Looking for the best vegan restaurants in Taos? And what else to do in this awesome tiny city? I’ve spent much of my life visiting New Mexico, and Taos is one of the places I love to visit the most.
Taos is a fantastic city even if you only take a day trip from Santa Fe. However, I recommend visiting Taos for at least a few nights. You’ll quickly fall in love with the laid-back atmosphere, the mountain air, the gorgeous drives, and the fun people.
Where to Eat Vegan in Taos
Lambert’s – my favorite option of them all. There’s a casual menu upstairs or at the bar, and formal seating downstairs. They have one vegan offering a night and it is so good. The food here is quite possibly the best in town.
Medley – there is nothing vegan here. Nothing. They can scrap together a salad, roasted carrots, and fries for you. So please don’t say I didn’t warn you. But the views! And the wine list. Go for that, sit outside, enjoy the fresh night air.
Parcht – this tiny little restaurant is in the ground floor of The Gorge, it’s a little hidden away, with only nuts, salads and breads as the vegan options, but all of those things are perfect, the wine is fantastic, and the service at the bar is superb. This is a very fun place for happy hour or dinner.
Doc Martin’s – OK there’s nothing vegan here, either, other than the chips, guacamole, and salsa, but the margaritas, oh boy, they are worth it. Quite possibly the best I’ve ever had.
Orlando’s – the wait here is long and the food is pretty good. It’s traditional New Mexican fare but they’ll make a vegan burrito for you. It’s not the best, but Taos doesn’t have a ton of vegan options on the menus…so we have to take what we can get. And just look at how cute and colorful their patio is? That might have been my favorite part.
Farmhouse Cake and Bakery – this a good choice for lunch; they have a few vegan sandwich and salad options on the menu and a very pretty patio. The wait here can be long.
Taos Mesa Brewery – the good thing about Taos Mesa Brewery is that they are one of the only restaurants open on Monday or Tuesday nights (at least with the current Covid workplace shortages). They do not offer vegan cheese, but you can get your pizza without cheese, and it’s still pretty tasty. Their beer is good, too.
Cid’s Grocery Store – finding vegan options in Taos is not easy, and that’s where Cid’s comes in. If you rented a house with a kitchen for your visit, go here and stock up on their fresh produce, prepared salads, and prepared vegan foods – most are pretty tasty. This is like your neighborhood co-op; it’s small and friendly and a great place to stock up on your essentials.
The Cellar – right next door to Cid’s, this is the place to go for local and international wines, beers, and spirits. They have a helpful staff in a small, neat store.
Where to Shop
IMO, Taos is a little easier on the wallet than Santa Fe. It’s fun to walk through the shops downtown, with my favorite being Ed Sandoval’s Gallery. Actually, all the galleries on Kit Carson and the shops and galleries on the corner of Bent and Paseo del Pueblo Norte are the best in town.
Where to Stay
Mabel Dodge Luhan House – this is historic (so really cute and also really old pipes and creaky floors) and most definitely offers one of the best, freshest breakfasts or lunches that you’ll eat in Taos prepared lovingly for all guests by women who live on the accompanying Taos Pueblo (also worth your visit). Meals are only for those who stay on the property or who attend their retreats and workshops.
Rent a house! We booked with Natural Retreats on our last week-long adventure to Taos. It was so nice to have the space to spread out, and to stay in an actual neighborhood.