London’s top vegan-friendly restaurants

Some time ago, we published a list of our favourite vegan-friendly dining options in the capital. Circling back to this way of eating – it being Veganuary and all – we’re excited to refresh that list. A couple of the listings remain, and there are some new additions. Indulging without guilt? Yes, please.

Jikoni

While not vegan or even vegetarian, Jikoni's ethos of 'cooking across borders' applies to dietary preferences as well. Each menu features several dishes that accommodate a vegan diet without compromising on the rich colour, texture, and flavour for which the carbon-neutral restaurant has become known. In particular, the set lunch menu spotlights ingredients from Jikoni's biodynamic farm partner, Waltham Farm. Selecting from two or three courses – don't miss the signature crispy aubergine, Sichuan caramel, sticky garlic rice – this is a dynamic meal that doesn't miss animal-based ingredients.

EDIT, Hackney

Opened last year, this Hackney restaurant offers vegan fine dining with a commitment to sustainability. Its ‘hyper seasonal’ menu changes daily and uses ingredients sourced from small-scale farms, foragers and independent producers; expect the likes of wild mushroom fricassee with British grains and Swiss chard, and seaweed-cured celeriac with purple potato mash. Sustainability is a key factor in its design, too. Dreamt up by architect-turned-restauranteur, Elly Ward, the restaurant’s original brick walls and iron columns are left deliberately exposed, with all furniture either rescued, reclaimed or recycled.

Mallow, Borough

This self-service restaurant near Oxford Circus serves a rotating menu of meat-free and plant-based cuisine, spotlighting myriad flavours from around the globe. Beautifully presented in a Scandinavian-styled all-white environment, the extensive options allow guests to try many new things and explore their own palettes – including an onion- and garlic-free menu. Other dishes include dumplings with gochujang and a cannellini apricot burger, plus bottomless brunch on the weekends and several delicious dessert options.

Wulf & Lamb

A carryover from our previous list, this plant-based restaurant has since added a second Marylebone location, featuring a similar globally minded menu that carries through from breakfast to dinner. Most of its ingredients are organic, and nearly everything is made in-house. We love the breakfast burrito, which incorporates Caribbean ackee with the typical fixings, alongside house-made cashew sour cream for a tart finish. It may be best known for its iteration of mac ‘n’ cheese, and it’s for a good reason; plus, the Japanese-inspired offerings – think katsu curry and a chilli bao bun – are particular standouts. To round it off, the cocktail list is remarkably inventive and incorporates homemade juices and infusions.

Farmacy

Another from our first list, Farmacy has been a Notting Hill destination since 2016. The stylish restaurant offers centre bar seating, which creates a bit of ambience – it’s fun to eat here. The entirely organic menu utilises many vegetables that are naturally and sustainably harvested on the restaurant’s own biodynamic Kent Farm. Serving brunch, afternoon tea, lunch, and dinner, the cuisine draws from across the globe: expect unique marrying of flavours and diverse options. We love the earth bowls, but the desserts are particularly outstanding; sticky toffee pudding tastes like the original dairy-filled version, as do the warm chocolate chip cookies.

Gauthier, Soho

This vegan restaurant has an intriguing back story: it never used to be vegan at all. However, following Head Chef Alexus Gauthier’s 2016 transition to a plant-based diet, it reopened in June 2021 as a vegan-only French restaurant. It’s certainly an unusual move for a French restaurant – one only has to think of the French fine dining staples of foie gras and butter – but its seasonal ‘petit’ or ‘grand’ tasting menus do an excellent job in convincing diners that plant-based dining doesn’t fall short on flavour.

Mildreds

One of the original innovators in London’s vegetarian scene, Mildreds has been in operation since 1998 (and is also the parent restaurant to mallow, mentioned above). Although originally a vegetarian spot, as of 2022 each of the five Mildreds are 100% plant-based. Throughout January, it will be serving a limited-edition Caribbean edit on weekdays; expect to see plates such as plantain tostones and brown stew marinaded chick'n skewers, plus a few low/no cocktails such as the Coastal Spritz.

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