
The Detox Diaries
Veganuary and mocktail month.
How are your New Year’s resolutions surviving the first few weeks of January? Whether these have led you to explore Veganuary’s plant-based delights or embrace a month of mindful sipping with Dry January, here at The Royal Exchange we’ve got you covered. Our wide selection of luxury restaurants means you can celebrate both low- and no-alcohol options, as well as savouring a range of vibrant, plant-powered ingredients. Expect indulgent menus that prove you don’t have to compromise on flavour to look after yourself — and start the year off right.
Veganuary is as luxurious a month as any at our award-winning bar and restaurant The Libertine, which sports creations like its Beetroot Tartare with walnut dressing and sour apple; and a hearty vegan pesto Gnocchi with steamed asparagus and polenta. At Korean fine-dining establishment Jang, you’ll find Chef Dana’s gorgeous Hwayangjeok Skewer with celeriac, carrots, shiitake mushroom and miso-sesame dressing. And at Engel, our mezzanine bar offering vibes from 20s Berlin, tuck into a vegan “Der Japanische” hot dog, slathered with teriyaki Savoy cabbage, Kewpie mayo, katsuobushi, spring onion and black sesame seeds — or a refreshing Pumpkin and Tofu Salad.
Give lunchtimes a delicious Veganuary twist at The Salad Kitchen. Begin 2025 with the brand’s Ottolenghi-inspired collection of recipes complete with proteins, dressings, and all topped with crunchy baked sourdough croutons (plus a few other delightful additions). The Salad Kitchen prides itself on crafting everything, from the base to the dressing, from chimichurri couscous to za’atar roasties, fresh in-house in small batches: “We can’t wait to share our creations with you!”
Dry January is all about the mocktails, and The Libertine know a thing or two about mixology. Try the bar’s playful, tangy and citric Grapefruit Gimlet, or the refreshing, floral and herbaceous Tequila Basi Smash with elderflower, agave, lime and basil — both available without alcohol. Head upstairs to Engel for an alcohol-free Peach Fuzz, Melon Margarita, or Grüner Apfel — and the buzz of live music and cabaret. And who needs champagne when you have Fortnum’s French Bloom Sparkling Wine? Described as a “floral bouquet with vibrant notes,” it suggests a subtle and aromatic character where the fragrance of the rose petals blends seamlessly with the just-picked red fruits. Even without the presence of alcohol, this sparkling wine maintains its complexity and elegance.
What’s more, between the 13th-19th January, The Libertine are celebrating National Mocktail Week. Join it for a spread of sophisticated non-alcoholic libations and expertly crafted mocktails — all week long. View the menu here.
Finally — burst the January blues with Açaí Berry. Accept no substitute for this viral superfood: here at The Royal Exchange, the brand will kit you out with the purest, highest grade of acai available today in the UK. What makes it so special? The acai berries are frozen within the three-hour window — a process that locks in the rejuvenating nutrients. The freshest possible start to the new year.
