It may be Veganuary, but these vegan-friendly restaurants in London are no fad. At these pioneering restaurants, there’s a permanent vegan menu offering the finest plant-based dishes, year-round.
Read on for our top picks – each tried, tested and approved by the (vegan and non-vegan) Citizen Femme team.
Scully St James’
Acclaimed chef Ramael Scully draws inspiration from all corners of the world for his eponymous London restaurant, fusing Asian, Middle Eastern and European culinary influences for a not-your-everyday vegan tasting menu. Boasting eight courses bursting with unexpected ingredients to create multi-layered, palette-exploding flavours, his dishes celebrate the beauty of diversity and reflect his own multicultural background and philosophy around vegetable-focused cooking. Intricate to look at but you’ll also be blown away by taste – from start to finish – with fermented, preserved and aged ingredients adding to the vibrant flavours. Pair with the wine flight or non-alcoholic cocktails to take each dish to the next level. It’s an experience not to be missed.
Mildreds
If you’re not already familiar with Mildreds, it’s time to add them to your radar. This 100 per cent plant-based restaurant has five locations across London and a sister restaurant, Mallow, in Borough Market (read more about Mallow below). Its first location opened in Soho 35 years ago – and remains a buzzing hotspot – visit for a laid-back and friendly service in a lively atmosphere. But, it’s the selection of colourful international food that’s made it a firm favourite. Our top picks? The roman artichoke, the Korean fried chick’n* burger (loved by non-vegans too) and the white chocolate tiramisu to finish. Catch the special Veganuary menu this month, inspired by the Vietnamese lunar new year with traditional dishes and flavours of Vietnam.
Tendril
Chef Rishim Sachdeva was a self-proclaimed ‘hardcore carnivore’ before challenging himself to Veganuary a few years’ ago. Not looking back, Rishim wanted to showcase what was possible for plant-first food, and put the spotlight on vegetables when opening his Mayfair restaurant. Proud to stay away from meat substitutes in his dishes, Tendril offers both an à la carte and discovery menu, both bursting with imaginative creations and seasonal produce. The stuffed cabbage and the salt and pepper celeriac terrine are particularly stand out small plates, but the grilled oyster mushroom and smoked paprika sprouts are the stars of the show. Veg never tasted so good.
Dishoom
Chef Naved Nasir’s Bombay-inspired cuisine has made Dishoom a longtime favourite among Londoners. Walking into their High Street Kensington location is like a step back to the 1920s: high ceilings, leather benches, vintage photographs and stained glass windows. This Art Deco atmosphere, complete with a talented in-house jazz band, sets the tone for the dining experience ahead. The menu, influenced by the comfort food found in the old Iranian cafés of Bombay, offers a wide variety of authentic and flavourful vegetarian dishes. Starting with the vegetable samosas and the house black daal, guests can enjoy typical Bombay plates and Dishoom original creations, like the jackfruit biryani and the Dishoom house chaat. Don’t miss this month’s special, the king oyster and chestnut mushroom pepper fry, cooked in a rich red chilli, ginger-garlic and black peppercorn sauce.
Holy Carrot
Located in the heart of Knightsbridge, and an ideal post-Harvey Nichols shopping stop, Holy Carrot is a sophisticated restaurant on a mission to change the perception of plant-based food. Aside from being totally vegan, the dishes are also free from additives, refined sugar and gluten –and the globally-inspired menu boasts ethically-sourced, quality ingredients. Highlights from the menu include the Kentish purple potato croquettes, the holy maki platter and the holy eclair with coconut cream. If you’re looking to convert a meat lover, check out their exclusive ‘meaty’ four-course set menu available until 31st Jan 2024, in partnership with Cowspiracy, the American documentary film which made headlines in 2014.
Mallow
Since opening its doors in Borough Market in 2021, Mallow – brought to you by the team behind Mildreds – has been a favourite for both vegans and carnivores. With a generous menu inspired by global cuisines, Mallow’s dishes feature ingredients sourced from small, sustainable businesses, including those right on their doorstep in Borough Market. The dumplings are so good, we guarantee you’ll be asking for another round, and the sharing market thali is bursting with Indian flavours. Finish with the ginger sticky toffee and cinder toffee ice cream, it’ll be the best STP you’ve ever had.
Acme Fire Cult
Chotto Matte
Celebrating Nikkei cuisine, a harmonious synthesis between the culinary traditions of Peru and Japan, Chotto Matte is an eclectic and vibrant concept with locations worldwide. With its flagship in Soho and a newly-launched outlet in Marylebone, the accessible fine-dining experience fuses the best of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines with an array of mouth-watering dishes you won’t forget in a hurry. You may be familiar with its Soho branch for a buzzy night out, but the new Marylebone restaurant has a more relaxed atmosphere with food at the forefront. The menu has a variety of non-vegan and vegan plates but a sharing concept is recommended. The lychee ceviche, BBQ mushroom salad and el jardín maki are particularly noteworthy.
Norma
This stylish Sicilian-inspired restaurant in Fitzrovia has collaborated with award-winning chef and cookbook author, Max La Manna on a five-course, plant-based menu that celebrates sustainable, low-waste dining for the month of January. Max, who is a low-waste advocate, creates simple, affordable dishes that use as much of an ingredient as possible, and has worked collaboratively with Norma Head Chef Giovann Attard to develop dishes inspired by Italian flavours using both Italian and British seasonal ingredients. Delicious plant-based dishes include the Julienne Bruno burrella with ‘nduja, carrot top gremolata, fried basil and toasted walnuts , a courgette involtini with almond ricotta, winter tomato, basil dusted ‘parmesan’ crisps, and a coconut panna cotta with citrus sorbet, spiced pangrattato and aquafaba meringue for dessert.
Madera by Treehouse
Located at the top of central London’s Treehouse Hotel with impressive city views, Mexican restaurant Madera is the little sister to highly-acclaimed Los Angeles-based Toca Madera, an ingredient-forward concept perfect for bustling evening dining. Organic ingredients give fresh flavours and there’s something for everyone, with an extensive menu suited for both vegans and meat eaters. Once you’ve pulled yourself away from the panoramic lookout, be sure to order the cauliflower tostaditas and wild mushroom tortillas for an explosion of flavour, washed down with a passionfruit margarita.
Additional notable names for plant-based goodness
Gautier Soho
The Gate
Stem & Glory
Farmacy
Main Image: HOLY CARROT
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