24 Hours in East London - Your Complete Food Itinerary
For the best vegetarian food in London. Make your way to the vibrant, eclectic streets of East London.
Vegetarian Mecca
East London. A vegetarian dream. A place where you will never struggle to find a first-rate veggie meal. What’s extra special about East London’s food scene for vegetarians (and vegans) is not only the abundance of choice for you here but the wealth of choice in countless cuisines. Middle Eastern, Chinese, British, South Indian – whatever you’re craving, East London is serving.
You will be so spoilt for choice in East London that you will find yourself stuck for choice. Especially if you’ve got only a mere 24 hours in this vast concrete landscape. Luckily, we’re here to steer you through each meal and snack-stop as you eat your way across what could easily be christened the best district for vegetarians, in the best city for vegetarians.
Trailblazers and Newcomers
On our list you’ll find heroes of the scene that started serving vegetarian goodness long before it became popular – when such a diet choice was generally followed by a scoff. New, fresh spots that are quickly carving out a name for themselves – not an easy feat in a city rife with serious and constant competition. And local legendary spots that will cater to all diets if you’re travelling with vegans and carnivores.
You might not find the time to eat everything you want in London but, with our guide, you’ll find that everything you do eat, is delicious.
REMEMBER:
Vegan options
Your carnivorous friends will also find options here
BOMBAY BREAKFAST
Shoreditch
Dishoom is a beloved restaurant amongst Londoners and its many visitors. Due to its enormous popularity, it now has numerous locations across the city. Most don’t take bookings for dinner. However, you can book for breakfast. Something we are forever grateful for in a city this populous.
An unconventional start to the day, in the sense that favourite brunch spots here usually involve heaped mossy mountains of avocado and lashings of buttery hollandaise sauce. But that’s what makes it special. You’ll eat Bombay’s (Mumbai’s) favourite dishes from their historic Irani cafes right here in London and you’ll wonder why this style of breakfast isn’t the most popular breakfast everywhere. Essential eating: egg naan roll.
Dalston
If you’re on the hunt for a vegetarian/vegan only breakfast with slightly more varied options to suit a plethora of tastes, look no further than Mildreds. A true icon on the vegetarian scene here, Mildred’s, has been around long enough to know what veggies want and love to eat.
After recently taking the plunge to a 100% plant-based menu you can feel pleasantly assured that every delicious bite you eat is ethically sourced. Try their classic brunch for a vegan version of the full English.
COFFEE BREAK
London Fields
The essential coffee break to help you gain some much-needed energy to sashay your way around this behemoth city. And for perhaps indulging in a sweet snack too… Pophams bakery, which boarders the fervent green of London Fields, is a worthy stop on your journey.
They serve delicious pastry bakes and perfect cups of coffee. Their outdoor terrace is gorgeous in the sunshine, but seats indoors are available if you find yourself predictably caught in a London rain shower. We can vouch for their marmite, schlossberger with spring onion.
LONDON LUNCH
Spitalfields
Tofu Vegan might just blow your mind. Fully vegan Chinese food that (in our opinion) tastes better than the real deal. Once you’re over the initial shock at the sheer amount of choice available to you, you’ll be flabbergasted all over again by the actual taste. Their faux meat and fish dishes mean never having to miss this type of food again.
We recommend the sizzling tofu in black bean sauce, twice-cooked “fish”, and wontons in special sauce. But to be honest, everything is outstanding. The type of restaurant where you can’t go wrong.
HOT CHOC STOP
Brick Lane
London is a superb city for any serious hot chocolate enthusiast (check out our full guide here). It is filled with beautiful, artisan chocolate shops – many of which make their own hot chocolate. They even have shops dedicated solely to the sale of chocolate-based drinks. Proof a city is deeply in love with this sweet nectar. Our favourite spot in East London (perhaps all of London) is the famous Brick Lane favourite – Dark Sugars.
You may have seen their spectacular drinks on Instagram. Cups stuffed with shaved spikes of real chocolate. No powders or sweet syrups here; you choose between dark, milk, or white. The place to visit if you need a little something sweet to see you through until dinner.
DINNER
Spitalfields
After opening only a few years ago following a successful run of popups, Bubala, is fast becoming the best vegetarian restaurant in London. If you’ve been a vegetarian for a while, you’ll know just how much the middle eastern cuisine gifts us with their thoughtful cooking of vegetables and no place is that more evident than all vegetarian Bubala.
For starters – their hummus is the best we’ve tried. The addition of burnt butter gives it a toffee like sweetness which makes it incomparable. Their halloumi with honey, and charred oyster mushroom skewers are just some highlights on a menu gleaming with delectable treats. We recommend the Bubala Knows Best tasting menu to sample a glorious selection of their outstanding food.
NIGHT CAP
Dalston
After all that eating, there is only room left for stiff, strong liquids that cut right through all the food like a warm blade through cold butter. Luckily, High Water, on Stoke Newington High Street has the type of alcoholic concoctions which will blow your socks off – that is, the super strong variety.
Their cocktails are not for the light-hearted. If you prefer a strawberry daiquiri or a pina colada, then you’re in the wrong place. These are heavy hitters that want you to know what they’re made off.
LATE NIGHT SNACK
Dalston
A slice for the road is always a good idea. Voodoo Rays provide pizza by the slice to hungry East Londoners late into the evening (and even later, on weekends). A New York style pizza joint we love to see in the Big Smoke.
We recommend the artichoke topped Green Velvet, dipped in their garlic mayo, and washed down with a frozen margarita. The perfect end to a day well-spent in London.
