By Scarlett London
London is renowned for its foodie capital status, but if you’re vegan (or allergic to dairy and eggs, like me) then you’ll be a little more curious about what each restaurant has to offer. Most places are very good at tweaking dishes to make them vegan or allergen friendly, but if you’re keen to try somewhere that specialises in vegan cuisine (and you want to order fuss-free!) then you might want to try a few of my favourite lunch, dinner and dessert hotspots.
Mildreds
With a number of branches across London including Kings Cross and Soho (the latter of which is super small and always busy, so arrive in plenty of time), Mildreds is a popular choice for vegans and their meat-eating friends, as the food is incredibly flavoursome and with over ten visits under my belt, I can safely say I’ve never had a bad meal! Stock up on their avocado toast for brunch, or for something more hearty try the classic burger – made with smoked tofu, lentil and sweet pepper! Don’t miss out on their fries – both the plain or sweet potato varieties are incredible, just made sure you stock up on their egg-free basil mayo!
Farm Girl Cafe
This picture perfect place was practically made for Instagram – lining it’s menu with aesthetically pleasing favourites such as avo on toast, colourful acai bowls and frothy matcha lattes (almond milk, of course!). The menu isn’t entirely vegan (they still serve poached eggs as an additional extra, for example) but it certainly offers some tasty light bites and lunches! For something a bit different (and soothing on the tummy) try the Charcoal latte, with activated charcoal, date syrup and cashew milk!
Cookies & Scream
If turning vegan (or dairy-free) has left you craving all things chocolate-y, then you won’t want to skip out a visit to Cookies & Scream. It may be rather difficult to find, hidden away in Camden market and nestled next to an array of market stalls selling dream-catchers and leather-bound notebooks, but when you arrive, the sweet smell filling the air will be the very first sign that it was all worth the journey! The ice cream shakes are out of this world, but for a real treat – have the thick chocolate brownie and a scoop of delicious vanilla ice-scream!
Mae Deli
Mae Deli is the brainchild of plant-based guru Deliciously Ella and her husband Matthew (hence the name MAE – Matthew and Ella) whose latest venture has gone down so well that she’s rapidly expanded to new premises all over London! Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the menu offers a plethora of colourful, Instagrammable delights for it’s busy, yet health-conscious clientele. The banana bread and coconut yoghurt is a delicious way to start the day, while the cauliflower and red lentil dhal is a warming, filling treat for hungry diners! Whatever you choose to go for, make sure you pick up a cacao and almond energy balls on the way out – they are Ella’s signature product and while you can buy the packaged version from supermarkets, they taste oh-so-very-good when fresh!
Farmacy
Situated in the heart of Notting Hill (which is very vegan-friendly as a whole), Farmacy has an incredibly varied yet tempting menu featuring plant-based dishes from all over the globe. With a clean-eating mission, everything is free from dairy, refined sugars, additives and chemicals – and sourced from organic UK farms. The Chef’s Clean Curry with pumpkin and coconut milk is a hearty favourite although for a sharing snack, the nachos with cashew sour cream is a real winner. Don’t skip on dessert – I recommend the brownie, the banoffee pie or the ice-cream sundae!
For on the go snacks, Planet Organic, Sourced Market and Whole Foods are great places to try – with an abundance of dairy-free snacks, lunch boxes and buffet salad offerings. Those with a sweet tooth should try Livia’s Kitchen Raw Millionaire Bites and Booja Booja Salted Caramel & Almond Truffles. Once you’ve tried them, you’ll never be able to resist again!
Happy eating! And don’t forget to Instagram your delicious delights too!
By Scarlett London http://scarlettlondon.com/