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This self guided walking tour takes in vegan and vegetarian cafes between Highbury and Islington and Angel tube stations. Follow this map for a scenic detour through Canonbury, with quiz questions.
You can also book onto a guided tour, contact me through airbnb to suggest a time.
Rudy's Vegan Diner and The Vegan Butcher shop
206 Upper Street, London, N1 1RQ. Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.
Rudy's Vegan Diner is a fast food cafe with meaty junk food and elaborate, plant based milkshakes. Another branch of the chain features in the Camden Market Vegan Food Tour, where diners are recommended the Rudy's Rubenz or Dirty Dogz. The Vegan Butcher stocks the seitan meats sold in the Diner, alongside other delhi gift items such as halva.
Snack: Popcorn chicken is on the menu as a snack. Just chips for gluten free people, although these are not labelled on the menu.
Gluten free: All chips come with spices, and can be accompanied by a cashew nut cheese sauce or unlimited dips. This was entertaining, but we decided we liked the chips on their own. For a main meal, there is the choice of two patties (soft burger) with loads of lettuce in place of a bun.
Drinks: Soft drinks, smoothies.
Babies and children: There are highchairs, or you can fidget on benches.
Accessibility: I brought the buggy through the Park Street entrance which does not have steps. There is plenty of space to move inside, but steps to the toilet.
105 Upper Street, London N1 1QN. Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, but sometimes fully booked.
My favourite! This Chinese restaurant was also a 'big hit' with Jay Raynor. It's many dishes showcase the versatility and tasteness of tofu, as well as: dim sum, vegetables, mushroom and mock meats which were enjoyed by our omnivore family. You can see pictures of the menu on Instagram. The walls present illustrations of traditional tofu production, which is a talking point for children.
Snacks: Tofu skin spring rolls.
Gluten free: There are many options, all labelled. However, not dim sum, and I don't think I had the mock meats.
Drinks: Homemade soya milk, tea or soft drinks.
Babies and children: Staff seem to like children, and highchairs are available. My child had their birthday here with grandparents, and we all returned a week later for uncle's birthday.
Accessibility: There is a step, and you need to fold buggies.
Sproot vegetarian
116D Upper Street, London, N11QP. The cafe is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch or drinks.
A new healthy cafe with juice and bowls. You will need to double check if the bowls contain eggs, and ask to remove yoghurt and milk from smoothies and porridge.
Snacks: Juice.
Gluten free: Most look fine.
Drinks: Traditional cafe drinks.
Babies and children: Grownups like to work on laptops here, so lots of noise probably isn't welcome.
Accessibility: Step- free.
Omnom vegan
116N Upper Street, Islington Square, London, N11QP. Open Tuesday to Thursday for dinner, Friday and Saturday for lunch and dinner, and Sunday for lunch, or come for drinks.
Donate a meal to a child in need each time you eat at this yoga studio/ venue/ and sunny, classy glass restaurant. The imaginative seasonal menu includes: salads, curries and burgers to please a range of pallets.
Snacks: Rose petal latte, or Korean BBQ cauliflower bites.
Gluten free: Most dishes are labelled as gluten free, and some of the unlabelled ones turn out to be too if you ask.
Drinks: Pretty chai, smoothies and infusions.
Babies and children: There is a children's menu, highchairs, changing table.
Accessibility: Step- free, with space for pushchairs.
the arty vegan shop
21 White Conduit Street, London, N1 9HA. Open 11 to 6.
Tofu and vegan cheese are made on site at this refill shop. It also stocks zero waste products from other local producers, such as kimchi.
Snacks: Cinnamon buns (contain gluten), and vegan cheese tasting at the counter.
Babies and children: They are welcoming to children. Scooping out refill food is fun, but requires supervision.
Accessibility: A small step to a small shop.
71 Chapel Market, London, N1 9ER. Tuesday to Saturday, 11.30 to 10 for lunch and dinner or mocktail drinks.
Affordable, colourful and comforting East and South- East Asian inspired cuisine, with a friendly atmosphere and flower walls. There are two tofu types to try, vegan chicken or vegan prawn (contains gluten).
Snacks: Tofu or vegan chicken bites.
Gluten free: Almost all dishes are labelled as fine, but ask for the gluten-free soy sauce.
Drinks: Alcohol- free mocktail bar, nicely tea-pot of chai, or soft drinks.
Babies and children: My child inhales the spring rolls, and likes looking onto the market.
Accessibility: The entrance is step free, and inside has space for pushchairs.
Indian Veg vegetarian
92-93 Chapel Market, London N1 9EX. 12- 11.30 daily for lunch and dinner.
At this affordable institution you can eat as much as you like from the vast vegetarian Indian buffet. Just a couple of dishes are labelled as paneer, so avoid these for a vegan meal. Homeless people eat for free.
Gluten free: There a different types of rice, mashed potatoes and poppadoms. Avoid the bread.
Drinks: Tea, or a choice of soft drinks.
Babies and children: Staff like children, and the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. My child claims to have eated 7 'puffy breads' in one sitting, also called poori. They tell me that the cartons of mango juice are the 'best drink in the world'.
Accessibility: Steps, fold pushchairs.
Copperhouse Chocolate vegan
1 Chapel Market, London, N1 9EZ. Wednesday to Friday 11.30am- 6pm, Saturday 10am- 5pm, Sunday 9.30am- 4pm for brunch or hot drinks.
This 'hot chocolatier' serves ethically sourced artisanal treats in biodegradable packaging, cafe cakes and weekend brunch/ breakfast.
Snacks: Cake, chocolate, icecream.
Gluten free: There is often a gluten free biscuit or flan.
Drinks: Single origin or spicey flavoured hot chocolate or coffee.
Babies and children: It sells chocolate... There is a window through to the kitchen, which can provide some entertainment, as well as the big windows to the street. They always play 6 Music.
Accessibility: There's a step at the entrance and steps to the toilet, with a bit of space.
You might also like: to join Islington and Hackney Vegan Families, or view the vegan family holiday and cafe map, London children's activity map, take away tips, or visit the Book Shop.