Restaurant reviews Travel

Vegan in London

October 4, 2017

We just spent two nights in London and even though I go down there for work all the time, this is the first time in over a year (!) that I’ve gone just for fun. The main purpose of our trip was to go see The National, but we decided to spend a couple nights there, do some sightseeing and, of course, eat all the vegan food. The vegan food scene is exploding in London, and we only managed a tiny fraction of the restaurants we wanted to go to, including Fed by Water, 222 Vegan Buffet and Vx. Check out my vlog below for a look at our trip and all the delicious food we ate.

Because I would like this blog to be about more than just the above vlog, I’ve compiled a list of vegan restaurants in London that I’ve been to, and those that are on my list to visit. Hopefully this will inspire you on your next trip to London!

Places I’ve been (in no particular order):

  • Tibits: Tibits is my go-to lunch spot in London. It’s a huge buffet with loads of options. Just be careful – you pay by weight!
  • Coach and Horses: London’s first veggie pub. I had some delicious vegan fish n chips here recently.
  • Club Mexicana: these guys do seriously good vegan Mexican food. They can be found at several locations, so check their website to find out where they’ll be next.
  • Veggie Pret: Pret recently opened an all veggie/vegan store in Soho and has been so popular they’re now expanding to more locations!
  • What the Pitta: tried these guys at the Vegan Campout and their kebabs are deeeeelicious.
  • 222: vegan buffet as seen in my video above.
  • Fed by Water: vegan Italian food, as seen in my video above.
  • Vx: London’s first vegan shop, now serving delicious comfort food as seen in my video above.

Places on my list (in no particular order):

  • Temple of Hackney: I’ve actually tried the chicken from Temple before they had their permanent residence in Hackney, but they’ve since expanded the menu and the food looks incredible – think crispy fried “chicken,” mac n cheez, etc.
  • Yorica: vegan ice cream in Soho. Follow them on insta for seriously impressive looking creations.
  • The Gate: vegan French and Italian style food, with a focus on fresh seasonal ingredients.
  • Itadaki-zen: Vegan sushi! This one is near St Pancras which is my train station – so I really should visit soon.
  • Pomodoro e Basilico: vegan burgers and Italian food stall.
  • Just Fab Italia: vegan Italian food bus.
  • Mooshie’s: delicious looking vegan burgers.
  • The Gallery Café: vegan dishes, coffee, sweet treats, and healthy juices.
  • Mildreds: internationally inspired vegan dishes from around the world.
  • Vurger co: another place doing some serious impressive looking vegan burgers (I’m particularly fond of their liberal use of guacamole).
  • Manna: internationally inspired vegetarian and vegan dishes from around the world.
  • Sanctuary: vegan comfort food. This place was on my list to visit on this trip but was sadly closed the day we wanted to go.
  • Cook Daily: vegan food stall with two locations and lots of interesting looking dishes.
  • Spice Box: plant-powered Indian food stand.
  • 90 Degree Melt: seriously decadent looking vegan American comfort food.
  • Black Cat Cafe: mentioned by a reader – good looking burgers and other vegan food in Hackney.
  • Vanilla Black: another reader suggestion – veggie restaurant in London serving up inventive veggie/vegan dishes.

What are your top places for vegan food in London? Anything I should add?

  • Vance Harvey October 4, 2017 at 1:09 pm

    Thanks for these – will try 1 or 2 when we next go to London.
    But I also like Amico Bio – Italian veggie/vegan in Smithfield and Holborn; have been to their restaurants several times; they also do vegan wines.
    East Street Restaurant at 3/5 Rathbone Place, off Oxford Street, near Totenham Court Road is very good; type of Thai/Asian style food doing veggie/vegan.

    • lindsay October 4, 2017 at 7:06 pm

      Ah yes – forgot Amico Bio! I haven’t heard of East Street, but I love the sound of vegan Thai food!

  • Chris Ward October 4, 2017 at 7:47 pm

    Amici Bio is no more – closed a whole ago 😟
    Aside from where you have mentioned I reckon Hackney is where it is at at the moment (I am biased – I live there), with 2 weekly vegan markets, the brilliant Black Cat Cafe (near Temple of Hackney), the best almond and/or chocolate almond croissants in I Wil Kill Again, newly turned vegan bar Haunt and a new branch of Mildreds (Dalston). Would also say that What the Pitta (alongside Cook Daily in BoxPark) is a must + there will soon be a vegan fish and chip shop on Brick Lane and a vegan pie and mash shop in Marylebone. It’s all happening at the moment!

    • lindsay October 5, 2017 at 7:13 am

      Thanks! I’ll add those to the list. I forgot about What the Pitta – I’ve actually tried their food before at the Vegan Campout and it was AMAZING!! Hackney definitely seems like the place to be!

    • Vance October 5, 2017 at 2:01 pm

      Chris…do you mean that both Amico Bio have closed down? We went to the Smithfield restaurant last December so am surprised if that has closed.
      The Holborn branch was being redesigned when we walked by, so assumed it would open in 2017.
      Do you know why have they closed as they were always busy when we were there?

      • Chris Ward October 5, 2017 at 5:38 pm

        Yes sadly both have closed – It did seem to get a bit quieter in the Smithfield branch towards the end…

        • Vance October 6, 2017 at 12:40 pm

          Really…that is a shame as we had some very nice meals at both the venues; they were a bit more sophisticated than some of the places one visits – especially the Smithfield restaurant….Oh well….now to find new places I guess 🙂

  • Lewis T October 4, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    As an ex-leicester, recent vegan convert, who now lives in London, this is a great list. I work round the corner from VX – their kebabs are amazing

    • lindsay October 5, 2017 at 7:14 am

      Thank you! I’d be in big trouble (and prob 10 lbs heavier) if I lived near Vx!!