Mildreds Soho

Mildreds on Lexington Street in Soho has served plant-based cooking since 1988, making it London's most enduring independent vegetarian restaurant and a long-standing fixture of Soho's dining scene. The menu draws on global influences rather than a single cuisine, with dishes such as a Sri Lankan curry bowl with coconut sambol, aubergine massaman with sticky rice, and wild mushroom and truffle pasta reflecting the kitchen's broad, internationally inspired approach to vegetarian cooking. The restaurant is fully vegan-friendly across its menu, with clear labelling and substitutions available throughout, making it a reliable option for mixed groups of vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous diners alike. The dining room is casual and colourful, with close-set tables and a fast, informal service style suited to a quick lunch or an easy pre-theatre dinner rather than a special-occasion meal. Since opening in the late 1980s, Mildreds has expanded to multiple London locations, but the original Lexington Street site remains the flagship, carrying the restaurant's original character and reputation. Pricing runs £20–£35 per person à la carte, keeping it accessible for a casual meal in an otherwise expensive part of central London. Reservations are accepted through mildreds.co.uk and are worth making at peak lunch and dinner times, when the compact dining room fills quickly with both regulars and Soho office workers. The Lexington Street location sits in the heart of Soho, within easy walking distance of Carnaby Street and the West End theatre district, making it a convenient stop before an evening show.