There tends to be a stereotypical perception that cafés and restaurants which deal primarily in ‘health food’ are boring, predictable and only offer one meal (…salad). However, with awareness of food intolerances and healthy living rising all the time, we’re seeing a number of eateries who make interesting, thoughtful, healthy food open their doors all over London and we couldn’t be more excited (and hungry).

To save you doing the research yourself, we’ve collected our five favourite places for a tasty health fix right now (and we’ve even included a menu pick for each, in case you’re struggling…) Bon appétit!

1) The Mae Deli Those who avoid wheat, dairy or refined sugar in their lifestyles will be pleased by the offering at The Mae Deli – the entire menu is free of these ingredients, without sacrificing on flavour or excitement. With breakfast, lunch and dinner covered, as well as a central London location, it’s the perfect meeting point for friends all around the city. Menu pick: We’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, so the breakfast banana and coconut pancakes are always high on our wishlist!

2) The Hive Our fondness of The Hive is well-known: we’ve been having a love affair with their veggie fare and delicious juices for quite some time now, and we especially love their innovative, seasonal menu. They’re a total East London gem, and we feel very fortunate to have them on our doorstep! They’ve also recently branched out into natural wine, giving you all the more reason to schedule in a dinner there as soon as possible. Menu pick: Despite its chilly moniker, The Winter Soup (featuring spicy beetroot and carrot) is a colourful all-day hit, all year round.

3) The Good Life Eatery With three London locations (Belgravia, Chelsea and Marylebone) and a cookbook, The Good Life Eatery is a bonafide wellness success story. Their breakfasts are raved about on social media, and for good reason (they’re healthy whilst still remaining hearty and delicious) and all of their ingredients are locally sourced, lowering their environmental impact which scores them major points with Glasshouse. With a strict no wi-fi policy, we’d recommend grabbing a seat, bringing a book, and letting the Good Life wash over you. Menu pick: We don’t even have to think about it: the almond and chestnut waffles with fruity accompaniments are our favourites by far.

4) Redemption Part bar, part restaurant, Redemption is a great evening choice when you’re looking to indulge healthily. All of their dishes are vegan, sugar free and wheat free, and the bar doesn’t serve alcohol, but this doesn’t mean that what they do serve isn’t fantastic. Try a coconut ‘margarita’ and one of their ‘good for you desserts’ – we think you’ll be impressed. Menu pick: It’s a tough one, but their maki rolls win the day; filled with red and black quinoa, avocado and mushroom, they make a tasty alternative to traditional sushi.

5) Juicebaby A juice bar by trade, this West London spot also boasts a varied food menu with especially good desserts. Juicebaby are passionate about organic produce, and they’re big on making healthy substitutes rather than depriving yourself of food you love, which is a philosophy we happen to share. Located on the King’s Road, it’s great for a casual lunch – and though it’s on the other side of town, we’re quite happy to make the trip when the food is this good!
Menu pick: We can’t resist the taco bowl – all those delicious Southwestern flavours, done here without the dairy. Bonus tip – follow it up with one of their awesome ice-creams (dairy free salted caramel anyone?) for a two-course lunch that’ll leave you jumping for joy.

Words: Lauren O’Neill
Cover image: Gumtree.com