13 Best Restaurants in Santa Fe, New Mexico

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.

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 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.

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 no-frills, family-owned local chain might not look like much from the outside, but its fast, fresh New Mexican cuisine is a standard favorite among northern New Mexicans. Consistently praised for its superior chile, tacos, carne adovada, and breakfast burritos by locals and national media alike, it's worth a stop for those looking for a true New Mexican food experience. The Atencio family has been serving straightforward New Mexican classics, in one form or another, since the 1950s, and they have several locations throughout the city.

Tucked behind the Giant gas station, this no-frills diner-style restaurant close to the many chain hotels along lower Cerrillos Road has long been a standout for some of the spiciest and tastiest northern New Mexican fare in town, including superb green chile-bacon-cheeseburgers, blue-corn tacos packed with beef or chicken, huevos rancheros, and the hearty plato sabroso (a 12-ounce rib steak with rolled enchilada, beans, posole, rice, and hot sopaipilla with honey). Grab one of the comfy red-leatherette corner booths or a stool at the counter, and enjoy the people-watching.

This big red food truck is a constant along Old Santa Fe Trail, serving up quick and delicious BBQ sandwiches, coleslaw, beans, and all the fixins. It's the perfect break from typical New Mexican food while still experiencing some unique local flavor.

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.

Locals congregate in the courtyard or on the front portal of Downtown Subscription, a block east of Canyon Road. A great, friendly spot to people-watch, this café-newsstand sells coffees, snacks, and pastries, plus one of the largest assortments of newspapers and magazines in town. It has lovely outdoor spaces to sit and sip during warm weather.

This airy, contemporary café across from the Downtown public library has large plate-glass windows, and brushed-metal tables inside and out on the sidewalk under the portal. Try the delicious and creative gelato flavors (strawberry-habanero, brandied cherry, fig-and-walnut, chocolate-banana) or some of the espressos and coffees, pastries, and sandwiches (roast beef and blue cheese, tuna with dill, cucumber, and sprouts).

Begun by Jeff and Kari Keenan, the talents behind the terrific artisan shop ChocolateSmith, which is next door and also well worth investigating for a sweet snack, Whoo's has developed a near-fanatical following for its traditional as well as creative doughnuts (maple-bacon with dark-chocolate glaze and chile-brown sugar, blueberry-jelly with cherry glaze, white-chocolate pistachio), which are prepared daily from scratch, sourcing organically as much as possible. Get here early—Whoo's is open daily from 7 until 3 (or until that day's doughnuts have sold out).