15 Best Bars in Santa Fe, New Mexico

More female distillers are gaining recognition in the spirits industry, and Caley Shoemaker is one of today’s most intriguing women in the business. After honing her craft at several big-name beverage companies, the Colorado native and her husband moved to Santa Fe to open their own spot just across the railroad tracks from the Santa Fe Farmers' Market. Guests are treated to a view of Lilleth, their impressive pot still, just behind a glass wall beyond the tasting room’s cocktail bar. Best known for Sigil gin and tantalizing Aradia aperitivo, the seasonal drink menu spotlights homegrown spirits, and the bottle shop sells limited-run tippling treats.

One of the state's most celebrated craft brewing companies, Bosque Brewing Co.'s Santa Fe taproom offers rotating taps including favorites such as the Jetty Jack Amber and Elephants on Parade wheat ale. The kitchen serves up beer-friendly foods ranging from nachos and deep-fried cheese curds to street tacos, burgers, and fish-and-chips. It's a great spot to relax and people-watch.

This rollicking barbecue, burger, and Southwestern soul food joint is one of the most popular places in town for live blues, country, rock, folk, and even karaoke. The bar is friendly and reasonable drink prices provide bang for your buck. The kids' patio out back keeps little ones entertained, and the fun pool hall and central outdoor patio can get wild as the night gets late.

The laid-back saloon at the Inn of the Governors serves casual fare even after most of the Downtown restaurants have closed. It also offers a full bar filled with local charm and plenty of characters. It has a laid-back vibe thanks to its old-fashioned Western decor and dark-wood paneling (warmed by the glow of a woodburning fireplace). It is a favorite of locals as well as visitors so it can fill up quickly during peak tourist season.

The bar in the Agave restaurant located within the Eldorado Hotel is stylish and contemporary, making it just as much of a hit with locals and nonguests as with those staying on the property. Smart decor and happy hour deals combined with the late-night bar-food menu—from snacks to burgers—are among Agave's key assets.

This hybrid family fun center/date night/sports bar/bowling alley in DeVargas Center truly has something for everyone. Both food and bar service are available throughout the facility, whether you're knocking down pins on the 12-lane bowling alley, cracking some bocce balls on one of two indoor courts, or chalking up your cue stick at one of the various pool tables. A couple of shuffleboard tables and some arcade games round out the experience. It's a great option for families taking a break from sightseeing or a little indoor fun on a rainy day, but it's also a lot of fun at night when things really get hopping.

The lofty rooftop perch at historic Hotel La Fonda is open only from mid-spring through mid-fall, but during the warmer months it's a lovely spot to sip cocktails while watching the sunset and surrounding mountains. The views make it very popular so try to get there during the off-hours to snag a table. Year-round, you can also enjoy outstanding margaritas and tasty bar food in lively La Fiesta Lounge, just off the hotel lobby, which also features live music.

A staple in the Downtown social scene for decades, Evangelo's can be loud and pulsing with partiers, which is just how it is meant to be. Adults of all ages enjoy live bands and downstairs pool tables in this shots-and-a-beer kind of place. The staff can be gruff but are beloved by locals.

A bit off the beaten path, about a 20-minute drive south of the Plaza right where the Turquoise Trail intersects with Interstate 25, the state's oldest brewery serves fine ales at its two-story flagship location, the Beer Hall at HQ. Food is sometimes available via an outdoor shipping container kitchen. Across the parking lot, the outdoor music venue, the Bridge, hosts live bands. Santa Fe Brewing Company also has a small downtown tasting room called the Brakeroom tucked into a historic building on Galisteo Street.

Microdistillery Santa Fe Spirits operates this convivial tasting room from a small adobe home tucked on a side street. Known for its award-winning Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey, Wheeler's Gin, and Apple Brandy, among several other robust elixirs, it's a great place to sip drinks on the cute little patio on warm evenings. Distillery tours, by reservation, are available at the main production facility out near the Santa Fe airport.

The Railyard location of this local brewpub is especially popular thanks to the easy walking distance from Downtown hotels. There's great live music (usually rock or folk) or DJs most nights along with a rotating selection of terrific beers. A substantial food menu includes good burgers and pub favorites.

The lively taproom of local favorite Second Street Brewery is located in a 20,000-square-foot building that houses a production brewery and canning line. Popular for its live music line-up, it offers an extensive pub food menu (including everything from tater tots to ramen), and has a large, dog-friendly deck. Located near Meow Wolf and other arts-focused start-ups and nonprofits, it's one of the best places to rub elbows with Santa Fe's hippest locals.

This moody bar inside the historic Hotel St. Francis has long been known for its creative craft cocktails, including a classic Manhattan with a clove tincture spritzed over the top and a popular smoked-sage margarita. Food from the restaurant next door can be enjoyed in the bar, and you can also sample superb New Mexico wines at Gruet Winery's Tasting Room, just across the hotel lobby.

At this intimate, high-ceilinged bar with a dapper art deco interior, you can sip deftly crafted cocktails and catch live jazz. It's one of the few spots serving bar food until late.

Within this large industrial building in a quiet neighborhood south of town, you'll find a lively gathering place that hosts regular live music acts, DJs, and more. Families can take advantage of the large outdoor area for kids to play and there is plenty of space for large groups inside the building. Also inside you'll find some of the region's best scratch-made beers and spirits, from Juicy IPA and Honey Hibiscus Wheat to gin and whiskey crafted with local ingredients. Pub fare is available from the on-site kitchen as well as several food trucks that rotate regularly. On busy weekends, it can get pretty crowded and the line for a drink can have you waiting a while so arrive early to enjoy a cocktail before the place starts jumping.