The best vegetarian restaurants in London
Forget underseasoned courgette flowers and sad hunks of tofu – the best vegetarian restaurants in London are dining destinations that rival the fanciest, meat-heavy establishments. Whether it's multi-course Indian feasts in Chelsea that cater to vegetarians and vegans alongside carnivores or a Hammersmith favourite that has fed the suburb's foodies hearty seasonal fare since the ’80s, there's something for every palate in the capital. These are the best addresses for committed vegetarians in London right now, from purely plant-based spots to glitzy dining rooms where vegetables are never second-rate citizens in the kitchen.
Oliveira Kitchen
Best for: an imaginative, creative tasting menu
Brazilian chef E Amélio de Oliveira first opened the creative vegetarian restaurant Oliveira Kitchen on a quiet, unassuming street in East Sheen. Receiving glowing reviews from regulars and growing a following, the restaurant naturally outgrew its space and has since relocated to a larger venue on the busier streets of Shoreditch. Chefs prepare plates in the circular kitchen, which takes centre stage on the ground-floor modern dining room, while downstairs holds plenty more customers and will most likely be packed on Friday and Saturday evenings. The à la carte menu sits alongside a tasting menu and, seasonally, a truffle menu, each utilising exotic flavours for an around-the-world dining experience.
Address: Oliveira Kitchen, 80 Paul St, London EC2A 4NE
Website: oliveira.kitchen/shoreditch
Bubala
Best for: cutting-edge veg
In Yiddish, the beautiful, historical language of Europe’s Ashkenazi Jews, Bubala means darling or sweetheart. It’s a word often used by doting grandparents – a fitting name for a series of restaurants that pride themselves on feeding customers as if they're adored offspring. It’s a homely place full of good cheer and hearty cooking. Quietly vegetarian – there are, mercifully, no lectures on provenance or farming techniques – Bubala takes its cues from the Levant and the Maghreb, throwing in updated Ashkenazi staples. Smother laffa flatbread in hummus and burnt butter, tuck into oyster mushroom skewers and pick at halloumi doused in black seed honey, or opt for the £44 ‘Bubala Knows Best’ tasting menu, guiding tastebuds on a journey through the region.
Address: Bubala, 65 Commercial Street, London E1 6BD; Bubala, 15 Poland Street, London W1F 8QE; Bubala, 1 Cadence Court, Lewis Cubitt Park, London N1C 4ED
Website: bubala.co.uk
Mildred's
Best for: old-school classics
The latest London vegan restaurant launches may grab all the headlines, but it is old-school stalwart Mildred’s that is unobtrusively building the city’s first meat-free empire. The group's growth is testament to the lip-smacking plates that roll out of the kitchen on a daily basis, with outposts across the capital from Victoria to Dalston. All the enduring favourites are on the menu, from plant-based southern fried chicken-style burgers to salsa verde burritos and Sri Lankan sweet potato curry. A special shout out for the small plates, too, which range from cherry harissa patatas bravas to smoky arancini balls.
Address: Mildred’s, 9 Jamestown Road, London NW1 7BW; Mildred's, 79 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4AA; Mildred's, 1 Thomas Tower, Dalston Square, London E8 3GU; Mildred's, 200 Pentonville Road, London N1 9JP; Mildred's, 45 Lexington Street, London W1F 9AN; Mildred's, 128 Wilton Road, Pimlico, London SW1V 1JZ
Website: mildreds.co.uk
The Gate
Best for: the vegocracy
Keeping pace with Mildred is The Gate, whose flagship Hammersmith restaurant has fed hearty plant-based fare to this suburb's foodies since 1989. Beloved of the vegocracy (Madonna, Gwyneth and Paul McCartney have all been spotted), The Gate’s beautifully presented plates taste as good as they look and, unlike a fair few of the nu-vegan offerings, are actually good for you. The teriyaki aubergine, layered with roasted red peppers, shitake mushroom duxcell, and horseradish puree, steals the show, while the apple crumble pudding hits all the right spots – especially on a drizzly London evening.
Address: The Gate, 51 Queen Caroline Street, London, W6 9QL
Website: thegaterestaurants.com
The Canonbury Tavern
Best for: vegetarian roasts in London
The Canonbury Tavern is home to one of the most inclusive Sunday roast menus in the capital. Forget rustic chalked-out menus stating the obvious ("it's just chicken or beef today") – the tastiest day of the week is a decadent a la carte affair here. Start with a rich caramelised onion soup bejewelled with mushrooms, truffle oil and accompanied by a hunk of sourdough, or crunch through roasted fig and heritage beetroot salad doused in whipped feta cheese and candied walnuts. The signature plant burger is a feature on the Sunday menu, but the creative plant-based alternatives get our vote – wild mushroom, feta and onion pithivier? Yes, please!
Address: The Canonbury, 21 Canonbury Place, Islington, London N1 2NS
Website: thecanonbury.co.uk
Rovi
Best for: vegetarian small plates
Derided as a fad when it first started but now accepted as the modern way to eat out, sharing small plates can sometimes be a bit of a trial for vegetarians who often find themselves slowly eating a single courgette flower while the rest of the table feasts on ham croquettes and ox cheeks. Thankfully, the second generation of small-plate specialists has righted this imbalance, creating perfectly formed plates of vegetables that are often the most exciting things on the menu. At Yotam Ottolenghi’s Rovi, five of the small plates are vegetarian, from the classic plump burrata to the smoky celeriac shawarma, meaning no plant-based warrior needs to feel left out from the table spread.
Address: Rovi, 59 Wells Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1A 3AE
Website: ottolenghi.co.uk
Kahani
Best for: plant-based Indian feasting
While Kahani, one of London's swankiest Indian restaurants, is by no means exclusively plant-based (classically meaty dishes sit on the à la carte menu), it's a fantastic option when an inclusive dining spot is required. Chennai-raised chef Peter Joseph's menus are influenced by time spent in the kitchen with his mother throughout his childhood, his adventures around local spice-scented markets and also his time in high-end British kitchens. His vegetarian menu – a dedicated vegan menu is also available – is a sight to behold. Think Kolkata beetroot chops with ginger and fennel, fiery paneer tikka and spiced poached pear with coconut sorbet for a sweet finish.
Address: Kahani, 1 Wilbraham Place, London SW1X 9AE
Website: kahanilondon.com