London’s most Instagrammable restaurants this January

A chromotherapy sushi menu to balance your chakras. Rainbow beet carpaccio and beetroot puree with a hot pink spiral stair backdrop. A ‘Love Hearts’ cave promising ‘Good Vibes Only’. Tasty vibrant Levantine cuisine and all things Avocado. Brighten up your day (and your feed) at London’s most Instagrammable restaurants this January…

ELAN CAFE

Elan Cafe’s distinctive, pink decor has taken Instagram by storm – so much so that you’ll have to fight for a coveted table by its famous flower wall turned love heart cave in Chelsea. It’s worth the wait though: their exquisite cakes taste every bit as good as they look, with an extensive menu that includes everything from vegan options such as pumpkin cake, to dairy- and sugar-free options such as pistachio and rose, through to the downright indulgent. Caramel popcorn brownie, red velvet cheesecake and dulce de leche tarts are just a few of the patisserie temptations on offer. Top it off with a rose latte decorated with edible flowers to complement the interiors, and you’ve got that perfect pic for the ‘gram.

KALIFORNIA KITCHEN

The most recent addition to the exploding vegan Instagram scene, Kalifornia Kitchen aims to move away from the ‘junk food’ vegan restaurants that are becoming the norm to focus instead on making healthy food fun – and beautiful. Dishes include a rainbow beet carpaccio and beetroot puree on sourdough with avocado rose, vinaigrette, lemon and dill. It’s hard to miss with its bright pink exterior. Foliage lined walls and neon signage inside exude the energy and positive vibes the restaurant is all about – as well as being the perfect Instagram backdrop thanks to that ‘Don’t Kale My Vibe’ moment and hot pink spiral staircase.

CHOTTO MATTE

The Peruvian Japanese fusion restaurant has launched an array of new dishes designed to positively impact mood, using the science of chromotherapy. Yellow, the colour of intellect, creativity and personal power manifests as a hake and turmeric dish with a vibrant yellow Peruvian corn sauce and a yellow Flor de Manzana Pansy cocktail. Red, a plate of beef tataki served with pomegranate and red pepper ponzu will increase stamina and vitality. Green, centred around balance, harmony and nature is served in the form of a warming Japanese rice hotpot with edamame, spinach and feta and a yuzu martini with basil leaf, whilst the Violet dessert for imagination, intuition and meditation, comes as an acai sorbet and yoghurt with violet crystals and a violet powder Pisco sour. What’s more, £1 from every bill is being donated to MIND charity to raise awareness of mental health.

AVO BAR

An altar to the humble avocado, Avo Bar is the perfect Insta spot with light wooden accents, indoor greenery, wicker pendant lighting and banana-leaf print cushions. Perfect for casual all-day dining, breakfast is really what Avobar does best.

There are four key new additions to the morning menu. An açai bowl, a peanut butter bowl with almond milk, avocado, banana and dates; and two matcha pancake dishes. One of the pancake options is served savoury with bacon and a fried egg while the sweet version comes with caramelised banana and maple syrup. We opt for the latter, lacking any willpower whatsoever on a cold January morning. It’s delicious – not sweet enough to taste like a dessert; rather an indulgent but not disgustingly so start to the day. That it comes with a side of avobutter (possibly the best portmanteau ever) is welcome news. We also share the Brekky Platter, a classic scrambled eggs, avocado and toast combo.

The eggs are bright yellow and runny, exactly as they should be. We wash it down with a tropical matcha latte (there’s a hint of something fruity) and the avobananaberries smoothie, which contains exactly what you’d may expect and is as pretty as you may hope. Don’t leave without a trip to the loo – even the avo-rose geranium hand soap is on brand.

CERU

There’s nothing quite like a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds and chopped mint to get a dish looking picture-perfect, and at Levantine restaurant they certainly know how to make their dishes pop. Try their signature lamb shoulder, slow-roasted for 5 hours in a secret blend of 12 Shawarma spices, alongside a warm cauliflower salad, decorated with pomegranate, spring onion and mint, or their crisp apple, mint and pomegranate salad with pine nuts and green chilli – if you manage to get a photo before succumbing to the smell of freshly-roasted lamb, you did better than us…

by Charlotte & Rosie

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