Plates Restaurant London Review: A Plant-Based Culinary Masterpiece with a Michelin Star

September 22, 2025

Plates Restaurant London Review: A Plant-Based Culinary Masterpiece with a Michelin Star

At Plates restaurant in London, in a corner of Shoreditch, vegan fine dining takes on a bold new meaning. More than just a restaurant, it’s a sensory journey led by Michelin-starred chef Kirk Haworth—who’s transformed his personal health journey into a powerful culinary philosophy. As the first fully plant-based restaurant in the UK to earn a Michelin star (2025), Plates is rewriting the rulebook on what vegan gastronomy can be.

The space is minimalist and quietly luxurious. Soft concrete textures, blonde wood, and neutral tones set a calming tone. They allow the food—and the artistry behind it—to command your full attention. The open kitchen is the focal point, where Chef Haworth and his team work with almost meditative precision, crafting each dish like a work of art. There’s an almost spiritual sense of ritual here, where each course unfolds with purpose and beauty.

But Plates is not just about flavour—it’s about functionality and wellbeing. It is about a holistic approach that blends culinary artistry with nutritional expertise. Chef Haworth, who’s openly battled Lyme disease, infuses each plate with intention, drawing on principles of gut health and anti-inflammatory cooking.

The experience is rounded out with low-intervention wines, natural infusions, and a rare sense of purpose. Plates isn’t just one of London’s best vegan restaurants—it’s one of its most important restaurants. Elevated, elegant, and enlightening, it’s a destination that proves plant-based dining can be the height of luxury.

Plates Restaurant London Menu

Plates offers only one menu: a seasonal tasting menu (£120 per person) that changes monthly and evolves based on the UK’s biodynamic growing cycle. Each dish is meticulously developed with nutritional balance in mind, without sacrificing indulgence. The menu today opens with a stunning beetroot and blackberry tartare, its earthiness lifted by citrus and fermented notes. A wild mushroom broth follows, poured tableside over truffle and toasted buckwheat, warming and aromatic.

A standout is the smoked celeriac steak, aged like beef and served with charred alliums and a silky miso sauce—proving that vegetables, when handled with this level of finesse, can be as satisfying as any meat dish. Another highlight: the chocolate ganache with black garlic and cherry, a daring and deeply savoury-sweet combination that lingers long after the final bite.

Plates Restaurant London Bookings

Capital A List members can make bookings for Plates below.

Plates Restaurant London Cuisine, Dress Code & Address

Cuisine: Vegan

Dress Code: Smart Casual

Area: Shoreditch

Address: 320 Old St, London EC1V 9DR

Website: https://plates-london.com/

Comments are closed.