The best vegan cafes near Roman Road
Whether you’re keen to give Veganuary a go or simply searching for some plant-based goodness this winter, you’re spoilt for choice in Tower Hamlets.
Here, we bring you a roundup of the tastiest vegan cafes around Roman Road, offering everything from budget-friendly brunches to plant-based BLT toasties and Moroccan-inspired salads. From sweet treats and coffee to hearty meals and grocery shops, sticking to a plant-based diet has never been easier.
Essential Vegan Cafe at All My Friends
BEST FOR: A TASTE OF BRAZIL
Having ended its residency at the famous Dalston Superstore, vegan Brazillian caterers, Essential Vegan, have made a home within the lively Hackney Wick hangout, All My Friends. Enjoy Feijoada (slow-cooked black bean stew), jackfruit Salpicão salad, or pina colada pancakes. Open for coffee and food in the daytime from Wednesday to Saturday.
Find Essential Vegan Cafe at All My Friends, 96 White Post Ln, London E9 5EN
The Gallery Café
BEST FOR: STUDENTS ON A BUDGET
Pay a visit to the award-winning Gallery Café to sample their delicious menu, featuring Tofu ‘Benny’, kimchi toasties and a unique daily ‘Masterpiece lunch’. The low-cost cafe offers locally ground coffees and fresh, healthy juices for those eating green on a budget, and all profits generated go straight back into St. Margaret’s House.
Find The Gallery Café at St. Margaret’s House Settlement, 21 Old Ford Road, E2 9PL
Sazzy & Fran
BEST FOR: CAFFEINE ADDICTS
Located between The London Buddhist Centre and Bethnal Green Fire Station, you’ll find Sazzy and Fran, serving up the neighbourhood’s finest speciality coffee and plant-based pastries. The cafe sources their house brew from local coffee roasters, Climpson & Sons, with a guest arabica coffee changing every few months. The all-vegan menu features colourful acai bowls, hearty frittatas and their signature ‘zalmon’ cream cheese bagel, available to buy in jars at Planet Organic so you can make it at home.
Find Sazzy and Fran at 33 Roman Road, E2 0HU
SimplyFresh
BEST FOR: VEGAN LIFERS
SimplyFresh may not be a cafe, but Mehmet Guzel’s haven of health foods and local products is more than a regular convenience store. The foodie oasis on the Roman Road is a long-standing supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables sourced daily from the New Spitalfields Market. Keeping up with the newest health food trends, SimplyFresh has expanded its fresh and frozen vegan range to help you stick to those resolutions this January.
Find SimplyFresh at 201-203 Roman Road, E2 0QY
Garden Green Café
BEST FOR: DRESS DOWN WEEKENDS
From hummus wraps and falafel salads to wholesome soups ideal for winter, Garden Green Café is bringing homely comfort and Moroccan cuisine to Tredegar Road. The lime-green cafe resides in a shop that is 115 years old, giving the much-loved eatery a historic atmosphere. Greeting each customer with a warm welcome, the owners, Sanni and Targa, are committed to serving nourishing, fresh food to the community.
Find Garden Green Cafe at 137 Tredegar Rd, Bow, London, E3 2EU
Jungle Electric
BEST FOR: LIVE EVENTS
More than just a cafe, Jungle Electric is a vibrant melting pot of the East End’s diverse community. The neighbourhood hub is one of the most dynamic spots on the Roman, with weekly quizzes, drag nights and live music to keep you entertained. Pay a visit to their bright yellow shop-front to sample their famous mac n cheese, bangers n mash, and nourishing soup made on-site.
Find Jungle Electric at 467 Roman Rd, Bow, London E3 5LX
E3 Vegan
BEST FOR: FINE DINING
Since opening its doors in 2022, E3 Vegan has been cooking up a storm for plant-based eaters. Located in the middle stretch of the Roman just east of Mile End Park, the eatery is London’s first vegan supper club, treating visitors to seven courses of fine dining every Friday. E3 Vegan is also a cafe from Thursday to Sunday, serving seasonal brunches and lunches, relaxed dinners on Thursday and Saturday evenings, and a mouth-watering Sunday Lunch.
Find E3 Vegan at 357 Roman Rd, Bow, London E3 5QR
Mandala Café
BEST FOR: RELAXATION & MEDITATION
Last but certainly not least, the Buddhist-run Mandala Café offers everything you need to nourish your stomach and mind. From coconut and lime mung dhal to their nutritious quinoa veg bowl, the café’s menu is seasonally updated with recipes designed by a Michelin-star chef. Pay a visit to the plant-based sanctuary for a bite to eat before attending a yoga or meditation class at the London Buddhist Centre next door.
Find Mandala Cafe at 241, 243 Globe Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 0JD
Worthy Mentions
Many places, while not dedicated to plant-based food, are now offering vegan options.
Flat Earth Pizzas were crowned Britain’s Best Pizza in 2023, and they’re also treasured among vegans. The restaurant offers pizzas with British dairy cheese or plant-based mozzarella – just ask for a swap. And while you’re there, all the wines are vegan-certified, so why not enjoy a drink or two?
Find Flat Earth Pizzas at 288 Cambridge Heath Rd, Cambridge Heath, London E2 9DA
Zealand Cafe at 391 Roman Road offers a wide range of plant-based delights, from their tofu and spinach vegan breakfast to their meat-free sausage and chutney sandwich, and Loafing Cafe at 407 Roman Road is the place to be for vegan cookies and the millennial, classic, avocado and hummus toast.
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Thanks for the Vegan dining ideas. Some of your info is a bit out of date. Targa Green cafe is now Garden Green Cafe. I’ve never found it vegan friendly but maybe the new cafe is. E3 Vegan has changed its hours and is now open Thursday to Sunday from lunch to dinner. I go there for lunch every week as it is good value and delicious. Their Sunday roasts are amazing and even have vegan Yorkshire puddings. Thursday evening is tapas night. All of it delicious.