Kensington is an upscale area in London boasting some of London’s most prestigious museums, is home to Kensington Palace and a plethora of cafes, quaint pubs, boutique shops and even elegant vegetarian and vegan restaurants.
So whether you’re visiting Kensington for an exciting family trip, for some high-end retail therapy or to explore its tempting selection of vegetarian and vegan restaurants, you’ll be in for a treat with this area’s eclectic mix!
That said, when it comes to good grub, this captivating area has an array of exclusively plant-based eateries, as well as some restaurants serving great vegetarian dishes.
We’ve carefully curated exceptional restaurants that will leave both vegans and vegetarians very in awe. So read on to explore Kensington’s must-visit eateries!
Five Exceptional Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants In Kensington: Food Worth Waiting For!
1. Mali Vegan Thai
Get your hands on some authentic Thai dishes all made with love and bursting with rich flavours and aromas by using family recipes.
Mali Vegan Thai is an exclusively plant-based restaurant specialising in authentic Thai cuisine using family secret recipes.
This family run restaurant has a very warm and welcoming atmosphere and offers local comfort food which are an everyday staple in Thailand.
So visit this small, yet cosy vegan cafe where you can dig into colourful dishes with divine flavours and aromas. The staff here are always attentive and offer a quick service. So feel free to ask for food suggestions or if you have any dietary requirements.
One of the highly recommended dishes to start with has got to be the Som Tum Thai which is a green papaya salad with tomato, carrot, fine bean and peanut. Another must-try is their Por Pia Krob which is crispy spring roll filled with stir fried assorted vegetable and vermicelli.
As for mains, locals rave about the Pad Kee Mao which is a super fresh and flavourful drunken noodle with vegan “duck”, holy basil, mushroom and fresh peppercorn.
Another highly recommended dish is the Pla Tip Pad Prik which consists of vegan ‘cod’ stir fried with chilli and morning glory – this vegan dish’s texture, taste and flavours will leave you craving for more!
Mali Vegan Thai is open on Tuesday from 5:30pm to 10 pm, and Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday for lunch from 12 pm to 3 pm and for dinner from 5:30 pm to 10 pm.
As for Friday and Saturday, they’re open for lunch from 12 pm to 3 pm and for dinner from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm, but is closed on Mondays.
Address: 5a Hogarth Pl, London SW5 0QT
2. 222 Vegan Cuisine
An eco-conscious eatery serving super healthy and fresh globally inspired dishes, all at an affordable price.
222 is an eco-conscious exclusively vegan restaurant offering an a la carte menu, featuring an array of very appealing dishes in generous portions and at super affordable prices.
Experience healthy, nutritious and flavourful internationally inspired dishes which are 100% plant-based and freshly prepared using natural wholefood ingredients.
222 pride themselves on using healthy ingredients in each dish, so expect low-fat, low-salt and non-GM when ordering here. And even better, this restaurant never deep fry or microwave any of their dishes – so dig into your food without worrying about it being too oily, fatty or salty!
One of the tasty dishes served here has got to be the Russian-inspired Seitan Stroganoff which consists of cashew cream, mushrooms, seitan strips, caramelised onions and brown rice.
Another must-try is their Italian-inspired Pumpkin and Pinenut Risotto which is prepared with baked pumpkin, butternut squash and brown rice.
As for something sweet, how does some heartwarming Apple Crumble sound? This dessert is served with either with ice cream or coconut whipped cream. Another popular dessert with locals is their signature 222 Pancake which are delicious house-made pancake served with vanilla ice cream, vanilla custard and chocolate custard.
222 Vegan Cuisine is open everyday from 11am to 10pm.
Address: 222 North End Rd, London W14 9NU
3. Veggie Jimmy
An inviting restaurant with an extensive internationally inspired menu, featuring healthy, organic homemade dishes.
At Veggie Jimmy, they swear by vegetarianism being the healthiest and safest diet, and that’s why they offer fully vegan, healthy, organic, homemade dishes which are all prepared with care.
This pick on our list of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Kensington has plenty of comfortable booth seating. As for the service, expect a friendly and quick service from the welcoming staff who are always happy to accommodate your dietary requirements.
The cuisine ere is inspired from all around the world, ranging from delicious Mediterranean dishes, as well as Italian, Indian and American comfort food.
We highly recommend starting with their tasty Mutabal Baba Ganouj which consists of grilled aubergine, tahini, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil.
And if you’re visiting with a group of friend or family and fancy sharing a starter, we’ve got just the right pick for you. The Jimmy’s Special Starters come with an assortment of hummus, baba ganouj, beetroots puree, hummus pistachio, veggie samosa, onion rings, falafel, vine leaves, potato with thyme, as well as beetroots and spinach salad.
And for mains, we recommend going for their Moussaka With Rice which is prepared with baked seasoned aubergine, tomato sauce, onion, garlic and chickpeas.
For an American comfort food, their Chickfree Burger is an excellent choice. This burger is prepared with vegan pea protein chicken-style burger patty, vegan cheese, brioche bun, mayo, relish sauce, pickles, lettuce and tomato.
Veggie Jimmy is open everyday from 11am to 11:30pm.
Address: 170 Earls Ct Rd, London SW5 9QQ
4. CERU
This Eastern Mediterranean restaurant with stunning decor gives you an authentic feel of its cuisine through diverse flavours, tastes and aromas.
Situated in South Kensington, CERU is a charming Eastern Mediterranean restaurant with a saparate vegan and vegetarian menu to make your choice that much easier.
This restaurant is hard to miss thanks to its contemporary feel incorporating the unique Mediterranean decor with warm lights, colourful tiles and comfortable seating, as well as a small outdoor patio.
Although not solely vegan or vegetarian, we just had to include CERU on our list of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Kensington for its separate vegan and vegetarian menu and super fresh taste.
Vegans can start with their CERU Hamara which is a delicious tangy red pepper dip with walnuts and pomegranate molasses. For mains, they mainly serve salads and one of the popular picks is the Warm Salad of Artichoke, Green Peas & Baby Onions which is also served with preserved lemon, ginger and turmeric dressing.
When it comes to vegetarians, get a taste of their mouth-watering Sticky Roasted Baby Aubergines with date syrup and tamari dressing, sesame and coriander. Another tasty choice is the Spiced Warm Cauliflower & Walnut with pomegranate, spring onion and mint.
CERU is open Monday to Thursday from 12pm to 10pm and Friday from 12pm to 11pm. As for Saturday, they’re open from 11am to 11pm and on Sunday from 11am to 10pm.
Address: 7-9 Bute St, South Kensington, London SW7 3EY
5. Dishoom Kensington
Satisfy your Indian food cravings at Dishoom with their exceptional selection of Bombay comfort food, and best of all – they’re open as early as 8am on most days!
Located just off High Street Kensington, Dishoom is one of the finest Indian restaurants in the area thanks to its nicely curated menu offering Bombay comfort food and exquisite drinks.
Walk into this super warm and inviting restaurant and enjoy the aromas wafting from the kitchen. Whether you’re here for a comforting breakfast, lunch or dinner, Dishoom has a tempting selection for both vegans and vegetarians.
For breakfast, one of the delicious vegan choices is The Vegan Bombay which consists of tofu akuri, vegan sausages, vegan black pudding, grilled field mushrooms, masala beans, grilled tomato and home-made vegan buns.
Vegetarians might love their Akuri which is prepared with three eggs, spiced and scrambled, home-made buns and served with grilled tomato.
If you’re visiting for lunch or dinner, make sure to not miss out on this Bombay street staple – Vada Pau which consists of hot potato vada, crunchy titbits and chutneys, tucked inside a soft home-made bun.
For mains, one of the flavourful vegetarian options is the Jackfruit Biryani which is prepared with savoury jackfruit and delicately saffron’d rice, fresh herbs, barberries and sultanas.
Vegans will find a separate section on the menu where they’ll get a large array of plant-based dishes to choose from. And one of the must-try dishes is the Chole Puri which consists of chickpeas, spices and black tea, and with a side of puffed puris and sweet halwa.
Dishoom is open Monday to Friday from am to 11pm and on weekends from 9am to 11pm.
Address: 4 Derry St, London W8 5SE
