Discover amazing gluten-free options while exploring the City of London. From fast food to sit down dinners.
As some of you may know, my significant other has celiac disease and I have an allergy to peanuts and tree-nuts. Finding restaurants in other countries is also an adventure in itself. I start researching well before we go and keep the Find me GF app close by. We have found some wonderful restaurants that are off the beaten path that serve up amazing food.
London has fantastic restaurants all over the city that suit everyone’s needs. Listed below are several restaurants we have personally tried while visiting London.
Da Mario
Homemade fresh Italian food, perfect family restaurant. Try to make a reservation or get there early. This place usually always has a wait to get in. This was one of Princess Diana’s favorite restaurants and she’s not wrong. The food and service is great. Gluten Free options are available including pizza.
Borough Market
Go here hungry! This market is by far the best one I have been to in Europe to date. You can find fresh fruits, cheeses and species from around the world. Unique authentic meals are served daily from mushroom risotto, Spanish Paella and fresh chocolate covered strawberries. We also found a stand that offered gluten free baked goods including cheesecakes. The market is open every day besides bank holidays. Check the website for more details. We did try the famous Humble Crumble while there, we were disappointed it was rather bland for our liking.
Leon
This fast food chain offers gluten free options for breakfast and lunch. In the U.S. we do not have many fast food restaurants that offer gluten free options, it’s a special treat when we find one to try outside of the U.S. This is the perfect spot if you are on the go or a late night snack after the pub. They offer rice bowels and vegan options as well.
Dishoom
This restaurant serves Indian food that is meant for sharing. Menu items are spicy but very flavorful. Many options can be made gluten free. Unfortunately I did not read this very carefully when booking, the options for peanut and nut free are limited but the dishes are delighful. I had heard many good reviews on this restaurant before arriving and it did not disappoint. Reservations are not needed. The dishes we tried were Chicken Tikka, a bowl of greens, sheekh kabab, and murgh malia.
Laduree
Known for their delicious french macarons from Paris. This cafe has multiple locations found throughout the city. The one we went to was located in Covent Garden. You can take away macarons and pastries as well as sit down and enjoy a hot chocolate or a cocktail with a friend while you indulge in a sweet treat.
Megan’s on High Street
This restaurant offers mediterranean/ Turkish cuisine. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a perfect spot any time of day. Dishes are simple with lots of flavor. The menu does a great job labeling allergens.
Darwin Brasserie in Sky Garden
Located inside the Sky Garden, this restaurant does require reservations which includes access to the sky garden look out. The service was friendly and attentive. The dinner was a 3 course meal. It was a little on the pricey side but this is a tourist attraction with a view of the city. The Sky Garden offers 3 restaurants and a bar. They host special events as well. Please note if you pick another restaurant other than this one the views are different. The Larch restaurant in particular is located on the ground floor offering no view of the city. If you do not wish to dine here you can also visit the Sky Garden website to book free tickets to the garden and viewing area. Beware, these tickets sell out quickly. If this is something you wish to do, book a few months in advance.
Peggy Porschen Bakery
Pink is in the air, perfect spot for a tea party with the girls. This is a walk in only spot unless you are doing a full afternoon tea, this will require a reservation and is about $50 a person. There is a wide variety of teas and cakes to choose from. Because it is walk-in only, some of the cakes may be sold if you go later in the afternoon. Menus are labeled with allergens. We tried the Lemon raspberry and rose cake and orange and almond cake (gf) along with a couple macarons. Very picturesque, instagram worthy vibes. There are also 2 locations to choose from.
Whole Foods Market on Kensington High St.
I know I know why a supermarket? This is more than a typical whole foods in America. We typically see the buffet style layout of different meals you can pick from to eat. This Whole Foods offers a second level where 3-4 restaurants live offering sushi, pizza, and ramen. They are fully operating restaurants, so you can sit down and have a meal. This is a good place to stop and check out. It is also located near Kensington garden and Hyde park which are both great locations to have a picnic and enjoy the views.
Knoops
A hot chocolate bar with an experience. This place offers a wide variety of different chocolates to choose from. You can order a hot or iced chocolate and milkshakes. Homemade marshmallows, vegan milks and a wall of chocolates are calling your name.
Covent Garden
This area is more than just a shopping hub. If you have ever been to Boston, MA in America and visited Faneuil Hall it offers a similar vibe. Shopping, street performers, and multiple different types of dining to choose from. Here you can find afternoon tea shops, gelato, fine dining and casual dining as well as cocktail hour. Take time to explore this area and immerse yourself in the culture around you.
Flat Iron Steak
One of the first times we visited London we didn’t plan out where we were having dinner and the waits for restaurants were hours long. We stumbled upon this place which has a slightly smaller wait time. Menu is very simple to follow. You order a steak and choose your sides and for dessert you get a complimentary ice cream to go. There are multiple locations around the city. You may want to put in a reservation if this is a spot you want to try.
Honest burger
Burger spot that offers gluten free bread and onion rings! Everything is freshly made. There are multiple locations around the city as well.
M&S
Mark and Spencer food halls are a great little stop and go that offers a variety of foods to pick from. They have markets all over the country from train stations to inside their stores on the main roads. For us it is always nice to stop in a place like this to grab something that is allergy friendly when we are on the go and don’t want to have a sit down meal. I wish we had this option in the States, being able to stop and grab something healthy while you are out and about is the best feeling.
These are only a few of the many restaurants and food options in London. The list can go on forever. Coffee shops are a whole thing in itself, there are espresso shops all over. If you are big into food do some research before you go. Create a list with the locations they are in. If you find yourself hungry and in that area you will have options to choose from or you may even find something more impressive along the way.