London’s Indigo Restaurant at One Aldwych Hotel – All Gluten & Dairy-Free (But Not Vegan!)

The One Aldwych Hotel in London has a unique restaurant called “Indigo.” It’s the only restaurant I’ve ever heard of, in fact, that serves an entirely gluten-free and dairy-free menu. No, it isn’t vegan. There is meat on the menu, but no gluten and no dairy products. This is perfect for me, as I eat meat but try to avoid the other two. It was a pleasure not having to ask if there was milk or cheese in any of the dishes that interested me.

I haven’t had chocolate mousse in years because I can’t have dairy products, but I was able to have a delicious dairy-free chocolate mousse and pistachio “ice cream” at Indigo without being able to tell they contained no cream or milk. In fact, Indigo’s Executive Chef Dominic Teague cut the gluten and dairy from his menu quietly in the beginning, and diners didn’t even suspect it. The gluten and dairy alternatives used include almond milk, coconut oil, buckwheat flour, olive oil, and rice milk.

Indigo is located on a mezzanine floor where you can overlook the lobby. My friend and I sat in orange cushioned chairs and enjoyed watching the activity below. The menu includes items like gluten-free, hand-rolled gnocchi and dairy-free watercress soup with poached Burford Brown hen’s egg. Or try the Brixham monkfish braised in lemongrass, coriander, and coconut milk. Of course, the menu is seasonal and changes periodically, but everything we ate was excellent.

The author of this article received a complimentary meal at this restaurant but is dedicated to providing a non-biased assessment of her experience.