London’s Vegetarian Revolution
The capital of bangers and mash has quickly become a global hub for modern herbivores. Farmacy’s Camilla Fayed spills the (vegan-friendly) sauce on where to eat green.
Over the course of its nearly 2,000 years, notwithstanding Brexit, all kinds of tribes have flocked to Britain’s capital. But vegetarians? Not until now. Thanks to the likes of Camilla Fayed, London—historically a meat-and-potatoes kind of place—is becoming a hub for plant-based eating.
“I notice how ahead of the game London is when I travel, struggling to find plant-based restaurants that are buzzy and fun while still serving delicious food,” says the entrepreneur. Not long ago—after going vegan following the birth of her first child and experiencing “powerful, all-encompassing healing benefits”—Fayed had that problem here. So in 2016, she opened Notting Hill’s Farmacy. On the menu: plant-based comfort foods (mac ‘n’ “cheese;” seasonal pizzettas; “nice cream” brownie sundaes) featuring organic ingredients from its biodynamic kitchen garden in Kent, plus natural wines and “High” Tea (think CBD chocolates and hemp-leaf infusion).
The concept has grown. Having published an eponymous cookbook last year, Fayed is set to take Farmacy abroad, starting this September with a six-month pop-up in New York. She’s also venturing into lifestyle: after partnering on a wellness summit at Goop’s new London store, the restaurant just unveiled an organic-cotton clothing collection with Mother of Pearl (a local womenswear label focused on sustainability) to benefit the Meat Free Monday environmental campaign.
Meanwhile, more and more vegan-friendly spots are cropping up around town. Fayed gives us the dish on her favorites.
Join The Conversation