Ultimate Vegan Guide to Covent Garden

If ever you decide to visit London, I cannot recommend Covent Garden enough. It is a little slice of paradise for food-lovers, teeming with all kinds of quaint and contemporary eating establishments that are sure to impress new and seasoned vegans alike. 

I recently had the opportunity to collaborate with Hotels.com to explore the area and I couldn't have been more thrilled. Thanks to them, you can enjoy an unforgettable stay at one of the best Covent Garden hotels, and you won't have to venture too far to discover the best vegan food that the area has to offer. I have done all the necessary research so that you don't have to.

The spending money used to put together this guide was gifted by Hotels.com, but all views are my own.

Read on to unpack the ultimate guide to vegan eating and drinking in Covent Garden!

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Jamaica Patty Co.

For the perfect vegan snack while you're on the go, pop into Jamaica Patty Co. for their vegan patties.

Wonderfully flaky crust, with a delectable vegetable filling that's bursting with flavour. You'll probably want to circle back round to buy a second one!

These sell out pretty fast, so be sure to get there early.

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The Real Greek

Whether you're familiar with traditional Greek food or new to the cuisine, you can experience vegan versions of classics such as souvlaki wraps or dolmades (stuffed vine leaves). 

The Real Greek has a dedicated vegan menu so you can order with complete ease and confidence.

I highly recommend the jackfruit gyros wrap with vegan aioli!

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Koshari St.

Koshari is a popular Egyptian street food that consists of grains, chickpeas, spiced vegetables and seasoned sauces, all topped with caramelised onions and doqqa (spice mixture).

At Koshari Street, you can build a vegan-friendly bowl from their bar of fresh ingredients that include fava beans, quinoa and stewed jackfruit. Perfect if you're on a health kick! 

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Redemption Bar

Although best known for their alcohol-free cocktails, this vegan restaurant also serves up a huge array of healthy brunch, lunch and dinner dishes. 

You'll want to round things up with one of their gluten-free, sugar-free treats, which taste just as good as they look. If you've got a sweet tooth, then this needs to be at the top of your list! 

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Wild Food Cafe

You cannot visit Covent Garden without dropping in at Wild Food Cafe! Right from the entrance, you'll be drawn into a world that's a feast for the senses.

Their bright and mostly raw menu will leave you feeling energised after your meal.

Treat yourself to their raw rainbow cheesecake! 

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Club Mexicana

There really is something for everyone in Covent Garden and if Mexican street food is on your mind then you need to pay these guys a visit.

Tasty tacos, burritos and fully-loaded nachos await you here. And the best part? Everything is 100% vegan!

Find them tucked away in Seven Dials Market.

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By Chloe

If you're craving some diner fare or traditional British grub such as fish n' chips or Sunday roast, then look no further than By Chloe.

Their celery root roast comes with thyme roasted potatoes, vegan Yorkshire pudding (!) and a rich, warming gravy.

If you've still got space, sneak in a batch of their air baked fries or get it to go!

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The Alchemist 

For a celebratory night out, The Alchemist offers vegan-friendly options in a buzzing, social setting. Their seitan bites and cauliflower katsu curry will leave you wanting more. 

Their vegan-friendly cocktails are the real appeal though! Get ready for a smoky, theatrical experience when you order the mad hatter cocktail for two. You'll want to capture the moment for Instagram!

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Doughnut Time

Finally, it would be criminal to visit Covent Garden and not stop by at Doughnut Time to pick up one of their vegan doughnuts.

With flavours like lemon-blueberry, Biscoff and red velvet, these morsels of joy are worth the extra calories.

Always wanted to learn how to perfectly decorate doughnuts? They also offer vegan doughnut masterclasses!

Vegan in Nice, France | 5 Best Vegan Restaurants in Nice

Back to the scene of the crime. The scene being the South of France and the [wonderful] crime being my decision to go vegan.

It's been over six years since I embarked on the unforgettable adventure of my year abroad in France. I spent an equal amount of time in Perpignan and Marseille. Half-way through my stint in Marseille, my mum and sis came to visit and we went on a long road trip across the French Riviera, starting in Marseille and passing through Cannes, Nice and eventually Monaco. When I think back to the day we spent in Nice, it still feels so fresh, like it happened yesterday. I remember us driving along Promenade des Anglais, stopping for lunch on the busy Avenue Jean Medecin.

Being back there again with the same partners in crime was truly dreamy. This time, we had ample time to explore the nooks and crannies of the city. As fate would have it, the apartment we stayed in was 5 minutes from Jean Medecin and walking distance to the promenade, Colline du Château and Old Nice. Not once did we have to take public transport - let's just say we were able to hit our daily step goals.

We spent our days ambling through the city, soaking up the sun and sights. We ate a lot of good vegan food, and I was able to capture some of it for the video.

Below, you'll find a top 5 list of the best vegan places we visited.

1. Amour Pâtisserie Végétale - for organic, homemade vegan pastries. 

Pear and chocolate bar

Fig cheesecake

2. Pekin - for an all-you-can-eat vegan buffet of incredibly tasty Asian food.

Every single element was seasoned to perfection

3. Vegan Gorilla - for seasonal, organic vegan meals and desserts that are plated gorgeously. Menu changes often.

Baked potato, lentils, smoked tofu

4. Not Dog - for fully-loaded vegan hot dogs with all the trimmings.

Original hot dog in a charcoal bun

5. Copper Branch - for bowls, all-day breakfast, bountiful salads and desserts.

Seitab wings with slaw and vegan mayo

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- Vegan in Utrecht, Netherlands
- Vegan in Paris, France
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Water Fried Plantain | Oil Free Healthy Cooking Method

Hi folks,

As simple as this recipe is, I am incredibly excited to share it with you.

You may already know that I have a slight obsession with plantain, having dedicated a whole cookbook to it and all! One of my favourite ways to enjoy it is shallow fried in sunflower oil. Mmmm. Fried plantain is truly one of those food pleasures that I cannot imagine my life without. At the same time, I am constantly looking for ways to improve the way I eat, incorporating healthier habits over time until they become second nature. Water frying my plantain is an example of one such healthy habit. Let me explain a little more...

Back in May, I led a vegan Nigerian cooking class with the social enterprise Life After Hummus. The community cooking classes advocate low-fat, low-GI recipes and so I had to adapt my recipes to fit with this. Instead of oil, ingredients are fried in water instead. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well it worked with plantain. Part of the joy of fried plantain is the golden brown exterior and soft, sweet centre. What a thrill to discover that I could achieve all this with just a bit of water!

Water frying, as the name suggests, is when you use a small amount of water instead oil in order to achieve caramelisation.

Now, I don't want you to think that I am anti-fat or that I don't think we need it in our diets. We absolutely do. But I've come to learn that some fats are better than others. That is, unrefined, whole food sources such as nuts, seeds and avocados are nutritionally more beneficial than processed, refined fats and oils. In an effort to limit the processed oils, this water frying method is golden.

Check out the video above to see the method and let me know if this is something you will be trying for yourself!

Have a great week! x