Saturday, March 29, 2025

10 Of The Best London Restaurants For Vegans

From forbes.com

By Joanne Shurvell

From upscale eateries to casual cafés, London restaurants offer an array of innovative vegan dishes that cater to all tastes and that’s expanding as the demand for vegan food continues to sore 

From upscale eateries to casual cafés, most London restaurants offer an array of vegan menus either separate or incorporated into the main menu. And the vegan offer continues to expand and get more creative as the demand for vegan food continues to sore. Whether you're craving plant-based takes on classic dishes, creative international flavours, or indulgent desserts, the capital’s restaurants offer something for every vegan foodie.

1.Kin Restaurant, Fitzrovia

Newly opened Kin offers an exclusively vegan and vegetarian menu that’s both varied and delicious. And even better, no faux meats are used. Highlights include small plates such as sweet potato with vegan parmesan and bigger ones like courgette and pistachio spaghetti. There’s also a fabulous weekend brunch that can be paired with a selection of waste-free cocktails. The restaurant is super charming but petite so be sure to make a reservation.

2.Bubala, Soho

Almost all the dishes at Marc Summers’ popular Soho bistro are vegan, with a few veggie dishes thrown in. And for purists, there’s a separate all vegan menu. Both the Soho and Spitalfields locations are always busy so it’s no wonder that a third location in Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross will open this year. Every dish is a highlight from the baba ganoush with curry leaf oil and pine nuts to cucumbers with tahini and chilli cucumber chilli to Jerusalem artichokes, ras el hanout and miso. Be sure to save room for the insanely moreish desserts including salted caramel chocolates and the coconut tahini fudge.

3.Mary’s, Soho

Jason Atherton’s Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social has been renamed Mary’s which makes it sound like a homely cafe. It’s anything but as it retains the sophisticated vibe of the previous restaurant with chic interiors and paintings on the walls. In terms of the food, the menu is a bit more casual and it has a great plant-based offering. There’s a separate vegan menu with outstanding choices like shiitake mushroom tartare; miso aubergine, with crispy onion, pickled cucumber, in a satay sauce and globe artichoke, ratatouille, grilled courgette, black olive in a basil dressing.

4.Kapara, Soho

It’s no surprise that Chef Eran Tibi’s Kapara features a bold and creative vegan sharing menu. Priced at £64 per person, it’s a generous menu which will likely require a doggy bag. Starting with one of the best and fluffiest pita breads in town, accompanied by a spiced tomato dip and creamy hummus, you’ll move on to smoky blackened aubergine with tahini and pomegranate molasses. Other highlights include chickpea panisse with green harissa; wood-fired leeks with sweet potato dumplings; and tender stem broccoli dressed in miso and sesame. Save room for dessert, a sticky treat of medjool dates, black treacle, baharat chantilly and crumble.

5.Cord, The city

Located in a grade II listed Lutyens-designed building, Cord, by Le Cordon Bleu, is the first fine dining restaurant in London by the famed culinary arts institute. Founded in Paris in 1895, Le Cordon Bleu occupies a unique place in the history of culinary arts as one of the oldest and most prestigious cooking schools in the world. The focus remains on innovation so the vegan tasting menu here is both beautifully presented and creative. Highlights include‍ black truffle shiitake, sourdough, and black garlic; globe artichoke with tarragon and mustard seeds; caramelised celeriac and for dessert, 70% Guanaja chocolate delice with caramel sorbet.

6.Pastaio, Oxford Circus

Founded by British chef Stevie Parle in 2017, this friendly Italian restaurant aims to serve pasta that's both affordable and very tasty. Every morning, the skilled team makes fresh pasta by hand. For vegans, there is a “green menu” with a delicious range of pasta dishes including Slow Cooked Tomato Sauce, Basil, Casarecce; Aglio e Olio, Crusco Chilli, Parsley, New Season Purple Garlic, Linguine; and Courgette, Mint, Garlic, Chilli, Casarecce. And don’t miss the delicious starter, Aubergine caponata, tomato, olive, pine nut, raisin and mint. The quality of food and extremely reasonable prices is a winning combination indeed.

7.Toba, Soho

This authentic Indonesian restaurant that takes you on a journey through the diverse culture of foods and flavours that represents multiple islands in Indonesia. Bringing that authentic Indonesian spice, expect most items to have at least a little bit of kick. The vegan offer is decent with highlights like Gulai Daun Singkong Pete (kale braised in traditional thick coconut milk sauce with tofu, tempeh and sator beans) and Crispy Fried Tofu Stuffed in Vegetable, served with Indonesian Sweet Soy Sauce.

8.The Cinnamon Club, Westminster

Plant-based menus at Executive Chef Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Club are always a joy. From chargrilled achari cauliflower with a Peshawari sauce to Kolkata “meat” style jackfruit curry, vegans are well catered for. There’s also a separate vegan tasting menu for £45 that includes Pani Puri – tangy potato in semolina shell, mint and tamarind water; Spiced aubergine steak, pumpkin chutney, masala peanut or Tandoori cauliflower with carom seed, coriander chutneychutney, Kale, quinoa and sweet potato kofta, tomato lemon sauce, saffron rice or Jumbo morels with spiced tofu, tandoori king oyster, truffled millet khichdi shiitake crisps. Dessert is coconut and tapioca phirni with mango passion fruit jelly.

9.Bancone, Covent Garden and two other locations

Bancone has a great selection of vegan options including fried artichoke, romesco; chilli, garlic, parsley, spaghetti ‘alla chitarra’ and Cime di rapa, gnocchetti sardi, broccoli, pickled chilli. But the main reason to visit is for a vegan dessert that has been on the menu for two years by popular demand. The moreish dessert is a twist on a creme caramel is made with coconut milk, coffee and toasted buckwheat.

10.Koyn, Mayfair

Launched by Samyukta Nair, with chef Rose Chalalai in June last year, KOYN Thai has become known for its unique take on traditional Thai cooking, inspired by Rose’s childhood in Bangkok, and also her years at her Paris-based restaurant, Rose Kitchen. Koyn Thai is hidden below Nair’s Koyn Japanese, which continues to reside on the ground floor of the Grosvenor Street location. Chef Chalalai’s green vegetable curry and warm grilled aubergine are both excellent vegan choices.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanneshurvell/2025/03/28/10-of-the-best-london-restaurants-for-vegans/

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