32 Best UK Vegan Restaurants You Have To Visit If You're More Bean Than Beef
Food, glorious food
One in eight Britons are now either vegan or vegetarian, with the plant-based movement gaining strength every year as people become more conscious of the impact their diets have on the planet. The culinary scene in the UK has picked up the scent with an assortment of delicious eateries that satisfy all cravings, as well as offering incredible variety, from junk food to virtuous grain bowls.
Vegan restaurants in London and across the UK have come a long way since its hippy heydays – you can now get vegan whipped cream on your milkshake as well as fish and chips and juicy burgers so delicious that you’d be hard pressed to notice the difference between vegan and non-vegan options. With so many incredible food options for people visiting London, it’s time to bring together the best vegan restaurants in the UK.
If you're not hungry already, you will be once you've seen the array of menus including everything from loaded mushroom tacos at London's Farmacy to za'atar beetroot smash from Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds.
Read on for the best vegan restaurants in the UK to book a table at:
Holy Carrot, London
Proving once and for all that vegan food is just as chic, delicious and good looking as the menus for meat eaters is Knightsbridge's latest culinary addition, Holy Carrot. Nestled in Urban Retreat's opulent London townhouse, Holy Carrot's interiors look just as good as the dishes. Think egg shell blue walls, mid century wooden chairs and sculptural dried flower installations worthy of any Instagram wedding.
Then there's the plates. A menu of considered plant-based small and large dishes combine flavours from Japan (the parsnip root risotto with Koji miso butter will make you wonder why you ever bothered with rice), America (our favourite from the trio of sliders boasted a BBQ mushroom patty and home made 'cheese' sauce), and the great British countryside (we'll be dipping our asparagus in black garlic mayo from now on).
Snap the kohlrabi tartar which arrives in, you guessed it, a hollowed out kohlrabi, for your enviable Insta food moment and finish the delightful vegan journey with a cocktail complete with Holy Carrot embossed ice.
And, if unexpectedly delicious vegan twists on classic dishes isn't what you fancy, we can wholeheartedly say that the chips are some of the best we've had in years. Anywhere.
For more info, click here
Bubala, London
If you've got a hearty appetite then Bubala is the one for you. A Middle Eastern restaurant founded by Marc Summers and Helen Graham in October 2019, this is a food hub that serves both a vegetarian and vegan menu. If we could eat here every night, we would.
With menus titled 'Bubala Knows Best', you'll be in good hands thanks to the expertise of head chef Graham. Tuck into vegan delights such as laffa bread, beetroot borani, (with pomegranate molasses and dill), the most mouthwatering oyster mushroom skewers (coated in tamar, coriander seed and maple), tasty fried aubergine in zhoug and date syrup and several more plates.
Guardian critic, Jay Rayner, recently said of Bubala: 'If you love vibrant Mediterranean dishes, Bubala will be your East End sweetheart.' And we couldn't agree more.
For more info, click here.
Tibits, London
A popular international pay-by-weight chain with delicious seasonal menus based just off Regents Street, with another location in Southwark.
Their dishes include mushroom polenta pizza and spicy kale kimchi, as well as fabulous vegan breakfasts with bircher muesli and golden turmeric lattes.
The interiors have a retro feel - think rounded sofas and rose-patterned wallpaper.
For more info, click here.
En Root, London
Serving Indian-inspired vegan dishes in Clapham, cousins Nish and Harshil Modasia who own and run the restaurant are all about using local and season ingredients. With home delivery (think a DIY dosa kit to your door), the eatery mixes up everything from rainbow salads and a 'Full Indian' breakfast (massala beans, grilled mushrooms, saag aloo, vegan sausages, paratha, plantain and avocado) to sharing platters smoothies, cassava chips and more.
For more info, click here.
The Full Nelson, London
Slightly off the beaten path, to dine at The Full Nelson, you'll have to make a pilgrimage south of the river, but boy will it be worth it.
Not your usual healthy vegan fare, the Full Nelson is for junk food lovers who've given up meat and dairy but still crave their fix.
With finger-licking good (seitan) 'chicken' burgers and tater tots to boot, this place is the Five Guys of vegandom.
It's very small, so head there early and plan to have a drink at the bar until a table comes available.
Located in Deptford, you can reach it by Overground to New Cross, or DLR to Deptford Bridge.
For more info, click here.
Vurger Co, London
Satisfying your vegan tastebuds in the capital has never been so easy, thanks to the newly-opened Vurger Co restaurant in Shoreditch.
The extensive menu features the New York Melt and a Big Mex with jackfruit, Kentucky bites with BBQ sauce, as well as specials like ‘The Philly’ Cheesesteak for World Vegan Day.
Their long sharing tables, fully recyclable packaging and white subway tiles make them a firm Insta favourite.
Other highlights include homemade shakes (did someone say Oreo rum?), as well as a double chocolate cookie ice cream sandwich.
Warning: With an appetite like ours, you may have to be rolled out at the end.
For more info, click here.
Down The Hatch
There's not a meat in sight at this Duke Street establishment, which serves up classic diner food for vegans, whether it's a burger and hotdog or loaded fries (warning, halloumi fries are on offer, just in case your non-vegan friends fancies a bit of cheese).
'Portion size is definitely our weakness, so feel free to fill your boots and stuff your faces. No judgement from us!' a message on their website reads. If that doesn't tempt you to book a table, we don't know what will.
For more info, click here.
Suncraft, Bristol
It’s not just London that prides itself on virtuous vegan food.
They focus on warming stews like their Ethiopian lentil stew, coconut laksa and gochujang stew, as well as specials like soba noodle salad. And for dessert, it's definitely worth trying the spiced banana doughnuts. They also serve their own cold pressed juices for a quick hit of vitamins!
And even better, Suncraft works with bottled water company Belu to donate a portion of the bill to WaterAid and grows their own herbs in a V-farm hydroponics system - so basically without any soil!
The restaurant's interiors are as bright as its name suggests with turquoise tiles, re-finished wood panel walls and cosy seating.
Find more info, click here.
Mildred's, Soho, London
Around since the 1980s, every Soho worker knows about Mildred's. Whether you're looking for a spot of lunch or a candle lit dinner with friends, Mildred's is happy to oblige.
Focused on bringing vegan food from around the globe, they serve porcini arancini, mole frijoles, teriyaki chicken burgers, Sri Lankan curry and gochujang tofu.
For those with a sweet tooth, try their caramel cheesecake and spiced rum truffles.
For more info, click here.
Go Falafel, Manchester
With its bold colours and fresh vegetables in the window, it's hard to miss this restaurant.
Selling falafel wraps, salad boxes, fresh smoothie and juices, this 100 per cent vegan-led restaurant provides the perfect pick-me-up during the week.
They make their own hummus and like to serve their salads and lunch boxes in big portions so go hungry. They also do pressed juices like the Ginger Zinger and Mango Tango.
For more info, click here.
Ecco Pizzeria, Leeds
Want to make sure that your pizza is both authentic and vegan? Then welcome to Ecco, a Leeds-based pizzeria that serves up delicious regular and vegan pizzas.
Look out for the ‘Vegetali’ with roasted aubergines and sweet tricolore peppers, or you can try something a little more adventurous like the ‘Lombardi’, which comes topped with sautéed caramelised leeks, green beans and roasted artichoke hearts.
They also sell smoothies, salads and mocktails for those looking to spice up their regular pizza order.
For more info, click here.
Gauthier Soho, London
A Regency townhouse restaurant serving French cuisine, this vegan haven serves up some of the most delicious plant-based food we've had in London.
Having served vegan food boxes for months during lockdown, the restaurant is now up and running and serving diners on its terrace everything from Pink Palissade bowls (smoked tofu, avocado, kimchi, brown Thai rice etc) and a quesadilla verde, to a California Cheeseburger (with Beyond Meat patties) and Kabocha pumpkin-based salads).
For more info, click here.
Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
Set as a grungy retro book club straight out of Stranger Things, the interiors is just a taste of the amazing vegan food to come.
Based around the idea of a Veg Butcher, all of their ‘cuts’ are as close to the real thing as possible.
They serve a loaded vegan brunch with favourites including banana pancakes, muffins and a vegan fry-up. For lunch and dinner, they focus on substituting meat for vegan options liker the kimchi chicken wrap and vegan hot dogs. They also serve diner-style sweetcorn fritters, ice cream sundaes and stunning cakes.
Find more info, click here.
By Chloé, London
This millennial pink and black restaurant with handwritten neon signs across the walls feels like the food equivalent of a Glossier store.
Created by vegan chef, cookbook author and winner of the US Cupcake Wars Chloe Coscarelli and her friend and partner Samantha Wasser, this spot in London brings a little American charm to London.
But they've also also turned quintessential British favourites like fish 'n' chips and Sunday roasts into hearty vegan options. Don't miss the cupcake selection, we would recommend the raspberry tiramisu flavour.
Currently based in Covent Garden, Tower Bridge, O2 and Oxford Circus.
For more info, click here.
Farmacy, London
Famed from its 'free-from' ethos, this west London health food spot has become a favorite among locals.
Free from dairy, refined sugars, meat and additives, this vegan-friendly restaurant shows you can enjoy food, protect the environment and have a good time, all in one place.
The restaurant features both a brunch menu and a main menu with dishes like loaded mushroom tacos and pad Thai as well as their signature vegan bowls - we love the macro bowl.
They also serve alchemy-inspired drinks like the three immortals hot chocolate, ancient coffee brew, heart chakra tea and sweet treats, including banana bread pudding. What's not to love.
For more info, click here.
Hula Juice Bar, Edinburgh
Open in two locations in Edinburgh, this bright tropical sit-in and take-away café mixes industrial design with emerald green walls and palm trees.
As well as serving incredible food like the shackshuka, smoked tofu scramble, za’tar beetroot smash, vegan poke bowls and raw cheesecake, they also make sure that their restaurant is a plastic-free zone (yes for the turtles!).
For more info, click here.
Little Green, Newcastle
Opened in June 2018, this bistro has been serving vegan food to the public with dishes like jackfruit potstickers, gado gado salad bowls, Banana blossom 'fish' and chips with tartare sauce and mushy peas and quinoa and tempeh patty burgers. It's back up and running in-person from May 17, in line with lockdown restrictions, and we can't wait to book a table.
For more info, click here.
Vx, Bristol
Behind the cobalt blue doors lies the UK’s first 100 per cent vegan restaurant. Set across two locations – one in Bristol, one in London - expect a full junk food menu with kebabs, burgers and vegan cheeses.
Their chequered ceiling and freakshake menu (pictured) may stand out, but this restaurant won’t let you tell the difference between the real deal and their vegan cheese, mock-meat and chocolate treats.
They also have vegan spray whipped cream, BBQ ribs, steak frites, burritos and eclairs. A true vegan junk food paradise!
Find more info, click here.
Roots and Fruits, Leeds
Heralded as one of the city's finest vegetarian cafés for over 20 years, its owners have recently made the restaurant predominantly plant-based, using freshly and locally-sourced ingredients.
When visiting, try 'The Whole Bowl' - chipotle black beans, brown rice, mango salsa, guacamole and vegan 'cheesey' sauce – and Jerk Jackfruit- Caribbean sweet and spicy jerked jackfruit served with hard food, wraps and coconut sour cream.
For more info, click here.
Itadaki Zen, London
While international cuisines are aplenty in London, it can still be hard to find Japanese restaurants which cater fully for vegans.
However, Itadaki Zen is Europe’s first vegan Japanese restaurant and it will not disappoint.
Offering delicious alternatives to your regular sushi order kakiage don (tempura vegetables and rice), bento boxes with vegan sushi, and steaming udon noodles with gluten-free options as well.
You’ll want to stay in their beautiful teahouse interior until you’ve slurped the last drop of miso.
For more info, click here.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
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