Veganuary: Top vegan spots in London

After the joyous overindulgence of Christmas and New Year’s, there’s no time like the present to shift into recovery mode with a regime of healthy eating. Hence ‘Veganuary’ – an invitation to non-vegans and committed vegans alike to explore the latest and most delicious organic plant-based food that vegan restaurants in London have to offer.

For non-vegans and non-vegetarians, what you find may come as a pleasant shock. Some of London’s finest and most creative kitchens are to be found in vegan or vegan-friendly eateries these days; in terms of taste, texture and satisfaction, the best vegan food can be enjoyed on their own terms, not as a weak ‘substitute’ for ‘real food’.

It is a testament to the growing popularity of vegan eating that you needn’t even seek out a vegan restaurant in London to enjoy vegan fare – from fine dining to casual, almost every eatery worth its salt offers at least a few vegan or vegetarian menu options.

So, get your Veganuary started with our picks from the cream of the crop: 

 

CASUAL

Atis

The accent here is on ‘Powerful Food’ – healthy, sustainably sourced, and built into a carefully composed menu that includes several vegan options. Particularly attractive are the build-your-own salad bowls and vegan-friendly cookies and brownies. There are meat options available too, for those accompanied by carnivorous friends. Shoreditch EC1 and Belgravia SW1.

Stem & Glory

A choice of indoor and outdoor seating is a big part of the appeal of this Barts Square eatery. Lunch and dinner menus are extensive, with choices like the Dirty Burger (with protein pattie), Winter Gnocchi, Sri Lankan Golden Curry, Warm Cherry Crumble and others offering something tempting for everyone. Shoreditch EC1.

123V

123V claim ‘The future is vegan’ – which sounds a little bold until you’ve actually wrapped your tastebuds around their state-of-the-art plant-based creations. A collaboration with Alexis Gauthier - you won’t be disappointed by their small but interesting range of salads and bowls – but for a real mouth-watering experience, sink your teeth into a ‘Vinglish Breakfast’. New Bond Street W1.

Mallow

Those familiar with the veggie-famous Mildreds will have some idea of the quality on offer at Mallow. Unlike Mildreds, the fare here is 100% vegan – but like Mildreds, it’s gloriously fresh and bursting with unexpected flavours and combinations. The mushroom tacos are highly recommended, as are the vegan desserts such as the carrot cake sticky toffee. Borough Market SE1.

Powerplant

The dining room here makes the first impression – and while pleasing, it offers little in the way of bold flavour. How misleading: the menus are jammed with choices your tastebuds won’t soon forget. The signature Powerplant burger bursts like a flavour grenade with its beyond pattie, fermented cucumber, applewood cheese and chipotle mayo. Chalk Farm NW1.

 

FINE 

Holy Carrot

Just because you’re eating vegan doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dine in good taste. Holy Carrot offers a splendidly sophisticated ambience to complement its organic, gluten- and additive-free cuisine. The menu is magnificent too, with items like the Smoked Mac & Cheese, Ravioli, the huge dessert selection and the excellent cocktails not-to-be-missed. Knightsbridge SW1.

Galvin La Chapelle

Step into this classic dining room and your expectations are instantly elevated: any meal at this Michelin-star French establishment is going to be magical, and that includes items from their surprisingly complete vegan menu. Naturally, choices like wild mushroom and black truffle risotto and potato, watercress and borage lasagne are all best enjoyed with the suggested wines. Spitalfields E1.

Tendril

If there’s a London restaurant that proves vegan done creatively can stand up for itself among any other cuisine, this is it. Tendril presents diners with a bold adventure in every bite. For a Veganuary special, choose from such delights as Heritage beetroot fritter and Chipotle grilled mushroom and BBQ kale; you may find yourself returning for Veganbruary. Great Pulteney Street W1.

OXO Tower Restaurant and Brasserie

This establishment started on the cutting edge, and it remains there today – especially where its vegan dishes are concerned. If creations like Beetroot and cashew ‘cheese’ tart, orange tempeh, rosemary mayonnaise, cavolo nero, or Poached Pink Lady apple, cinnamon pastry cream, oat clusters, cranberry sorbet don’t arouse your senses, it’s hard to imagine what will. Southbank SE1.

 

VEGAN-FRIENDLY

Cento alla Torre

When you’re choosing a restaurant for a mixed bag of diners, it’s a relief to know that this Italian eatery is ready to please everyone. Start with the stunning views, then dive into a menu of vegan and non-vegan favourites with a strong accent on freshness. Standout plant-based choices are Pizzetta con Aglio and the very satisfying Spaghettini alla Checca. Tower Bridge EC3.

Gauthiers

As you might expect from this restaurant’s modern French cuisine, Alexis Gauthier’s menus are based on 25 years in classical French gastronomy yet redefine the expectations of fine dining. Gauthiers spans 3 floors of Regency townhouse, where diners can indulge in exotic non-animal faire such as Truffle Noire du Périgord, and Caviar. Soho W1.

The Vincent

There’s a certain something about this Hackney restaurant that makes it a natural ‘standby’ – the cosy but modern décor, the superb European cuisine, and, for vegans, the fact that it features at least one vegan dish in every section of its menu. But is it good? Give the Veg Breakfast or Mushroom wrap a go, and just try to resist coming back for more. Hackney E8

The Gate

Formally a vegetarian establishment, The Gate nevertheless serves up a healthy helping of vegan dishes as well. Try the vividly named Green Dragon salad for starters, and move on to the textural and flavourful journey that is Red Thai curry before finishing your healthy-but-indulgent meal with a helping of Tiramisu. St John Street EC1.

Farmacy

With their insistence on growing their own biodynamic vegetables and driving them in daily from Kent in an electric van, Farmacy sounds like it ought to be full-on vegan. It isn’t quite – but the vegan dishes it does serve are served with verve. Highlights are the Got No Beef Burger, the Artichoke Pizzetta, and as a chilly-day treat, a spiced buckwheat winter bowl. Nottinghill W2.

 

VEGAN OPTIONS

Voodoo Ray’s

This pizzeria offers only one vegan pizza option, but it’s a great one: the mighty Queen Vegan, with artichoke hearts, green olives, red onion, sun blush tomatoes, tomato sauce and green sauce. In the unlikely event that the vegan in your life remains unsatisfied, the menu also offers a few appealing sides like Vegan Slaw, Onion Rings and Curly Fries. Peckham SE5.

Sutton & Sons

No longer do vegans need feel left out when the rest of the crowd heads to the chippie: next time, herd them over to this family-run fishmongers/fish-and-chip shop and watch them gawp with amazement as you tuck into a special menu of vegan versions of everything from fish and chips to pie and mash. Hackney E8.

ROBATA

The look here is Japanese-style minimalism, yet ROBATA is essentially cosy and inviting – a quality that extends to a moderately priced menu of nicely prepared casual Japanese dishes, including a few vegan options that should hit the spot. Among the most appealing: Broccoli Steak, Miso Aubergine, and the unbeatably simple skewered Asparagus. Piccadilly W1.

Mildreds

This Soho establishment has been quite successfully winning converts to vegetarian cuisine since the 1980s. Though the emphasis is still quite heavily on vegetarian, vegan diners aren’t totally left out of the Mildreds magic: in fact, the whole all-day menu is vegan, from the Bhatti Ka Chick’n Kebabs to the indulgent Ruben sandwich. Soho W1.

Roll Baby

The classic Vietnamese roll meets modern London at a low, low price. Add in some vegan options, and what’s not to like? The vegan choices include tofu, rainbow and mushroom rolls, which can be accompanied with a wide range of dipping sauces for an extra dimension of flavour. South Kensington SW3.