25 best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in London

Best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in London

Plates, Hoxton – for high-end vegan

Siblings Kirk and Keeley Haworth have created a one of a kind menu and vibe at this entirely plant-based Hoxton restaurant. Each dish combines highly seasonal, sustainable, occasionally unfamiliar ingredients which makes a fun journey of discovery. A tasting menu kicks off with – depending on the season – hibiscus and white tea granita with a beetroot and buckwheat truffle, savoury but surprisingly the exact texture of a rich chocolate treat. Laminated sourdough has both crunch and flakiness, served with a vibrant spirulina butter. You might recognise ‘lasagne’ from Kirk’s win on Great British Menu – his deconstructed version combines an umami-packed ragu with a miso and chive sauce. There’s no refined sugar but plenty of flavour in cacao gateaux with sour cherry, coconut blossom ice cream and caramel sauce. Low-intervention wines and cocktails are equally inspiring. Book a seat at the counter for a ringside view. plates-london.com

Holy Carrot – for impressive plant-based credentials

Previously rubbing shoulders with Harrods in Knightsbridge, fully plant-based Holy Carrot finds its new home on Portobello Road. The menu has been completely revamped – headed up by Acme Fire Cult’s co-founder Daniel Watkins – as has the décor, which is minimalist, chic and neutral, allowing the food to take centre stage. A pleasant smokiness permeates the restaurant from the coal-roasted leeks which are lifted from Acme’s Dalston menu. Ingredients from the seasonal menu are sourced from small-scale producers, including squidgy focaccia from Alma Bakery. The delicate grilled watermelon with cucumber, seaweed and togarashi is pleasantly refreshing, while hen of the woods with tofu soubise, mala sauce and kombu is umami heaven. For dessert, we inhaled the matcha tiramisu topped with candied pecans. The stellar credentials continue to the cocktail menu from Dalston’s A Bar with Shapes for a Name (one of the world’s 50 best bars, no less). The extensive wine list outdoes itself with bubbles, pink, skin-contact and orange wines from across Europe, including rare wines – all low-intervention, organic and biodynamic. For the teetotal there are low- and no-alcohol wines as well as a sprinkling of the more unusual with cordyceps and lion’s mane lattes. holycarrot.co.uk

Cafe Petiole, Somerset House – for grab and go vegan dishes or a leisurely sit-down lunch

Chef/owner Rishim Sachdeva of plant-based Tendril in Mayfair (see our review below) has opened a new, similarly plant-forward, café in Somerset House. Enjoy a laidback lunch in the Old Navy Office overlooking the expansive courtyard or opt for a baked good à emporter. The air of French chic is spot on, with muted Renaissance-esque tones on the walls, pastel marble touches and large windows flooding the dining room with light. It would be easy to wile away the hours with a glass from its extensive (and not only French) wine list, or seek non-alcoholic refreshment from LA Brewery kombucha.

It’s pleasing to see vegan dishes are the norm, with the handful of vegetarian options such as whipped feta and baked brie marked as ‘NV’ (not vegan). It’s veg-first – from the specials we loved the cacio e pepe with courgette ragout and walnut purée as well as the silky aubergine with warming spices. The crispy leek fritter with fennel in a soft vegan brioche bun was a highlight among the sandwiches. Something sweet to finish is a non-negotiable – Tendril’s famous tiramisu with pillowy plant-based cream and a light cocoa and coffee sponge is a must-try, as was the pleasantly orange-spiked chocolate babka. cafepetiole.co.uk

Tendril, Oxford Circus – for veg-first small plates

Chef Rishim Sachdeva’s mostly vegan menu is a masterclass in considered, delicate veg cooking. Dishes are vegan unless otherwise specified (dairy occasionally features) and sing with incredible balance. Small plates include crispy beetroot bao and roast squash tostada, and his vegan tiramisu is a must order. tendrilkitchen.co.uk

Plant Club, Newington Green – for gluten-free pizza and pasta

Chef Antonio Alderuccio was awarded Britain's Best Pasta Chef of the Year in 2022 for a gluten-free, vegan paccheri dish. Inside his restaurant Plant Club, you sit beneath the glass roof of a shared food court/arts space, on a small collection of tables in front of the inviting open kitchen. The entirely organic, vegan and gluten-free Italian menu has a strong emphasis on seasonal ingredients, and aims to have zero food miles, with a firm ethos of minimal impact and maximum flavour.

To start, order the garlic bread: soft, springy dough topped with Sicilian Datterini tomatoes and superstraccia, a vegan burrata that's nearly identical to the real thing. A parmigiana to share is ideal for mopping up with the crusts. Then, try the cacio e pepe gnocchi – a creamy, cheesy hug in a bowl infused with truffle oil. The restaurant is bring your own, and there's a corkage charge for beer and wine. But, there is a refreshing line-up of mocktails to choose from.

Pizza is the real showstopper here. With the iconic mottling, the gluten-free bases are among the best we've tried in London. The classic margherita is the most affordable at just £12. For truffle lovers, the Regina pizza is topped with oyster mushrooms, cashew mozzarella and a generous grating of truffle. Or, for punchier flavours, opt for the Sud, topped with Taggiasche olives, capers, superstraccia and pistacchio granella. Be sure to finish with a dessert – we love the tiramisu – if you still have any room. plantclub.uk

naïfs, Peckham - for vegan small plates celebrating vegetables

Tucked away on a quiet residential street in Peckham Rye sits vegan naïfs. Immediately warm and welcoming, it feels as though you’ve stepped right into the home of co-owner Anne Stokes, who runs the restaurant with partner Tom Heale. Subtle Japanese references in the décor - including garlands of origami birds - transcend into the food, through their Japanese grill in the kitchen as well as some of the ingredients.

The signature lentil pâté starter is an earthy foil for sweet fig jam, punchy pickles and a rye sourdough from renowned local bakery TOAD. The seasonal set menu of four dishes includes sticky glazed aubergines, smoky celeriac and crunchy sunchoke crisps. All the mains come at once, family style, creating a relaxed dining experience. For drinks, try the tall and refreshing Rhum & Ginger or a warming, gently spiced Paper Plane with bourbon. There are two dessert options, on our visit a feather-light filo with whipped almond custard and umeboshi alongside a silken chocolate mousse with yuzu curd. naifs.co.uk

Palm Greens, Arcade Food Hall – for nourishing salads

You can find plant-based pioneer Palm Greens serving good-for-the-soul vegan fare at Arcade Food Hall for a summer-long residency this 2023. Fresh and flavourful salads are at the forefront of the compact menu, including a vegan twist on caesar salad with cavolo nero, croutons and a cashew Caesar dressing; a nutrient rich bowl of brown rice noodles, dark leafy greens and a miso dressing, and the Mexican tostada, with black beans, quinoa, a crunchy tostada, a chipotle crema, and guajillo oil. You’re encouraged to pep up the salads with extras, from miso mushrooms to whipped ‘ricotta’ and burnt habanero chilli oil. Be sure to finish with one of the two desserts – a chewy peanut butter, tahini and oat choc chip cookie, or a generous loaf portion of chocolate chip banana bread. Drinks can be ordered from the in-house bar, with highlights including the ‘guava woo woo’, a fragrant blend of vodka, guava, white peach and jasmine soda. arcadefoodhall.com/palm-greens

Bubala, Soho – for Middle Eastern vegetarian small plates

The second spot from Marc Summers (Berber & Q) and Helen Graham (Palomar) is decked out in the same earthy-chic style as the original Spitalfields restaurant. Gather round the table at the back to get a slice of action from the open kitchen and peruse jars of ferments and infusions that make their way into dishes and cocktails. Peanut-infused bourbon is stirred with chocolate bitters for a warming old fashioned, blood orange syrup is shaken up with tequila in a rose petal and Persian salt-rimmed margarita, and citrus syrups are topped up with sparkling water and fresh herbs in the non-alcoholic gazoz options.

To start, order fresh laffa flatbread to dip into silky baba ganoush, followed by charcoaled leek swirl skewers and corn ribs, slathered in a punchy chipotle, Aleppo chilli, black garlic and cumin sauce. Lip-smacking mains include buttery hispi cabbage coated in a dried orange, nori and sesame crumb, and deep-fried, brined cauliflower served with caramelised spiced spinach bkeila. Potato latkes are given a modern twist, pressed with garlic butter into stacks and fried to order, and fresh vesuvio tomatoes and mango are soaked in a sweet and tangy tamarind and date syrup dressing. Finish with coconut and tahini fudge, subtly laced with blood orange and coated in crackly sesame seeds. bubala.co.uk

En Root, Peckham – for Indian-inspired vegan dishes

Brothers Nish and Harsh have come a long way since selling hot sauce at markets in 2016, expanding to a bricks-and-mortar in Clapham and, more recently, a plant-based restaurant in Peckham decked with plants, draped mandala tapestries and decorative cushions.

Sip on the watermelon juice with beetroot, apple, ginger and mint during summer evenings, or ask for the modestly priced cocktail menu, where juices are livened with rum. Nourishing vegan fare lies at the heart of En Root, offering Indian classics and street food nibbles infused with Gujarati spices. Start with sharing bites: puri is filled with beetroot, onion and chickpea and submerged in date tamarind masala water, while the plantain chaat – seasoned plantain on a bed of beetroot, onion, chickpea, ‘spice krispies’ and chutney – is an explosion of sweet crunch.

For mains, saag aloo-filled dosas come with lentil soup and coconut chutney. Or, for optimum health, try the buddha bowl, generously filled with rainbow salad, baba ganesh, sprouted lentils, curried chickpeas, plantain and avocado. To finish, the mango lassi cheesecake on an oaty coconut base offers a healthier twist on the original – best served with creamy chai. enrootldn.co.uk

Flat Earth Pizza, Cambridge Heath – for experimental veggie pizza

Flat Earth Pizza has moved into its first bricks and mortar location, an intimate space with bottle green and rattan furnishings. This sustainable pizza joint puts veg at the forefront and dismantles the idea of pizza as ‘junk food’: the dough is neither refined or processed, while ingredients are sourced locally.

Drink natural orange wine on tap during summery evenings, or try the foraged fig leaf and sweet woodruff martini. Start with a selection of well-designed vegan small plates to share, such as pickled beetroot and turmeric-spiced white cabbage, roasted red onions with caramelised shallots, chives and soubise and hummus with sweet house pickles and springy house focaccia.

Experimental pizza lies at the heart of Flat Earth. The ‘Hackey hot’ – topped with sweet pickled beetroot, a mixture of three Somerset cheeses, jalapeños, fermented hot salsa and tomato passata – has sweet warmth, while the ‘Kimchi Fiorentina’ with kimchi, tomato passata, beetroot crumb and egg, is a Korean twist on a veggie classic (vegans have the option of a plant-based mozzarella pie). Finish with a gooey vegan sea salt brownie with salted caramel ice cream. flatearthpizzas.com

Jam Delish - for modern Caribbean vegan dishes

Sibling duo Jordan and Chyna have drawn upon their vegan upbringing to create a union of traditional Caribbean dishes with a modern, London twist in their restaurant and cocktail bar in Islington. Start with tacos with soft-shell tortillas, brown stew ‘codfish’, plantain crisps, avocado and coconut purée. Head chef Nathan Collymore (ex-Jamie Oliver's Fifteen)'s Caribbean fried ‘chicken’ with an umami-rich Jamaican gravy on silky garlic mash and tender vegan ‘goat’ meat in a thick, aromatic curry sauce are must-order mains. When it comes to sides, we particularly enjoyed the creamy mac and cheese with crispy ‘bacon’ and classic fluffy rice and peas. Try to keep a little room for the sticky banana sponge cake with caramelised bananas.

The extensive cocktail menu includes the classics as well as inventive sorrel margaritas with warming ginger, cinnamon and cloves and grown-up, Appleton Estate rum-spiked slushies. Intimate enough for date-night with the plush royal blue upholstery and gold fittings, offset by a vibrant green ‘living wall’, the restaurant also caters to larger groups (make the most of the ‘cakeage’ fee if you want to bring your own cake). jamdelish.co.uk

Plants by De, Mayfair – for unique flavour combinations and sleek sharing plates using 100% natural, plant-based ingredients

Plants by De is the debut restaurant of Ella Mills, award-winning cookery author, entrepreneur and champion of plant-based eating, and her husband, Deliciously Ella CEO Matthew Mills. Located in central London close to Bond Street, the restaurant is open from breakfast through to dinner, serving dishes devised by Ella and head chef Alan Eisenband.

Keeping in line with the Deliciously Ella philosophy of using 100% natural plant-based ingredients, everything is made in-house, from cultured vegan butters, to cashew crème fraîche and fermented sriracha mayonnaise.

The dinner menu offers a selection of small and large sharing plates, with the highlights being the king oyster mushroom scallops with parsnip purée, carrot jelly and parsnip bacon, cauliflower schnitzel and three sliders. It is rare to suggest a side dish as a menu stand-out, but the grilled cabbage with lentil chimichurri and tangy yet creamy tahini crème fraîche is not to be missed. If you find yourself left with room for dessert, the chocolate babka with homemade ice cream offers the perfect ending to your meal. Plants by De also offers a concise menu of wine and cocktails, with its English garden cocktail comprising flavours of gin, lime, apple and cucumber, bringing a light and refreshing note to the meal. deliciouslyella.com/plants/

Holy Carrot, Knightsbridge – for seasonal and ethically sourced vegan plates in a stylish, tranquil setting.

Located in Urban Retreat, the beauty and wellness destination in Knightsbridge, Holy Carrot offers all-day vegan dining in contemporary surroundings.

Founded by former Vogue producer, Irina Linovich, the goal of Holy Carrot is to offer Londoners a new way of experiencing and enjoying vegan food with a menu that focusses on using ethically sourced seasonal produce, prepared in a mindful manner. All the dishes on the menu are gluten-free, refined sugar-free, additive- and preservative-free, as well as led by the freshest seasonal, organic British produce.

For us, menu highlights included the Kentish purple potato croquettes, crispy maki and gorgeous tofu (so moreish – an absolute must for tofu lovers). Cocktail fans are also in for a treat, with a generous selection of in-house creations – one can’t go far wrong with the Rossini. holycarrot.co.uk

Bubala, Spitalfields – for Middle Eastern vegetarian small plates

Marc Summers, previously general manager at Berber & Q is heading up front of house, with chef Helen Graham (whose experience spans from The Palomar to The Good Egg) rustling up a feast behind the scenes at this Middle Eastern-inspired vegetarian small plates restaurant.

It’s hard to resist ordering everything from the menu (around seven small plates between two people is recommended), and if you’re not sure, opt for the Bubala knows best set menu, a selection of plates for £30. Otherwise, start with the laffa flatbread and dips. Hummus puddled with a nutty brown butter comes silky smooth, while confit garlic and za’atar pep up delicate labneh. Bubbled and smoky, the bread is there to mop them up.

Pass on the fattoush salad and double up on the halloumi instead. Forget squeaky cheese, this chunk melts on the fork and has a gentle funk. Glazed with black seed honey, it’s a sweet, salty kiss of dairy. Load up on latkes, too, which come crisp on the outside, protecting fluffy layers of potato with a punchy toum (garlic) sauce. bubala.co.uk

Read our full review of Bubala here…

Vurger Co, Shoreditch – for vegan burgers

You could opt for the Beyond-Meat-stuffed New York Melt, or a hot-sauce soaked ‘chicken’ fillet in the Buffalo vurger, if you’re after something that’s close to the real thing, but there’s something deeply satisfying about Vurger Co’s protein-packed classic black bean, chargrilled red pepper, chickpea and corn patty. All the trimmings work hard – tangy burger sauce, tomato, red onion, gherkins and properly cheesey vegan cheese – and there’s a selection of carb-tastic sides including skin-on and sweet potato fries, which you can order 50/50, plus tater tots. End on a sweet note courtesy of the plant-based shakes – Oreo, banana caramel or Biscoff, anyone? – with a shot of rum or whisky. thevurgerco.com

The Fields Beneath, Kentish Town West – for vegan breakfast and cakes

The Fields Beneath has three aims – to make great coffee and great food, and to make veganism normal. The colourful spot mixes exposed brickwork with mosaic tiles and blackboards with the menu written in vibrant chalk. For breakfast tuck into glossy baps filled with tofu, mushroom bacon and smoky tomato sauce, or cinnamon waffles with nut butter if you fancy something sweet. All day the counter is covered in tempting baked goods (a few of which are gluten-free, too), from peanut butter bars and chewy cookies to slices of quinoa and berry cake. In 2020, there are three Costa Rican coffees on offer, so fill your cup with natural, honey or washed beans. thefieldsbeneath.com

Wulf & Lamb, Chelsea – for vegan comfort food

It’s no surprise that Sloane Square vegan restaurant Wulf & Lamb has gained such a big following given head chef Franco Casolin used to work at the groundbreaking vegetarian restaurant Vanilla Black. Among Wulf & Lamb’s most popular dishes are the chilli ’non’ carne (made with kidney beans and mushrooms served on herb rice with cashew soured cream and lime) and the Wulf burger, a ‘meaty’ patty made with marinated seitan and cashew aïoli.

“We believe that food should be delicious, guilt-free and make you feel good,” says owner Rosanna von Zweigbergk. “With the growing interest in the benefits of a plant-based diet, more and more people are discovering that vegan food isn’t restrictive or boring but very tasty, indulgent and diverse.” wulfandlamb.com

Temple of Seitan, Hackney – for vegan burgers

With a second site in Camden opening on the back of the success of its pop-ups and the Hackney mothership, Temple of Seitan is a restaurant and takeaway that’s widely regarded as the mother of all plant-based fast-food joints. Since it launched three years ago, Temple of Seitan has gained a fanatical following for its delicious Temple Spicy Burger (crispy seitan fillet, cheese, coleslaw, jalapeños with hot sauce and chipotle mayo) and the proudly poultry-free version of KFC’s double-down fried chicken sandwich. templeofseitan.co.uk

Purezza, Camden – for vegan pizza

The UK’s first 100% vegan pizzeria, Purezza specialises in plant-based pizzas that respect the Neapolitan heritage. Where possible, this means using alternative versions of animal products, such as a plant-based mozzarella, which took more than two years to develop – this organic cheese (that’s dairy-free, low in fat and allergen-free) is made with brown rice milk and is unique to Purezza. In 2018, the restaurant secured investment to begin producing the cheese from a factory for retail. The original Brighton restaurant opened in 2015 and was followed three years later by a Camden branch and plans for more later this year. In 2018, Purezza won National Pizza of the Year for its Parmigiana Party pizza, despite being the only plant-based entrant. purezza.co.uk

Persepolis, Peckham – for vegetarian Persian cuisine

Pay a visit to Persepolis for a taste of Persia in the heart of Peckham. Beyond the deli’s impressive selection of tins, spices, Persian yogurts and display of shisha pipes, you’ll find a cosy hideout where diners feast on freshly made meze platters and veggie and vegan delights such as eggs scrambled with dates and fragrant spices, and dairy-free knickerbocker glories. This popular café is a favourite among locals for its no-nonsense, avocado-free breakfasts (think mango and tamarind smoothies and pots of Persian tea with cardamom), however the £20 tasting menu is the real standout: a colourful carousel of food spanning meze, soup, mains and a dessert platter filled with ice cream, paklava and fruit. foratasteofpersia.co.uk

My Village, Camden – for fuss-free vegan fare

Hewn wood, exposed brick and twinkling fairy lights adorn this charming vegan café in Camden. Its grotto-like interior and cosy secret garden isolated from Camden’s high street makes the perfect set-up to spend a leisurely lunch, whether it’s tucking into toasted halloumi wraps or grandma’s daily vegan soup. Or, if it’s just a cup of coffee you’re after, they’ll still bring you a tiny snack to enjoy with it. myvillagecafebar.co.uk

Club Mexicana, Kingly Court – for casual Tex-Mex

Starting out as a successful street-food concept, you can now find Club Mexicana serving its veganised versions of Tex-Mex classics inside a hot pink brick-and-mortar site at Soho’s Kingly Court. The vibrant and buzzy atmosphere matches the zingy flavours spanning the menu, with highlights including the buffalo fried chick’n burrito, loaded with buffalo hot sauce, ranch dressing, salsa verde, pink onions and pickled jalapeños. Beer-battered tacos and nachos are not to be missed either, with the latter resembling a mountain of tortilla chips, queso, ground ‘beef’, guacamole, salsa, pink onions and pickled jalapeños, finished with a drizzle of chipotle oil and sprinkle of chilli-lime salt. clubmexicana.com

Copperhouse Chocolate, Angel – for vegan chocolate

If you’re looking for vegan chocolate, head to Copperhouse Chocolate near Angel, London. It's London's first fully-vegan chocolate shop, having made the change back in April 2019 (it was formerly known as Jaz & Jul’s Chocolate House). Try the vegan chocolate brunch for a plate piled high with Jaffa pancakes, drizzled with marmalade-maple syrup and chocolate sauce. Or warm-up with one of many vegan hot chocolates, including chilli con choccy, mintchievous, and cinnamon rose. All the drinks are made with single-origin chocolates from Colombia, Madagascar, and Ecuador. copperhousechocolate.co.uk

The Gate, Hammersmith – for vegetarian pub food

From miso-glazed aubergines with toasted cashews to stuffed plantains, the menu at London’s Gate restaurants – in Hammersmith, Islington and Marylebone – could not, in its fusion of global flavours, be any more on-trend. However, its owners, Adrian and Michael Daniel, have been cooking this way since 1989.

For the London-born sons of Indian parents of Iraqi descent, as Michael puts it, “Using chilli and spices is in our DNA. We grew up on a fusion of Arabic and Indian with local influences, so it was easy to mix cuisines”. The Daniels are pioneers in other ways, too: the Gate Islington was the UK’s first accredited, autism-friendly restaurant. 28 years in, they’re as focussed as ever. “If food doesn’t pass my test, it’s not served. If the passion goes, we’re gone.” says Michael. thegaterestaurants.com

Mr Falafel, Shepherd's Bush – for vegan wraps

This simple takeaway-café on Shepherd’s Bush Market dispenses crisp, herb-laden falafel of staggering lightness. Packed into wraps with his zippy pickled veg, delicious additions such as fried cauliflower and dressed with various tahini, garlic and pomegranate syrup sauces, they abound in flavour. mrfalafel.co.uk