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The Gate
★ 4.0(1 review)Restaurant
airyrelaxedplant-based
About the Vibe
The Gate has been doing plant-based dining since 1989 — long before it was trendy — and this Hammersmith spot is their flagship. Tucked behind the Apollo in what was once artist Sir Frank Brangwyn's studio, the high-ceilinged, light-wood space serves refined vegan and vegetarian dishes with French and Italian influences. It's the kind of place that proves meat-free doesn't mean flavour-free, though some dishes land better than others.
Why it's worth it
Plant-based since 1989 in a former artist's studio behind the Apollo — refined vegan cooking that proves meat-free can mean flavour-full.
Highlights
vegan pioneernatural wineprix-fixe lunchpre-gig spot
Before you go
Book ahead if you're eating before a gig at the Apollo next door — it fills up fast on show nights.
Known For
- •Refined vegan and vegetarian cuisine
- •French and Italian influences
- •Natural wines and champagne list
- •Prix-fixe lunch menu
Best For
vegetarian dinnerspre-gig mealsweekday lunches
1 review
City InsidersEditorialJuly 8, 2026
Plant-based pioneer that still holds its own
The Gate is something of a West London institution — they've been serving plant-based food here since 1989, well before veganism became a lifestyle buzzword. The Hammersmith location, tucked right behind the Apollo in a former artist's studio, has a lovely airy feel with high ceilings and pale wood furniture that makes it feel more Scandinavian spa than vegan canteen. The menu leans French and Italian, and the kitchen clearly knows what it's doing: dishes are thoughtfully composed and properly seasoned, not just an afterthought pile of vegetables.
That said, it can be hit or miss — some dishes genuinely surprise you with their depth and creativity, while others feel a bit flat or over-engineered. The sweetcorn fritters and the aubergine dishes tend to be reliable winners. The drinks list is a pleasant surprise too, with natural wines, champagne, and craft beers that go beyond the usual afterthought beverage selection you get at many vegetarian places.
It's an ideal pre-gig spot if you're heading to the Apollo next door, and the prix-fixe lunch is decent value for the area. Service is friendly if occasionally stretched when it's busy. Come with an open mind and a friend who thinks they'd miss the meat — this is the place to prove them wrong, even if not every single dish lands perfectly.
Lire en français
The Gate est une institution végétarienne à l'ouest de Londres — ils servent une cuisine 100% végétale depuis 1989, bien avant que le vegan devienne à la mode. Le restaurant de Hammersmith, niché juste derrière l'Apollo dans l'ancien atelier de l'artiste Sir Frank Brangwyn, offre une ambiance lumineuse avec ses hauts plafonds et ses meubles en bois clair. La carte s'inspire des cuisines française et italienne, et la cuisine sait ce qu'elle fait : les plats sont bien composés et correctement assaisonnés.
Cependant, l'expérience peut être inégale — certains plats vous surprennent par leur profondeur et leur créativité, tandis que d'autres manquent un peu de relief. Les beignets de maïs et les plats à base d'aubergine sont des valeurs sûres. La carte des boisances est une belle surprise, avec des vins naturels, du champagne et des bières artisanales qui dépassent la sélection habituelle des restaurants végétariens.
C'est l'endroit idéal pour un repas avant un concert à l'Apollo, et le menu déjeuner à prix fixe offre un bon rapport qualité-prix pour le quartier. Le service est sympathique, parfois un peu débordé aux heures d'affluence. Venez l'esprit ouvert, surtout avec un ami sceptique — c'est l'endroit parfait pour lui prouver qu'on peut très bien manger sans viande.