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Eating out is a major pastime in Santa Fe and it's well worth coming here with a mind to join in on the fun. Restaurants with high-profile chefs stand beside low-key joints, many offering unique and intriguing variations on regional and international cuisine. You'll find restaurants full of locals and tourists alike all over the Downtown and surrounding areas. Although Santa Fe does have some high-end restaurants where dinner for two can exceed $200, the city also has plenty of reasonably priced dining options.
Waits for tables are very common during the busy summer season, so it's a good idea to call ahead even when reservations aren't accepted, if only to get a sense of the waiting time. Reservations for dinner at the better restaurants are a must in summer and on weekends the rest of the year.
So-called Santa Fe–style cuisine has so many influences that the term has become virtually meaningless, especially with many of the city’s top eateries embracing a more international approach to cuisine, albeit all the while sourcing more and more from local farms and ranches. At many top spots in town, you’ll detect Latin American, Mediterranean, and East Asian influences. Yet plenty of traditional, old-style Santa Fe restaurants still serve authentic New Mexican fare, which combines both Native American and Hispanic traditions and is quite different from Americanized as well as regional Mexican cooking.
Santa Fe's culinary reputation continues to grow not just in terms of restaurants but also in businesses that produce or sell specialty foods and beverages, from fine chocolates and local honeys and jams to increasingly acclaimed New Mexico wines, beers, and spirits. Don't miss Santa Fe Farmers' Market, one of the best in the Southwest.
This descendant of the legendary Bobcat Bite burger joint is now an employee-owned spot where guests come for the juicy green-chile cheeseburgers and humongous 15-ounce "Big Bite" burgers—along with hefty steaks, enchiladas, and tacos—in a kitsch-filled strip mall space south of town. There's breakfast, too; morning highlights include huevos rancheros, gluten-free buttermilk waffles, and traditional steak-and-eggs. The food is great and the service is friendly.
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.
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).
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Owner Quinn Stephenson (who also owns fine dining institution Coyote Cafe) now runs this long-acclaimed member of Santa Fe's culinary vanguard with a lighter menu focused on fresh, fusion cuisine, and it remains one of Santa Fe's must-eat destinations. The minimalist, elegant restaurant is located two blocks north of the Plaza in the historic Padre Gallegos House and offers inventive dishes from chef Dale Kester. The playful bronze animal sculptures found both indoors and out add an earthy-yet-ethereal atmosphere. The inviting shaded patio is pretty, quiet, and the place to see-and-be-seen during warm weather while the private dining room seats about 12 and can be rented out for special occasions.
Expect to wait in line at this downtown eatery that's been family operated since 1953, serving flavorful New Mexican food and popular margaritas. Even if you're a devoted green chile fan, definitely try the locally grown red chile the place is famous for; it is rich and earthy, with a bit of spice. Other specialties include red chile enchiladas, green chile stew with potatoes and pork, and charbroiled Shedburgers. The large selection of soups and salads will appeal to all visitors, and be sure to save room for their famous mocha cake. The rambling, low-doored, and atmospheric adobe dating from 1692 is decorated with folk art, and they have kept prices remarkably fair considering the iconic location.
Among the many reasons guests of the Four Seasons Rancho Encantado often find it difficult to ever leave the gloriously situated property is this handsome yet down-to-earth restaurant that serves tantalizingly delicious and creative contemporary American and Southwestern cuisine. Favorites include seafood paella, green chile and bison meatballs, and an Australian Wagyu rib eye. The high-ceilinged dining room is lined with tall windows overlooking the mountains and pathways that traverse the property. World-class art and sculptures abound, and a smaller bar with a large patio and fire pit is a fun hangout for cocktails and lighter snacks.
This family-run downtown joint has been in operation since 1974, serving some of the area's best New Mexican breakfasts and lunches. Order anything and expect a true taste of local tradition, including perfectly flaky, light sopaipilla; Tia's delicious burritos stuffed with homemade chorizo disappear fast on Saturday so get there early. Mammoth chile-smothered breakfast burritos will hold you over for hours on the powdery ski slopes during winter. Be aware that the red and green chiles are spicy and you're expected to understand this elemental fact of local cuisine.
With a near-fanatical following for its traditional and creative doughnuts, Whoo's offers mouth-watering flavors that incorporate outside-of-the-box combinations and local flare. For those preferring savory over sweet, try the delicious handheld breakfast burritos. A selection of organic coffee and tea is also available.
Chef Eduardo Rodriguez led some of Santa Fe’s most famous kitchens for nearly 25 years before opening his own eatery, naming it after the north-central Mexican region of his birth. The culinary marriage between the southwestern United States and Mexico shows up in dishes like mole negro chilaquiles (eggs, Chihuahuan cheese, black beans, chicken, and mole sauce) for brunch and whole fried snapper with crab saffron risotto, calabacitas (sautéed zucchini), and salsa Veracruz for dinner. Sweets include flan de elote and churros, and the patio is charming for brunch in warm weather.
There are plenty of spots near the Plaza for grabbing a latte, but this coffeehouse stands out for brewing exceptional house-roasted, single-origin coffees from Guatamala, Kenya, Sumatra, and other java hot spots around the world. You can order a pour-over made with beans of your choosing, or sample the house-made chai, nitro cold brew, and "latitude adjustment" (coffee blended with organic grass-fed butter, MCT oil, and coconut oil). The airy café with exposed-brick walls is in the back of Arcade retail complex on the south side of the Plaza and serves delicious baked goods, too, from sweet treats such as freshly made beignets to lox-and-cream cheese breakfast croissants.
This romantic restaurant with hardwood floors, soft lighting, and stone walls has a menu that presents upscale versions of classic fare such as steak, fish, and chicken. For a less formal vibe, have dinner and cocktails at the convivial bar or enjoy breakfast on the lively street-side patio. A tasting table in the center of the space is available for reserved private tequila tastings.
A longtime locals' favorite, Andiamo! scores high marks for its friendly staff, consistently good northern Italian food, and comfortable dining room. Produce from the farmers' market down the street adds to the seasonal surprises of this intimate restaurant set inside a sweet cottage in the Railyard District. Start with the addictively delectable crispy polenta with rosemary and Gorgonzola sauce and consider such hearty entrées as crispy duck leg confit with grilled polenta, dried figs, and sautéed spinach or linguine with spicy grilled shrimp and olives in a shallot, garlic, and tomato sauce. There's a super wine list with varied prices. Save room for the tiramisu or chocolate pots de crème.
This old-school, regional fast-food chain serves tasty breakfast burritos and juicy burgers. Perfect for a quick bite with the kids, don't forget to get a healthy helping of green chile on your burger.
Although the name of this cheery bakery suggests sweets, and it does sweets especially well, Chocolate Maven also produces impressive savory breakfast and lunch fare. Meals are "farmers' market–inspired" and feature seasonal dishes, including wild-mushroom-and-goat-cheese focaccia sandwiches, eggs ménage à trois (one each of eggs Benedict, Florentine, and Madison—the latter consisting of smoked salmon and poached egg), and Caprese salad of fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes. A plus for those looking for healthier fare is the option of various plant-based meat options for breakfast or a lunchtime sandwich. Some of the top desserts include Belgian chocolate fudge brownies, mocha-buttercream torte with chocolate-covered strawberries, and a fantastic carrot cake. Don't let the industrial building put you off; the interior is light, bright, and cozy. From the dining room, you can even watch the bakers in action through a large picture window.
Undeniably French, this bustling café serves authentic, delicious food. Walk through the door of this bright, open space and you'll almost certainly be greeted with a cheery "bonjour" from Anne-Laure, who owns it with her husband, Philippe. Start your day with a crepe, a fluffy omelet, or le gauffre (large waffle). Lunch offers quiches with perfectly flaky crusts, an enticing selection of large salads (the salade de la maison has pears, pine nuts, blue cheese, Spanish chorizo, tomatoes, and cucumbers atop mixed greens), and savory sandwiches like the classic croque madame (grilled ham, egg, and cheese) on homemade bread. The classic onion soup is comforting on a cold day. Save room for the café's namesake dessert, clafoutis. The baguettes and pastries are perfectly prepared—no small feat at 7,000 feet elevation.
This folk-art-filled restaurant, with decor by famed designer Alexander Girard, is one of the most well-known dining spots in town. The oft-changing menu is devoted to seasonal and local ingredients with a variety of meats, fish, and pastas. The extensive, and expensive, wine list will please the most discerning oenophile. Lunch is as popular as dinner with the chicken schnitzel a popular favorite. In warm weather, enjoy the charming patio while younger folks prefer sitting at the u-shaped bar that has a more social atmosphere than the dining room.
This low-key, slightly off-the-beaten-path café is worth finding for its delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, or even just for an afternoon coffee break. Inside the industrial space, tuck into plates of huevos rancheros and other eggy fare in the morning, and a mix of Southwestern and Asian dishes later in the day. The dog-friendly, covered patio beyond the dining room has long communal tables and a few smaller, more private ones. There's a good selection of house-made baked goods and espresso drinks as well. It's cash-only and casual—you order your food at the counter. Prices are reasonable for the quality and amount of food served.
Slovakian transplant Annamaria O’Brien's bustling bakery and brunch spot is as bright and crisp as her food. The menu borrows a bit from the chef's Eastern European roots with favorites such as paprikash, langos, and goulash, but also features regional American dishes like cornmeal waffles with buttermilk fried chicken and a surprising bone broth "morning soup." The quiche of the day is always delicious. Nearly everything served at Dolina was either grown on the Dolina farm or sourced as locally as possible. After your meal, be sure to peruse the goodies in the bakery case—tarts, pastries, and tvaroh (a ricotta-like fresh cheese) await, best accompanied by a macchiato or Mexican mocha. Make sure you wear your walking shoes as it's nearly impossible to find a parking spot in Dolina's tiny lot.
This neighborhood café-newsstand sells fancy coffees, various snacks, and sumptuous pastries as well as one of the largest assortments of newspapers and magazines in town. The shaded patio is a fun spot to people-watch and a great place to fuel a Canyon Road stroll.
Considered one of Santa Fe's best food trucks, El Chile Toreado offers hearty, delicious, and affordable New Mexican breakfast and lunch. Although it has made it onto many “must-eat” lists, it has retained both quality and convenience, cementing itself as a perennial local favorite.
This stylish restaurant located in the heart of Tesuque village has a rustic American à la carte menu specializing in items cooked over an open-flame grill as well as a separate Omakase sushi set menu option. Grilled favorites include cast-iron tenderloin, Wagyu burgers, and whole grilled branzino. In cooler months, the old adobe building is cozy and welcoming, and there is a large covered patio for dining in warmer weather. El Nido is hugely popular on summer nights before the nearby Santa Fe Opera performances—reservations are highly recommended at these times.
