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Plant Hub, Hackney

It’s been a long journey for Plant Hub’s creator, David Bez, to find a fixed London home for his innovative, plant-based cooking. But finally and thankfully his journey has a happy ending with the creation of Plant Hub, Hackney.

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting David’s previous ventures in Chatsworth Road (Pride Kitchen) and his pop up in Broadway Market’s Tiosk, but this new plant-based café is more ambitious. I was very excited to review it, as Bez has  joined forces with chef Lauren Lovatt and co-founder and head chef Antonio Alderuccio (AKA The Rainbow Chef) .  Their new venue not only boasts a widely vegan (and scrumptious) menu, but it also has a brand new plant based culinary academy right within its walls. Their aim is “to inspire a passion for plants, through building a community where we can all learn from the most inspiring chefs and foodies … to make and enjoy more plant based food.” And I think they’re absolutely on their way!

The setting

Plant Hub is on über trendy Mare St. It’s just round the corner from beautiful London Fields and a short walk from Hackney Central.

The space

Stepping off busy Mare Street, you are welcomed in by a display of fresh produce and homemade cakes and desserts.  It shouts ‘come in!’ Although narrow, the back of the café has about 8 tables and warm, stripped walls creating a really welcoming environment.  The lighting is industrial, there are metal chairs and wooden floors.

The seating area  overlooks the Plant Hub academy kitchen so you’re really in on the action.

The fresh juice test

The menu features an irresistible mix of elaborate mocktails, super lattes and smoothies. I had a fresh turmeric latte  which was the nicest I’ve ever had in London and a CBD & chamomile latte. I was so keen to try this and it was incredible.

What we ate

With very hungry tummies, we shared the Protein Bowl, which is a combo of a chickpea omelette, black peas, coriander butter beans, hummus, fermented oat cheez, kale, toasted seeds, dressed with a tahini and cheezy mustard sauce.

We also had the Melanzane Parmigiana (I genuinely wouldn’t have known it was vegan) and the filled Gluten Free Focaccia.

The Focaccia was stuffed with beetroot hummus, sun dried tomatoes and  rocket. We were tempted to try everything, so we followed this with the heavenly bread and butter pudding and a chocolate and pear tart with coconut cream and date syrup.

What else?

Plant Hub runs a wealth of workshops and cooking classes every week. You can learn skills from how to make decadent plant-based desserts, how to ferment foods and even how to batch cook. There are also plenty of guest chefs and cooks taking classes, so do keep your eyes peeled for something that takes your fancy.

And if the café and academy wasn’t enough, Plant Hub also sells local produce in in the Deli, so you can come and do your weekly shop.

Products include British quinoa, lentils and beans, flours, mylks and keep cups.

What we’d go back for…

The food was incredible and I will definitely be back in no time at all to enjoy more of the menu. But probably the thing that made me glow, most literally, were the lattes to end the meal.

They were the best lattes I’ve had in London and the CBD was an added treat.

There’s just something really special about this place. It feels as though now that there is finally a stable home for David and Lauren’s passions, ideas and genius minds, Plant Hub will continue to grow into something really wonderful; making plant-based food accessible, easy and even more delicious for us all!

The bill

Melanzane parmigiana  £8.00
Filled focaccia  £6.00
Protein bowl  £9.00
Super lattes  £4.00

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SPA at Cloud Twelve

Cloud Twelve is the new wellness kid on the block- a go to members spa, plant-based eatery and crèche in West London. The spa and brasserie are open to non-members. It’s tucked away in a beautiful Notting Hill sleepy mews – I couldn’t wait to try it out.

The overall feel of the club is calm and chilled. It’s super stylish and has been created with much love and flair. Think Buddha heads, wall paper singing with nature, cosy leather chairs and calming greenery.

The space

On entering the spa it’s hard to believe you are in London. I could have been at an upmarket Thai resort.

It is a warming, glowing, state of the art spa, designed completely along the rules of  feng-shui.

The beautiful changing rooms are fitted with exotic, carved Balinese-style wood lockers. There’s a fluffy robe and slippers for every guest. In the communal area, there are two huge rain showers with ‘Comfort Zone’ products, GHD straighteners and  hair dryers.

There are six treatment rooms, which are perfectly sized, with gorgeous ceiling panels that give a cosy yet zen-like feeling. When I visited there was relaxing music on repeat.. There is also a couple’s suite to enhance your experience, fitted with Dolomite quartz beds, which not only look stunning, but are said to promote an even deeper state of relaxation.

After my treatment I used the Wet Zone thermal areas, which include a Himalayan salt room, sauna and steam room, as well as a relaxation area.

The crowd

It really was like stepping into my own little haven and even though there were other people having treatments, I genuinely felt as though I had the whole place to myself.

The treatments

Cloud Twelve’s treatment list is quite extensive and goes far beyond the typical spa treatments you’ll find in London.

Their range focuses around natural, yet results-driven, treatments that are designed to bring to bring your body back into balance using the best of Western and Asian philosophies.

 

You can choose from traditional aromatherapy, holistic deep tissue or Swedish massages or explore something a little more in their range of Ayurvedic Massages, using dosha specific herbs and oils. I went for a full body Aromatherapy massage for 60 minutes which was absolute heaven!

The staff

The staff are all lovely and very welcoming. My masseuse made sure I felt confident and comfortable throughout my experience.

Refreshments

After your treatments, you are given a glass of their reverse osmosis water, which is served throughout the club, to rehydrate. But, if you’re after something a little more, their café, serving plant-based food has everything you could wish for and more. I especially liked the house-blend pots of tea that come with their own timer so you know when it’s time to pour.

Other facilities

There isn’t a pool at Cloud Twelve, but I didn’t miss it as there were so many different areas to enjoy.

The overall experience

There is an overwhelming feeling of ease at Cloud Twelve. The staff are relaxed and friendly, plus everything seems as though it is tailor made for the individual. Cloud Twelve is also committed to sustainability and operates in an environmentally and ethically conscious way through every part of their experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Brasserie at Cloud Twelve, Notting Hill

There have been a lot of whisperings about this new wellness and lifestyle club in Notting Hill.

Tucked down a trendy West London mews off a colourful W11 street, is Cloud Twelve. I felt like I’d been let in on a little secret.

Cloud Twelve prides itself as a lifestyle space that is a blend of work and home.  It’s been created with much love which you can see in all the beautiful detail of the interior and it aims to bring friends and families together to relax, have fun, share ideas, learn new skills and enjoy some precious ‘me time’. It’s a place to unwind, detoxify and rejuvenate body and mind improving overall wellness.

The crowd

The brasserie and spa are both open to non-members. So you can treat yourself to a massage before enjoying the beautiful dishes.

It’s the kind of place you want to stay all day and just enjoy the vibes.

It’s family friendly, but children have their own interactive play area.

The space

The setting is beautiful and relaxing.  There is a large window looking over the mews, a giant Buddha head, fresh flowers, aged wooden tables and counters and comfy green leather seating.

The fresh juice test

They don’t offer juices but their smoothie menu is something to write home about.

They offer four smoothies and you can see that each one has had a lot of thought put into it, with added boosters such as lucuma, baobob, maca and chlorella.

I went for the greenest of them all: the ‘Green Cleanse’. It was a blend of apple, broccoli, avocado, spinach, hemp, wheatgrass, barley grass, spirulina, chlorella, mint, lemon & plant milk. Surprisingly, with all that good stuff, it didn’t taste overwhelmingly grassy and was a lovely way to start my meal.

What we ate

The organic, plant-based menu in the brasserie takes inspiration from the small plate mezze culture of Spain and is designed by Stu Henshall (founder of the Alternative Kitchen). The menu ranges from breakfast bowls and small morning plates to lunch plates of salads and warming dishes to overwhelmingly beautiful cakes, medicinal teas and even carefully selected organic wines.

I visited at lunch time, so tucked into three of their small plates. It was extremely hard to choose.

All of the menu looked absolutely delicious.

In the end, I chose the Forest Mushroom Linseed Bake (which was one of the yummiest things I’ve ever tasted), the Spinach and ‘Ricotta’ Filo Parcel (fully vegan from the basil-infused tofu cheese), and the Spring Green Salad which was a mix of asparagus tips, peas and mint in a zingy lemon dressing.

All of the dishes were wonderful and I am keen to head back very soon to try the rest. And, in my classic way, I accompanied everything with a warming Turmeric Latte with coconut milk and a slice of one the most heavenly Vegan Chocolate Cake I’ve ever had!

The little things that make a difference

The family space downstairs offers an amazing place for member’s children to explore their magical forest. They can be left to play and learn with their Ofsted registered assistants, or parents can join in the fun too.

They have a wonderful tea menu so it’s worth popping in just to try one of them out.

What we go back for…

The relaxed vibe and friendly staff really make you feel like you were already part of their community and invited you to stay for the day.

The bill

Green Cleanse Smoothie  £6
Turmeric Latte  £4
3 x small plates  £15

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Glow Bar, Central London

There has been a much  deserved hype around Glow Bar, a new wellness hub on Mortimer Street in central London. It’s been created by Sasha Sabapathy who quit her job in New York after being ‘over-worked’ and ‘over-partied’. She hit a wall of anxiety and depression and chose to use herbal supplements to get herself well including ashwagandha.

After blending up her own herbs to help others she decided to open up London’s first walk-in self-care centre complete with infrared sauna pods.

With their own blends of adaptogen spiked lattes to night time tonics, Glow Bar’s focus is on helping women to cope with the three major areas of life most affected by stress – happiness, skin and sex. I first tried one of their blends about a year ago, which I’ve been popping into my porridge and smoothies, so I was thrilled to see the expansion of the brand into a shop space and eatery.

The space

Glow Bar has one of the most beautiful café areas in London I’ve come across.

Believe me, you’ll want to take endless pics. It invites you to have a smoothie bowl for brekkie or a warming dhal for lunch followed by one of their signature moon mylks at any time of day… Think crisp, millennial pastel pink with contrasting green potted plants, pale marble table tops and cream Bentwood chairs.

Glow Bar
Glow Bar

The fresh juice test

Glow Bar don’t offer juices, so I dived right in to try one of their adaptogenic Moon Mylks which can be served iced or hot. As I visited on a cold, rainy, October day, I went for the Yoni Mylk (cacao, shatavari, prebiotic & ginger) and it was absolutely delicious. If you could be hugged by a drink, this was it.

What we ate

They don’t have a massive menu, but it certainly packs a wellness punch and I enjoyed a lot of it.

I tucked into their Gold Bowl which is a wonderful mix of Dhal (from the Detox Kitchen), Coyo raita and brown rice. It was absolutely delicious. This was then followed by their pitaya smoothie bowl, which was one of the thickest and  creamiest I’ve ever tried.

The little things that make a difference

Not only does their eatery invite you to sit and stay all day, they also have a fully stocked shop of their own blends and elixirs, alongside self care products from body brushes to body oils.

Plus, if you just want to move in to Glow Bar (!), they also have their infrared saunas downstairs which you can book into for 45 minutes.

These are said to improve your skin, mood, body and sleep.

What we’d go back for…

The Moon Mylk was just beautiful and I’m so keen to head back and try the others!

The bill

Moon Mylk  £5.00
Pitaya Bowl  £8.00
Gold Bowl  £8.00

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Rachel’s Eco Love, Marbella

I feel as though I had been searching for a place like Rachel’s Eco Love most of my life. It’s located in the beautiful Puente Romano complex, with a pool side that make you feels like you’re in Bali. It even has its own organic garden at the foot of the street which they use in many of their dishes and an on site organic shop.

Open from 9am-6pm, you can enjoy, breakfast, lunch, afternoon pastries and an early dinner and I was very tempted to stay all day! The menu is extensive, with a huge array of vibrant, healthy dishes to suit everyone.

The space

The setting is just stunning- palm trees, peace and quiet, plus gorgeous decor.

You really feel as though you’ve been let in on a little secret when you arrive.

It’s white and minimal with sea green wicker chairs and wooden tables outside by the pool((which can’t be used unless you’re a guest at Puente Romano- but it’s still lovely to look at). The atmosphere is heavenly and the pink flamingo decorations add fun and colour. It’s also five minutes from the beach and  a great place to spend a relaxing day.

The fresh juice test

There’s a huge juice menu with a couple of green options.

I was brave and ventured for the “Preylser”; broccoli, green pepper, cabbage, spinach, green apple, zucchini & lime and it was actually so much more delicious than I thought it might be.

There is also a selection of “super juices” which are designed by Elle Macpherson and have added protein.

The little things that make a difference

Rachel’s also have a charming little shop, stocking an array of healthy food products, as well as souvenirs, luxury cosmetics and casual clothes. So it’s well worth a venture. They also have another branch in Puerto Banus.

What we’d go back for…

The setting! It’s absolutely stunning and worth going back for time and time again.

What we ate

As the menu is a big one, we really struggled with what to go for as it all looked and sounded amazing.

In the end we settled on an açai bowl, the Puente Romano Marina breakfast (smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, avocado and grilled halloumi) and the “Sweet Gratitude” pancakes with caramelised banana, maple syrup and coconut cream.

All of which were absolutely delicious and were accompanied by their “Jungle Drink” smoothie (banana, agave and milk).

The bill

Green Juice  €6.90
Açai Bowl  €8.50
Pancakes  €14.90
Puente Romano breakfast  €14.50
Jungle drink  €8.50

 

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Hustle N’ Flow, Marbella

Nestled in the heart of San Pedro, just outside Marbella, is Hustle n’ Flow. It’s a healthy eatery and sanctuary for those that experience hustle everyday. They pride themselves on being a place for people to reset and be inspired. There’s a foodie focus on vibrant salads, gorgeous smoothie bowls and brunch spreads.

When I was in Marbella, I checked them out and was not disappointed.

The space

The place itself instantly invites you to relax. The friendly, relaxed staff and beautiful decor, make you want to sit and stay a while (which is what I did).

Think black and white, crisp tiled floors, chunky recycled wood furniture and plants.

There was a real sense of community when I was there and it felt like the kind of place you come for the food and come back again for everything else. In fact, I went back again in the week to get a smoothie.

There’s a lovely patio out the front with lots of additional seating and, as it catches the morning sun, it’s perfect for a weekend brunch spot.

The fresh juice test

I had the “Green is the new black” juice which was a lovely blend of apple, cucumber, spinach, pear, lemon and ginger. It was quite sweet, but really delicious and just what I needed.

What we ate

As tempted as I was for one of their brunch spreads, I had my eyes set on waffles so I went for the “Monkey Nuts” waffles with chocolate chips and topped with banana and homemade nut butter alongside a “Blue Eyed Girl” smoothie bowl, which was absolutely beautiful. It was a blend of coconut pulp, banana, spirulina, dates, vanilla & coconut milk. Both were delicious! I also had a warming turmeric latte with oat milk.

The little things that make a difference

Hustle n’ Flow are committed to hustling in the most environmentally conscious way.

They don’t serve plastic straws and all of their cups and take away packaging is fully compostable.

What we’d go back for…

The smoothie bowl was exceptionally good but also the staff and feel of the place was just lovely.

The bill

Green juice €3.90
Monkey Nuts waffles €7.90
Blue Eyed Girl smoothie bowl €7.90
Turmeric latte €4.00

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Mother, Hackney Wick

 

Tucked away on the outskirts of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, besides a beautiful canal in the trendy new ‘Here East’ development, lives Mother- a plant-based eatery with a passion to make wholesome, vegan food that doesn’t cost the earth.

 

Mother opened in 2016 and I actually stumbled upon it in early 2017, when I was at a nearby spot in Here East.

If you’re yet to head to this part of London, it’s well worth it – although I kind of like it being a secret, but I guess I’m here to share!

There are loads of lovely bars and restaurants in the complex, but Mother stands out as a destination plant-based brunch and lunch spot.

The space

Think minimal, industrial with exposed breeze block. Grey walls and distressed wood dominate, softened by plants and pretty hanging lights. It’s not a huge place, but there are a few seating spots inside and a lovely relaxed sofa area. The pulling point is the outside benches overlooking the canal and, luckily, we got a seat there in the sunshine!

The fresh juice test

I know I say this a lot, but the Green Juice at Mother is one of the yummiest in town.

And this doesn’t surprise me, as they pride themselves on their Cold-Pressed Juices (they also deliver them to anywhere in London!). Made on site, the juices change regularly, but luckily there was a green one for me to grab! It was made from cucumber, celery, spinach, apple, mint, lemon and ginger. The juices are available in either 250ml, 500ml or 1L.

What we ate

Choosing what to have was extremely difficult, as all the menu looked amazing.

We went for the Sri Lankan Jackfruit Curry.  It was a mildly spiced Sri Lanka- inspired curry with shredded jackfruit, sweet potato and spinach served with rice and a traditional coconut sambol.

Next, we had a Mother Bowl (which changes daily, but always features grains, greens, lots of vegetables, a dressing and dips) and also the yummy all-day waffles topped with fresh fruit and berries.

To finish off, we had the Mint Choc Chip Smoothie – a combo of coconut mylk, Banana, spinach, mint, maca, raw cacao nibs and dates.

The little things that make a difference…

Mother has sustainability at its core and source over 90% of their products and produce from organic suppliers. Mother is also aiming towards becoming a zero-waste business with lots of their products and packaging either reusable or recyclable. They also host events and can cater to private parties and events.

The bill

Jackfruit curry £6.50
The Mother Bowl £8
All-day waffles £8.50
Mint choc chip smoothie £6
The Mother’s green Juice: £4.50

 

What we’d go back for…

The all-day waffles are heavenly! I would go back just for them… multiple times! The atmosphere and location is also stunning.

 

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Chesters By The River, Skelwith bridge

Snuggled in the middle of an area of outstanding natural beauty, perched next to the gurgling River Brathay and featuring locally sourced vegetarian food is Chesters by the River. We promise you’ll fall in love with it.

Every year, my family head north to the The Lake District for two weeks of hiking, swimming, pub quizzing and, most importantly, eating. The idyllic Chesters By The River is still my absolute favourite spot and in a week’s stay, I will usually go about three times (it’s really that great).

They are a purely veggie haunt and their menu is just as exciting as the stunning location in the Langdales the stunning Skelwith Force.

The location

I’ve seen Chesters evolve from a small cafe with just a few items on sale, to a beautiful destination spot.

It’s now a large café , with a sizeable veranda suspended over the beautiful River Brathway.

Inside, think warm, distressed woods, pretty tiled floors and walls and exposed local stone. There’s quite a large seating area inside and out and there’s also inspiring artwork on the walls. Chesters is also home to a sizeable shop featuring gorgeous gifts, books and homeware, plus a new take away bakery and café for walkers on the go. The take away also has a small garden to snack in before returning to your hike. Plus there’s WiFi.

The crowd

As it’s in a famous beauty spot, the crowd are mostly tourists and walkers. There were lots of dogs too. Rumour has it that dogs are allowed in as long as they don’t outnumber humans…apparently, this has actually happened in the past!

The fresh juice test

Chester’s don’t offer a green juice, but do have a smoothie of the day which changes daily.

We had the strawberry and banana smoothie which was delicious!

What we ate

After a long morning walk, we were pretty hungry when we arrived so ordered lots of food to share. We tucked into the minty pea smash on sourdough with pea shoots & pickled shallots. Plus, we ordered the wild mushrooms on sourdough (I’m a sucker for these) and the Kimchi fritter with peanut salsa & cucumber raita which was delicious.

Finally, we had the banana and blueberry pancakes with fresh fruit and maple syrup (what’s a brunch without a “dessert plate”?) All were absolutely scrumptious and accompanied by oat milk lattes!

The little things that make a difference

Chester’s used to be an old Timber Store for a bobbin mill and has a selection of local handcrafted slate to buy in the shop. It’s really a destination spot so stay a while, eat slowly out on the terrace and wander through the quirky shop. It does get quite busy, so do get there early to avoid disappointment. If you’re passing through and haven’t got much time then the take-away cafe on the other side has incredible salads and baked goods for your walk.

What we’d go back for…

Every year I go, Chester’s seems to get better and better. I absolutely love the fact that they’re a purely veggie spot and you can tell that they really care about the beautiful little haven they’ve created. The food is so reasonably priced too!

The bill

Minty pea smash on sourdough  £6.95
Wild mushrooms on sourdough  £8.50
Kimchi fritter, peanut salsa & cucumber raita  £6.95
Banana & Blueberry Pancakes  £5.95
Smoothie of the day  £3.95
Oat milk latte  £2.90

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Scarlett Green Soho

As a massive fan of the London based Aussie chain Daisy Green, I was keen to head to their new Soho home, Scarlett Green.

The chain began life  in 2012 when two former bankers, Prue Freeman and her husband Tom Onions, started selling smoothies and coffee from a Ford transit van next to the Gherkin. They now have nine cafés in London, each delivering their signature ‘bottomless brunch’ and lunches in stylishly, quirky settings. As the new kid on the block, Scarlett Green doesn’t disappoint and re-creates Melbourne and Sydney café culture in bucketloads.

The setting

This café is huge, a mega 4000 square feet, boasting two floors, stacks of seating and a super swanky bar.

The vibe is really relaxed with stunning artwork and some of the most beautiful toilets in London!  Plush sofas, plants and artwork dominate. There’s also a large area of tables and chairs, plus the signature brightly coloured deckchairs.

Like their Victoria branch, Timmy Green, this is the kind of spot that works beautifully for a brunch date as well as an evening dinner option with a menu to suit all!

The green juice test

They have a few delicious juice and smoothie options on their menu, but the green juice looked the best… and it definitely tasted the best!

It was a lovely blend of cucumber, spinach, celery and apple and perfect on a hot sunny day.

What we ate

Their brunch menu is always the talk of the town on Instagram, but as we popped in for lunch, we decided to share a few of the more interesting dishes instead.

We chose some of the smaller plates- the Spicy Tuna Tostadas (delicious), the Vegemite Cheese & Truffle doughnuts (which were absolutely out of this world and I could have eaten 50!), the halloumi fries with pomegranate yoghurt and then we shared the mango, carrot and samphire salad with pickled watermelon and nuoc cham. All of which tasted amazing! We also shared a caffeine hit smoothie with banana, dates, coconut H20, almonds and espresso. 

The bill

Caffeine hit smoothie £5.80
Green juice £5.00
Halloumi fries  £7.80
Tuna Tostadas x 2 £5.60
Vegemite dough balls x 2 £5.60
Mango and carrot salad  £9.80

What else?

Daisy Green also do catering for events as well as private hire and their famous bottomless brunch.

What made us glow?

In true Aussie spirit, he Vegemite balls were definitely a firm favourite.  I would come back time and time again for them!

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Greenberry

 

Deep in the heart of North London’s idyllic Primrose Hill is Greenberry Café.

Their passion is great food made with the best ingredients.

 

The setting

The interior is warm and welcoming and reminded me of a chic little Parisian spot.

The design is stripped back brick, peppered with luscious plants and wall mirrors. The coloured Victorian floor tiles were a real favourite of mine.

The green juice test

Greenberry do fresh juices which change daily so you have to ask for their daily menu. Luckily, they had a tasty green juice for me to try -I’ve visited many Glowcations recently and this was one of my favourite juices to date.

It was a mix of fennel, apple, spinach & celery and tasted spot on!

What else?

They have quite an extensive drinks menu and serve my other beloved favourites… a beetroot latte as well as kombucha.

The little things

If you’ve ever walked through Primrose Hill village, you’ll know how picture perfect it is. So the location alone of this cute little café has real appeal.

What we ate

We popped in for brunch and I was surprised at how large the brunch menu was. There was a huge selection of dishes on sourdough (yum). We chose the avocado, sweet potato hummus, two poached eggs and dukkah on sourdough plus the Kedgeree with a poached egg (and I also had food envy of everyone else getting their dishes nearby).

Perhaps we made a bad choice, but our mains both lacked flavour and any real wow factor. On the plus side, the sourdough bread was delicious and if you’re keen for something simple then it would definitely be a great choice. After our eggs, we were still in need of something else, and sadly they don’t have any healthy treats to finish off with.

So, we shared the pancake with ricotta and berries which left me on a high as it was delicious.

All the food was accompanied by an oat milk matcha, the green juice and also a fresh grapefruit juice.

The bill

Matcha with oat milk  £4.10
Grapefruit Juice  £4
Green Juice   £4.95
Avocado, Hummus & Poached Eggs on Sourdough   £9.50
Kedgeree with Poached Egg   £9.50
Berry Pancakes  £9

What made you glow?

The atmosphere was warm and homely!

I felt very calm and serene and could have stayed and kept ordering matcha’s all day long.

If you’re in that neck of the woods and need a quiet spot to recharge in, I would definitely head to Greenberry Café.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mad & Kaffe, Copenhagen

Mad & Kaffe was right at the top of my list to visit for brunch in Copenhagen as I’d heard great things about it.

With branches in two of the city’s hotspots, we visited their Vesterbro cafe – bustling with locals and Instagrammers keen to get that perfect shot.

The vegan and veggie friendly menu works by choosing 3, 5 or 7 small breakfast dishes from their categories of Greens, Dairy, Bakery, Meat & Fish and Treat of the day.

The Setting

The decor is Copenhagen stylish – extremely trendy with exposed bulbs and beautiful mosaic table tops. There’s lots of seating –  room for 30 outdoors and 60 indoors.

There are  several plug sockets if you want to use your laptop or charge your mobile especially at the counters.

The little things

The menu is so easy to follow, you simply tick what you want, choose your drink and write your name and it comes on a beautiful wooden board (perfect Insta moment!).

The fresh juice test

Like other places in Copenhagen, green juices are difficult to come by. They offer a freshly squeezed apple or orange juice which was delicious.

What we ate

We went for 8 dishes altogether including a mix of avocado, beet salad with apple, balsamic vinegar & parsley,  blueberry soya yoghurt with homemade muesli, scrambled eggs with chives and mushrooms, organic fried eggs, organic rye & sourdough bread.

Finally we couldn’t resist an organic cinnamon bun (from their Treat of the Day selection).

The bill

5 items from the breakfast menu: 129DKK
5 items from the breakfast menu: 129DKK
Orange Juice: 37DKK
Oat milk latte: 38DKK

What made us glow?

The bread in Copenhagen is always the showstopper and Mad & Kaffe’s rye bread was definitely a highlight.

 

 

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Grød, Copenhagen

Grød is Danish for porridge and as I’m an absolute porridge obsessive, I had to visit whilst in Copenhagen.

When it opened in 2011 Grød was the world’s first porridge bar.

Their goal was to redefine porridge and make show stopping bowls full of delicious, delicate and versatile spins on porridge. I popped in to their Torvehallerne branch to see if their porridge passed my porridge obsession test. It did!

The setting

This branch is in the famous covered Torvehallerne food market – a stall market packed with sixty stalls selling a fab mix of produce from paleo to organic.

In terms of seating, there were three designated high tables with high stools, plus there’s also outdoor picnic benches to sit on.

The fresh juice test

Grød don’t do a green juice but do offer juices like a carrot, apple, ginger and lemon combo and a beetroot, apple and lemon juice. I tried their homemade ginger and lemon juice which was the perfect zingy pick me up!

The little things

Not only do they attract the breakfast obsessed, but Grød also cater for hungry mouths all day and night with their savoury menu.

It varies from congee to dahl and looks just as mouthwatering.

What we ate

We visited as a pre-flight morning fuel up so we tucked into their delicious all day breakfast range. With 7 different sweet bowls to choose from, we were spoiled for choice so opted for the ‘ALL IN! Porridge’, with all of the toppings and a ‘Make Your Own Bowl’ consisting of the Gluten Free 3 Grain Porridge with almond milk topped with cocoa nibs, roasted coconut flakes, banana, caramel sauce, roasted almonds & skyr yoghurt. I also had a warming oat milk latte.

What else

Grød now has four locations in Copenhagen and one in Denmark’s second largest city; Aarhus.

They have  also brought out a gorgeous porridge cook book and stocks their own granolas, grains, toppings & instant porridges which you can buy in store or online.

The bill

ALL IN! Porridge 75DKK
Make your own Porridge 60DKK
Oat milk Latte 40DKK
Ginger Lemonade 35DKK

What made you glow?

All of the heavenly toppings and absolutely the portion size!

You will definitely not be hungry after a bowl here (I couldn’t even finish mine… which is rare).

down well in my books).

 

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Souls, Copenhagen

Souls is an absolute must visit café when in Copenhagen.

Tucked in a quiet corner of Østerbro called Nordhavn, it’s perfect for brunch, lunch or dinner.

Founded by two Aussies and Denmark’s best vegan Chef, Neel Engholm, their focus is on quality, soul food, sourced locally for people that are mindful of not only what they put in their body but how the food reaches their plate. Their motto is “Eat like you give a fork”.

The setting

Souls is bright and light with white walls, designer lighting, contemporary wooden tables.

The little things

Their menu is is exciting and extensive and we could have very easily stayed longer to take advantage of the menu.

It’s healthy, delicious food without being intimidating to less health-conscious people.

The green juice test

There were no green juices on the menu but they do a Green Machine smoothie (spinach, kale, apple, lemon, agave & rice milk), cold pressed apple or orange juice and ginger shots.

What we ate

We visited at breakfast. We shared the delicious Pancake Stack with seasonal fruit, maple syrup, homemade chocolate sauce and peanut butter and the Avo Smash on rye bread with cress, radish, thyme, pickled onion and cherry tomatoes.

For drinks we had a Coconut Iced Latte (which was the most beautifully presented coffee I’ve ever seen) and a huge Matcha latte with Oat milk – it was almost as big as my head!

The Bill

Pancake Stack with Peanut Butter 93DKK
Avo Smash 88DK
Coconut Iced Latte 46DKK
Matcha Latte 46DKK

What else?

The staff were all extremely helpful with both the menu and also telling us things to do whilst visiting Copenhagen.

If I had more time,  I would definitely have gone back for dinner- the menu looks absolutely delicious!

What made you glow?

The matcha latte felt like a meal in itself -comparable to a bowl of soup! It was absolutely delicious and everything was so beautifully presented (which always goes down well in my books).

 

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Dalston: Brunswick East, a hidden gem

Australian run Brunswick East is hands down one of my favorite brunch spots in East London.

It’s a bustling haven with instagrammable breakfasts and some of the most delicious and interesting brunches in the capital. It’s seasonal, local and organic and is a hidden gem in the heart of Dalston.

It’s tucked away in the corner of Gillet Street Square and the tables spill out into the courtyard during warmer months – you usually have to be quite savvy about grabbing a table in the sunshine! They have now expanded their inside space, which they share with Yoke Yoga Studio, making it a year round Glowcation.

The little things

Every time I’ve been to Brunswick East, I have left feeling glowing with satisfaction. The food is definitely a show stopper and eating outside makes it even more worth the visit. There’s also free wi-fi.

The green juice test

Their menu doesn’t offer a green juice but they do have a ‘Super Green Smoothie’ with avocado, spinach, banana & matcha, a ‘Cleanse’ juice with carrot, lemon and ginger and a ‘Fuel’ juice with beetroot, apple and celery.

I went for a ‘Cold Buster’ hot juice which was lemon, ginger, turmeric & pepper and the perfect Winter pick me up.

What we ate

Admittedly, every time I’ve been to Brunswick East I have ordered the Cauliflower Toast (plus I always go with a friend so I can sneak some of theirs too).

I ordered the Cauliflower Toast again… it’s insanely good –  a wonderful stack of  homemade Cauliflower Bread with caramelised onion jam, avocado, a poached egg and drizzled with sunflower tahini.

My friend went for the Autumn Hash which resembled a giant hash brown loaded with a fried egg and equally delicious!

We drank our way through a chai latte with oat milk, a freshly-squeezed orange juice, the cold buster juice and finished off with a heavenly vegan snickers bar. I couldn’t help myself.

What else?

Brunswick East also do a Yoga Brunch on a Sunday with Yoke Studios – an hour and a half of yoga and then a delicious brunch. They have also opened a second space in the Haggerston Railway Arches.

The bill

Cauliflower Toast  £9.50
Autumn Hash  £11.50
Cold Buster Juice  £3.50
Orange Juice  £3.80
Snickers Bar  £3.50

What made us glow?

Always the Cauliflower Toast!

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Marylebone: Gut Health at High Mood Food

High Mood Food is the first grab-and-go café in London with a focus on gut health. It’s tucked down the side of Selfridges.

All of their dishes are enriched with fermented foods which makes their menu super interesting and appealing. I was so excited to pop in for a late lunch to see what this newly opened cafe had to offer.

Their menu caters for all and changes seasonally with ingredients.

 

Gut health are buzz words you will have heard and read about. If you love a good read about a subject then the Glowcation team recommends Gut by Giulia Enders.

The setting

Although High Mood Food is a grab-and-go, there is some seating available. Choose from soft, green banquettes with round tables and potted plants or a bank of high stools at a counter.

There’s free wifi and plug sockets, so you can linger and take in the high end design of copper lights and sleek marbled counters.

The little things

Lovely welcoming staff and so many delicious things to buy! They are stocked with plenty of other gut-loving brands that you can take home, such as wild fizz kombucha, nut blend nut butters, dash water, Lalani & co and many more.

The fresh juice test

Unfortunately they were out of their homemade juices but luckily they stocked Daily Dose juice so I picked up the Coco Verde which was really great.

I’m definitely going to be back to try their in-house smoothies and juices though.

What we ate

I went for the build your own bowl which meant I could choose a base of greens, three salads, a protein, a choice of ferments, toppings and probiotic dressings.

I chose the roasted beetroot with kefir, turmeric roasted cauliflower with chickpeas and tahini, black kale with apple, sultanas, celery and toasted almonds and then the beetroot pickled eggs with biotic mayo.

I’m also a HUGE lover of sauerkraut so actually asked for two types; the turmeric and the spiced.

I also treated myself to a delicious brownie which I had alongside a turmeric latte (I can’t help myself)

What else?

The decor in the cafe is absolutely stunning! The copper lights and gorgeous pink marble counters make this little spot just that extra special.

The bill

Daily Dose Juice £5.00
Build your own lunch bowl £7.50
Brownie £2.50
Turmeric Latte £3.50

What made you glow?

The sauerkraut and pickled eggs… they were delicious!

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Bethnal Green: Carmel By The Green bringing California cool to London

Carmel by the Green, is a Californian inspired healthy eatery with a laid-back beach vibe. Its focus is on clean, healthy, simple eating – combining superfoods and organic produce.

The inspiration for the café came to the owner, Saida, in the seaside town of Carmel-by-the-Sea during a road trip along the Californian coastline. Leaving her job of 10 years in London’s financial industry, Saida set up Carmel by the Green to bring the fresh eating habits of California to Bethnal Green.

The Setting

The decor inside is fabulous! It’s bright and light, decorated in uplifting white and turquoise and has a relaxing seaside vibe.

There are endless plants and even enviable toilet wallpaper – seriously it’s so nice!.

Carmel By The Green has an inviting atmosphere with wonderfully welcoming staff.  Choose from sitting on stools at individual counters or one of the driftwood style tables. It’s near the V&A Museum of Childhood and not far from Columbia Rd Flower Market. Carmel By The Green is closed on Sundays.

The little things

We loved the fact that the walls featured a fantastic selection of local art for sale

The green juice test

There were two green juices on the menu and I chose the slightly less intense one ‘Green Thumb’ which was apple, spinach and mint. It was actually one of the best green juices I’ve had in a while and freshly juiced in front of me.

My friend had the ‘Buzz’ juice a combination of carrot, apple and ginger.

What we ate

We ordered the Acai bowl, with an array of gorgeous toppings (including homemade granola) which were all absolutely delicious. Then we moved on to the sautéed mushrooms with truffle oil on sourdough with fried eggs plus the cajun tacos with spiced halloumi cheese, avocado, kale, crispy onion, spicy salsa and siracha mayo which honestly was the real show stopper for me. It was also easy to make vegan by choosing the jackfruit instead of halloumi.

And even though we were sufficiently satisfied, we couldn’t help but order the Toasted Banana Loaf.

It was made with buckwheat flour and hazelnut chocolate chips and topped with the most heavenly espresso butter (which is actually vegan)! All accompanied by a delicious Turmeric Latte with coconut milk and a Rose Latte with Oat milk.

What else?

It wasn’t until I’d left that I actually found out about the ethos of the cafe, which made me love it even more! They aim to support small businesses, local partners, and up and coming artists. The cafe has a small gallery space where art is rotated periodically and all commissions from art sales go to charities for under-privileged women in South Asia.

The bill

Green Thumb Juice £3.90
Buzz juice £3.90
Acai Bowl £6.50
Mushrooms and eggs on sourdough toast £6.20
Cajun Tacos £6.50
Toasted Banana Loaf with espresso butter £4.60
Turmeric Latte £3.60
Rose Latte £3.60

What made us glow?

Definitely the Cajun tacos and the Banana bread with espresso butter…

I even took extra home and had it for breakfast the next day!

The guy serving us was also so lovely and friendly and keen to chat about the food and other places to visit in the area.

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Meet the Glowstar @SarahMalcs

Sarah Malcolm is a freelance food stylist and photographer. After training as an actress, she started her blog www.sarahmalcolm.co.uk to share her passion and recipes for a healthy living.

Sarah wanted to inspire girls, like herself, tackle Polycystic Ovary Syndrome through their diet. A qualified yoga teacher, a passionate Psycle fan and a content generator for brands and bloggers is there nothing this inspiring 26 year old born ‘n bred Londoner cannot do?

Why did you launch @sarahmalcs?

I launched @sarahmalcs accidentally through my personal Instagram in 2015. It began naturally to purely post annoying food photos!

But as my love of food styling progressed, so did my Instagram.

It’s been a very organic process.  It reflects my own personal growth as I’ve welcomed food and fitness into my life. It has now grown to become a platform where I can share my honesty and insights into my life. I feel overwhelmingly grateful to be where I am right now.

Describe your feed?

It’s an array of endless breakfast bowls (it’s the only time I usually have to take photos of my food) intertwined with fitness and a whole lot of honesty!

 When did you discover your interest in healthy food?

I’m a born and bred London girl (although my central London friend’s would beg to differ as I grew up in High Barnet). Healthy food was always a priority in my house but not ever in a way that made it feel unapproachable or different.

My mum was a nurse and would always quiz me on what specific foods were high in and was all about the antioxidants!

She has always been the cook and is terrible at following recipes but a magician at making a “concoction”. My brothers are also great cooks and meals have always been an opportunity for making something delicious.

I didn’t really start cooking for myself until about 6 years ago. At University I was an absolutely atrocious cook. I’ve always held nutrition quite high in my diet, but it wasn’t until I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome that a massive shift happened.

I paid particular attention to lowering my sugar intake and getting enough leafy greens.

I actually remember being on holiday with my mum and her saying “I’m craving vegetables” and now I COMPLETELY get that.

What is the mission of @sarahmalcs?

Everything happened quite accidentally. I never ever would have dreamed I would be where I am right now. I’ve never really sat down and thought “right, this is where I want this to go”. It’s a reflection of me and I never want it to be a dishonest platform. I aim to continue to share my eating habits, recipes and fitness journey with whoever cares to listen. If I inspire women with PCOS on the way, then that is absolutely my goals met!

Why did you decided to collaborate with Glowcation?

I am a HUGE lover of discovering new places to eat and sharing that with my friends and followers.

Good food makes me incredibly happy. I think Glowcation is such a wonderful hub to share these amazing places that we are so lucky to go to!

Whenever I head to a new city, the first thing I do is check out the healthy eating scene and decide where I want to head to. It’s just brilliant to have all the information in one place from trusted reviewers!

What is the future of healthy eating in London and Europe?

I think definitely it’s about making everything much more accessible and less ‘fad-ish’. It’s incredible to see so many things popping up in mainstream shops and cafe’s that 5 years ago would have been only served in the few and far between health food shops. I’m not a vegan, but I think the fact that veganism is on the rise is also so brilliant and how people are starting to eat much more mindfully. It’s definitely a brilliant step in the right direction. I’m beyond proud to live in a city where that is becoming a priority.

What are the top five things in life that make you glow?

Definitely eating good food amongst great company is my number 1, followed by laughing uncontrollably at stupid things, walking in nature, yoga and Psycle classes.