Last updated:
London is one of the best cities in the world to eat without meat. What was once a niche has become a genuine strength, spanning a Michelin-starred plant-based tasting menu, decades-old vegetarian institutions and a global cast of kitchens where meat was never the point. This guide covers the vegan and vegetarian restaurants worth planning a meal around, from special occasion dining to a reliable everyday plate.
What makes London so good for plant-based dining
The city's diversity does the heavy lifting. Alongside dedicated vegan and vegetarian rooms, London's Indian, Middle Eastern and East Asian kitchens offer some of the finest meat-free cooking anywhere. A few pointers help you eat well.
- Dedicated vegan and vegetarian restaurants now range from casual diners to fine dining.
- Indian and South Asian kitchens, especially the South Indian and Gujarati traditions, are a natural home for superb vegetarian food.
- Most mainstream restaurants now offer thoughtful vegan and vegetarian options, not an afterthought.
- Dietary needs such as gluten-free are widely catered for, though it is always worth flagging when you book.
For a special occasion
At the top end, Plates London made history as the first vegan restaurant in the United Kingdom to win a Michelin star, and offers an ambitious plant-based tasting menu. Gauthier Soho, the fine dining room of chef Alexis Gauthier, has built its reputation around an elegant vegan menu in a Georgian townhouse. Both are destinations in their own right and reward booking well ahead.
The long-standing institutions
Some names have shaped how London eats. Mildreds has been a Soho fixture since 1988 and now has rooms across the city, serving a globe-trotting vegetarian and vegan menu. The Gate, opened in Hammersmith in 1989, remains a benchmark for inventive vegetarian cooking. Both prove that meat-free dining in London is a settled tradition, not a passing trend.
Casual and comfort plant-based
For something more relaxed, London's vegan casual scene is thriving. Club Mexicana serves joyful vegan tacos, Temple of Seitan does a cult vegan fried chicken, and Mallow in Borough Market, from the Mildreds team, offers a bright all-day plant-based menu. In Camden, Purezza makes a serious case for vegan pizza.
Vegetarian Indian, a London strength
For many Londoners the best meat-free food in the city is Indian. The stretch of Drummond Street near Euston is a long-standing hub, home to veteran vegetarian rooms such as Diwana Bhel Poori House and Ravi Shankar. Elsewhere, the South Indian specialist Sagar turns out excellent dosas and thalis. These places offer some of the best value and most satisfying vegetarian meals anywhere in London.
Good to know
Does London have a vegan Michelin star?
Yes. Plates London became the first fully vegan restaurant in the United Kingdom to be awarded a Michelin star, a milestone for plant-based dining in the city. Several other restaurants hold Michelin recognition for menus with strong vegetarian and vegan offerings.
Is London good for vegetarians?
Very. Between dedicated vegetarian restaurants, a world-class range of Indian and Middle Eastern cooking, and mainstream menus that now treat meat-free options seriously, vegetarians are exceptionally well served across every price point and neighbourhood.
Where can I find vegan afternoon tea in London?
A growing number of hotels and tea rooms offer a dedicated vegan afternoon tea, usually with plant-based sandwiches, scones and pastries, though it is best to request it when booking. Our guide to afternoon tea in London covers the options in more detail.
Where to go next
Continue planning your meals with the best restaurants in London, or explore the city’s markets and street food in our guide to the best food markets in London.
