I’ve been in East London since August and have been thoroughly enjoying having the summer off work and exploring all the amazing food this place has to offer. It’s so easy to be veggie here which is something I had been worried about. There is also fantastic coffee, and cafes where I’ve spent hours eating/drinking/writing/meeting friends! Am so in love with the area. Here are my faves from Walthamstow-Spitalfields.

Yes, I am that annoying person who photographs all their food.

56 St James, Walthamstow, E17
I spent two weeks in Walthamstow and this place is by far the nicest there. Amazing coffee, fantastic variety of teas, and lovely staff. Perfect for a place to work or meet friends for a coffee.

Black Cat Cafe, Clapton, E5
I spent a month in Clapton which I loved! And this was my favourite place there. It’s amazing- daytime I hung out there drinking delicious coffee and working at my laptop, and in the evenings I ate dinner and enjoyed the fact that they’re BYO (the dream). Everything is vegan and the menu changes daily depending on what veg they have on site. It’s so reasonably priced too, with soup starting from £3.  They also have lovely community initiatives, and a very chilled atmosphere.

Tiosk, Broadway Market, E8
I went to the fabulous Stretch Yoga at the famous Broadway Markets for 2 weeks, and Tiosk was the perfect place for a post-yoga snack, lunch, or a cup of amazing tea. They do the tastiest veggie and vegan food, and I love the decor too.

Chatsworth Road Markets, E5
Lesser known than the Broadway Markets and not as busy, but I love them. So much tasty food including amazing vegan cakes and vegan Vietnamese street food. Something for everyone here though including lots of meaty food!

Ooh Lou Lou Cakery, Stoke Newington, N16
This is a really cute little takeaway bakery. I like them because as well as all of the usual amazing things, they have dairy free, vegan, and gluten free options that taste AMAZING.

La Casa Del Burrito, Stoke Newington, N16
Now that I’m living in Stoke Newington am slightly overwhelmed by the amount of places to eat here! And as fantastic as they all are, they can be a bit same same. This place stands out as it’s so unique- the decor is so cute, you can get a delicious vegan taco for £4.50, and they play Ricky Martin videos on the telly.

Lazy Social, Stoke Newington, N16
If like me you like spending extended periods of time in cafes on your laptop, then this place is perfect. The vibe is relaxed, the staff don’t care how long you sit here, and they have a nice range of tea and coffees. It’s a bit pricey but considering how long I nurse my coffee here I don’t mind! They also do lovely snacks, and in particular I love the fancy cucumber water.

The Hackney Pirates, Dalston, E8
Not only does this have the cheapest soy cappuccino I’ve gotten in London yet, it has gorgeous snacks and teas, a pirate ship styled interior, and it’s all for a good cause. The Hackney Pirates is an enterprising charity working to develop the literacy, confidence and perseverance of young people in Hackney, so that they achieve both in school and in the world beyond.

Ottolenghi, Spitalfields, E1
I know Ottolenghi gets so much praise but I have to add to this. I brought my husband here for his birthday brunch and it’s such a great place. The interior is stunning, the food is insanely good, and I think it’s reasonably priced considering the quality and the location. So many veggie options, but not exclusively so.

Shoreditch Grind, Shoreditch, EC1
This hipster favourite has, it probably goes without saying, got amazing coffee. It’s strong, tasty, and packs a punch. They also have an outdoor seating area which is a bit of a sun trap. But I was pleasently surprised when I ordered breakfast there last week and got porridge with all the trimmings. Love it.

There are so many more places I could mention! Will do another post soon with more recommendations. Please let me know if there’s somewhere you’d recommend I try!