Vegetarians traveling to New York are often surprised by how many options they can choose from. From healthy juice bars to conventional vegetarian restaurants, New York has plenty of locations where they don’t have to ask the waiter if their food was cooked with butter, milk, or other ingredients that are not vegetarian-friendly.
As a vegetarian, planning your NYC eating adventures can be a bit challenging. The large number of steakhouses in New York may disappoint you, but it’s good to know that many restaurants have several meatless options available in their menu.
And since you’ll be ravenous when you arrive in the city, a quick airport transfer in New York will get you on the ground and to your favorite vegetarian restaurant faster than you can say “grilled tofu.”
The Best Vegetarian Pizza in NYC
One of the best vegetarian-friendly pizzas can be found at Paulie Gee’s in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. This is not a conventional pizza place–it’s a gourmet pizzeria where you’ll (arguably) find one of the best pizzas in the city. If you love authentic Italian pizza, this is the place to find it. With up to seven types of vegetarian pizzas and a delicious dessert pie, Paulie Gee’s is extremely popular among NYC vegetarians. Remember, though–New Yorkers are serious about their pizza, and nobody’s going to agree on which pie is the best.
Another place for great vegetarian pizza is Lombardi’s, a cute restaurant located on Spring Street in Little Italy. Whether you’re after a delicious cheese-free Italian pizza or refreshing salad, this small Italian restaurant has a super vegetarian-friendly section in their menu. There are many cheap NYC hotels in this area, too!
The Best Hummus in NYC
Lebanese cuisine is popular among meat and lactose avoiders, and is a real delight for vegetarians because it contains a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. If you’re one of those people who’d eat hummus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (like me!), don’t miss dinner at Mimi’s Hummus. Located in Gowanus, Brooklyn, this tiny restaurant is popular for its delicious Middle Eastern dishes. Here you’ll find not only the best hummus, but also the best cauliflower salad in the city!
Moreover, located on the Upper West Side on Amsterdam Ave, Hummus Place is another hummus joint ready to welcome you with its fresh and healthy portions of hummus.
The Best Fine Dining in NYC
Larger than most NYC restaurants, Dirt Candy is a specialty restaurant on the Lower East Side that feels special due to the plethora of options available on their menu. Especially for vegetarians, a visit to Dirt Candy is a great opportunity to try some inventive dishes not often available in other places. From the combination of ingredients to the stunning appearance of the dishes, this place surprises guests with an unforgettable NYC dining experience.
Blossom is another great place if you’re ready to spoil your taste buds during your trip to NYC. With three locations in the city, Blossom is a true paradise for vegetarians. The restaurant located on Carmine Street specializes in upscale cuisine, the one on Columbus Ave specializes in inventive cuisine, and the one in Chelsea on 9th Ave specializes in upscale organic cuisine.
Don’t be fearful, vegetarians. There are plenty of options for you in New York City!
If you want to be close to some of the most appreciated places to eat, you should definitely book one of the hotels located in Manhattan or Brooklyn. These neighborhoods host some of the best vegetarian-friendly restaurants and bistros.