Typically, when reading restaurant recommendations, the usual plant-based suggestions are based around a more casual dining option – the junk food you often crave as a vegan that you used to grab and go prior to switching to a plant-based lifestyle. Think burgers, loaded fries, and the like. However, what happens when you want to sample some high-end vegan dining – a dinner out for a special occasion, or just because you fancy being a little more spoilt? Where can we go that offers a plant-based menu with great variety and higher-end culinary creations?
In reality, we are fortunate in this country with the variety available to us when it comes to high-end vegan dining, so it was a difficult job to create a relatively short list of our favourites.
However, we’ve scoured the country and found a list of the top-level venues we think might just hit the mark – let’s take a look at what they have to offer.
High-End Vegan Dining Ideas
Based in Knightsbridge, London, Holy Carrot is open all day for dining, and offers a menu that focuses on ethically sourced, and seasonal produce. Whilst still offering a range of high-end meals, Holy Carrot retains a warm and inviting atmosphere, with dishes labelled on the site such as ‘seafood’ platter, sexy tofu and crispy quinoa maki. The wording of a confident team, and certainly those that are intriguing enough to entice diners through the door.
What we love
- The glamorous, neutral-toned, interiors
- The all-day, relaxed opening hours
- The variety of meal options which is included in the Sunday brunch menu, and all-day menu
What we keep reading in reviews of Holy Carrot is how friendly and helpful the staff are, and we can’t agree more. And whilst the food is top quality, the relaxed atmosphere continues through into the laid-back attire of the guests enjoying their meals – and even the waiting staff are in casual clothing which only adds to the general ambience of the whole Holy Carrot experience.
PS Definitely try the sexy tofu!
2-4 Hans Cres, London SW1X 0LH tel: 020 3897 0404
Reopened in June 2021 as a fully vegan restaurant, Gauthier Soho is somewhere very special indeed.
Even just reading the home page of the website, you can feel the care and attention that has been put into this high-end eaterie. Bringing together classically trained French gastronomy, a low carbon footprint, and seasonal vegan produce is a match made in heaven, and we couldn’t wait to try it out for ourselves.
Chef Alexis Gauthier opens his door for private parties as well as traditional table dining. There are two set menus – the Petit Dîner, which is a five-course tasting menu, or the Grand Dîner offering eight courses.
What we love
- The artistry of each dish
- How special the whole experience feels
- The expertise and knowledge of the staff
The dress code is noted on the website as smart casual – but for such a special meal, we erred towards the smarter end of this suggestion.
21 Romilly St, London W1D 5AF tel: 020 7494 3111
Founded in 1989 by brothers, Michael and Adrian Daniel who wanted to bring the flavours they loved as children from their Indo-Iraqi heritage to dishes at a local level. Not entirely vegan but only offering vegetarian and vegan meals at The Gate, we still wanted to include it in our list because of how special a place it is. The focus is on healthy eating, as well as sustainability for which The Gate has won a 3* Sustainability rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Amongst vegan communities, The Gate is probably best known for its Vegan Supper Club – hugely popular and definitely one to get on the waiting list for, you can enjoy a full five-course menu including suggested wine pairings on set days each month.
What we love
- The relaxed atmosphere
- There are three venues to try out – Hammersmith, Islington and Marylebone
- The food-focused events, such as the upcoming Wild Mushroom Festival
It’s cosy, welcoming, and the food is delicious, what’s not to love?
Hammersmith – 51 Queen Caroline St, London W6 9QL
Islington – 370 St John St, London EC1V 4NN
Marylebone – 22-24 Seymour Pl, London W1H 7NL
020 7833 0401
Since 1993, and set up by two classically trained chefs, Amanda Powley and Philip Taylor, Terre à Terre has been feeding high-end vegan (and a few vegetarian options) food to the people of Brighton. But not only that, the team at Terre à Terre run one of the first ethically motivated restaurants in Brighton, engaging in community and charitable events, as well as focusing heavily on recycling, creating sustainable menus, and building a happy environment within which to work and socialise. As such, there is a great range of breads, dips and starters that are ideal for sharing, followed by delicious main course offerings like Aubergine Dengaku and Bao Wow Glazed Stuffed Buns.
What we love
- The ethical stance
- How attractive, yet relaxed each dish looks
- The pudding menu will leave you wanting to try every option
It’s the perfect feel-good venue. We particularly love how the menus alter by theme, as well as season. You can pop in for afternoon tea, indulge in the Octoberfest autumnal promotion or even feed your “Little Terrors” from their own menu, which beautifully replicates the style of the full adult menu, just in smaller portions.
71 East Street, Brighton BN1 1HQ tel: 01273 729051
Not entirely vegan but we had to include this in our list, purely because of how beautiful a setting the Belmond Hotel really is. Offering a six or seven-course vegan menu in this glamorous, Oxfordshire manor house hotel, table bookings are taken up to three months in advance so definitely plan ahead with your visit. Treating guests at a very high-end, in this case, comes with a high bill at the end of your meal, but it’s absolutely worth it. Included in the set menu are dishes such as garden beetroot terrine, spiced textures of cauliflower followed by poached pears in caramel with vanilla and cardamon – all created by Raymond Blanc, Gary Jones, Benoit Blin and their culinary genius team of chefs.
What we love
- It’s a very special dining experience
- The setting is stunning
- The wines are selected to match each course
If you are going to treat yourself to one extravagant meal this year then this must be a real contender for the venue. It’s a venue fit for royalty and feels like you’ve gone back in time to live like a Lord or Lady of the Manor, just for one day.
Church Road, Great Milton, Oxford, OX44 7PD, UK tel: 01844 278 881
