30 best vegan restaurants in London for a plant-based fix

A few years ago, many people dismissed the rise of veganism as ‘just a trend’. Nowadays, however, it’s pretty clear that’s not the case. Swathes of the UK population are moving to a plant-based diet, and with good reason. According to researchers at the University of Oxford, going vegan can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 73%, making it the single biggest step individuals can make towards helping the environment. There are also many health benefits to going vegan, and it can also work out cheaper than a meat and dairy-filled diet.

Those curious about trying veganism might feel a little daunted. After all, many of us are pretty reliant on animal products and consume them multiple times a day. Luckily, there are lots of different ways to start making the change - you could try out some vegan recipes in your own kitchen or start off by testing out some brilliant vegan meal kits, but our favourite way to get started is visiting one of London’s amazing vegan restaurants.

The vegan scene in the capital is only getting better, with new openings practically every week, great vegan menus at restaurants that support the movement and even some top-tier eateries going fully plant-based for good. There are vegan fast-food joints, serving up huge burgers and ‘wings’, without an animal product in sight, casual eateries where a vegan meal won’t break the bank, and even eight-course vegan tasting menus for a true culinary journey. We’ve split up this list accordingly so that you can jump to exactly what you’re looking for.

Without further ado, here are the best vegan restaurants in London (in our humble opinion). Each restaurant has its own page with more info, so hit ‘book now’ if any take your fancy. Some of the restaurants below have even earned a SquareMeal gold award, so be sure to keep an eye out for them!

Casual vegan restaurants

For days when you just can’t be bothered to cook or want a quick catch-up with a friend, casual dining restaurants are exactly what you need. From simple dishes to fun and laid-back décor, these restaurants are for last-minute dinner plans and casual meet-ups. Since they all have a host of vegan options, you can keep everyone happy at these restaurants.

Jam Delish, Islington

What: Jam Delish is one of the best places in the capital for Caribbean food – never mind the fact that it’s also 100% vegan. Dishes like curry ‘goat’ and jerk ‘chicken’ are given a plant-based makeover, although you’d have a hard time being able to tell they’re vegan thanks to some seriously convincing replica meat. We recommend sharing a selection of small plates to start, from Bajan fried ‘fish’ tacos to lemon pepper cauliflower, followed by a main course. The desserts are just as impressive as the savouries, with the likes of ‘cheesecake of the week’ and chocolate pannacotta up for grabs. 
Where: 1 Tolpuddle Street, N1 0XT 
Book now: Jam Delish

Tofu Vegan, Islington, Spitalfields and Golders Green

What: With a name like Tofu Vegan, it’s pretty clear what this casual Chinese spot in Islington is all about. Now with three sites across London, Tofu Vegan is a health and environment-conscious restaurant serving up a tastebud-tickling menu of classic, veg-focused Chinese dishes, often with tofu, mushrooms or imitation meat at the centre of each one. Examples include sweet potato noodles in a spicy sesame sauce, deep fried tofu with salt and Sichuan pepper, smacked cucumbers with a spicy dressing, and sizzling king oyster mushrooms. You can catch these guys in Islington, Spitalfields and Golders Green.  
Where: 105 Upper Street, N1 1QN 
Book now: Tofu Vegan Islington

Mallow, London Bridge and Canary Wharf

Why: Younger sister to the well-established Mildreds, Mallow serves up fresh, colourful and globally-inspired plant-based cuisine amidst the buzz of Borough Market and Canary Wharf's Wood Wharf. Here, guests can choose from some spectacular plant-based fare off the low-waste menu. Swing by at any time – we love it for a midweek cocktail or brunch at the weekend.
Where: 1 Cathedral Street, SE1 9DE; 12 Park Drive, Wood Wharf, E14 9ZW
Book now: Mallow London Bridge; Mallow Canary Wharf

Wulf & Lamb, Chelsea and Marylebone

Why: This casual Chelsea and Marylebone eatery serves an entirely vegan menu in a stylish and relaxed setting - the Chelsea site has a particularly prime location on fashionable Pavilion Road. Wulf & Lamb offers a variety of novel plant-based takes on classics including a green coconut curry and glazed miso aubergine, while the sides aren’t to be missed either - particularly the vegan mac ‘n’ cheese. 
Where: 243 Pavilion Road, SW1X 0BP; 66 Chiltern Street, W1U 4EJ
Book now: Wulf & Lamb Chelsea; Wulf & Lamb Marylebone

Palm Greens at Arcade Food Hall, Tottenham Court Road

What: Arcade Food Hall continues to rotate and ring the changes, and one of the newer counters to join London's liveliest food hall is Palm Greens, a healthy vegan concept that delivers big on flavour. Founding pair Kali and Memby started their journey from a belief that plant-based eating is the future for us all, but Kali's flavour-packed dishes manage to hit a comforting spot - the Green Goddess Noodles are a sensational swirl of seaweed umami and spicy jalapeno oil, and there are more options besides. Save room for the decadent choc chip and banana bread too.
Where: 103-105 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1DB
Book now: Arcade Food Hall

Mildreds, Various locations

Why: Launched in the 80s with the aim to modernise London's vegetarian restaurant offering, Mildreds has become a key fixture on Soho's dining scene. Now with four locations across the city and a host of vegan options on the menu - including shiitake tempeh noodles, korean fried chick’n, and a caramel cookie cheesecake with blackberry coulis - Mildred’s has become a favourite among vegans and non-vegans alike.
Where: 45 Lexington Street, W1F 9AN; 9 Jamestown Road, NW1 7BW; 128 Wilton Road, SW1V 1JZ; 79 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4AA
Book now: Mildreds Soho; Mildreds Camden; Mildreds Victoria; Mildreds Covent Garden; and more

Facing Heaven, Hackney

Why: Reborn from the ashes of cult hangout Mao Chow, Facing Heaven is named after the upward-pointing chilli plant. Here you'll find a fiery menu of feisty vegan fun, from crispy cauliflower florets and creamy matchstick potato salad to crunchy tofu skin, seaweed toast and more. Expect plenty of Sichuan pepper that will make your mouth tingle. Finish with a decadent Hong Kong French toast (vegan too, of course). 
Where: 1a Bayford Street, E8 3SE
Book now: Facing Heaven

En Root, Peckham 

What: Co-founders Nish and Harsh started in the most humble of circumstances, selling hot sauces at Herne Hill Market. These days En Root’s casual Indian vegan food has proven mighty popular in London, thanks to a mix of ultra-accessible, great value, nutritious dishes. Get stuck into poppadoms, dosas, curries, salads and more, as well as a range of healthy drinks.
Where: 28 Peckham Rye, SE15 4JR
Book now: En Root Peckham

Naifs, Peckham

What: This vegan bistro in Peckham serves up seasonal bistro style dishes alongside a biodynamic wine list, handcrafted botanical cocktails and kombuchas made in-house. The team here boasts a solid pedigree too, coming from restaurants like Vanilla Black and Noble Rot. Dinner comes as a set meal, designed to be shared between the group, with optional additions of desserts and appetisers.
Where: 56 Goldsmith Road, SE15 5TN
Book now: Naifs

Cafe Petiole, Covent Garden

Why: Rishim Sachdeva’s second London site couldn’t have a more impressive location, housed within the wings of Somerset House. It’s much more relaxed compared to Tendril - this really is a cafe, serving plant-based focaccia sandwiches, seasonal filo rolls and delightful quiches, both to eat in or to go. The Tendril tiramisu also makes an appearance here - surely one of the best vegan desserts in London.
Where: Somerset House, WC2R 1LA
Book now: Cafe Petiole

123V Browns, Mayfair

Why: Alexis Gauthier’s very successful 123V vegan fast food concept first appeared in Fenwick, but has since settled at Browns in Mayfair, taking the spot that previously belonged to Native. Expect vegan sushi that leans heavily into meat and seafood alternatives, like nigiri with 3D printer plant flank and kelp caviar. The lunch bento boxes are also great value.
Where: 39 Brook Street, W1K 4JE
Book now: 123V Browns

Andu Ethiopian Cafe, Dalston

What: This legendary little vegan cafe on Dalston Kingsland Road does one thing and one thing only - delicious, vegan Ethiopian platters. All you have to do is sit down, say how many people you are and a few minutes later, tuck into tasty Ethiopian lentils, shiro, veggies and injera (a fermented flatbread). At a tenner a head, it’s phenomenal value as well.
Where: 528 Kingsland Road, E8 4AH
Book now: Andu Ethiopian Cafe

Black Cat Café, Hackney

Why: Hackney's Black Cat Café is a cracking lunch or brunch spot that’s truly committed to all things vegan - all its food, cleaning products and materials are 100% plant-based, it offers its space to causes that support animal rights and sells products from other local businesses. Great stuff. The food (and portions) are brilliant, too, from deep-filled sarnies to global main plates. The neighbourhood vibes are another serious pull – we just love it. 
Where: 76A Clarence Road, E5 8HB
Book now: Black Cat Café

Club Mexicana, Soho and Shoreditch

Why: Fun street food spot - Club Mexicana - finds a home in Soho's Kingly Court, where it serves up Mexican snacks and dishes with a plant-based makeover. Think 'to-fish' tacos filled with beer-battered tofu, tartare sauce and avocado salsa. It also runs a cracking Taco Tuesdays offers where you can enjoy all-you-can-eat tacos for £20 per person. 
Where: Kingly Court, W1B 5PW; 46-48 Commercial Street, E1 6LT
Book now: Club Mexicana Soho; Club Mexicana Shoreditch

Atis, Various locations

Why: Lunchtime can be a minefield for vegans in London, with many places offering just one or two (not overly) appealing grab-and-go options for plant-based eaters. Atis aims to remedy this with its selection of hot and cold salad bowls which combine nutritious ingredients with clever dressings to smarten up your lunch break. The food outlet’s sustainable credentials go beyond what’s on the plate though, with all its packaging being recyclable or compostable and various food waste schemes employed to ensure nothing goes to landfill. While Atis isn't entirely plant-based, there are plenty of options for vegans, plus you can build your own!
Where: Various locations
Read more: Atis City of London

WAVE, Hackney

Why: The name WAVE is an acronym for ‘we are vegan everything’, and comes from the founders of vegan cake company 'Cupcakes and Shhht'. With Californian vibes and a menu that definitely won’t make you miss meat, WAVE’s visually stunning dishes are bound to pop up on your Instagram feed soon if they haven’t already. Try the pulled mushroom 'brisket' brioche, or visit in the morning for one of the excellent breakfasts.
Where: 11 Dispensary Lane, E8 1FT
Book now: WAVE

Farmacy, Notting Hill

Why: Growing its own biodynamic vegetables in Kent, which are transported daily by electric van to its London restaurants, not only will your food be vegan at Farmacy, but sustainable too. The entire menu is now plant-based and free from refined sugars, additives and chemicals. The kale Caesar salad, pad Thai and chilli and chipotle tostada are well worth a try.
Where: 74 Westbourne Grove, W2 5SH
Book now: Farmacy

Fine dining vegan restaurants

Fancy restaurants really are one of life’s greatest pleasures, and with so many dotted around the city you’ll be happy to know that vegans don’t have to be left out when it comes to fine dining. Although fine dining has connotations of meaty dishes and creamy desserts we’ve managed to find a host of fine dining restaurants specialising in spectacular plant-based goodness.  

Holy Carrot, Notting Hill

Why: Fire and ferments chef Daniel Watkins (Acme Fire Cult) explores the possibilities of plant-based cooking at this modern restaurant and cocktail bar in Notting Hill. Holy Carrot is dedicated to vegetable-focused dining and low-waste cooking techniques, which translates to a line-up of unusual, umami-rich, vibrant plates, such as Watkins' signature koji bread with chilli ragu and smoked mushrooms, and coal roasted leeks with corn, almonds and aji chilli.
Where: 156 Portobello Road, W11 2EB
Book now: Holy Carrot

Edit, Hackney

Why: EDIT is a restaurant that sits on the brink of casual and fancy. Exposed brick walls, terracotta tiles and a popping playlist all create a fun and laid-back ambience, while highly considered plates have been honed and refined so they not only look beautiful, but showcase a minute level of skill in every single one. These guys are on a mission to challenge wasteful practices as much as possible, while showcasing just how brilliant plant-based cooking can be. That translates to dishes like roast celeriac with Cafe de Paris sauce, Jerusalem artichokes with radicchio, mustard dressing and hazelnut, and chocolate tart with spiced pickled pears.
Where: 217 Mare Street, E8 3QE
Book now: Edit

Gauthier, Soho

Why: Alexis Gauthier, chef-patron of this French fine-dining spot, has made his restaurant one of the only vegan French restaurants in the country. Guests can enjoy seven or ten-course plant-based tasting menus, which change with the seasons. Courses include elegant creations like braised tiger squash with girolles, sea celeriac with beurre blanc and kelp caviar, and Braeburn apple with sweet parsnip and horseradish ice. There are even vegan seasonal aperitifs to whet your whistle. 
Where: 21 Romilly Street, W1D 5AF
Book now: Gauthier

Tendril, Soho 

Why: Tendril was founded by award-winning chef Rishim Sachdeva and is a vegan restaurant with a twist. In fact, it calls itself a mostly vegan restaurant, but that certainly doesn’t make it any less worthy of a place in this guide. Determined to not be pigeon-holed by cuisine or nationality, Sachdeva’s plates are bold and adventurous. Sure, you’ll find a few non-vegan options on the menu, but the majority are plant-based delights such as charred aubergine caponata, and cauliflower with whipped tahini, chilli and crispy rice.  
Where: 5 Princes Street, W1B 2LQ
Book now: Tendril 

Vegan fast-food restaurants

Although veganism may have connotations of health, we don't always fancy a salad. While there is no way of getting around the indulgent nature of fast food, we all need a treat sometimes, and vegan fast food is quickly becoming a strong competitor to your classic fast-food joints (we mean you, Five Guys). From burgers and tacos through to fried 'chicken' you can get vegan alternatives to almost anything now - you won’t miss a Big Mac after trying this stuff.  

Halo Burger, Brixton

Why: Halo Burger is a favourite amongst vegan burger fans and we can see why. Teaming up with Beyond Meat to create its signature patty, the eponymous burger is everything you could want from a plant-based fast food kick. You can pimp your burger with extras if you like, while sides include pink salt fries, and crispy onion strips. Don't miss the milkshakes, with ingredients like Lotus Biscoff and peanut butter.
Where: 49 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ
Book now: POP Brixton

Unity Diner, Aldgate

Why: This non-profit vegan diner and cocktail bar donates its profits towards animal rights campaigning work, doing as much good for the planet as it possibly can. Chow down on vegan burgers, hotdogs and 'chicken' satay skewers safe in the knowledge that your money has gone towards a great cause. 
Where: 60 Wentworth Street, E1 7AL
Book now: Unity Diner

Temple of Seitan, Hackney

Why: This is perhaps the strangest vegan alternative to hit the market, but definitely one that is gaining popularity. Temple of Seitan specialises in a vegan fried chicken alternative. Looking almost identical to the real thing, the food here is similar to any regular fried chicken shop you will find in the city, but as mentioned before, completely vegan (we still can’t get our heads around how real it looks).
Where: 5 Morning Lane, E9 6NA
Book now: Temple of Seitan

Restaurants with vegan options

Since the plant-based food revolution over the last few years, the amount of vegan restaurants in London has exploded with there being at least a few good ones in every major part of the city. But sometimes you have lots of different people and personalities to feed which is why we have put together a list of restaurants that have good vegan dishes on their main menus. Turns out you can please everyone after all.

Bubala, Spitalfields and Soho

Why: Bubala is a cracking restaurant in its own right (so much so that the team has expanded to a second site in Soho), but it's especially popular with vegan diners. The entire menu is veggie, with plenty of plant-based options to choose from including charred oyster mushroom skewers with tamari, hummus with harissa, apricot and jalapeno oil, and smacked cucumbers with tahini and chilli crunch. 
Where: 15 Poland Street, W1F 8PR; 65 Commerical Street, E1 6BD
Book now: Bubala Soho, Bubala Shoreditch

Pied à Terre, Fitzrovia

Why: From its prized modern art and impeccable wine list to legions of suited staff, Pied à Terre remains a timeless classic on the London dining scene. So, if you’re looking for a fancy meal out, why not try one of the restaurant's six, eight or ten-course vegan tasting menus? Dishes might include things like a seaweed dumpling with Roscoff onion consomme, and pumkin and sage agnolotti with aged maple syrup, while dessert could include an 80% chocolate mousse paired with clementine and lemon verbena.  
Where: 34 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NH
Book now: Pied à Terre

BAO, Various locations

Why: Beloved bun-broker BAO has thrown its hat in the vegan ring, and it's safe to say we're stoked. There's now a full vegan menu to choose from. BAO's vegan options are just as mouth-watering as the rest of the menu, with entries like dan dan noodles, soy-glazed aubergine rice, and mushroom dumplings. The burnt chilli daikon bao buns are also a must (to be honest, we recommend you order all of it).
Where: Various London locations
Book now: BAO Soho, BAO Shoreditch, BAO Borough, BAO Marylebone; and more

Scully, St James's

Why: Scully's intricate, idiosyncratic tasting menus have really come into their own. This is a restaurant that takes bold, distinct flavours and somehow makes them work, and the vegan tasting menu is totally unique in London. For example, dishes at the time of writing include crispy mochi dumplings with Szechuan dressing, forbidden black rice with green mole and smoked tofu, as well as Scully's signature arepa with eggplant sambal.
Where: 4 St James's Market, SW1Y 4AH
Book now: Scully

ROBATA, Soho

Why: While the menu at ROBATA caters for all, the restaurant does have a good selection of vegan mains perfect for when you want to dine in a mixed group. On the small plates section, you’ll find kimchi gyoza, Padron peppers and edamame beans, while mains include a miso aubergine with pickled mushrooms and red chilli plus an inventive broccoli steak.
Where: 56 Old Compton Street, W1D 4UE
Book now: ROBATA

Sutton & Sons, Hackney

Why: Vegan and fish and chips don’t tend to come in the same sentence, but Sutton & Sons has found a way to make the classic British favourite completely vegan. Using seaweed-marinated, deep-fried banana blossom it has managed to get pretty close to the taste of your standard deep-fried cod and chips combo. It doesn't stop at the classic fish and chips either - ‘prawn cocktail’ and ‘scampi’ also feature on the vegan menu.
Where: 218 Graham Road, E8 1BP
Book now: Sutton & Sons

Not quite ready to go fully vegan? We've put together a list of the best vegetarian restaurants in the city too. Of course, going vegan isn't the only way to improve your diet; there are tons of super healthy restaurants in London where you can eat out with a clear conscience. Cutting down on alcohol is nearly as fashionable as going vegan now (dry January and Veganuary do coincide after all), so it might be worth sampling some great non-alcoholic drinks too. And, if you think your booze should be animal product free too, you definitely need to read all about vegan wine. You’d be surprised how many wine producers use milk, egg or even fish oil!

For those of you who don't live in London, you haven't been forgotten. We've also covered the best vegan restaurants in Edinburgh, top plant-based spots in Brighton and animal-free eateries in Liverpool too!