Hotels with delicious gluten-free dining options

Laurie Baratti | TravelPulse (TNS)

For those who live with celiac disease or a significant degree of gluten intolerance, the vacation planning process includes an extra complication: ensuring that dining options compatible with a gluten-free (GF) diet plan will be readily available.

According to the National Library of Medicine, “The U.S. has documented a profound rise in celiac disease.” And, “Non-celiac gluten sensitivity, a condition only recently recognized by the medical community, has become a commonly diagnosed entity.”

That means more and more travelers are depending upon dining venues to provide them with nutritious and palatable (well, preferably, delicious) gluten-free menu items, or at least viable alternative preparations of dishes that traditionally include the offending protein.

And, while recent years have seen this need become more widely recognized and accommodated in a greater share of establishments, it’s not always easy to guarantee that the places you’re visiting away from home will be able to adequately cater to your dietary restrictions.

While traveling, your selected hotel is one of the key spots where you’ll want to be sure there are adequate food options for you, simply due to the convenience factor. At some point during your stay, you’re bound to find yourself in need of a meal or a snack without having to venture off-property.

Of course, not all gluten-free offerings are created equal. In some cases, the most you might be able to find is a package of gluten-free crackers in the sundry shop. And, most of us aren’t splurging on a suite with its own fridge and kitchenette, nor do we want to spend our getaway grocery shopping even if we could.

What if you could find someplace where gluten-free dining is elevated to an art form, just as you’d look for in any other culinary/gastronomic niche? To help you find your next great stay, we’ve compiled a list of hotel and resort properties with delectable menu options that are compatible with a gluten-free diet.

The Umstead Hotel and Spa

Cary, North Carolina

For a truly top-tier dining experience, you might choose to eat and stay at the Five Star, Five Diamond Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, North Carolina. The independently owned property, which draws inspiration from a combination of art and nature, features stunning interior spaces, including its 150 spacious guest rooms and suites, world-class cuisine and a stimulating spa, all within a serene woodland setting.

Its award-winning signature restaurant, Herons, is one of only 64 Forbes Five-Star restaurants in the entire world. The seasonal-driven menu features produce from the dedicated One Oak Farm nearby and the restaurant’s own herb garden. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, the intimate 98-seat dining room serves modern American cuisine that pays homage to Southern farmers and artisans. And, one of Herons’ defining characteristics is its unique focus on accommodating special dietary needs.

At all meals, GF menu items are clearly marked, ensuring a hassle-free experience for those with gluten sensitivities. But, what truly distinguishes Herons is the fact that all of its service team members are thoroughly well-versed in the details of its menu items and their ingredients, so guests can be completely confident when requesting recommendations or menu modifications from the staff.

Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos

Los Cabos, Mexico

Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos, a luxurious haven at the southern tip of Baja California Sur, boasts seven epicurean restaurants and bars on site, which use only organic ingredients from local farms and the natural bounty of the Sea of Cortez. The menus at each of these distinct dining concepts have been meticulously crafted to include delicious gluten-free and vegan selections.

One venue in particular, Foresta, emerges as a haven for health-conscious diners, which is situated within a wellness enclave called Curated Wellness Heritage by Ojo de Liebre Spa. This spa-centric eatery tempts palates with its array of rejuvenating smoothies, hydrating juices, as well as energizing bowls and nourishing dishes, all carefully crafted using locally harvested and sustainably grown produce.

With wellness being a cornerstone of its ethos, Solaz ensures that every dish served across its onsite eateries uses the finest all-natural ingredients to help guests refuel cleanly. All menus clearly identify items containing potential allergens—such as gluten, tree nuts or dairy—and guests are urged to communicate any dietary concerns to their servers, which will be accommodated.

CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa

Carefree, Arizona

Perched high in Arizona’s awe-inspiring Sonoran Desert, just a stone’s throw from Scottsdale, CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa stands as a sanctuary dedicated to tranquility and rejuvenation. The serene desert resort is home to Terras restaurant, renowned for its healthful and mindful cuisine.

True to its holistic ethos, the resort goes above and beyond to cater to various dietary needs and preferences, ensuring those with gluten sensitivities experience unparalleled dining satisfaction. The menu at Terras reflects the vibrant character of the Southwest, spotlighting such forward-thinking dishes as the gluten-free Desert Guacamole, which is accompanied by corn chips and fresh crudité; Southwestern cobb salad with a chipotle-cashew dressing; or zesty green chile chicken or seared salmon tacos, both served with jicama slaw and Amarillo crema.

For those seeking both GF and plant-powered options, the Superfoods Bowl features a medley of cauliflower tabbouleh bathed in turmeric-tahini vinaigrette, or try the tantalizing jackfruit carnitas tacos. The Terras menu also presents an invigorating Green Goddess smoothie, enriched with nourishing apple, avocado and chlorophyll, and the luscious Radiance blend, containing a medley of coconut milk, berries and maqui.

NoMo SoHo

New York City

Nestled in the heart of New York City’s celebrated SoHo district at its address at 9 Crosby Street, the NoMo SoHo marries the nostalgia of yesteryears with today’s pulsating modernity. From the 1950s through ‘70s, its iconic SoHo neighborhood emerged as a mecca for avant-garde fashion, pioneering design, groundbreaking art and the site of a cultural evolution, in the process becoming a proving ground for trailblazing trendsetters. Today, SoHo continues to bustle with new creatives, celebrated artists, venerable brands and cultural luminaries.

At its heart, the illustrious NoMo Kitchen also marries classic cuisine with modern inspiration, serving rustic American fare peppered with global nuances and creative twists. Even by New York standards, this is a culinary gem, housed in an enchanting, greenhouse-inspired setting that boasts a thoroughly elegant ambiance at any time of day or evening.

Here, the gluten-free offerings are as delectable as they are diverse. Brunch-goers can delight in the Bibb Salad with Asian pears, which is adorned with parmesan shavings, candied nuts and an herb dressing. For lunch, those with dietary restrictions might gravitate towards the Grilled Fish Tacos, made with fresh market fish, coleslaw and chipotle mayo, all snugly wrapped in a corn tortilla. The dinner menu beckons with tantalizing Chicken Wings bathed in a honey sriracha sauce, accompanied by a velvety blue cheese dip with crisp carrot and celery sticks. There’s also the sumptuous Grilled Skirt Steak, Snapper or Sweet Pea Risotto to satisfy the GF palate.

Art of Living Retreat Center

Boone, North Carolina

Nestled amid the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains and spanning an expansive 380 acres, the Art of Living Retreat Center serves as a haven for seekers of holistic well-being. This unique property is dedicated to immersing guests in the transformative realms of personalized Ayurvedic practices, invigorating yoga sessions and soul-soothing meditation experiences.

Central to the Art of Living’s philosophy is its focus on cleansing and nourishing both the body and spirit, which means that its culinary landscape is almost entirely gluten-free and vegetarian. Celebrating the bounties of Boone’s local harvest, the menu offerings here are intricately interwoven with the tenets of Ayurveda, emphasizing dishes cultivated by nature’s elements—sun, soil, wind, and water—each brimming with the essence of life, or prana.

The center furthers guests’ aims to heal their bodies with tantalizing, wholesome and deeply satisfying meals. In terms of GF, whole-food options, guests can greet the mornings with a hearty Tofu Scramble, infused with sweet potato hash and vibrant steamed greens. Midday offerings include an aromatic Callaloo Soup, tri-color quinoa with peas, Jamaican jackfruit stew, sweet potato and greens in tomato sauce, mango salsa salad and a signature Art of Living Khichdi. Evening menus burst with the exotic flavors of Moroccan Stew, Ras El Hanout-infused lentil loaf, zesty lime mint rice, carrot tagine, steamed greens and a Schlada salad. Culinary options vary according to the day of the week.

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