Here are some of the best health-conscious eateries in town!
1. Indigo at One Aldwych
For an indulgent treat without the side dish of guilt, drop by Indigo at One Aldwych. This stylish London restaurant serves a dairy and gluten-free menu brimming with healthy options including fresh salads, wholesome mains and meats from the grill, plus a variety of decedent desserts. There’s also a well-priced set menu on offer: a great option if you’re planning to catch a theatre show in London.
2. Malibu Kitchen at The Ned
Find a taste of sunny California at Malibu Kitchen, which offers superfood salads, juices and smoothies. Get an extra dose of yummy healthiness from the raw bar and enjoy your surroundings, as Malibu Kitchen is set in the former banking hall of this beautifully restored historic building.
3. Raw at La Suite West
Serving everything from veggie breakfasts to alcohol-free cocktails, Raw at La Suite West is the perfect spot to chow down on nourishing cuisine. Sample the courgetti with a tomato and red pepper ragout or enjoy a tantalising coeliac-friendly pasta. Alternatively, treat yourself to a vegan afternoon tea in London: health-conscious finger sandwiches, handmade scones and raw sweet treats.
4. 26 Grains
Tucked away inside Neal's Yard near Covent Garden, 26 Grains serves up tasty (and wholesome) grain-based dishes. There are fruit porridges, exotic porridges (including banana cacao with coconut yogurt, cacao nibs and banana) and even savoury porridges (such as oats with kale, egg, avocado and sirracha); plus a bircher muesli, guilt-free sweet bites, fresh smoothies and hot drinks.
5. CookDaily
Think vegan restaurants are boring? Think again! CookDaily at Shoreditch's cool Boxpark aims to put the va-va-voom into vegan with dishes taking inspiration from as far afield as the Caribbean, as well as French and English cuisine. There's the flavoursome High Grade (stir-fried vegetables with hemp oil in a barbecue sauce), the spicy Yoga Fire (chickpea and sweet potato curry) and many more vegan bowls to choose from at this health-conscious spot.
6. Nama
Raw food is king at Nama in Notting Hill. As well as being a restaurant, it offers raw food courses, catering and cleanses. Open throughout the day, you can build your own raw breakfast in the morning, nibble on organic salads for lunch and enjoy sharing plates during dinner with friends – all dishes are wheat-free, organic and vegan.
7. The MaE Deli
Visit this small chain of delis founded by Ella Mills (better known as blogger, Deliciously Ella) and her husband. The delis serve up plant-based bowl food, cakes, juices and energy balls, from breakfast to dinner. The original MaE Deli is at Seymour Place, and there are also branches in Mayfair and Herne Hill.
8. Pomona's
Soak up the West Coast-inspired atmosphere at Pomona’s in Notting Hill, which offers a health-focused menu to satisfy every craving. Boasting a wide range of dishes made using fresh and locally-sourced produce, start your day with buckwheat pancakes, tuck into a light salad for lunch or pick from a selection of delicious small dishes during dinner.
9. Redemption
Redemption restaurant and bar promises guilt-free dining in Notting Hill, with London’s first alcohol-free bar and a vegan menu designed by nutritional therapists. Share a tasty quinoa maki roll platter with friends alongside a non-alcoholic cocktail or two, or treat yourself to a colourful raw salad, wholesome buckwheat porridge and a good-for-you dessert with raw cocoa. If you’re heading to East London, there’s also a second eatery in the trendy area of Shoreditch.
10. The Good Life Eatery
Stylish Chelsea nook The Good Life Eatery has something for every occasion: nutritious breakfasts served all day over the weekend, a nourishing selection of superfood salads and hearty sandwiches, or grab a few small plates of goodness for something more substantial. Don’t leave it too late though, as The Good Life Eatery closes at 8pm during the week (7pm on Saturdays and 6pm on Sundays). Clean cuisine fans can also get their guilt-free fix at additional branches in Marylebone and Belgravia.
11. Wild Food Cafe
Tucked away inside the vibrant Neal’s Yard near Covent Garden, the Wild Food Cafe is a haven for veggie, vegan and 'raw-centric' food lovers. The London restaurant’s plant-based menu changes with the seasons and all dishes promise the highest quality natural ingredients. Be sure to try their delicious meatless burger, which has been perfected for more than ten years to ensure the best possible guilt-free treat.
12. Whole Foods Cafe
The Whole Foods’ Piccadilly branch is a handy stop-off for lunch while enjoying a spot of shopping on Regent Street or Oxford Street. Part supermarket and part cafe, you can stock up on organic produce, freshly baked bread and charcuterie to enjoy at home, or dine in to sample the hand-rolled sushi, made to order burritos, pastries and a wide range of other hot and cold snacks. There’s ample seating indoors and out, plus you’ll also find grilled treats from the barbeque on offer in the garden.
