As regular My Gluten Free Guide readers will know, I live in London and am lucky enough to be able to eat out fairly regularly. I like to try new places and have started to really try to seek out new coeliac-friendly dining spots in the capital, creating this round up periodically so I can share what I’ve been eating recently. Hopefully my exploring will give you all some new ideas as to where you can get a safe meal, rather than sticking to the same old spots.
Nearly everything featured here comes from mixed facility restaurants. I eat out regularly without issues, but am always VERY cautious to ensure my meal is safe as I am a sensitive coeliac. If you aren’t sure what steps to take when eating out as a coeliac, have a read of my handy guide.
Note I was invited to try a number of these restaurants, but am under no obligation to share anything about them. These are my honest opinions but for the sake of transparency I have added a star when the meal was complimentary.
1) Yorkshire Puddings – The Tramshed*
Could this be the best gluten free Sunday roast in London? Huuuuge Yorkshire puddings, roast chicken or perfectly tender steak, roasties, cauliflower cheese, rainbowchard and lashings of gravy, plus a side of salt and vinegar onion rings and chocolate cake with hot chocolate sauce and ice cream for dessert – all absolutely delicious.
The Tramshed has a dedicated fryer and very thorough processes to cater for coeliacs safely, with owner Mark Hix being very welcoming of allergy guests, which is refreshing to hear. It is brilliant for kids on Sundays with colouring packs and a children’s menu. They also have some big long tables available so would be perfect for festive get togethers or big family catch ups.
2) Bottomless Vietnamese Brunch – Pho*
I tried this new brunch recently and LOVED it. Really well priced, you get a generous main plus unlimited prosecco, coffee martinis, mimosas with fresh orange juice or sriracha bloody marys. We tried and really enjoyed the brunch rice bowl, fried rice & eggs and pandan waffles with berries. Staff are so lovely too and given its location inside the One New Change shopping centre you can sneak in a cheeky bit of shopping afterwards! Coeliac UK accredited.
3) Tacos – La Bodega Negra*
Salt cod tacos, tuna tostada, red snapper ceviche and golden tortilla chips with fresh guacamole. I visited La Bodega Negra in Soho to try the gluten free options on the meny and was impressed! They have loads of coeliac friendly items on the main menu and staff were very helpful at talking us through the suitable choices. We especially loved the tuna tostada, but would recommend everything we had! A minor downside, they have no gluten free desserts BUT their frozen margaritas are amazing so just have an extra one of those instead!
4) Hazelnut Hot Chocolate – Grom
A decadent treat for winter in the form of this gianduja hazelnut hot chocolate from Grom. This fully gluten free ice cream parlour also offers amazing gelate-filled gluten free brioche buns, in case you want something more substantial.
5) Chocolate Afternoon Tea – One Aldwych*
Speaking of chocolate, have a look at this fantabulous Charlie & the Chocolate Factory themed gluten free afternoon tea at One Aldwych Hotel. I had wanted to try this one for SO LONG and it absolutely lived up to my expectations and more. From perfect sandwiches and cheese scones with bacon jam to sour lemon candy floss, red velvet cake pops and dainty cakes, everything was fab. All washed down with smoking cocktails and champagne. Coeliac UK accredited.
6) Guava Glazed Fried Chicken – El Pollote
Amazing gluten free fried chicken with a sticky guava glaze that is utterly addictive. Most of El Pollote’s food is gluten free and they take to avoid cross contamination. Find them in the new KERB indoor food market in Covent Garden.
7) Gf Dumplings and Tempura Aubergine – Ugly Dumpling
This tiny dumpling restaurant REALLY impressed me with the level of care and attention they took to prepare my food safely. They have at least one gluten free dumpling option each day, plus all their sides are gluten free. Staff were very knowledgeable and reassuring.
8) Pasta and Wine – Sager & Wilde
One of my local restaurants, which I hadn’t mentioned for a while so I wanted to give them a little shout out. When I visited recently they had a great selection of gluten free dishes, including this delicious gluten free penne and a divine burrata starter. They have some amazing wines too.
9) Luxury Afternoon Tea – The Lanesborough*
I think I have found London’s most beautiful afternoon tea salon, nestled at the heart of the Lanesborough hotel. The Lanesborough kindly invited me to try their luxury #glutenfree afternoon tea recently and I had SUCH a fab afternoon. Rather than classic finger sandwiches this high tea features a selection of savoury canapes, which included delicious arancini balls (all cooked in their dedicated gluten free fryer), smoked salmon toasts and mushroom pate tartlets. Their gluten free scones are some of the best I have tried – incredibly soft and still warm from the oven, with clotted cream and jam. The cake selection was good but I would have preferred a third cake option rather than ice cream and jelly, yet the chocolate cake and beautiful raspberry financier we had were top notch. Add in perfectly chilled champagne and the setting and you get one rather lovely afternoon tea experience. Price: from £53 per person.
10) Venezuelan Bottomless Brunch – Arepa & Co*
There’s a new bottomless brunch at Venezuelan restaurant Arepa & Co in Bethnal Green and there are loads of coeliac friendly gluten free options, hurrah! We had the chance to preview their new offering and I really enjoyed it – friendly staff and yummy food and drinks. It launches this weekend and will be on every Saturday and Sunday between 12-4pm. Full Venezuelan breakfasts, cachapa pancakes, arepas and their INSANELY GOOD yuca chips, accompanied by bottomless cocktails and fizz, who could say no to that?? Staff are very helpful with dietary requirements and allergens (including gluten) are marked on the menu.
11) Summer Rolls – Kaleido*
Lunch goaaaaals from my newest discovery Kaleido rolls in Selfridges Food Hall. An incredibly delicious box of rice paper rolls filled with: chicken caesar salad; miso aubergine; sweet potato and caramelised onion; and salmon and cream cheese. Dips = tahini and lemon. Such an ingenious idea and only 100 cal per roll apparently. All their rolls are gluten free (and some are dairy free too). They currently have a “may contain” warning but that’s only because they are a growing business and don’t have a fully gf premises yet – they make everything in a separate gf area though with fully gf equipment. Plus they are hoping to have a fully gf premises soon.
12) Mannadew Pastries – Selfridges*
Hold the press, there’s a BRAND NEW gluten free pastry in town! Well actually two…an apricot slice and a mixed berry custard tart, plus chocolate vegan chip cookies and fluffy maple cake made by gluten free bakery Mannadew and available now in Selfridges. These new products launch alongside their existing chocolate twist and raisin cinnamon gf danish pastries, already on sale in Selfridges. You can find the pastries and cookies at the beautiful art deco Dolly’s Tearooms and Selfridges Kitchen, then the maple cake at the Brass Rail. All located within Selfridges.
13) Fried Chicken & Chips – Daja Street Food
I’ve tried this fab gluten free Asian fried chicken before so was delighted to find Daja now at the Victoria Park Market in East London on Sundays. Everything is gluten free aside from a couple of dressings and the owner is brilliant and knows straight away which we can have. Highly recommended. They also do deep fried mushrooms.
14) Middle Eastern Small Plates – Arabica*
I was kindly invited to try Arabica’s new Kings Cross branch when they opened recently. What a yummy meal! There are plenty of gluten free choices and staff were very helpful, confirming that they had a gluten free fryer for the gluten free dishes and meaning I could have treats such as falafel. No gluten free desserts on the menu, but they adapted the affogato for me and it was delish.
15) Thai Food – Som Saa
I had been wanting to try Som Saa for a long time and eventually got round to visiting last month. They offer authentic thai food and have a huge number of gluten free options, which mean we could have an absolute feast. Staff were very knowledgeable and talked me through the options that were not gluten free. It’s a lovely spot, although slightly pricey, ideal for date night.
16) Yoga and a Bite – Lodge Space*
A cute cosy cafe in South East London, Lodge Space would be perfect for a relaxing yoga practice followed by gluten free lunch. They have loads of gluten free choices on the menu, including Moroccan lamb and veggie burgers.
17) Vegan Yule Log – Les Filles Cafe*
I haven’t visited this cafe in person but they have gluten free options and kindly sent me a vegan gluten free yule log to try, the first I have seen this year. Isn’t it a beauty! Two bracnhes – Hampstead and Lancaster Gate.
18) Lunch with a View – National Portrait Gallery
We headed here with my parents to enjoy a rather lovely lunch with views over the London skyline. They had gluten free bread available and a good number of naturally gluten free dishes. They also assured me that measures were taken to limit cross contamination.
19) Small Plates – Salon
I had such a wonderful meal at Salon in Brixton with some friends. Most of the menu was naturally gluten free and when not they offered a delicious alternatives. Definitely worth a visit for date night or a catch up with foodie friends.
20) Sandwiches, Tea & Cake – Tate Modern
On a toddler play date I recently discovered that the Tate Modern cafe is pretty good for gluten free! They had sandwiches and cakes, stored away from their gluten alternatives. They also have some boxed gluten free salads.
21) Rainbow Cake – Vida Bakery
This fully gluten free and vegan bakery is dangerously close to my house and I have to pop in for a treat every now and then! This rainbow cake is a stunner.
22) Burrito Bowl – Chipotle*
For gluten free burrito bowls with the best guacamole in town, head to Mexican grab and go joint Chipotle. Coeliac UK accredited.
23) Healthy Brunch – Hemsley at Selfridges*
Brunching at the fully gluten free Hemsley at Selfridges cafe. From buckwheat granola with coconut yoghurt and fresh fruit (my fave, it was really yummy), to blueberry pancakes with butter and avotoast with fried eggs and bacon there is a great range to choose from. The focus is on healthier, refined sugar free options and all the food is gluten free too. Have a read of my London brunch guide for more details on this cafe and plenty other gluten free brunch ideas across London.
24) Prawn Laksa – Banana Tree
I really like Banana Tree for pan-Asian food with good gluten free options. I always default to their beef rendang for main but this time had a starter too and it id not disappoint. This prawn laska was filled with tasty bits, giant prawns and flavour. It was satisfyingly spicy without ebing overbearing and I cannot stop thinking about it!
25) Marshmallow Hot Choc – Chin Chin Ice Cream Labs
So sweet but so goooood. This gluten free hot chocolate comes with a big scoop of homemade bruleed marshmallow on top and my advice is to share one between two! Chin Chin often have some gluten free dessert options too, which vary each month.
What a tasty few months! For more gluten free London recommendations have a read of some of my London gluten free guides:
- 100% Gluten Free London Restaurants, Cafes & Bakeries
- Fully Gluten Free Street Food in London
- East London Gluten Free Guide
- Where to Get Fish & Chips in London
- Where to Get Pizza in London
Enjoy! x
