A curated, opinionated ranking by the VeganBites editorial team
Last updated: May 2026
City O' City is the undisputed champion of Denver vegan dining. Open from morning to late night, this Capitol Hill institution serves everything from benedicts and biscuit sandwiches to wood-fired pizzas and craft cocktails. The menu is enormous, the vibe is perfect, and somehow everything is excellent. Denver's best restaurant, period.
Watercourse Foods is the elder statesman of Denver's vegan scene — a 100% plant-based restaurant that's been proving vegan comfort food can compete with anything since the early 2000s. The chicken-fried steak and biscuits and gravy are legendary. If City O' City is the cool younger sibling, Watercourse is the wise original.
Somebody People brings upscale plant-based dining to South Broadway with a seasonal, produce-driven menu that changes regularly. The cocktail program is outstanding, the plating is gorgeous, and the flavors are sophisticated without being fussy. Denver's answer to fine dining going vegan.
Vital Root takes global flavors and runs them through a health-conscious, plant-forward lens. The bowls, tacos, and seasonal salads at this Tennyson Street gem are vibrant and satisfying. The outdoor patio on a summer evening is peak Denver living.
Meta Burger delivers exactly what the name promises — burgers that transcend the plant-based category entirely. The smash-style patties are crispy, juicy, and stacked with creative toppings. At this price point, it's the best vegan fast food in Colorado by a mile.
Leven Deli Co is a vegan Jewish-style deli, and yes, it's as good as it sounds. The pastrami Reuben, loaded bagels, and matzo ball soup are all plant-based revelations. A concept that shouldn't work this well, but absolutely does.
Sputnik is a late-night bar and restaurant on South Broadway that happens to have an incredible vegan menu. The loaded tater tots and build-your-own burgers are perfect after a night out. The patio is legendary in summer, and the pinball machines don't hurt either.
Native Foods brings its tried-and-true vegan chain formula to Denver's Wash Park neighborhood, and it works. The Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger and Scorpion Burger are crowd favorites. Reliable, affordable, and consistently good — the kind of place you eat at twice a week.
Nooch Vegan Market is part grocery store, part deli counter, and entirely essential. The sandwiches and prepared foods are excellent for a quick lunch, and the market stocks hard-to-find vegan products from around the world. A one-stop shop for Denver's vegan community.
The Vegan Van started as a food truck and earned a devoted following with creative, hearty comfort food. The loaded mac and cheese and BBQ jackfruit sandwiches are standouts. Proof that Denver's best food doesn't always come from a brick-and-mortar kitchen.
Denver's vegan scene has remarkable depth for a mid-size city. Honorable mentions go to Lekker Coffee for outstanding plant-based lattes and Next Level Burger for solid chain comfort food. With the mountains as a backdrop and this caliber of plant-based dining, Denver is a vegan paradise.
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