Oh, London. Home to 9 million people, 11 tube lines, swaths of eclectic architecture, overpriced pints, and lots of wonderful restaurants. Whether you love or hate the capital, there is no denying that London’s food scene is incredible, offering an amazing selection of restaurants for all tastes and dietary requirements. So, whether you’re giving Veganuary a go, are looking for an early Valentine’s/Galentine’s reservation, or simply want to find a nice meat-free dinner, here are Nonchalant’s best veggie restaurants in London. Plus we’ve thrown in vegan spots to try too.
Our List of Veggie Restaurants in London
Mallow
London Bridge
Mallow, named after the European “miracle plant” which is entirely edible, Mallow is a 100% plant-based restaurant in Borough Market. The Mallow team cook up delicious vegan food with flavours from all around the world, but ingredients sourced as locally as possible. They take sustainability seriously and endeavour to work with small businesses. This is where their location comes in handy: they partner with many independent sellers in Borough Market to create the dishes in their seasonal menu, which is a combination of small and big plates – perfect for sharing. At the weekend, they also serve breakfast and brunch for the early risers or Mimosa-lovers.
Try: the truffle chick’n burger.
Wulf & Lamb
Marylebone & Chelsea
Another vegan favourite, Wulf & Lamb serves nourishing dishes in their two West London locations in Marylebone and Chelsea. The menu is full of plant-based versions of classic comfort foods, from vegan gyoza to jackfruit shepherd’s pie. It’s also pretty affordable, especially if you pick their Veganuary set menu, offering a starter and main plus a non-alcoholic drink for just under £20. If you book through OpenTable, you can grab a glass of prosecco with any main over £14.50. What’s not to love?
Try: the butternut squash risotto.
Alter
Aldgate
Situated in Aldgate, Alter was founded with the goal of transforming the average restaurant-goer’s idea of vegan food. This is not your standard plant-based menu: it’s full of vibrant flavours served up in an elegant, even sexy, fashion. These humble small plates will make even the most ardent meat-lovers forget about animal protein. Alter also has a brilliant selection of house cocktails, and a selection of sake, and zero-waste soft drinks. All the good things.
Try: literally anything, this enture menu slaps.
Purezza
Camden (and multiple UK locations)
Since its foundation in 2015, Purezza has become a bit of a vegan classic. The UK’s first vegan pizzeria dairy-free versions of the Italian joy food. The team have spent years refining their plant-based mozzarella to make it melt and ooze just like the real thing. Purezza’s ethos of inclusive dining extends not just to vegetarian and vegan eaters – their menu is 95% gluten-free. Every Purezza restaurant is also dog-friendly, so your four-legged pals will enjoy them too.
(Psst: all throughout Veganuary, Purezza is offering a free pizza to everyone who brings a non-vegan friend along to try their menu. (They say they have no way to check if your friend really is non-vegan, so make of that what you will.)
Try: the vegan nduja pizza. We are drooling.
Where The Pancakes Are
Battersea, Fitzrovia & London Bridge
Where The Pancakes Are is one for the brunch lovers. Though this isn’t a totally plant-based spot, we felt it warranted inclusion as one of the best pancake spots in all of London, serving excellent vegetarian and vegan dishes. The meatless items on the menu really stand on their own, instead of feeling like lesser versions of the original breakfast dishes. This selection of American-style savoury and sweet pancakes (and Dutch babies – yum) will please everyone, at any time of the day – but we particularly recommend them for a top-notch weekend brunch.
Try: the Australian pancake is our favourite savoury option, and we love Recovery for those with a sweet tooth.
Bubala
Spitalfields & Soho
Bubala means “darling” in Yiddish, and we believe it’s aptly named: this lovely vegetarian restaurant has a special place in our hearts. Bubala’s menu is inspired by Middle Eastern flavours and styles of cooking, and boasts interesting textures and bold, bright flavours. The original Spitalfields branch serves an a la carte menu at lunch, and the team’s signature “Bubala Knows Best” tasting menu, a sumptuous series of small plates where vegetables (and of course, halloumi) are the star. The Soho restaurant is much the same, except you can also order a la carte at any time of the day.
Try: we do really love everything on the menu, so we would absolutely recommend the tasting menu for a special occasion.
Persepolis
Peckham
Peckham’s Persepolis is an ode to Persian cooking. It’s a gem of a restaurant hidden inside a corner shop selling Persian delicacies, where an ever-changing, highly seasonal menu of mezze is served. Think veggie-heavy Middle Eastern food with a Peckham twist, like a baked potato with Persian beans and halloumi. And no, this is not an allegory, but an actual menu item. One of the best things you can choose here is the cheap but oh-so-cheerful sharing menu taking you through everything that the tiny South London kitchen has to offer. It’s the chaotic good of London restaurants, and we are obsessed.
Try: the mezze platters, and the Saffron Banana Split sundae for dessert.
Mildreds
Multiple locations
An absolute classic that needs no introduction, Mildreds serves 100% plant-based food, taking inspiration from all around the world. It’s the London vegan’s go-to, with a menu of predictable good ole’ reliables as well as seasonal specials if you want to try something new. There are also lovely cocktails, both alcoholic and “noughty”, to wash it all down with. It might not be the shiniest new spot in town, but it is and will always remain a favourite.
Try: the korean fried chick’n burger.
Hungry for more? Check out our line-up of the best bottomless brunches and the best Asian restaurants in London.
Enjoy,
Team Nonchalant x
Last Updated on 11th January 2023 by Nonchalant Magazine
After trying out several European cities, Ditta moved to London three years ago, and although she finds the weather, rent prices, and transport times abysmal, the capital’s music scene was vibrant enough to get her to stay. She currently works at a technology PR firm and spends all her free time in amateur theatre groups, at open mics, yoga classes, poetry readings, or at home watching Netflix and eating too many peanut M&M’s. She’s a native speaker of Hungarian, fluent in French, and could still get by in Russian and Portuguese with some polishing.
Find me on: Instagram
