Top 10: Acai Bowls in LondonBy Angelica Malin
Invented by the Brazilians, adopted by the surf loving Hawaii crowd and then embraced by the health nuts in New York, acai bowls made their way to British shores last year. Still big news, these beauties are not only an Instagram hit, they’re tasty too. Here’s where to get the best bowls in the capital. They’re more than just a glorified frozen smoothie bowl, we promise:
1. For all the Acai: Viva Acai
What: Original berry acai bowl (£5.95)
The Lowdown: Viva Acai is London’s only dedicated acai bowl cafe. They’re all about the healthy and happy life, and have created their acai bowls from traditional Brazilian recipes. They’ve kept it simple with their acai offering – choose from original, or the special bowl where you can choose your range of toppings. All pots are freshly made to order – grab a pot to go and enjoy in the London sunshine.
Gimme More: Their cold pressed juices are not to be missed – the team at Viva Acai are the best fruit juicers in the area.
Where: Unit 15, Gloucester Arcade, 128 Gloucester Road, London, SW7 4SF
2. For the Aussie Acai Bowl: Granger & Co
What: Acai bowl, banana, berries and vegan granola (£8)
The Lowdown: Granger & Co is seriously good for breakfast. The Aussie-inspired cafes serve up healthy favourites, such as bircher muesli with granny smith apple, medjool date and almonds, and the best fluffy scrambled eggs. And we mean, the best. Their acai bowl has everything we love – granola, which is suitable for all the vegan lovers out there, banana and heaps of berries.
Gimme More: Two words: corn fritters. Order a side of avocado and you’re laughing.
Where: Locations here
3. For the Dairy-Free Acai Bowl: The Good Life Eatery
What: Homemade gluten-free granola, acai puree, banana, pineapple, green apple and desiccated coconut (£7.20)
The Lowdown: The Good Life Eatery is a favourite pit stop for the virtuous foodie crowd, who come here to lap up a bit of zen and delicious, nutritious food. You’ll find The Good Life tucked away from the Kings Road, and they also have a branch in Belgravia. The menu caters for gluten-free, vegans, vegetarians and the dairy-free queens. Desiccated coconut may be your mother’s favourite ingredient to wack into a cake, but it really works in The Good Life’s acai medley.
Gimme More: Their paleo waffles with banana mash, blueberry chia jam and coconut yogurt are so, so good.
Where: 20 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8LB and 59 Sloane Avenue, London SW3 3DH
4. For the Do it Yourself Acai Bowl: Rawligion
What: Acai bowl with your choice of two toppings (£6)
The Lowdown: Rawligion is a fast-casual restaurant which aims to revolutionise the way Londoners perceive plant-based food by going back to basics and providing nourishment in its rawest possible form. Inspired by the innovative and forward-thinking raw food trends of America’s East Coast, the menu at Rawligion marks a return to a veritable Garden of Eden when it comes to ingredients, using genuinely raw ingredients wherever possible. Rawligion’s acai bowls are made of pure acai pulp, banana and apple juice giving it that natural sweetness.
Gimme More: Want something different for brekkie? The coconut, banana and almond butter wrap, where the wrap is made purely from coconut meat ticks all the boxes.
Where: 3 Tottenham Street, W1T 2AF
5. For the Sweet Acai Bowl: Juice Baby
What: Acai Berry Bowl – wild acai berry, banana, dates and almond butter (£7.95)
The Lowdown: Juice Baby is a jewel in Kings Road forever growing healthy food scene. Using locally sourced ingredients, hand making all food and drink and staying away from dairy, eggs, gluten, chemical additives and preservatives – Juice Baby have nailed the whole wellness living. Their acai bowl is a nutty delight, and if you’re after something more savoury, they also knock up an acai verde bowl with kale, spinach and spriluna.
Gimme More: Their cold-pressed juices contain maximum nutrional value. Their spicy immunity juice is made from pineapple, ginger and cayenne pepper, and it’s totally dreamy.
Where: 398 King’s Road, London, SW10 0LJ
6. For the Fuss Free Acai Bowl: Farm Girl
What: Acai Bowl – frozen Amazonian açai berries topped with sliced banana, chia seeds and goji berries (£8)
The Lowdown: Farm Girl in Notting Hill is the hip hangout for the yummy mummy and healthy crowd alike. This Aussie Cafe serve up smoothies, salads and all the brekkie dishes – you’ll be hard pressed to find something you don’t like. Come here for homemade granola, porridge and excellent coffee. Prepare to queue on the weekends, the secret is out about Farm Girl.
Gimme More: You can add avocado onto your porridge – we’re not sure if that’s something you want to do, but give it a go.
Where: 59a Portobello Rd, London W11 3DB
7. For the Purse Friendly Acai Bowl: Fresh Healthy Eating Cafe
What: Açai bowl with granola and banana (£5)
The Lowdown: The Fresh Healthy Eating Cafe in Soho is a little gem in the rough. Their liquid menu of juices and smoothies are top notch – anything from green juices to berry blasts and basically any ingredients that can be juiced within an inch of its life. Seriously, one of the best juice menus in the area. You can grab salads and wraps for lunch, and early-birds can enjoy their acai bowls, gluten-free porridge and yogurt pots for breakfasts.
Gimme More: Their whey protein smoothies are the perfect post-gym pick me up. Their acai protein shake contains acai berry, apple, banana and whey protein. Sass.
Where: 1 Lexington Street, London, W1F9AR
8. For the Berry Acai Bowl: Bodyism
What: Acai Bowl – Acai base (acai puree, raspberries, banana, almond milk), supplement, granola, organic berries and almond butter (£7)
The Lowdown: Based in Westbourne Grove, Bodyism’s Café proves that eating well doesn’t have to be boring. The menu has been carefully developed to serve locally sourced, abundant and seasonally-led food and drinks. The menu includes a range of treats that are suitable for the gluten and sugar-free hunnies. There’s the option of building your own breakfast bowl – grab a bowl and pile it high with their homemade granola, along with as many superfoods as you can physically manage.
Gimme More: For a sweet and savoury mash up, order the quinoa bircher muesli, a summery combination of quinoa, gluten-free oats, apple, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. Oh baby.
Where: 222 – 224 Westbourne Grove, London, W11 2RH
9. For the High-Street Acai Bowl: Veggie Pret
What: Acai Breakfast Bowl – fresh banana, gluten-free granola and acai berry puree, topped with shredded apple and pomegranate seeds
The Lowdown: Veggie Pret first opened back in June, and it’s been rocking our world ever since. They’ve introduced a whole new range of vegan and veggie products including open rye sandwiches, veggie sushi and dairy-free coconut chocolate bites. If you haven’t been, you really need to go. There’s coconut milk lattes. There’s bean pots. There’s fruit, spelt and oat cookies. Do you need anymore persuading? Didn’t think so.
Gimme More: Stock up on their new snacks – the posh trail mix, Pret bar (fyi it includes six different fruits and three kinds of seeds), and the veggie crisps are all worth a purchase.
Where: 35 Broadwick Street, London W1F 0DH
10. For the Build Your Own Acai Bowl: Mae Deli
What: Acai bowl with homemade compote, almond butter and coconut chips (£5)
The Lowdown: Deliciously Ella’s The Mae Deli – named as such for being a collaboration between Ella and her husband Matthew is a huge hit in London. Expect queues out the door for Ella’s free-from grub, everything from great smoothies with almond milk and fresh berries, to the Mae Bowl with a selection of hot food, such as maple-roasted squash, and wholesome salads. Choose the acai bowl as your base and top it with a range of different ingredients including: toasted seeds, maple syrup and coconut chips.
Gimme More: Their raw brownie, paired with a matcha latte, is amazing – worth it for the trip alone.
Where: 21 Seymour Pl, London W1H 5BH
