Guide to Veganuary in London

With Pied à Terre fine dining isn't just for omnivores. This sophisticated modern restaurant is the UK's longest-standing Michelin star-holder. The tasting menus here include an entirely vegan selection and focus on sustainable produce.

You can't go vegan in London without trying Mildreds. Originating in Soho but now with multiple locations, these friendly restaurants are a plant-based classic. Sample globally-inspired dishes like burgers, noodles, and curry paired with one of the restaurant's signature cocktails. Breakfast is also served each day. This year, the restaurants are celebrating Veganuary with a special Caribbean-inspired menu.

Japanese cuisine is often heavy on seafood but there’s no need to miss out during your Veganuary journey if you head to Itadakizen. This traditionally-styled and cosy restaurant is the first vegan Japanese eatery in Europe. You’ll find a range of authentic plant-based recipes like tofu steak, vegan gyoza, and ramen bowls.

If you’re missing the classic chicken shop experience, Temple of Seitan has got you covered. Some eateries are takeaway-only whilst others have comfortable and contemporary seating areas. Enjoy typical chicken shop meals with a vegan twist, including a bucket of chicken for an authentic feel. A choice of sides are available too.

There are a few branches of Emilia's Crafted Pasta across the city and they're laying on a few specials for Veganuary meals. Inspired by the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, these warm and contemporary restaurants specialise in freshly-made pasta and sauces. During Veganuary you can try two new vegan pasta dishes, an Italian-style hummus, and chocolate salami for dessert.

Airy and cute restaurant Holy Carrot serves ethical vegan food all year but it’s doing a special menu for Veganuary. Partnering with Cowspiracy, the restaurant is offering a four-course meaty set menu that uses no animal products. Try steak, croquettes, and a savoury doughnut and discover how creative vegan cooking can be.

Veganuary is the ideal time to check out pared-back Hackney eatery Edit. This popular restaurant specialises in hyper-seasonal plant-based cooking using ingredients sourced from foragers and small-scale producers. À la carte and tasting menus are available, served with low-intervention wines and local beers and ciders. Private dining is also available here.

A vegan diet doesn’t mean you have to miss out on afternoon tea. Head to The Rubens at The Palace, an elegant and classic London hotel that offers inclusive afternoon tea options, including a vegan variety. You can also choose a champagne afternoon tea with vegan-friendly food and fizz.

WAVE – also known as We Are Vegan Everything – is a cute and comfy café that takes inspiration from Bali. Sample vegan bakes like cookies along with distinctive flavoured coffees like a beetroot latte. For something more substantial, go for a smoothie bowl, muffins topped with scrambled tofu, or sandwiches and bagels.

Behind a nondescript shop front in Hackney you’ll find vibrant vegan eatery Facing Heaven. For a unique take on Sichuan cuisine with all manner of global influences, this place is not to be missed. In effortlessly hip surroundings you can sample eclectic recipes like dan dan noodles and char sui oyster mushrooms skewers.

Enjoy a plant-based sweet treat from Nama Café & Cake House. This South London café and bakery has a modern but homey feel. Everything here is vegan – try breakfast dishes and sandwiches or a cake, biscuit, or scone with artisan coffee. You can even visit for a plant-based afternoon tea. Vegan baking classes are also offered here.

Gauthier Soho is distinct in that it offers a completely vegan fine dining experience. Expect multiple courses of refined food with attentive service, set in an attractive Georgian townhouse. Wine pairings are available to enhance this creative cooking, plus there's space for private dining.

Mexican food might involve lots of queso and sour cream but Mestizo has you covered with a fully vegan menu. This place does authentic cooking in a lively environment. You’ll be spoilt for choice during Veganuary with tamales, tacos, and enchiladas. A huge choice of margarita mixes are served to complete a meal.

You won't miss out on fish and chips during Veganuary thanks to Sutton & Sons. As well as serving traditional fish and chips, this place is renowned for its vegan offerings. At this typical chip shop, you'll find veganised versions of favourite meals like battered sausages and fish alternatives made from banana blossom.

Manna has been in business since 1967, making it one of London's original vegan restaurants. The space is casual and chic with an easygoing atmosphere. Menus are seasonal and change regularly to showcase diverse cuisines. Expect vegan and organic food, wine, and cocktails, with options like sausage and mash or Buddha bowls.

Enjoy proper home cooking that's also totally vegan at The Gallery Café in Bethnal Green. This bustling place is comfortable and simple, with indoor and outdoor tables. Try lighter bites like sweet bakes and sausage rolls or opt for something larger like a vegan fry-up or hot pasta dishes. The venue is also doing a Veganuary supper club this year.

Based in Mayfair, Dukes London is a luxury hotel with a history spanning over a century. The hotel has a variety of dining options and you can head to the sophisticated Drawing Room for a vegan-friendly afternoon tea. In this classic space you can try finger sandwiches, sweet treats, and scones.

Craving kebabs during Veganuary? Head to What The Pitta and you won't miss out. These contemporary counter service spots are ideal for casual dining. The menu features freshly-baked pitta breads loaded with a marinated soya-based meat alternative, plus salad and other tasty ingredients. They also show you the carbon footprint of every dish.

Set in an elegant townhouse, Tendril has had success with a number of pop-ups. This smart venue wants to redefine vegan cooking, with virtually everything on the menu being vegan. For lunch and dinner you can try à la carte or tasting menus and a set menu for brunch is also available here.

If you're missing pizza during Veganuary, grab a vegan pie at modern plant-based pizzeria Purezza. This Camden restaurant has won awards and most of the menu is also gluten-free. Ingredients are sourced locally where possible and pizzas are served in a smart rustic restaurant. 

Get vibrant vegan street food from Club Mexicana, which has a number of locations around the city. It’s bold and colourful with a simple menu of tacos, burritos, and nachos served with mouth-watering plant-based ingredients like BBQ jackfruit or plant-based chicken. Alcoholic drinks are served in the restaurants.

For all-day vegan dining in the heart of the city, don’t miss Kin. Minutes from Oxford Street, this sunny eatery is dedicated to sustainable and healthy living. The menu is plant-based with some vegetarian add-ons available. Expect vegan takes on omelettes and fry-ups, then burgers, noodles, and curries in the evening.

Black Cat Café is a well-established Clapton eatery with a cool vibe. It's a non-profit venture that's run by volunteers. The decor is fun and quirky and the atmosphere is relaxed. All of the food is vegan, ranging from sandwiches and salads to daily specials like seitan steaks and curry.

Satisfy your cravings for sweet stuff at Vida Bakery in Brick Lane. The bakes are cute and colourful and so is the interior. At this casual spot you can try plant-based and allergy-friendly cakes, cookies, and brownies. Vegan soft-serve ice cream is also served here, with unlimited toppings for sheer indulgence.

Munch on classic diner food that's also Veganuary-friendly at Unity Diner. It's a bright and modern non-profit eatery and cocktail bar established by Earthling Ed. Aiming to change the perception of vegan food, on the menu you'll find plant-based incarnations of mozzarella sticks, burgers, and hot dogs, plus classic and signature cocktails. During Veganuary you can also take a non-vegan here and get their meal for free.

Marugame Udon are enjoying Veganuary across their branches with special dishes available until the end of the month. Indulge in a pumpkin katsu curry or go for a creamy bowl of kitsune udon. Enhance your noodles with the plant-based toppings of your choice. Marugame club members also get double stamps when they order the Veganuary specials.

You won’t miss your Chinese takeaway favourites during Veganuary thanks to Loving Hut. Based near Archway station, this place has a classic interior and serves dishes made with tofu, veggies, and imitation meats. Expect crispy duck, curries, and chicken balls that are all vegan-friendly. No alcohol is served but tea and juices are.

Contemporary Danish bakery & café Ole & Steen has branches around the city. During Veganuary, you can try out the vegan range, which includes freshly prepared plant-based bakes each morning. Dishes like breakfast, lunch, sweet treats, and authentic bread are available to eat in or take away. Plant-based milks are also available to go in your coffee.

Housed in a Grade II listed building, Cinnamon Club is a fine dining venture from acclaimed chef Vivek Singh. In both the food and interiors, this place blends modern and classic styles. For Veganuary, there's a special set menu of plant-based recipes. The in-house sommelier can help you find the ideal vegan wine to match your food.

Sample the finest British produce at Ormer Mayfair by Sofian, a four-AA-Rosette restaurant, where the focus is on seasonally changing dishes. The star of the show is the five-course vegan tasting menu, which includes dishes like soy pickled turnip with sesame, kombu and spiced nage and dark chocolate mousse with chocolate sorbet. You can add wine pairing for a surcharge.

Signature Brew produces delicious beers but also hosts a range of events and food fests at its Blackhorse Road taproom. This year there's a one-day Veganuary Festival celebrating all things plant-based. You can try mouthwatering street food, sample vegan beer from Signature Brew, and enjoy a great soundtrack all day from DJs.

The award-winning Colonel Saab restaurants nod to Veganuary with their Falahari Curry Kofta, a favourite of their vegan patrons. The nourishing dish features kofta rolls made from lotus stem, beetroot, and raisins, accompanied by a mild curry, crispy potatoes, and cress. For an added health boost, you can pair it with Colonel Saab's new Detox juice, made from oranges, carrots, ginger, and honey water.

Pan-Pacific fusion hotspot Los Mochis in Notting Hill is celebrating Veganuary with a ten course tasting menu of plant-based favourites. These include Los Mochis' iconic truffle guacamole on crispy rice, cucumber avocado maki, bang bang cauliflower taco, and more.