Dig into plant-powered meals aplenty at these Hudson Valley restaurants for your next brunch with friends.
It’s Sunday funday in the Hudson Valley, and you’re looking for the perfect brunch with friends. While a.m. dining options abound in the region, it can be harder to track down dishes that take a pass on eggs and sausage in favor of more plant-based entrees. Thankfully, the Hudson River region is a foodie hotspot, and local restaurants are here to deliver with brunch options that taste just right for every style of diner – vegan eaters included.
Here’s where to go for a vegan brunch in the Hudson Valley.
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Chakra Bowls
Poughkeepsie
For anyone who loves a good bowl situation, Chakra Bowls is the place to be. The Poughkeepsie destination is perhaps best known for its namesake smoothie bowls (try the Mermaid bowl and thank us later), and for good reason. For a vegan brunch, there’s nothing like the eatery’s “you pick two” option, which lets diners pick one bowl and one toast. Or, if something lighter is preferred, the smoothies here are seriously delish. For an a.m. boost, go for the So Matcha Energy smoothie, which packs almond milk, banana, peanut butter, and organic ceremonial grade matcha powder all into one glass.
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Fogwood + Fig
Port Jervis
At Fogwood + Fig, brunch is the name of the game, since the eatery is open Friday through Sunday. Diners can opt to go lighter or heavier depending on what they’re craving, with everything from potato salad to creamy vegan mac and cheese on the menu. The sunshine curry quinoa chickpea bowl is a top pick for brunch, thanks to standout ingredients like buttery turmeric and olive oil quinoa, curry and lime spiced chickpeas, and avocado. For handhelds, the patty melt sandwich features a black lentil mushroom patty spiced with fennel and sage that’s topped with melty cashew cheese and sauteed onions on local grilled, seeded sourdough bread.
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Garden Cafe
Woodstock
Ok, so Garden Cafe might not have a dedicated brunch menu, but it is open from 11:30 a.m. onward on the weekends, so that qualifies as brunch in our book. The Woodstock eatery serves an all-vegan menu, so diners here have the full run from which to choose. For the perfect hybrid of breakfast and lunch, opt for the Macro Meal, which includes brown rice, sauteed greens, arame seaweed, tahini, and a choice of tempeh, tofu, or black beans. If sweets are more your style, look no further than the scrumptious smoothies. The Vivacious Violet hits the palate right with its combination of soy milk, chocolate cashew ice cream, blueberries, banana, and maple syrup.
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Grass Roots Kitchen
Tarrytown
While Grass Roots Kitchen is not a 100-percent vegan establishment, it does a great job of labeling its menu with dishes that are either completely vegan or can be made vegan. Diners can’t go wrong with the buckwheat pancakes, which come with fresh fruit and maple syrup, or the vegan “egg” sandwich, which pairs vegan egg with avocado and shiitake “bacon.” Sides are substantial here, so feel free to add on an order of sliced avocado, the aforementioned shiitake “bacon,” or a mixed greens side salad to round out your meal.
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Green Bar
New Paltz
As its name suggests, Green Bar is all about good-for-you food in Ulster County. For a vegan brunch, the smoothie bowls here hit the spot. The PB Acai bowl starts off strong with an organic acai base, then loads up on granola, banana, strawberry, coconut flakes, peanut butter, and bee pollen for a dish that’s almost too pretty to eat. The strawberry raspberry chia pudding is ideal for a quick fix, while wellness shots like the Hot Shot (lemon, ginger, cayenne, and flaxseed oil) will get you revved up in no time.
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Karma Road
New Paltz
Karma Road knows that breakfast food is really all-day food, which is why it serves its a.m. menu at all hours. Cure the hangries with the scrambled tofu burrito, which is loaded with the grain of the day, vegan cheese, tofu scramble, and mild salsa. Avocado toast is on the menu if you feel like keeping things classic for your vegan brunch, and smoothies like the Mango Stinger (frozen mango, banana, fresh ginger) will put pep in your step before a day spent strolling around the shops in New Paltz.
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Pureganic Café
Harrison
Not only is this Harrison eatery a must for plant-based diners, but it also serves organic, gluten-free, and kosher dishes, too. When it comes to the vegan brunch menu, Pureganic doesn’t hold back. It dishes up versions of all the morning staples diners know and love, albeit with plant-forward twists. Take the bagel and lox, for instance. The bagel comes with carrot lox, sliced tomato, red onion, vegan cream cheese, and capers. On the sweet side, the yogurt parfait features house-made coconut yogurt with fruit, gluten-free granola, and organic raw honey. If you want a little something more, give the bakery and dessert selection a browse for everything from melt-in-your-mouth macaroons to vegan cheesecake by the slice.
Related: 7 Brunch Spots Worth a Weekend Visit in the Hudson Valley
