It’s been almost a year since I started living and working in the heart of London, and boy I love it. There’s something about city-life that really gets me excited – like there’s always somewhere to be, something to do, someone new to meet. Over the course of this year I’ve eaten at a lot of different restaurants around London, but there’s a few I’ve returned to over and over. Here are my top five places to grab a healthy meal at, all of which cater well for vegetarians and vegans too.
Mildreds
45 Lexington St, Carnaby, London, W1F 9AN
I first discovered the vegetarian and vegan delights in Mildreds when dining out with Sara, and I’m so grateful she brought me there that first time. The Soho branch is like a healthy little cubby hole, with people often queuing out the door for the filling and delicious vegetarian food. I always recommend Mildreds to people who are a little angsty about vegetarianism, as the food is so darn tasty that no-one will feel like they’re missing out. My favourite dishes are their curries, roasted veggies, and vegan meringue!
Ethos
48 Eastcastle St, London, W1W 8DX
Pick an evening with a few hours to spare, grab a few friends, and head along to Ethos. In my full review I described this place as Instagram heaven, and the chic interior and novel way of picking out food make it a really good evening out. The food is all vegetarian, and the aim is to grab a plate and skate around the hot and cold buffets for lots of treats, then weighing your plate at the till. Because of this, it’s often hard to tell the price of your meal before you’ve picked it, so I recommend being prepared for a pricier meal (or go for lighter dishes – last time I made a major error with too much potatoes dauphinoise!)
Pure
100 Moorgate, London, EC2M 6AB
Pure is a small chain café that rivals the PR-extraordinaire Veggie Pret on a number of levels. I enjoyed popping in their Bank branch a while back to find lots of organic and healthier options that your regular café, and while their hot pots may be microwaved, the smoothies weren’t half bad. If you’re looking for a quick stop at lunchtime, this is your place.
The Gate
22-24 Seymour Place, Marylebone, London, W1H 7NL
It seems that vegetarian restaurants are thriving in London and I’m really quite happy about it! The Gate is one such success story; a family-run vegetarian restaurant, it has grown to three locations now, my favourite being their newly-opened one at Seymour Place. The menu at The Gate is small and selective, with perfectly formed dishes and they’re fairly priced too. Seymour Place is a good place to go for a romantic evening, while their Islington restaurant is more family-friendly.
The MaE Deli
21 Seymour Place, Marylebone, London, W1H 5BH
Just across the road from The Gate’s third restaurant is The Mae Deli, which offers equally good healthy food but in a completely different setting. Run by Ella Woodward of Deliciously Ella fame and her husband, you’ll find popular treats from the blog available for you to drop in and eat. My favourite thing in the place by far is the Chocolate Mylk, which is so creamy for a vegan milkshake, but you will be paying for it (just under £5 per small bottle!)
