New York City: A Celebration of Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Food

When I visit New York City, I’m looking for great theatre, amazing food, and a comfy hotel that is within walking distance of some of my favorite activities.

• Take in a Broadway Show: NYC is known for best-in-class performances, so don’t miss your chance. We try to cram in 2-3 shows during each visit with a mix of new productions, old classics, and something off-Broadway.

• Walk through Central Park: Rain or shine, this is a great way to get your steps in and experience some nature while in the concrete jungle. We enjoy people and pet watching along the way.

• Visit Chelsea Market and walk the High Line: The Chelsea Market is an indoor food hall and shopping mall housed in a former Nabisco factory in the Meatpacking district. You can eat, shop, and then take a stroll on The High Line. This is a 1.45-mile-long elevated public park, built on a former railway spur. The views of the city are really cool and you get a touch of nature and public art as you travel above the hustle and bustle of Manhattan’s West Side.

• Explore a museum or four: In NYC, your museum choices are plentiful. My personal favorite is the Museum of Natural History. I could spend all day wandering the halls studying the fossils and animals on display. New exhibits arrive frequently, making it possible to see something new each time you visit. I’m also partial to the Museum of Modern Art, which I first visited over 20 years ago in college and I can’t wait to explore the newly opened Museum of Broadway.

• Dirt Candy. This is hands down my favorite vegetarian/vegan restaurant of all time. This Michelin-starred restaurant offers a seasonal tasting menu at a very reasonable price. We go every time we are in New York.

• Cosme: Serving contemporary cuisine rooted in Mexican flavors, almost everything on the menu is gluten-free with standout items including duck carnitas (for the meat eaters), shishito esquites, and this crazy good corn husk meringue that we had twice on our last trip.

• Nori: A 100% gluten-free temaki restaurant specializing in open-style sushi hand rolls. Everything we had there was amazing—cucumber salad, furikaké fries, tempura, and the temaki was as delicious as it was beautiful. I’m still thinking about the sweet potato tempura roll.

• Le Bernardin: This is the ultimate splurge for groups that include both vegetarians and folks who need a gluten-free option. We enjoyed the Chef’s Tasting Menu and Vegetarian Tasting Menu. Known for classic French seafood, Chef Eric Ripert has earned three Michelin stars and multiple other culinary awards for this top-tier restaurant. It is certainly a bucket list worthy experience.

• Modern Bread and Bagel: Every gluten-free bagel lover MUST make a stop at one of the Modern locations. This 100% gluten-free bakery has a huge variety of baked goods, with a window display that is so gorgeous, it tempts everyone who passes by.

• Kesté Pizza E Vino: Okay, so everyone wants some pizza when they visit the city. Kesté offers regular and gluten-free versions of all of their pizzas and most of the other menu items. They have a dedicated GF oven, making it easy to relax and enjoy a slice. We sat outside and it was delightful. I ate a whole cheese pizza all by myself.