The Good Life Eatery
The female duo behind the The Good Life Eatery wanted to bring something new to the table. They firmly believe that local food is even better than organic, and they strive to use ingredients that have travelled the least amount of miles to make local, healthy and delicious food. Staff are hired from the local neighbourhood, and they also try to support as many local businesses as they can. My fave dish is the Skinny Benedict, but they cater to all dietary requirements. As it says on their website: “Boys, Girls, Mums, Dads, Grandmas, Vegans, Vegetarians, if you’re gluten-free, if you’re dairy-free, even if you’re all of the above. We cater to all!”
Paradise
Farmgirl
Deliciously Ella’s Deli
You’ve got the cookbooks, you’ve got the app, you listen to the podcast – but have you tried the deli? Located on Weighhouse Street in Mayfair, the Deliciously Ella Deli brings plant-based advocate Ella Mills’ recipes to life. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or simply stop by for a juice, cashew blend or freshly-made smoothie. You can also satisfy those sweet cravings with a slice of Peanut Fudge, or my personal fave – a Deliciously Ella Energy Ball.
Bodyism
Image by @venetiafalconer
Wellness guru James Duigan started Bodyism in 2011 and immediately developed a cult-following. In his flagship location on Westbourne Grove, Bodyism café has a variety of options designed to boost your health and be kind to your body from the inside out. Dedicated to sourcing unprocessed, clean, seasonal ingredients, the menu contains a mix of organic, paleo, vegan, vegetarian, dairy free, gluten free and refined sugar free snacks and meals. It’s hard to choose a favourite amongst the locally-sourced, vibrant dishes on the menu, but the Ayurvedic turmeric lattes and acai bowls are major hits.
Black Cat Café
The Black Cat Café in Hackney is a co-operatively run vegan café that strives to make its plant-based cuisine appealing to everybody. The Black Cat partners with other likeminded businesses, such as The Third Estate – a clothing shop that stocks ethical designers that adhere to fair labour manufacturing processes – and also opens up its space for local events and fundraisers.
Daylesford
With all ingredients used coming directly from its farm out in the Cotswolds, you’ll love the delicious locally-grown fare at Daylesford. A shop, café, and restaurant all in one – you can commit as much as you want to, whether you pop in for a coffee and a muffin, or sample the full menu. Make sure to stock up on some home-grown veggies on your way out to make your own dish at home. A trip to Daylesford farm itself is a fun day out to the countryside, where you can have your coffee and cake with a side of fresh air.
Cupcakes & Shhht
After launching as a little store in Camden Market in 2012, Cupcakes & Shhht has now evolved into a three-pronged business in Elephant & Castle. Its café WAVE – which stands for We Are Vegan Everything – serves up artisan coffee and brunch all day. The WILD department specialises in bespoke cakes – check out their Instagram for examples of whimsical cakes adorned with wild flowers and unicorn horns. The creators, Cait & Soph, felt they had a responsibility to put food out that enables people to eat responsibly, honestly, and ethically. With their smoked maple tempeh pancakes, responsible food never tasted so good.
Nathalie
From the same people who started Casa Cruz and Isabel, their newest venture is a deli and food emporium with a focus on fresh, balanced and beautiful food on the go. Located right in Hanover Square, Nathalie uses seasonal produce sourced from local suppliers and is a firm favourite amongst the fashion squad who pop in and out from Vogue House to pick up some kimchi and kale. With all takeaway packaging 100% recyclable, you can eat healthily (with a little helping of dulce de leche if you please), stylishly, and sustainably.
Wulf & Lamb
Coming with a Vogue star of approval, Wulf & Lamb specialises in plant-based comfort food. With burgers, pies, and curries, it really is “just veg, with edge”. Located on Pavilion Road, it’s perfectly placed for a pit stop after a wander down Sloane Street on a day-after-the-night-before to satisfy those Saturday cravings with some healthy veggies.
Claudia is a writer with a focus in fashion and sustainability. Growing up on an eco-friendly island off the coast of Auckland in New Zealand, sustainability has always been high on her agenda. After working at British Vogue as a fashion assistant and interning with the Eco-Age communications team, Claudia decided to merge both her passion for sustainability, her interest in the art of fashion, and her love for writing, to pursue all at once! Claudia writes mainly fashion, mainly sustainability, sometimes lifestyle, mostly op-ed, and always honest.
For more ethical eateries, see our favourite sustainable restaurants in Londonand Venetia Falconer’s favourite vegan restaurants.
In NYC? Here’s Max La Manna’s favourite vegan restaurants in the big apple.