Best Vegan Eateries in New Paltz, New York

Living in New Paltz as a vegan is more than doable, it's enjoyable! The small town is packed with restaurants and cafes, specialty shops and chains, most of which reside on Main Street that runs through the town and village areas. Here are the best places for vegan grub:

Karma Road is a completely vegan cafe/deli/smoothie bar. The deli case is always filled with new selections including a grain of the day, sweet potato rolls, tempeh chili, curried tofu, and the ever-present "tofu loves," a thin veggie pancake that tastes like the love that went into making it. There's a standard menu of breakfast wraps, sandwiches, and of course, smoothies! All the smoothies can be made with soy milk, rice milk, or apple juice, so any dietary needs are addressed. Cap off a healthy meal with something a little sweet, like a brownie or muffin, which may even be gluten-free! Karma Road has fantastic employees who are passionate about the food they serve and will have a chat with you while you wait. A definite must-visit if you're in New Paltz! (www.karmaroad.net, 11 Main Street, 845-255-1099)

Neko Sushi is a great place to pick up a bowl of miso soup or a vegetable roll. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is cozy and transports you to Japan. The prices are low and the quality is high, which is great to find in a college town (49 Main Street, 845-255-0162.) Tokyo Sushi is just down the street and they provide the sushi at the SUNY New Paltz food court (117 Main Street, 845-255-1335.)

The Main Street Bistro is a popular spot for all diets. Though it may be nearly impossible to get a table in the small bistro on a Saturday morning, most of the time you can walk right in. The specials are always changing, but usually there is a vegan entree. A small green "V" marks the vegan items on the specials board. The menu has a few standards like sandwiches and salads for vegans, too. You can always ask your server if you are unsure about an item and they can customize nearly anything. And if you're lucky there will still be some vegan apple pie left for dessert! (www.mainstreetbistro.com, 59 Main Street, 845-255-7766)

Worst comes to worst, you may end up grabbing ingredients at Earthgoods (71 Main Street, 845-255-5858) or New Paltz Health and Nutrition (15 New Paltz Plaza, 845-256-0256) and cooking for yourself!