A cosy restaurant with a rustic feel, Manna is one of the best established meat-free restaurants in London, and it is also reputed to be the oldest in the UK.

The Venue
Intimate and light, with an attractive glass frontage and wooden booths to the side, the staff are friendly and unerringly passionate in their vegetarianism.

The Atmosphere
Manna’s manor is Primrose Hill, so the clientele are much as would be anticipated: staunchly bohemian Guardian readers and members of the chattering classes who dress like urchins, vagabonds and geography teachers (think tweed and gypsy skirts, pre and post-Sienna).

The Food
Well thought out and an appetising read the menu offers lots of vegan options to boot. Manna is above your usual homegrown veggie fare, but fails to live up to its potential. It’s merely adequate, not excellent.

Dishes such as nettle and ricotta ravioli and organic spinach and emmental timbale often sound better than they are, and there’s a little too much tofu on the menu for some tastes.

The Last Word
Manna's food may not be the best in the capital but the restaurant delivers a pleasant, cosy and memorable experience. With so little choice for meat-free eating in London, Manna is bound to endure as one of the stalwarts for a long time to come.

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