10 Best Restaurants in Santa Fe, New Mexico

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Having cooked at some of the best restaurants in town (Geronimo, the Old House, Anasazi), acclaimed James Beard–nominated chef Martín Rios now flexes his culinary muscles in his own simple, elegant restaurant with a gorgeous patio. Rios prepares progressive American cuisine, which is heavily influenced by his French culinary training. Dinner entrées include a delicious vegetarian-tasting plate, maple leaf duck breast, and New Zealand lamb.