13 Best Restaurants in Santa Fe, New Mexico

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.

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.

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.

Ahmed Obo, the Kenyan-born owner who regularly tops the local paper's "best chef" list, applies great skill and enthusiasm to the Afro-Caribbean food at this casual, homey eatery in a shopping center a couple of miles south of the Plaza. Flavors of coconut, peanuts, and curry influence everything from shrimp to goat stew. Vegetarian choices like the coconut lentil stew are rich and comforting. World-beat music, African art, and the friendly waiters—who will happily recommend their favorite dishes—add to the appeal. Plus, it's the only place for miles, maybe thousands of miles, you can put down a cold Tusker. You can also catch the Jambo Hapa food truck at various locations throughout northern New Mexico, sometimes as far north as Taos.

Yes, even in landlocked Santa Fe it's possible to find incredibly fresh and well-prepared seafood served in big portions. This cheery, colorful Mexican restaurant surrounded by strip malls is just a short hop south of Downtown, and favorite dishes include the absolutely delicious shrimp wrapped in bacon with Mexican cheese and caldo vuelve a la vida ("come back to life"), a hearty soup of shrimp, octopus, scallops, clams, crab, and calamari. Other menu options are ceviche tostadas, fresh oysters on the half shell, and pescado a la plancha, tender trout cooked with butter and paprika. The staff and service are delightful. There's also a location in Albuquerque.

A couple of miles south of Downtown in a spacious adobe building with pitched ceilings and a charming patio, Midtown Bistro offers modern American cuisine, such as pork chops with truffle oil, crab cakes with lemon aioli, or vegan quinoa and black bean pilaf. It's a spot that delights visitors wishing to avoid the downtown Plaza crowds in high season. Lunch is more casual, with an emphasis on salads and sandwiches. A short but smart wine list delivers bottles from all over the world.

Run with homespun care by the Razatos family since 1947, this café has been a fixture on the Plaza since 1905. The food runs the gamut of New Mexican fare, including salads, sandwiches, burgers, and tacos (don't miss the delicious crispy avocado tacos). Prices have jumped significantly in recent years, but it is still a preferred stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner by locals. A South Side branch ( 3466 Zafarano Drive  505/424–0755) is also run by members of the Razatos clan and is close to Cerrillos Road hotels.

Given New Mexico's deep ties to its easterly neighbor, the Lone Star State, it's hardly surprising that the region has some top-notch barbecue joints, including this spacious, contemporary adobe building with two large patios. It turns out superb, fall-off-the-bone barbecue brisket, baby-back ribs, pulled pork, and smoked half-chicken. Fish tacos, steaks, burgers, and traditional New Mexican dishes round out the extensive menu. The Ranch House is about a 15-minute drive from the Plaza and a great option for visitors staying in hotels along Cerrillos Road.

Tiny Rowley Farmhouse Ales has won several awards at the Great American Beer Festival, including three medals for its sour-style ales, so if you like beer (any kind of beer) a stop at Rowley is a must. In addition to offering its own brews, Rowley also has an extensive list of local and imported beers and ciders that it finds inspiring, along with comfort foods like shrimp po'boys, cast-iron skillet green chile mac 'n' cheese, and chicken and waffles. Tucked off Cerrillos on a side street in an industrial-meets-residential area, it's a comfortable neighborhood spot to enjoy a beer and meal.

In a historic building toward the end of gallery row at the intersection of Canyon Road and East Palace Avenue, you'll find the Teahouse, with several bright dining rooms throughout the converted adobe home, and a tranquil outdoor seating area. In addition to fine teas from all over the world, you can find delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, including baked polenta with poached eggs and romesco sauce, bagels and lox, and wild-mushroom panini. The service tends to be leisurely but friendly.

Located right on famed Canyon Road, this Thai spot is a refreshing change of pace when you've had all the red and green chile you can handle and don't want to drop a few hundred dollars for a meal at the fancy restaurants down the block. Traditional soups, decadent noodle dishes, and flavorful curries are available both for dine-in and take-out. There really aren't too many outstanding Asian restaurants in Santa Fe so this popular spot has expanded to a second location in El Dorado, about 20 minutes outside of town.

A refreshing alternative to the many Santa Fe restaurants that favor filling (and often fattening) dishes, Vinaigrette is all about the greens. This isn't mere rabbit food, however—the hearty salads make a satisfying meal, especially when you add toppings like grilled flank steak, lemon-herb chicken breast, or griddled tofu. The apple-cheddar chop and classic French frisée salads are among the highlights. There are also fresh, house-made soups and sandwiches, and you can eat on the pleasant patio in the summer. For such a casual space, Vinaigrette is notably spendy, but devotees feel the high-quality ingredients are worth it. There are sister restaurants in Albuquerque and Austin, Texas, and the owners also run Modern General, an adjacent, hipster-approved lifestyle shop and café.