Hackney

Curious' home-made cornbread, halloumi and avocado. Pic: Curious Yellow Kafé

Curious Yellow Kafé

Location: 77 Pitfield Street, N1 6BT

Opening hours:
Monday: 8am–5pm
Tuesday: 8am–5pm
Wednesday: 8am–5pm
Thursday: 8am–5pm
Friday: 8am–5pm
Saturday: 9am–5pm
Sunday: 9am–5pm

Contact: 020 7251 6018

Tucked away on Hoxton's Pitfield Street, Scandinavian-inspired Curious Yellow Kafé is a lovely little hidden gem. Offering a great range of vegetarian options, it is a perfect spot for both breakfast and lunch. Our favourites are the Eggs Florentine (the hollandaise sauce is out of this world!) and the stuffed aubergine! Oh, and the staff are brilliant!

For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Hoxton Fruit and Veg. Pic: Amanda Wahlqvist

Hoxton Fruit and Veg Food Store

Location: 183 Hoxton St, N1 6RA

Opening hours:
Monday: 7am-9.30pm
Tuesday: 7am-9.30pm
Wednesday: 7am-9.30pm
Thursday: 7am-9.30pm
Friday: 7am-9.30pm
Saturday: 7am-9.30pm
Sunday: 7am-9.30pm

Contact: 020 7613 0833

Established in 2000, Hoxton Fruit and Veg offers anything from nuts and grains to Medjool dates and oyster mushrooms. With perhaps the best selection of fresh fruits and vegetables in Hoxton, this greengrocer has everything you would need to prepare a delicious home-cooked vegetarian meal. Oh, and remember to try the loose olives.

For more information, visit their website.

Lewisham

All the plants! Pic: Amanda Wahlqvist

Green Onions 

Location: 6 Clifton Rise, SE14 6JP

Opening hours:
Monday: 10.30am-7.30pm
Tuesday: 10.30am-7pm
Wednesday: 10.30am-7pm
Thursday: 10.30am-7pm
Friday: 10.30am-7pm
Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm

Contact: 074 7453 75 70

Calling all vegetarian and vegan music lovers. Somewhat hidden off bustling New Cross Road, Green Onions Healthfood & Records specialises in groceries, plants and of course, records. Assorted teas, freshly baked sourdough bread and a plentiful selection of non-dairy milk.

A Green Onions team member told Eastlondonlines: “Business is good, we’ve been here for three and a half years now! We get plenty of local residents, many students from Goldsmiths pop in for groceries and records!”

For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Mughead Coffee

Location: 359 New Cross Rd, SE14 6AT

Opening hours:
Monday: 7.30am-6pm
Tuesday: 7.30am-6pm
Wednesday: 7.30am-6pm
Thursday: 7.30am-6pm
Friday: 7.30am-6pm
Saturday: 9am-4pm
Sunday: 9.30am-4pm

Contact: mugheadcoffee@gmail.com

Mughead Coffee is one of ELL’s favourite coffee spots in New Cross, and they have plenty of vegetarian food options available if you are feeling peckish! Our go-to's are the kale, spinach and mango smoothie and salted caramel banana bread. Oh, and the grilled cheese toasties with mature cheddar, mozzarella and tomato jam are a solid 10 out of 10! Yum!

For more information, visit their Instagram page.

Tower Hamlets

Acaï bowls with granola, coconut chips and fresh fruits. Pic: Sazzy and Fran Café.

Sazzy and Fran Café

Location: 33 Roman Rd, E2 0HU

Opening hours:
Monday: 7.30am-7pm
Tuesday: 7.30am-7pm
Wednesday: 7.30am-7pm
Thursday: 7.30am-7pm
Friday: 7.30am-7pm
Saturday: 9am–5pm
Sunday: 9am–5pm

If you are into your vegan treats, Bethnal Green’s Sazzy and Fran Café is an absolute must! Acaï bowls, ‘cheese’ toasties and cinnamon swirls… Whatever you fancy, they got you!

Co-owner Sarah ‘Sazzy’ Harrison told ELL: “Sazzy and Fran was started by myself and Fran as a way to explore and share our love of vegan food and really good coffee. All cakes are made by us including our gluten-free caramelised buckwheat chocolate chip shortbread!”

For more information, visit their Instagram page.

Simply Fresh E2

Location: 201-203 Roman Rd, E2 0QY

Opening hours:
Monday: 7am-11pm
Tuesday: 7am-11pm
Wednesday: 7am-11pm
Thursday: 7am-11pm
Friday: 7am-11pm
Saturday: 7am-11pm
Sunday: 7am-11pm

Simply Fresh E2 opened its doors in 2013 and offers a wide-ranging selection of fresh produce. Brought up in London’s East End, the owner, Mehmet Güzel, and his team proudly stock products from several local producers, such as Salad Mafia and My Italian Cook.

ELL asked Simply Fresh E2's Annajane Güzel what makes their shop different from others. She explained: "I think it’s Mehmet’s commitment to the local area, and that he listens to the customers. If you want something, he will get it for you. If you need a raffle prize, he will donate one."

For more information, visit their website.

Croydon 

Vegetable dumplings and summer rolls. Pic: Amanda Wahlqvist

Thanh’s Bistro

Location: 56 Lower Addiscombe Rd, CR0 6AA

Opening hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 6pm-10.30pm
Wednesday: 6pm-10.30pm
Thursday: 6pm-10.30pm
Friday: 6pm-10.30pm
Saturday: 6pm-10.30pm
Sunday: Closed

Contact: 020 8405 4308

Fancy Vietnamese? Thanh’s Bistro on Lower Addiscombe Road is some of the best we’ve had in London! They offer great service and delicious vegetarian options. We loved the veggie summer rolls and the Xao Xa with lemongrass and chilli-marinated tofu. Oh, and you can bring your own bottle of wine for two quid!

For more information, visit their website.

The Breakfast Club

Location: Unit 48-52, 99 George Street, CR0 1LD

Opening hours:
Monday: 8am-9pm
Tuesday: 8am-9pm
Wednesday: 8am-9pm
Thursday: 8am-10pm
Friday: 8am-10pm
Saturday: 8am-10pm
Sunday: 8am-8pm

The Breakfast Club is a notorious brunch destination. With nine branches all across London, they serve up some of the best pancakes in town! ‘Pancakes with berries’ are a little piece of heaven on a plate. If you fancy something savoury, we would recommend ‘Reggie the Veggie’ or the ‘Shakshuka Benny’ – Shakshuka, avocado, eggs, greek yoghurt and harissa hollandaise on chilli cheddar waffles.

For more information, visit Boxpark's website.