kind of place that we defy you to visit just once. The bar is alcohol-free but the cocktails are a) delicious and b) beautiful, and the dessert menu is one to rival some of the most indulgent restaurants on the London spectrum.
Clapham’s plethora of casual dining spots continues, and is only complemented by the addition of Without Café, the vegan eating space conveniently positioned just a stone’s throw from Wholefoods at the Junction. Not just a salad bar, the menu offers virtuous takes on the classics; sweet potato quiche, lasagna made with almond milk and mushroom bechemel sauce, and soya-based ‘sausage’ rolls.
With an aim to prove that a raw, vegan diet needn’t mean a limited choice, Nama Foods is perhaps one of the best vegan restaurants in terms of quality and taste that we’re yet to come across. All dishes are raw as it is believed that in their truest form, natural ingredients offer optimum health benefits, and each plate is designed to be visually stimulating as well as nutritional. Add it to your London dining bucket list and try their version of pizza for a satisfying yet wholesome dish.
It’s no surprise that Upper Street’s only sugar free, gluten free and vegan bakery is a favourite among Islington locals, with its contemporary exposed brick walls and artsy drop pendants. Interiors aside, the baked goods on offer aren’t to be sniffed at either. Spanning cakes and sweet treats as well as breads and quiches, the shelves of Romeo Bakery is proof that a vegan diet isn’t complete without a little indulgence once in a while.
Launched in 2004, 222 is perhaps one of London’s longest standing vegan restaurants. Its leafy West London location is well suited to its concept; one that draws from natural, raw ingredients in an environmentally friendly manner. Pop in for lunch and stock up at their salad bar if you’re on the run or take the time to dine in – it’s an unpretentious environment with taste and quality at its core.
An understated take on the ever-growing trend for health establishments, Black Cat Café is the perfect place to go for ethical vegan dishes without the added gloss and glamour. And that’s exactly what makes it so charming. Capturing the earthy grit traditionally associated with the suburb in which it sits, Hackney, it’s the perfect drop-in if you’re in the area. The menu is similarly simple but it suits a lower budget – and that in itself is a rare find in this city.
As much a feast for the eyes as the tummy, Palm Vaults in Hackney is decorated with low-hanging macramé baskets, green plant life and enough pink upholstery to delight even the most dedicated members of the Instagram crowd. Photography opportunities aside, the menu is just as much of a treat, and you’ll find colourful riffs on the (now seemingly humble) latte as well as typical ‘brunch’ dishes with a unique twist. Coconut-based vegan ‘bacon’ for example is surely worth a try.
You’re a vegan, you love being a vegan, but you miss fried chicken? We get it. Thankfully, Temple of Seiten is here to answer your cravings. Positioned on Brick Lane and serving up dishes such as nuggets, two-piece and chips, and mac and cheese, you’d be surprised at how convincing it is, both visually and in terms of satisfaction levels. Why not take a meat-eating friend and see how long it takes them to spot the difference?
There’s nothing like a menu that changes daily to keep you going back somewhere and Cookies and Scream on Holloway Road is a case in point. Offering a beautifully curated selection of vegan and gluten free cakes and sweet treats, it’s the perfect place to indulge your sweet tooth without an ounce of guilt.
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