London boasts a vibrant and diverse culinary scene, making it an ideal destination for health-conscious diners. Whether you're a dedicated vegan, vegetarian, or simply seeking nutritious and delicious meals, London offers a plethora of options to satisfy your cravings. This article explores some of the best healthy food restaurants in London, incorporating user reviews and insights to guide your dining choices.
Diverse Culinary Landscape
London's culinary scene is a melting pot of global flavors, with a growing emphasis on plant-based and health-conscious options. This trend reflects a broader shift towards sustainable and ethical eating, with many restaurants prioritizing fresh, seasonal ingredients and innovative culinary techniques.
OpenTable's Top Picks
OpenTable, a popular online restaurant reservation platform, curates monthly lists of top-rated restaurants based on diner reviews. Their selections for healthy cuisine in West End London highlight a range of establishments, each offering a unique dining experience.
Sushi Kikuchi: Traditional Japanese Cuisine
Located in Fitzrovia, Sushi Kikuchi is an authentic Japanese restaurant helmed by an experienced owner-chef. The restaurant focuses on traditional sushi, prepared with precision and using seasonal ingredients. Diners praise the excellent quality of food and service, although the menu may be limited.
Bob Bob Ricard Soho: British and French Classics
Situated in Soho's Golden Square, Bob Bob Ricard Soho offers a glamorous dining experience with a menu of classic British and French dishes. The restaurant is known for its opulent interiors, reminiscent of the Orient Express, and its "Press for Champagne" button at every table. While not exclusively healthy, Bob Bob Ricard Soho uses high-quality ingredients and offers options for those seeking lighter fare.
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Studio Gauthier: Plant-Based Dining
Studio Gauthier, a project by Alexis Gauthier, is located in the BFI building in Fitzrovia. The restaurant features a 100% plant-based menu with Gauthier Soho-level dishes in a more casual and affordable setting. Diners rave about the amazing food and service, especially the bottomless sushi option.
123V Browns: Vegan Cuisine in Mayfair
123V Browns, another establishment by Chef Gauthier, is a peaceful sanctuary in the heart of Mayfair, located within the Brown's department store. The menu offers a combination of small Garden sushi to share, as well as salads and bowls. 123V was voted Best Vegan of the Year by Harden's Guide and Peta's Restaurant of the Year, highlighting its commitment to vegan cuisine.
KIN Restaurant: Vibrant Vegan Dining
KIN Restaurant, located in Fitzrovia, offers a vibrant vegan dining experience with a focus on bold, plant-forward dishes that celebrate natural flavors. The restaurant avoids mock meats, instead emphasizing seasonal ingredients and creative recipes.
Kazu: Japanese Cuisine with Harmony
Kazu, which translates to "Peace and Harmony" in Japanese, offers Japanese cuisine made with high-quality ingredients in a calm and peaceful environment. Diners praise the great food and exceptional service.
KIN Cafe: Cozy Vegan and Vegetarian Eatery
KIN Cafe, also in Fitzrovia, is a cozy vegan and vegetarian eatery known for its fresh, wholesome, and globally inspired plant-based dishes. It is a popular spot for weekend brunch, lunch, or a coffee break.
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SUSHISAMBA Covent Garden: Rooftop Views
Located atop the historic Market Building in Covent Garden, SUSHISAMBA offers a vibrant dining experience with rooftop views. While not strictly a healthy restaurant, it offers a variety of sushi and other dishes with fresh ingredients.
Côte: French Cuisine in Marylebone
Côte, nestled in Marylebone, offers a delightful escape from the bustle of London. The restaurant provides a private dining space for special occasions and serves classic French dishes.
Luci: Italian Flavors in Covent Garden
Luci brings the best of Italy to Covent Garden, serving Italian viennoiserie, freshly baked bread, and Luci's own-roasted coffee. The menu also includes thin focaccia Genovese, ciabatta, and wood-fired pizza.
Vegan Hotspots in London
London has earned its reputation as a vegan hotspot, offering a wide array of plant-based restaurants that cater to diverse tastes and preferences.
Gauthier Soho: Elevated Vegan Fine Dining
Gauthier Soho, helmed by Chef Alexis Gauthier, is a fully vegan restaurant that aims to create a "new French gastronomy" that is sustainable and ethical. The restaurant offers affordable tasting menus that showcase creative and delicious vegan cuisine.
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Mildred's: Vegan Comfort Food
Mildred's is a popular vegan restaurant with multiple locations across London. The restaurant offers a diverse menu of comfort food classics, as well as global-inspired dishes.
Holy Carrot: Innovative Vegan Cuisine
Holy Carrot offers innovative vegan dishes, including their signature "Burrella," a vegan take on burrata cheese. The restaurant also offers a vegan pisco sour, a delightful complement to their flavorful meals.
Plants by Deliciously Ella: Plant-Based Delights
Plants, founded by vegan blogger Ella Mills, offers a menu of plant-based delights, including quinoa and sweet potato fritters, winter caesar salad, and walnut and beetroot risotto. The restaurant also offers gluten-free options.
Cafe de Nata: Vegan Pasteis de Nata
Cafe de Nata specializes in pasteis de nata, a traditional Portuguese custard pastry. They offer vegan options that taste just like the original, providing a delightful treat for vegan diners.
Sagar: Vegan-Friendly Indian Cuisine
Sagar is a highly-rated Indian restaurant that offers a variety of vegan-friendly dishes. Their vegan thali platter allows diners to sample several of their most popular offerings.
Daylesford: Organic and Sustainable Fare
Daylesford is not a fully vegan spot, but it offers a gourmet market, home goods, and a restaurant with organic and sustainable food options. Their Notting Hill and Cotswolds farm locations are particularly enchanting.
Other Notable Vegan Restaurants
- Farmacy: Known for its alkalizing, halal, kosher, sugar-free, whole-food, sustainable, and vegan menu.
- Unity Diner: A mission-driven restaurant with profits going towards animal rights work and their own Surge Animal Sanctuary.
- 222 Vegan: A long-standing vegan restaurant offering a broad menu of seitan stroganoff, oyster mushroom & seitan raclette, and more.
- Phat Phuc Noodle Bar: A vegetarian restaurant with fantastic vegan options, offering Asian favorites like laksa, pho, and wok-fried noodles.
- En Root: Offers "Indian-inspired vegan cuisine."
- Vantra: A health-centric vegan menu that is said to be equally as tasty as it is good for you.
- Pipoca: A half vegan creperie and cafe, half zero-waste store.
Quick and Healthy Lunch Options
For those seeking a quick and healthy lunch option, Farmer J offers seasonal trays and bowls with a variety of bases, mains, and sides. While the food is delicious and fresh, some diners find the portion sizes to be small.
Additional Recommendations
- Granger & Co: Founded by Bill Granger, offering Australian-inspired cuisine with light and airy locations in Notting Hill and Clerkenwell.
- The Gate: A vegetarian restaurant with a sophisticated menu and elegant ambiance.
- Wulf & Lamb: A popular spot for vegan dinner.
- We Are Vegan Everything (WAVE): Offers a vegan brunch menu.
- Vegan Junk Food & The Vurger Co: Known for their tasty vegan burgers.
- Purezza: Offers fantastic vegan pizza.
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