Vegan Travel In Denver

BY COURTNEY GARZA

Not being able to travel for awhile due to the pandemic led me to seek road-trip friendly getaways, so the Texas to Denver 12 hour drive was on the list! Though it seemed daunting, the scenic views all the way there and endless supply of vegan snacks we packed was worth it!

Once we finally arrived to Colorado, we were definitely greeted with an abundant vegan scene to explore! In the two days I was there, we only scratched the surface of all of the unique options, from pop-up markets to brick and mortars, to try!

Here are the spots I was so happy to be able to try amazing plant-based creations from!

So Radish

They serve coffee from @hunterbaycoffeeroasters and let me just say, it sure did pair well with my vegan biscuits and gravy!

Their whole menu is vegan, so I was happy to enjoy not only delicious coffee, but also incredibly colorful and unique vegan brunch items!

My fellow vegan, coffee-loving friends enjoyed our brunch here at @soradisharvada too! We all got an array of sweet and savory options that were truly unique like Snickerdoodle French Toast, Buffalo Chikn and Egg Biscuit Sandwich, and colorful power salads! Definitely recommend it if you’re ever in the Denver, CO area!

Easy vegan

This dynamic queer-owned couple created their business during the pandemic as a start-up serving vegetable-forward vegan food that takes making vegan food “fancy” to the next level!

The owners Alexi Mandolini and Taylor Herbert have a combined 28 years in the service industry and, after losing work due to the pandemic, they started this great

vegan concept as a twice weekly restaurant pop-up in the university neighborhood of Denver. They prove to their crowds each week how exciting and easy it is to reimagine vegetables and their endless abilities in the kitchen!

I was excited to try some of their elevated plant based foods that I tried including their Four Cheese Arancini, which were deep-fried risotto bombs with a champagne cream sauce, as well their Vegan Pimento Cheese and chips, loaded baked potato, and strawberry red pepper lemonade!

Alex and Taylor intend to develop a full dining experience unlike anything else in Denver soon, so I will definitely be back once they open!

Green Bus Cafe

This traveling, plant-based coffee shop pops up at various farmer’s markets + events and are seriously some of the kindest people I’ve ever met! Dustin and his partner Lexie not only make incredible lattes, teas, superfood elixirs using all non-dairy milks, but also delicious coffee treats, like their ‘Mawmaw’s Cookies”, which were no bake cookies made with peanut butter and chocolate and oats and fresh strawberries!

I got their Cold Brew with oat cream foam and WOW! I’ve always seen drinks like this at Starbucks but not available with non-dairy alternatives, so this was a real treat!

I also tried their golden milk latte that had such a warming spice blend and their famous Maple Latte was perfectly sweet and delicious!

I really wish @greenbuscafe would come to Texas one day!

The whole idea of getting drinks and treats from a bright green bus was definitely an experience I’d love to do again!

Uptown & Holt

@uptownandhumboldt made it a point to not only bring their travels home with them, but also share it with the Denver community- with vegan options!

I’m so happy I got to experience the amazing flavors from around the world from their super unique food truck while I was in Denver, CO last month!

I tried their unique vegan options, including:

• Fig Mushroom Blue Cheese

Burger, with @beyondmeat, @peacefulrebel2017’s “Colorado

Bleu” cheese, microgreens, pickled onions, and fig jam. • Chickn Chimichurri Gyro, made with @daringfoods, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and vegan feta from @followyourheart. • Falafels with Tahini Harissa.

• Yuca Fries with Garlic Cilantro Aioli. (My personal favorite)

• Purple Coleslaw made with red cabbage, carrots, cilantro, kombucha, red wine vinegar, and strawberry jam.

They even made their own watermelon agua fresca and had local kombucha from @symbiotikombucha. If you’re ever in Denver, be sure to go dig in to all of the incredible creations that Gio and Hayden are making from their foodie travels around the world!

Their menu is not entirely vegan, but obviously has special vegan options that are ever-evolving!

Nooch Vegan Market

NOOCH is an entirely Vegan Market that is small, but quaint, right in the middle of Denver! They serve both local and popular vegan treats, such as decorated vegan sushi from Wellness Sushi, vegan croissants by Kind Confections, and their very own house made vegan soft serve with classic vanilla and chocolate flavors!

Meta Burger

This vegan burger joint is truly taking over the Colorado vegan scene! They are currently spread throughout Denver with 3 locations with talks of more to come very soon!

Before my trip I had heard nothing but great things about Meta and they definitely lived up to the hype! I had to try a little bit of everything mostly because it all truly looked so incredible!

We were told to try their best sellers, which included their Flat Iron Burger made with their own “Flatiron steak” sauce, shaved brussels sprouts, shallots, grilled mushrooms, and gouda cheese, as well as their waffle style sweet potato fries, they Chicken Caesar salad made with green leaf lettuce, crispy chicken, Caesar dressing, coleslaw, carrots, and homemade Italian croutons, plus their “chicken” wings tossed in a super spicy sweet Blueberry Habanero sauce, and of course one of their infamous desserts, their “Betterfinger” Shake!