9 of London’s Best ‘Free From’ Restaurants
Gone are the days where those amongst us who were lactose intolerant, coeliac or allergic to nuts had to miss out on half the menu. Now whatever you can or can’t eat is catered for in London, which is one of the reasons why our food scenes is the best in the world -we like to think so! Given that this week is Allergy Awareness Week (yes really…), here are 9 of the best ‘free from’ restaurants and menus that London has to offer.
Raw Restaurant at La Suite West
Sophisticated rawness
Tucked away in this boutique hotel, this healthy haven provides ‘some of the best that nature can offer’ with its extensive vegan, dairy free and raw dishes. All dishes are clearly marked with plenty of gluten free options. We love the breakfast choice here, (which is pork free) and the ‘Vegan fry up’ with scrambled tofu, vegan sausage and rosti potato is so delicious it’s likely to make even a hardcore meat eater confused. They also don’t serve alcohol, so it means that you won’t be tempted to break your detox!
Where: La Suite West Hotel, Hyde Park 41-51 Inverness Terrace, Bayswater, W2 3JN
Website: http://www.lasuitewest.com/raw-vegan-restaurant-london.html
Farmacy
New kid on the (healthy) block
Farmacy, as the name suggests, combines the freshest seasonal and local (where possible) produce with underlying principles about nutrition and the medicinal power of food. JUST opened in Westbourne Grove, Farmacy will offer breakfast and dinner with spirulina, bee pollen and acai aplenty, along with biodynamic, organic and sulphur-free wines.
Where: 74 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, W2 5SH
Website: http://farmacylondon.com
Tanya's Cafe
Body and mind restoration
‘Everything at Tanya’s is raw living, plant based, hand-picked, organically grown, ethnically sourced and free from refined sugar, dairy or gluten.’ Wow. Even they admit that’s a bold claim. What could possibly be left to eat? Well plant-based burgers, curries, lasagna’s and nachos are just a few of the delicious things on the menu. See if you can spot the little signs dotted about designed to feed into our psyche; ‘What are we grateful for?’ and ‘Everything’s going to be ok.’ Oh yeah… in your face negativity.
Where: Branches in Chelsea, Parson's Green and Selfridges
Website: http://www.tanyascafe.com
Niche Food and Drink
Good, honest, British comfort food
Niche is proud to be London’s first Coeliac UK accredited 100% gluten free restaurant, with a great range of vegetarian and dairy free choices too. We love the two-course pre theatre menu here, our favourites being the signature Niche Quiche (love that rhyme) followed by the warm chocolate brownie and ice cream. There is some amazingly cool photography to appreciate here too, with shots of London over the walls, entirely processed on an iPhone.
Where: 197-199 Rosebery Avenue, Angel, EC1R 4TJ
Website: http://www.nichefoodanddrink.com
Romeo's Sugar Free Bakery
A sugar/gluten free heaven
Walking past a bakery and smelling fresh baked bread or seeing all the mouth-watering cakes in the window is hard enough for someone on a diet but for a coeliac well you would just cross the road and not put yourself through it. Cross back over and go in. Everything and anything at Romeo’s is 100% gluten-free from their cakes and pastries to their bread and tarts, so quite frankly you can have whatever the hell you like. Go here for the best gluten-free sausage rolls in London or if you have more of a sweet tooth the carrot cake is delicious.
Where: 178 Upper Street, Islington, N1 1RG
Website: http://www.romeossugarfreebakery.com
Andina London Picanteria and Pisco Bar
Peruvian hotspot in Shoreditch
Did you know that some of the world’s most nutritious ingredients are found in Peru? Quinoa (currently holding the record for most used/talked about ingredient on Instagram), maca, amaranth, cape gooseberry and purple maize are just some of the unique and healthy Andean ingredients you’ll find on the menu, which is 50% vegetarian and gluten-free. Sit on the bar stool by the kitchen, watch them cook and see what you think of this light and authentic Peruvian cuisine.
Where: 1 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, E2 7DJ
Website: http://www.andinalondon.com
InSpiral Lounge Café & Bar
Vegan eco cafe/Organic Bar/Events venue
Overlooking the famous Camden Lock waterside, this laid back cafe will swallow you up and make you want to stay all day. Its basically a restaurant, cafe, diner, juice bar, music venue and health shop all rolled into one selling a huge range of plant based nutritional yummy things. Try the vegan milkshake loaded with energy to keep you going all day. Their ‘Maca’ powder is packed with iron along with dates, almonds and chia seeds.
Where: 250 Camden High Street, Camden Town, NW1 8QS
Website: http://www.inspiral.co
Namaaste Kitchen
Award winning vegetarian and gluten free curry in Camden
So we think we’ve established that healthy ‘free from’ food is a far cry from boring, and we can even enjoy it when going for a ruby. Not only has the restaurant won worthy awards here, the chef has too due to its extensive gluten free menu that shows impressive alternatives of all our favourite dishes including Pistachio Chicken Korma and Dumpukht Biryana and gluten free Naan! So long boring boiled rice and steamed veg, you’re long gone.
Where: 64 Parkway, Camden/Primrose Hill, NW1 7AH
Website: http://www.namaastekitchen.co.uk
Borough 22
Completely free-from doughnuts
OK, this one’s not a restaurant but it is doughnuts so who can resist? We bet you’ve never tried a doughnut made from green pea flour? Borough 22 specialise in free-from doughnuts – gluten, dairy soya, egg and refined sugar-free… and they are seriously tempting. Available for bespoke orders you can also track them down in Selfridge’s Food Hall, The Plumstead Bakery (Greenwich) and Good Food Cafe (Catford) but check the website for up-to-date availability. Now you can eat doughnuts to your heart’s content.
Where: Various
Website: http://borough22.com
