I! Love! London! Only one of the things I do love so much is the many many hip & healthy places in the city. I recently enjoyed a couple of days in London, only feeling sorry that there was no more time to discover all the lovely places and neighbourhoods and that there is only so much food a girl can eat.
Below you can find an overview of my favorite happy healthy places in the neighbourhoods we discovered. Without a doubt this list will be updated on my next visit.
Kings Cross
We stayed in a hotel near St. Pancras. Do pay a visit when you would happen to arrive there to the wonderful Booking Office Bar, located in the train station itself. I could not imagine a more stylish first drink after arrival, seated in a comfy leather arm chair, surrounded by a very British crowd indeed (and being very welcome as a backpacker also).
On the cozy Granary Square, London’s newest square, on the banks of Regent’s Canal you can find Grain Store. Perfect place to be on a warm summer night. Grain Store is the restaurant of the famous chef Bruno Loubet. It’s an international cuisine but veggies are the most important ingredients in his kitchen. On the menu it’s clearly mentioned which dishes are vegan/veggie.
= Travel inspired kitchen, focus on vegetables & flavor
♥ Long counter, easygoing atmosphere, the location, the terrace
Marylebone
In charming Marylebone with its beautiful houses and hip shops, you can find The Mae Deli, the brand new restaurant by Ella Woodward (aka Deliciously Ella). Ella has a well-known blog, wrote two cooking books full of plant based meals and now she has also her own restaurant. Behind the beautiful blue facade friendly staff, a warm interior and lots of delicious food is awaiting. Of course they have porridge but also chia pudding or a breakfast bowl with acai berries. You can choose your toppings such as coconut flakes, almond butter and more. For lunch there are salads and hot dishes (for ex. stew).
= breakfast, cold pressed juices, lunch bowls, healthy sweet treats, no wheat, dairy or refined sugar
= veggie & vegan friendly
♥ pecannut brownie, the warm interior, friendly staff, delicious breakfast served all day!
Different locations
I love Lebanese food so was super duper happy to discover a Comptoir Libanais restaurant in Soho. There are different restaurants in London. We visited the one in Soho, paradise for shopping lovers. Another great thing in London is that there is an abundant amount of world kitchen restaurants. The restaurants are colorful and the food is great.
On the website you can find a tool that helps you find their plant based meals.
= veggie & vegan friendly
♥ their mezze, friendly & fast service, full plates, restaurant interior
LEON
If it has to go fast & healthy, the LEON restaurants are the right places to be. Two friends started this restaurant concept where they cater for people with little time who want to eat healthy. For breakfast you can have porridge and for lunch they serve cold and warm dishes. What do you think of a Superfood Salad or a Roasted Vegetable Salad? On the menu it is indicated which dishes are vegetarian, vegan or/and gluten free.
= veggie, vegan, gluten free
♥ tasty take-away food, super food salad
Le Pain Quotidien
Yes! Le Pain Quotidien, our famous Belgian bakery and communal table concept has also different restaurants in London. There is even one in St Pancras station. Always a good option for a healthy meal, brunch or tea/coffee.
= Many organic & vegan & gluten free products. Speciality = bread
♥ juices, organic stuff, breakfast
Whole Foods Market
The place to be for organic food. They also have a take-away counter.
Planet Organic
This is the biggest British organic supermarket chain. It is a beautiful shop with a food counter where you can buy yummie things (for example vegan curry) to eat there or take away.
Neal’s Yard
In Covent Garden in London’s West End you can find Neal’s Yard. Around a colorful square with trees and banks there are different healthy restaurants and ethical businesses. It’s really a hidden gem in a bustling city.
One of the restaurants is the popular Wild Food Café. The place to be for raw food and other plant based food. They work with local and organic products. Everything is homemade. They serve happy healthy meals such as Open Your Mind burrito.
= raw food, vegan
♥ Covent Garden, the open kitchen, everything homemade, the enthusiastic staff
On the same square you also have 26 grains, specialized in porridge. They found their inspiration in Scandinavian cooking methods and herbs. An example is porridge with beet and cranberry. On the menu dishes for vegetarians and vegan.
A third address on this square I also want to mention. At Neal’s Yard Remedies they only sell organic and ethical responsible health & beauty products. They have different locations in London, but their first shop was here on this square.
Camden
I love Camden, a multicultural, vibrant neighbourhood in London. Located near the canal you’ll find Inspiral Lounge. We went there for breakfast. My boyfriend went for the Full Vegan Bake Up with vegan saucage, scrambled tofu, grilled tomatoe, baked beans and potatoes. English breakfast but the vegan way. And with gluten free toast. I went for raw crepes filled with cashew paste and berries. For lunch they had original dishes such as wok with kale, rice, quinoa and coconut in banana leaves.
= 100% gluten free, vegan, veggie
♥ View on the canal, friendly crew, going for a walk along the canal afterwards
Also in Camden, we loved discovering Camden Lock Market. On this international food market you can find yummie stuff from everywhere in the world. Have a look on their website, there is a complete page on veggie, vegan, paleo and gluten free. This cosy market is open every day from ten to six.
www.camdenlockmarket.comAfter we visited the market we went for a walk along the Regent’s Canal. If you are ready for some quite and peace, this is the place to have a pleasant walk passing cute bridges and art pieces..
Shoreditch
First time I went to Shoreditch it was love on first sight. In this creative neighborhood you encounter many fun small shops but also the first pop-up shopping center; Boxpark Shoreditch. When I last was in London I saw shops with brands such as Kiehl’s, Gap and Urban Ears. But there are also many small restaurants.
Shoreditch is also the place to be for graffiti lovers and the location of the Ace Hotel, the London branch of the American hotel chain. A place full of creativity and personality and the Hoi Polloi restaurant. Admit it only the name makes happy right? It looks chic and minamilistic but everybody is very welcome, as the waiter greeted us friendly. It’s kind of strange to see power plugs and usb connections at the dining tables to cater for the working crowd, busy on their Apple computers, sipping cocktails.
It was feast for the eyes while I enjoyed my ricotta, spinach and pumpkin dish. But it’s also possible to go completely vegan in this exceptional place.
www.acehotel.com/londonI never feel like I have enough time in London so I just dream of my next visit. On my wish list; Mildreds (In Camden and Soho), THE vegetarian and vegan restaurant in London, open since 1988; the deli by top chef Ottolenghi in charming Notting Hill and Manna, a 100% vegan restaurant in Primrose Hill, where they serve appealing dishes such as enchilada lasagna.
www.ottolenghi.co.uk/nottkinghill
For the Dutch readers I wrote an article in the spring edition of EVA magazine 2016.
Pictures: Mike Louagie