160 Best Restaurants in New Mexico, USA

It's worth making the trek out to Santa Fe's western mesa to dine at this outstanding bistro/wineshop with a following among locals. At the store, stock up on often hard-to-find vintages from all over the world (for a $30 corkage fee, you can enjoy your Bordeaux or Albariño in the airy dining room or, when the weather allows, the charming outdoor patio) and enjoy the menu of contemporary American fare that changes regularly and is based on the incredible variety of seasonal produce grown on Arroyo Vino's on-site farm. Of particular note are the house handmade pastas and fresh fish dishes—depending on the season, these can include offerings such as cavatelli in spicy tomato sauce with house-made pork sausage and broccolini or line-caught King salmon with Italian black rice, garden-fresh radicchio, shaved fennel, and ramp pesto. Another popular menu item is chef Allison Jenkins's chicken liver pâté with house-made preserves, to which many regulars assign a "best-ever" designation. Arroyo Vino also has a full bar. Be sure to budget your appetite with dessert in mind, and the impressive accompanying dessert wine options, too.

Voted Santa Fe's best pizza for over a decade and featured in several national magazines and TV shows, this midtown spot is clearly a local favorite for dine-in or take-out. The unique flour crust is rolled in cornmeal (there's also a gluten-free version), and the meat is sourced from local farms known to treat the cows and pigs humanely and raise cage-free chickens. This one-stop shop also sells pints of local La Lecheria ice cream.

You'll catch a whiff of Big Daddy's tasty food as you turn off U.S. 82 into Cloudcroft. There's something for everyone at this homey joint, where the staff seems to know darned near everyone by first name. Don't expect anything fancy—just solid American favorites like burgers and barbecue, and some Mexican staples, too, like enchiladas and huevos rancheros. Though the menu leans heavily on meat, these folks happily accommodate vegetarian requests.

Sure, it looks like a dusty old cowboy bar and it is set right in the heart of a village that's appeared in several Western movies, but the extensive menu of creative breakfast plates, sandwiches, and grills reveals a locavore-minded approach to food that you might not expect from the setting. You might start the day with the Saloon Scramble, a hefty plate of feathery eggs served with green onions, venison-blueberry sausage, and jalapeño hot sauce; or later in the day, consider the thinly roasted lamb with vegetables, Manchego cheese, and a refreshing yogurt sauce atop naan flatbread.

Come here to see 1860s Western decor and stay for the food—including some of the best steak and seafood in the region. The bar is a friendly place to gather; the dining rooms are cozy, the tablecloths white, and the walls replete with photos from the last 140 years of the area's history. The property also includes the Opera House, where live music is performed (on Friday and Saturday at 8).

This cheerful cubbyhole is owned by James Beard Award–winning chef and cookbook author Katharine Kagel, who champions organic, local ingredients, and whose expert kitchen staff produces mouthwatering breakfast and lunch specialties like huevos motuleños (eggs in a tangy tomatillo salsa with black beans and fried bananas) and mahi-mahi tostadas. Dinner offerings range from chicken enchiladas to warm Thai noodle salad. The café's shop offers souvenirs such as cookbooks, aprons, and baseball caps, and there's an art gallery next door selling bronzes, ceramics, glassware, and more. Don't be surprised by the lines out front—it is on every tourist list for a reason (reservations are available for dinner only and strongly recommended).

Reasonably priced, cheerfully decorated, and offering some of the tastiest food in the Rio Chama Valley, this adobe café-bakery run by the former tour manager of the nearby Georgia O'Keeffe Home & Studio. The eclectic made-from-scratch cooking here runs the gamut from New Mexican (green chile cheeseburgers, roasted and stuffed poblanos) to international (red lentil dal, roasted-turkey crepes with cheddar and cranberry sauce). There's a nice selection of wines, mostly from Spain and Italy, and you'll always find a variety of tantalizing house-made desserts.

With pink light rising on the Sandias and lavender fields aglow, dining at Los Poblanos—its menu wholly committed to finely prepared dishes made from organic and locally sourced ingredients—can be a transcendent experience thanks to the pastoral setting of Albuquerque’s historic North Valley. The seasonal menu is a tantalizing mix of distinctive farm-to-table flavors crossed with Southwestern cooking traditions that together have been become the basis for Rio Grande Valley cuisine. Start with tangy sweet potato pierogi, then move on to a superb field or lemon za'atar salad, then the braised lamb birria, beet risotto, or a special tamale adovada. Or try one of the house-made pastas (carrot cavatelli is a favorite, and, as with most dishes here, they will always accommodate non-meat-eaters with a wholly satisfying variation). Wine, spirits, and microbrew selections, local and regional, are well-chosen. Campo ("field" in Spanish) diners enter its high-ceilinged open space—brilliantly transformed from a one-time dairy barn building—through the charmingly tiled and whimsically lit Bar Campo; dining outdoors is a treat as well since the weather here cooperates just about year-round. Find a somewhat smaller menu at the bar, or come for a memorable breakfast or brunch throughout the week.

Pronounced cho-pez, it looks like a run-of-the-mill adobe building from the outside, but inside the 150-year-old former Benavidez homestead you'll find happy locals and many turistas eating well-seasoned Mexican food and drinking ice-cold beer and tasty margaritas. Bikers join the convivial crowd in the bar next door; like the restaurant, it's still owned by the Benavidez family. It's worth the 15-mi drive south from Old Mesilla for the local flavor.

A Santa Fe hot spot since it opened in 1987, this pioneer of contemporary Southwestern cuisine has been renovated and modernized over the last decade under the guidance of owner Quinn Stephenson. Today, the restaurant serves some of the most consistently perfectly executed cuisine in the city, led by a professional and knowledgeable culinary team. The wine list is one of the most impressive in town, and the cocktails are creative. The adjacent Coyote Cantina sits on the rooftop space and offers a lively social scene with more casual fare. On the ground floor sits the private dining room called the Den, which is available for special-occasion rentals.

This family-owned chalet and bistro is run by Christoff Brownell and Asia Golden; Christoff grew up at the ski valley and knows the mountain like the back of his hand while Asia is a farmer and chef. Der Garten serves farm-to-table, mostly organic food from local farmers and ranchers.

Chandeliers, century-old wall tapestries, and gold-leaf ceilings set the scene at this elegant restaurant inside an 1848 mansion on Old Mesilla's plaza. Some say ghosts, including one of a young man who incurred his mother's wrath by falling in love with a servant girl, haunt the property. Continental cuisine, steaks, and flambé dishes are served, formally, in the main restaurant. The restaurant has its own aging room for its renowned steaks, and you can sample all sorts of delicious alcoholic infusions from the bar (the chile vodka makes a fantastic Bloody Mary). Pepper's, the adjoining Southwestern-style café, has more casual fare including chiles rellenos served with colorful tortilla chips. The Double Eagle Sunday Champagne brunch is excellent and a good deal (reservations are recommended).

A favorite of old-timers who know their way around a blue-corn enchilada (and know that Duran's deeply authentic New Mexican red is the chile to pick for it), this welcoming spot serves fine, freshly made and warm flour tortillas, too. Duran's harkens to the days when every drugstore had a soda fountain; it's got cold beer and a full kitchen now, serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with your choice of counter stools, cozy tables, or the little shaded patio right off old Route 66. By the way, the pharmacy itself still offers the personal care it did since its founding back in 1942, and the traveler will find just about any sundry they might have a need for—as well as a sophisticated selection of New Mexico–centric books and gifts.

A stellar spot for truly artisanal thin-crust pizza, Farina draws loyal crowds inside an old-school former EDo grocery store with hardwood floors, exposed-brick walls, a pressed-tin ceiling, and simple rows of wooden tables along with a long, inviting bar. This spirited place serves up exceptional pizzas with tastily charred crusts and imaginative toppings; the Salsiccia, with sweet-fennel sausage, roasted onions, and mozzarella, has plenty of fans. Start with a satisfying caprese salad or antipasti, finish with rich butterscotch budino (Italian pudding), and take note of the extensive, fair-priced list of local craft beers and wines by the glass.

The best seats at this charming café are outside on the patio, surrounded by gardens and wind sculptures with sweeping views of the mountains and Taos Pueblo's beautiful buffalo pasture. The flavorful breakfasts and lunches use ingredients sourced from local farms and ranches, and the bakery turns out decadent made-from-scratch carrot cakes, scones, cinnamon rolls, and other treats, many of them gluten-free. The Zia breakfast of farm fresh eggs, grilled avocado, asparagus, tomato, and portabello mushroom with sautéed greens is a favorite, as is the red chile bison stew made with Chimayo's famed chile.

This bastion of sophisticated contemporary cuisine occupies the historic Borrego House, built in 1756 by Geronimo Lopez, a massive-walled Canyon Road adobe with intimate white dining rooms, beamed ceilings, wood floors, fireplaces, and cushioned bancos (banquettes). It's a popular destination for a special meal, perhaps local rack of lamb with roasted leeks and a Merlot–natural jus reduction or mesquite grilled Maine lobster tails with a creamy garlic chile sauce. Desserts are artful and rich and the wine list is extensive. The restaurant is known for both its cuisine and its highly refined service, along with steep prices to match. In summer you can dine under the front portal; in winter the bar with fireplace has a sexier, less formal vibe.

This airy, modern EDo neighborhood favorite features locally grown, seasonal specials at reasonable prices. Enjoy such fresh, quality treats as Grove Pancakes with fresh fruit, crème fraîche, local honey, and real maple syrup; a Farmers Salad with roasted golden beets, Marcona almonds, goat cheese, and lemon-basil vinaigrette; or an aged Genoa salami sandwich with olive tapenade, arugula, and provolone on artisanal sourdough bread. Order at the counter, and your meal will be whisked out to you in the light-filled main room or the arbored patio. The market sells a tempting mix of chocolates, specialty salts and mustards, a featured cookbook or two, and other culinary treats.

This ambitious and consistently terrific spot for lunch and breakfast (served all day) blends French and Spanish culinary influences. Favorite breakfast dishes include eggs Benedict and their signature French toast made from freshly baked bread while lunch specialties feature a green chile sausage bowl, pollo borracho, and sandwiches served on homemade French bread.

Since its 2021 opening, this family-owned and -run restaurant has quickly become one of Santa Fe's favorite dining spots, thanks to chef David Sellers's reputation for great food and his goal of ensuring that Horno remains attainable for locals. Unlike the sticker shock many downtown eateries impose, Horno has a seasonal, rotating menu of delectable street food dishes with global influences at decent prices. It is also one of the few spots open on Monday year-round, making it the go-to hang-out spot when most other restaurants are closed. Sellers was also crowned winner of the popular annual TACO WARS competition in both 2019 and 2023.

First and foremost a lively coffeehouse that turns out expertly prepared pour-overs, lattes, cold brews, and other delicious espresso drinks using house-roasted beans, this funky, inviting space also serves tasty and eclectic salads, sandwiches, and tapas. The menu spans the globe, featuring breakfast tacos, Korean steak bowls, Ponzu salmon, and birria quesadillas. If the weather is nice, grab a seat on the spacious patio. This is the original Iconik location but others have now popped up Downtown inside Collected Works Bookstore, on the corner of South Guadalupe and Agua Fria, and on Cerrillos Road.

In an old brick Wells Park-area factory building that has a long history as an alternative art space, Kosmos is where you go for a fun beer and a very good bite. You might try the crispy beer-battered fish-and-chips or a chimichurri-sauced grilled steak sandwich (get it with their spiral Spudnik fires). Desserts, all scratch-made here, change daily. Set near the 2926 AT&SF rail spur, there’s occasional music, a patio, and a timeless lonesome-whistle feel to this special place.

An eight-time James Beard nominee, chef/owner James Campbell Caruso is known for his authentic yet creatively updated Spanish tapas, which are served at both his intimate dining room called La Boca, and the more lively, bustling Spanish pub located directly behind it and aptly named Taberna. La Boca has a more leisurely and romantic vibe and its big windows look out onto fashionable Marcy Street, while Taberna offers a livelier, communal atmosphere featuring live music and ample seating, spilling out into a cloistered courtyard. A full meal in either spot can also include authentic paella, and both areas are similarly priced, though the main restaurant is a tad more expensive. In both, you'll find a long list of fine Spanish wines and sherries. La Boca Bodega is another addition where guests can buy olive oils, spices, chorizo, and more. It also features a coffee bar that serves bocadillos (sandwiches), pastries, and charcuterie boards. 

Superb service, creative cuisine, and an utterly romantic setting inside a historic adobe house just a short walk north of the plaza define this Taos landmark that's been a go-to for special meals since 1988 (it was previously located a few blocks away). A seasonally changing menu presents elegant contemporary American cuisine brushed with influences from around the world. Dine in one of the cozy, warmly lit rooms or out on a patio shaded by mature fruit trees. Lambert's is also home to local favorite Treehouse Bar & Lounge. Ascend an old wooden staircase and arrive in a relaxing lounge area to enjoy a cocktail and a delicious selection from the bar menu.

It's easy to drive by the small adobe former chapel that houses this delightful farm-to-table restaurant a short drive north of Taos Plaza, but slow down—you don't want to miss the culinary magic of chef Andrea Meyer. She uses organic, mostly local ingredients in the preparation of simple yet sophisticated creations like homemade sweet-corn tamales with red-chile mole, a fried egg, and crème fraîche, and tacos (using homemade tortillas) filled with grilled antelope, potato-Gruyère gratin, and parsley gremolata.

Set in a rustic-chic roadhouse on the scenic road between El Prado and Arroyo Seco that adjoins one of the area's best wineshops, Medley is an excellent choice for a gathering of friends or a romantic night out. You could make a meal of one of their outstanding salads and soups or order a few shareable small plates such tuna tartare tostadas, mac-and-cheese with roasted Hatch chiles, or ratatouille en croûte. The substantial entrées could include delicacies such as a stew of pan-seared red snapper, black beans, chorizo, and vegetables, or grilled Scottish salmon with summer squash, house-made pancetta, fried green beans, and sweet corn cream. There's a popular happy hour in the afternoon, a great signature cocktail list, and occasional live music on the patio.

A rollicking old bar and restaurant adjacent to the Old Coal Mine Museum, this boisterous place—there's live music many nights—was a miners' commissary back in the day. Today it serves impressive burgers (available with Angus beef, Wagyu beef, buffalo, or mushroom-veggie), along pizzas, tacos, and other comfort fare. There's a fine selection of local craft beers on tap, plus first-rate margaritas. 

The name of this refined, romantic prix-fixe restaurant and inn nestled against towering ramparts in the Ojo Caliente River Valley stands for NOrth of SAnta Fe, and indeed this very special culinary retreat is close enough to the city (a 45-minute drive) to draw foodies for one of the rarefied five-course, farm-to-table dinners. But NOSA also has four elegantly furnished suites, in case you'd prefer to spend the night—not a bad idea, given the restaurant's enticing wine list. The high-ceilinged dining room is warmed by a fireplace and has tall windows with dramatic views of the surrounding mountains. Daily breakfasts are also open to the public and have become popular with guests of Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa, just up the road.

This family-run, local favorite is likely to be crowded during peak hours, while guests wait patiently to devour perfectly seasoned favorites such as carne adovada (red chile–marinated pork), blue-corn enchiladas, and scrumptious fish tacos. You can eat in the colorful and cozy dining room or outside on the umbrella-shaded front patio. Enjoy your meal with a glass of delicious sangria and be sure to save room for a slice of their famous avocado pie for dessert.

Begun as a catering business that threw occasional pop-up dinners, Paper Dosa became so beloved for its boldly flavored southern Indian cuisine that the owners opened what has become a popular brick-and-mortar restaurant. Dosas (large, thin crepes made with fermented rice and lentils and stuffed with different fillings) are the specialty here and come in about 10 varieties, from paneer and peas to a locally inspired version with green chile and three cheeses. The rest of the menu is just as enticing, with spicy sambar stew, refreshing chile-dusted mango and goat cheese salad, and lamb curry among the stars. In the casually upscale, art-filled dining room you can eat at a table or the bar.