We know, we know. Salads... yawn. Except, we actually kind of love them. Sure, salads can be sad, unexciting things devoid of life and energy, but they can also be flavour-packed, nourishing, multi-textured dishes that make you feel good from the inside out. We’re big fans of the latter, and London serves some pretty amazing ones. So, we've put together a pro-salad guide to show you exactly where to find the most delicious bowls and boxes in the capital. From dedicated salad bars to restaurants that show extra love to their leafier dishes, our round-up of the best places to eat salad in London is anything but boring.
At their very core, salads are veg-filled, generally nutritious dishes that come in all shapes and sizes. Part of their beauty is that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all salad. They can be personalised and pepped up according to your tastes, whether you prefer a mostly-green concoction, or like your salad to feature heftier ingredients like grains, nuts or sweet potato.
Salads can be cold. They can also be hot. You can enjoy them quickly on-the-go between meetings, or as a nourishing dinner with a glass of wine. Salads can be light and fresh, or rich and filling. They are, in summary, absolutely brilliant.
London’s best salad bars know this. They understand what a salad should be (and what it shouldn’t) and offer a vibrant range of colourful, exciting dishes that prove just how delicious a salad can be. Many of London’s best salad bars allow you to build your own concoction too, so you can fine tune your salad to suit your mood.
Finally, we’ve also included a handful of restaurants that serve magnificent salads if you’d prefer to spend a little extra time enjoying one. Have a scroll to discover the most scrumptious salads in London.
Best salad bars in London
From build-your-own bowls to veg-packed creations, these super salad bars serve up some of the most delicious plant-powered dishes in the capital. They all offer takeaway so you can pick one up on the go, or stay a little longer and enjoy your salad in the calm surrounds of these cool cafes.
Balance, Waterloo
![balance lower marsh salads]()
What: This little gem on Lower Marsh often attracts the crowds come lunchtime, when the enormous salad spread gets into full flow. The prime seat is one right by the large windows, where you can people-watch along Lower Marsh as you get stuck into a seemingly endless collection of well-priced salads.
Where: 42-43 Lower Marsh, SE1 7RG
Must-try salad: Anything from the counter!
Read more: Balance
Palm Greens, Shoreditch
![salad bowls at palm greens]()
What: We first came across Kali and Memby when Palm Greens popped up at Arcade Food Hall, but the pair have since spread their wings and flown to a solo site in Shoreditch. We love Palm Green’s delicious salad bowls, which range from the cracking Mexican tostada bowl, to the kale Caesar, which is packed with savoury goodness. The menu is compact but everything is delicious, and there’s a lovely terrace to enjoy your salad on too.
Where: The Sanctuary, 114 Cheshire Street, E2 6EJ
Must-try salad: Kale Caesar
Read more: Palm Greens
People Pleaser Salad, Old Street
![Two salad bowls]()
What: Here to shake things up in the salad world is People Pleaser Salad, a female-founded company on a mission to create genuinely delicious, veg-packed bowls that taste as good as they look. And they DO look the business. Our favourites are the Thai Crunch, packed with turmeric roasted sweet potatoes, greens, crispy shallots, chickpeas triple seeds and a spicy peanut dressing, and the People Pleaser featuring red cabbage, feta, pink lady apples and an addictive balsamic dressing. You can also find a couple of protein-packed bowl options if you're after an extra satiating lunch. Finally, the team takes great pride in making everything in house, from its flavour-packed dressings to house focaccia, so they know and you know you're getting loads of goodness in every bite.
Where: 163-165 Whitecross Street, EC1Y 8JT
Must-try salad: Thai Crunch
Read more: People Pleaser Salad
The Salad Project, Various locations
![the salad project bowls]()
What: The Salad Project is a relatively new addition to London's salad scene, but it's already taken the capital by storm, now with five locations spanning Spitalfields, Bank, Mansion House, Fenchurch Street and Oxford Circus. Launched by founders Florian and James in 2021, their aim was to create a curated experience for hungry diners looking to eat honest, fresh food. Each store boasts bespoke decor designed to reflect its location, but all offer a clean, sleek aesthetic that fits with their ethos. Stop by to discover its salads and bowls, with highlights including The GOAT (rocket, pickled onions, tomatoes, sweet potato, honey mustard chicken, goat's cheese, maple walnuts and green goddess dressing), Thai Me Up (spiced grains, kale, chilli cashew crunch, lime slaw, chicken and Thai peanut dressing), and The SP Caesar (kale, tomatoes, chicken, parmesan and chipotle ceasar dressing).
Where: Various locations
Must-try salad: The SP Caesar
Read more: The Salad Project
Atis, Various locations
![Person eating salad bowl]()
What: Now with seven sites across London, including a flagship cafe on Regent Street, Atis has taken the capital by storm with its plant-powered salads. These guys are on a mission to encourage people to eat more veg-focused food that’s good for both you and the planet. You can create your own if you like, or trust the team who really know their stuff when it comes to creating flavour-packed bowls. House bowls include the Azteca (romaine lettuce, spinach, corn, black eyed peas, pickled onions, feta, avocado and tortilla chards) and the Green Goodess which is packed with leafy green goodness. It also offers an ever-changing roster of seasonal salads and wholesome hot plates to keep you feeling satisfied.
Where: Various locations
Must-try salad: Jalapeno Taco
Read more: Atis Regent Street, Atis Notting Hill, Atis Old Street, and more
Urban Greens, Various locations
![Colourful salad bowls]()
What: Trendy salad joint Urban Greens boasts sites in some of London’s busiest working districts, including St James’s Park, Kensington, Canary Wharf and St Paul’s. Pop in for a filling and nutritious lunch one day this week, and sample dishes like its Cheeky Hummus bowl (chicken, red rice, beet hummus, broccoli, pickled beets, hazelnuts) or the Veggie Caeser (red rice, spiced tempeh, kale, tomatoes, parmesan, pickled onions and hazelnuts). All ingredients are locally sourced, and there are plenty of options for veggie, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free eaters.
Where: Various locations
Must-try salad: Seoul Mate
Read more: Urban Greens Kensington
The Salad Kitchen, Various locations
![Colourful salad bowls]()
What: No surprises as to what The Salad Kitchen does best. These indulgent, build-your-own salad boxes are some of the best in the bizz, and allow you to customise your box from a selection of nutritious ingredients. Choose your base, then top with various proteins, dressings and ‘sprinkles’.
Where: Various locations
Must-try salad: Protein Paradise
Read more: The Salad Kitchen Oxford Circus
Good Life Eatery, Chelsea, St John’s Wood and Marylebone
![Green salad with broccoli]()
What: The Good Life Eatery strives to be a force for good across every element of the business, from supporting local producers and operating as sustainably as it can, to hiring within neighbouring communities and making everything from scratch. Alongside breakfast and brunch dishes, toasties and cold-press smoothies, it serves a cracking collection of superfood salads all day, from the Sunset Chopped featuring lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, edamame, bacon, egg, herbs and Dijon vinaigrette, to the Good Life Salad with kale, sweet potato, quinoa, lentils, walnuts, goji berries, vegan cheeze and lemon tahini dressing.
Where: Various locations
Must-try salad: Me Gusta Ensalada
Read more: The Good Life Eatery Marylebone
Farmer J, Various locations
![Feta and veg salad]()
What: Farmer J was founded in 2016 by a former Deutsche Bank employee who was tired of eating bland on-the-go food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Fast forward eight years and you can now find Farmer J at 10 locations across London. It serves speedy, healthy, carefully sourced food that’s never boring and always tasty. Most of the menu is dedicated to salads, from its signature Fieldtrays which you can customise yourself, to hearty Fieldbowls and full-of-life salads.
Where: Various locations
Must-try salad: The Harissa Bowl
Read more: Farmer J Canary Wharf, Farmer J Monument
Bibi’s, Soho, Southwark and Fenchurch Street
![Grain salad and chickpeas]()
What: Bibi’s is a popular lunch spot serving fresh and filling salads made in-house every day. They only make what they need, which means they can sell out if you don’t get down there fast! Choose if you'd like to eat in or takeaway, then fill your very own box with a selection of your favourite salads that day – including hummus, grains, veg and dressings. All dishes are naturally vegan, while hot dishes are made using Bibi's family recipes, from charcoal-roasted chicken with honey and cajun, to spicy meatballs with tomato sauce.
Where: Various London locations
Must-try salad: All salads are DIY
Read more: Bibi’s Soho
Daylesford Organic, Notting Hill, Pimlico, and Chelsea
![Notting Hill Daylesford Organic]()
What: Daylesford Organic has many strings to its bow, from a deli and recipe boxes to a cookery school and wellness spa. You can also find a handful of its farm shops across London serving freshly baked goods, wholesome mains and nutritious salads. Some sites offer takeaway only, while others boast a cafe with a full sit-down menu, but you can always count on it to offer a daily salad or two if that’s what you’re craving.
Where: Various locations
Must-try salad: Whatever seasonal salad is on the menu!
Read more: Daylesford Organic Notting Hill, Daylesford Organic Kensington, Daylesford Organic Chelsea
Best restaurants serving salads in London
If you prefer to take your time over your salad, or are simply looking for restaurants serving healthier options in the capital, then these places have plenty of nutritious choices on their menus.
Lahpet, Shoreditch, Covent Garden and Bermondsey
![lahpet tea leaf salad]()
What: Perhaps London’s most unusual and downright delicious salad, Burmese restaurant Lahpet is literally named after one of Myanmar’s most distinct dishes - the tea leaf salad (or lahpet thohk in Burmese). It’s a heady mix of pickled tea leaves, shredded cabbage, tomatoes, roasted shrimps and peanuts, fried beans, fish sauce, shallot oil and more. Sure, sounds weird, but the results are pretty incredible. If you’re feeling a little less adventurous there are other options too, like the excellent ginger and green tomato salads.
Where: 58 Bethnal Green Road, E1 8JW; 21 Slingsby Place, St Martins Courtyard, WC2E 9AB; 39-45 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XF
Must-try dish: Pickled tea leaf salad
Book now: Lahpet Shoreditch; Lahpet Covent Garden; Lahpet Larder
Mildreds, Various locations
![Colourful veggie dishes on table]()
What: Vegetarian restaurant Mildreds doesn't necessarily offer a broad range of salads, but all its dishes are bright, balanced and loaded with veg, so a great bet if you're in need of some nutrients. On the menu, discover a grilled roman artichoke caesar salad with capers, tenderstem broccoli and crunchy hemp seeds for a vitamin-dense lunch or dinner.
Where: Various locations
Must-try salad: Rainbow Peanut Crunch
Book now: Mildreds Soho, Mildreds Camden, Mildreds Covent Garden, Mildreds Victoria and more
Malibu Kitchen, City of London
![Counter loaded with plates and food]()
What: Bringing a touch of Californian sunshine to The Ned, Malibu Kitchen is one of the hotel’s more casual ground-floor restaurants, offering counter seating, cosy booths and long communal tables. The menu is geared towards colourful Californian favourites, including a selection of veg-packed salads, from curly kale with chickpeas, apple, radish sprouts and miso, to prawns with pomegranate, mango and endive.
Where: 27 Poultry, EC2R 8AJ
Must-try salad: Prawn salad with pomegranate and mango
Book now: Malibu Kitchen
Ottolenghi, Various locations
![Salad bowls and Ottolenghi front window]()
What: It would be impossible to write a guide to salads without mentioning the king of salad himself: Yotam Ottolenghi. Pop into any one of his eponymous delis to find bowls piled high with all manner of loaded veggies. From quick lunches and casual takeaways to a special dinners with friends, it’s perfect for all occasions. Salads vary site to site, but examples include chargrilled hispi cabbage with chilli and garlic chips, roasted aubergine with apricot chutney, nigella seeds and yoghurt, and kale with pearl barley, tahini, pickled shallots and pomegranate.
Where: Various locations
Must-try salad: Aubergine salad with curry leaf oil
Read more: Ottolenghi Chelsea, Ottolenghi Notting Hill, Ottolenghi Marylebone, Ottolenghi Islington and more
Octagreen, Putney
![Bowls of salad in window]()
What: Octagreen is an all-cafe cafe in south west London serving a huge range of breakfast and brunch dishes, hearty homemade mains and gorgeous salads, which passers-by can see piled high in bowls in the front window. Mix and match from the likes of sweet potato with red chilli and balsamic glaze, green beans with walnut and orange dressing, and tomato and jalapeno salad with lemon dressing.
Where: 85 Putney High Street, SW15 1SR
Must-try salad: Octagreen Smart Salad
Read more: Octagreen
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