America's Best Vegetarian-Friendly Small Cities

#7 Boulder, Colorado

You'll get a "Rocky Mountain high" off all the great food found in beautiful, breathtaking Boulder.

This gorgeous small town in the foothills of the Rockies has three excellent all-vegetarian restaurants. V.G. Burgers is an innovative fast-food joint―it’s all vegan, it’s almost completely organic, and the food is amazing. For Indian food, Masalaa is a great choice—the peanut masala is delicious. To enjoy casual dining in an earthy setting, head to Café Prasad in the pedestrians-only Pearl Street Mall. Try the black-bean tempeh burger and the Eggless Egg Salad. When you've finished your meal, wander next door to the Boulder Co-op, a huge all-vegetarian community market.

Jalino's Pizza offers delicious soy-cheese pizza, and Mountain Sun Brewery and Pub is the place to get cheap, mouthwatering vegan food and microbrew masterpieces to wash it down. Known as one of the best and healthiest places to eat in town, Naropa Café, located on the Arapahoe campus of the Naropa Institute, has a rotating menu featuring veggie burgers, pad Thai, savory lentils, hummus, and Szechwan tofu. For delicious food that comes with a view, try Ras Kassa's Ethiopian Restaurant, right on Boulder Creek. Sunflower Natural Fine Dining is a good pick for gourmet cuisine in an elegant setting.

With all the hiking and biking that can be done in and around Boulder, chances are that you'll need to eat on the run. March into Mustard's Last Stand for a delicious veggie dog, tempeh burger, or veggie Reuben. Almost all the bagels at City Street Bagels are vegan, and it also carries an array of healthy, tasty sandwiches. And for all your grocery needs, check out the original Wild Oats Market at the corner of Baseline and Broadway. Or visit the brand-new, all-vegan Three Little Figs market, where you can purchase everything from “chicken” nuggets and breaded eggplant cutlets to vegan cheesecake and nondairy ice cream.

Top Tip: For even more vegetarian-friendly Boulder restaurants, visit the Vegetarian Society of Colorado Web site.

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