London’s Hottest Vegetarian Restaurants

Most of us are trying to eat less meat nowadays, whether or not we’re vegetarian. London’s food scene is keeping step. This is our pick of the hottest vegetarian restaurants to book now:

  1. Best Pop Up: Bubala at Carousel, 25-29 September

Bubala – a Yiddish term of endearment – lands at Carousel next week with Middle Eastern delights like Hummus with Burnt Urfa Butter, Spiced Za’atar Chickpeas, Halloumi with grilled peaches and Israeli Style Dumplings. The concept from Emily Heron (Head Chef at Ottolenghi) and Marc Summers (Berber & Q, The Palomar, Ceru) is to be a showcase all things vegetarian. Book ahead for the set menu, £39.50 carousel-london.com

2. Best for Weekday Breakfast: Kin Cafe, Marylebone 

This chic yet friendly Fitzrovia cafe caters to all sorts of contemporary foodie habits whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, gluten free or partial to a particular milk in your coffee. Their most popular dish is (unsurprisingly) avocado on toast but there’s also acai bowls, Mexican eggs and a vegan protein bowl with tempeh, avocado, quinoa and scrambled tofu. The coffee is particularly good. 22 Foley Street kincafe.co.uk

3. Best for Weekend Brunch: Farmacy, Notting Hill

Camilla Fayed’s plant-based restaurant in Westbourne Grove pulls in a glam crowd. Avoid the imitation fare – the burgers and sundaes don’t begin to compare to the real thing. Instead go for brunch to recover from the night before. Order a syringe shot – the fire starter with ginger, cayenne, turmeric and lemon is surprisingly tasty – and the virtuous version of a full English, the Farmacy Breakfast of potato rosti with truffle cream, roasted cherry tomatoes, sprouted house baked beans and sourdough toast. farmacylondon.com

4. Best Casual Classic: Mildreds 

A Soho institution since 1988, and now also in Camden, Kings Cross and Dalston. The hearty menu will please carnivores as well as veggies – there’s even a burger on the menu and a chicken katsu curry (above) made with panko coconut crumb mock chicken and served with black rice, watermelon radish salad and yuzu dressing. You can’t book, so go early or expect to put your name down and wait – it’s worth it. mildreds.co.uk

5. Best for Dinner: Ceremony, Tufnell Park

Everyone’s talking about Ceremony, the year-old restaurant that describes its menu as ‘modern British that happens to be vegetarian.’ London’s top (non-veggie) critics certainly agree, and the hotspot has pulled in rave reviews and a steady stream of diners. Start with a cocktail from their excellent list as you nibble on garden pickles and beetroot pate, before moving onto the main event which features dishes like crispy duck egg with shaved hard cheese and linguine with rocket and cashew pesto and goats curd. Our top pick. ceremonyrestaurant.london

6. Best for a Special Occassion: Scully, St James’

Whilst not strictly a vegetarian restaurant, the menu at Scully is definitely veg-led and in our opinion it’s the place to find some of London’s most interesting vegetarian dishes right now. Led by Ramael Scully who worked with Ottolenghi for 8 years – including launching Nopi with him – opened his first solo venture this March. Creative and endlessly exciting, we’re great fans. scullyrestaurant.com

7. Best for non-drinkers: Redemption

It’s far easier to eschew the temptation of a glass of wine when it’s simply not on the menu. At London’s alcohol free bar, Redemption order a pomegranate and rosemary fizz instead before dining on vegetarian twists on classics – think bolognese made with mushroom or a burger made from beets and black beans. There are two outposts in Old Street, Shoreditch and Chepstow Road, Notting Hill plus a new cookbook that comes out today. redemptionbar.co.uk

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