A Vegan Guide to Taos Ski Valley

Nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, Taos Ski Valley is famous for its steep slopes, dramatic peaks, and untamed beauty. At a mountain like this, you definitely need to stay fueled to keep up with the rugged terrain. Luckily, Taos is a vegan-friendly ski destination, with decent options on the mountain to keep you going through the day, and plenty of excellent restaurants to be found back in town.

An Overview of Dining at Taos Ski Valley

The village at the base of Taos Ski Valley is, true to its name, a remarkably self-contained community in and of itself. With a couple of small grocery stores, galleries and sports shops, several options for accommodations, restaurants, bars, and even a spa, it’d be easy to stay here for the entire duration of your trip and never have to go into town. The layout of the village is cute, compact, and staggered, making this small section of New Mexico truly feel like a little tucked away European mountain town.

When you arrive at the Ski Valley, there are a couple of ways to enter the village. The first is at the bottom of the parking lot, by the Rio Hondo Learning Center. Take the free Gondola up to the village base, where you’ll find Mucho Gusto Donuts blowing warn cinnamon sugared air around the mountain. Hold your breath and keep on walking, as there’s unfortunately nothing vegan to be found here. From this point, a left will take you into the village, where you’ll find the Blonde Bear Tavern and Taos Ale House. Though vegans would be able to dine at both of these restaurants, the pickings are slim and you may even get up-charged for ordering vegan (looking at you Taos Ale House – not cool!). If, however, you continue to walk straight past those delightful donut smells, you’ll come across a set of steps leading up to the the base of the mountain. The Hondo Restaurant (inside the Snakedance Condominiums) and Bumps Market are located at the bottom of those steps.

If you enter the valley from the top of the parking lot, you’ll first pass by Der Garten at the Brownell Chalet, followed by a small outpost of Cid’s Food Market. Last season (2021-’22), there was also a smoothie shop in this section of shops, but this year it’s been replaced by a distillery. As you continue on towards the lifts, you’ll walk past 192 at The Blake Hotel before the view opens up to the mountain. Black Diamond Espresso‘s coffee stand is in the center of this small square, and neighboring restaurants Rhoda’s Restaurant’s and Tenderfoot Katie’s Food Court can be found directly across from Lift 1.

If you’re on the mountain when hunger strikes, not to fear. There are three dining options that can be found slope-side, which make wonderful resting spots at any point during the day. On the frontside of the mountain coming from the top of Lift 1 towards Lift 2 is the Whistlestop Cafe. On the backside at the base of Lift 4 are the Phoenix Grill and The Bavarian.

(Disclaimer: for locations in this guide where I have not personally dined, I have added a note asking for reader input. If you have personal experience to add to the guide, I’d love to hear it!)

Vegan in Taos Ski Village

Vegan on the Slopes

Vegan in Town: Arroyo Secco, El Prado, and Taos

Of course the mountain isn’t all there is to see in Taos– Taos and its neighboring towns are destinations in their own right. Known for its pueblo, rich culture, and the stunning scenery and outdoor recreation of the Rio Grande Gorge, Taos is increasingly embracing the vegan wave, welcoming its first 100% vegan restaurant to the town last June. Arroyo Seco, gateway to the Ski Valley, is a small community steeped in Spanish colonial history and famous for its potters and artisans. Its tiny main street has the best pre-mountain breakfast spot to start your day on the slopes right. The small town of El Prado, located in between Taos and Arroyo Secco, has plenty of art galleries as well, and is home to one of the area’s best fine dining establishments and wine shops.

The following is only a small list of food options in and around Taos, and their statuses, hours, and menus may change by the time you visit. Be patient with the service in Taos; time, space, and all of its rules seem to flow a bit differently here.