Dauns — Restaurant in London

Dauns is a vegan Scandinavian cafe, which is the first that I have ever seen. I wouldn't know this cuisine very well so I found it exciting to try something new! The menu has a wide range of Scandinavian staples but we first tried the platter of open sandwiches "Smörrebröd" which was class. This was perfect as there were three different flavours to try. The "Skagen" Tofish was creamy and delicious. It didn't have a strong fishy flavour but was perfectly balanced for me. The bread on this sandwich was like a garlic bread style and it was fantastic. The second sandwich had the vegan meatballs and beetroot which had a nice sweet but pickled flavour. Finally the sliced seitan sandwich, this had the most wonderful sauce on top which would remind you of dijon mustard with a pickled twist. The second thing we had was the hot dog which was served in a flat bread with some potato. This was a proper big portion and the seitan sausage 'Tunnbrödsrulle' was brilliant. It had a nearly 'Cumberland sausage' flavour which was super tasty. I also tried the cinnamon roll 'Kanelbulle' which was soft and sweet and paired perfectly with the americano I ordered. It may have been one of the most distinctive coffees I have had out in a while. Overall I really enjoyed this lunch and would definitely come back to try the other options...

DAUNS is the most lovely small Scandinavian Café, in Spitalfields.

I used to live in Stockholm, so when I found out that a fully vegan scandi caf had opened in London, I absolutely had to go. Being there took me right back to my time living in Sweden. It just feels quite authentic and homely. So much so that DAUNS has quickly become one of my go-tos for a weekend brunch.

I think the pastries were what initially brought me in, and let me tell you, the cinnamon buns and the danishes do not disappoint one bit. It's not always easy finding good vegan pastries, and DAUNS' are so traditionally faithful and just delicious. I get them literally every time I go.

But their offering is far more complete than just their lovely pastries. Their open sandwich range is quite broad - from traditional smörrebröd to breakfast-loaded toast (OMG you must try the scrambled tofu one). And of course, the classic Swedish meatballs.

They also have a small deli in the shop, so if you want to have a lovely meal and shop for some Julienne Bruno vegan burrata, DAUNS is just the perfect place for you.

🌱 Fully Vegan! 🏅 Overall: 9/10

What I ate:

🥘 Swedish Meatballs 🥪 Scrambled Tofu, Seitan Sausage, and Harissa Mayo on Sourdough Toast 🌟 🥪 Toast Skagen 🥪 Seitan Roast and Danish remoulade on Danish Rye Bread 🍑 Peach Danish 🌟 🍩...

If you want what must surely be the best vegan breakfast in east London, get to Dauns early! The small, bright café has limited seating indoors with a few tables outside, and the delicious vegan food is clearly popular with locals and visitors alike! We got there shortly after opening on a Saturday and a few tables were already taken, but service moved seamlessly even while several regulars stopped in for their usual orders and a chat. The atmosphere is relaxed yet invigorating - beautiful views on a sunny day - mirroring the fresh Scandi-style food, which is comforting yet leaves you feeling refreshed rather than the heavy feeling which can accompany a traditional English meal. The vegan brunch (weekends only) was delightful, with the nicest beans I think I've had in London, and a tofu scramble which perfectly matched the texture of the softest, fluffiest scrambled eggs one could wish. My only regret was skipping the lovely vegan pastries and a coffee when I knew I had a long day ahead of me, though the breakfast was quite satisfying. Definitely a place we would gladly return anytime we're in London, and wishing much success to this little taste of...