25 Best Restaurants in Southwestern New Mexico, New Mexico

Once the rambunctious West Bar, this vintage 1900 building has been restored, revealing formerly hidden charms, like the original plank floors. The dancehall side is now a coffeehouse, which serves tempting blueberry muffins and hearty lunch fare, such as roast beef panini, accented with pepper-jack cheese and Dijon mustard. The Old Crow mirror from the former bar hangs on one wall, and bookish sorts should note the collection of rare and unusual Southwest lit for sale. Be sure to step through to the bar side, which displays local artwork (Holly Modine's cleverly formed baskets, Debra Nudson's brilliantly hued rag rugs). The rack of travel brochures and friendly service makes this a useful stop for those heading farther along U.S. 60.

Come here to see 1860s Western decor and stay for the food—including some of the best steak and seafood in the region. The bar is a friendly place to gather; the dining rooms are cozy, the tablecloths white, and the walls replete with photos from the last 140 years of the area's history. The property also includes the Opera House, where live music is performed (on Friday and Saturday at 8).

Pronounced cho-pez, it looks like a run-of-the-mill adobe building from the outside, but inside the 150-year-old former Benavidez homestead you'll find happy locals and many turistas eating well-seasoned Mexican food and drinking ice-cold beer and tasty margaritas. Bikers join the convivial crowd in the bar next door; like the restaurant, it's still owned by the Benavidez family. It's worth the 15-mi drive south from Old Mesilla for the local flavor.

The entry to this homey spot sports a hand-painted sign proclaiming "Home cooking on the great divide." And so it is. Owner-chef Michael Rawls enjoys his work, and locals and visitors appreciate his culinary skills. First check the Daily Pie Chart—consider the signature New Mexican apple pie (piñon nuts and green chile make it special) or seasonal peach walnut crumb—before you fill up on the main course side of the menu. Daily Pie opens early in the morning and usually closes by 3. Trusty breakfast and lunch dishes (and an occasional Friday-night special) include good tomato-onion-cheese omelets and burritos packed with ham, eggs, and cheese. There's a sweet cabin for rent out back (daily or longer).

Chandeliers, century-old wall tapestries, and gold-leaf ceilings set the scene at this elegant restaurant inside an 1848 mansion on Old Mesilla's plaza. Some say ghosts, including one of a young man who incurred his mother's wrath by falling in love with a servant girl, haunt the property. Continental cuisine, steaks, and flambé dishes are served, formally, in the main restaurant. The restaurant has its own aging room for its renowned steaks, and you can sample all sorts of delicious alcoholic infusions from the bar (the chile vodka makes a fantastic Bloody Mary). Pepper's, the adjoining Southwestern-style café, has more casual fare including chiles rellenos served with colorful tortilla chips. The Double Eagle Sunday Champagne brunch is excellent and a good deal (reservations are recommended).

"Life goes on and days go by. That's why you should stop for pie." Such is the motto of one of New Mexico's memorable roadside stops. In this one-time trading post, owner Kathy Knapp serves light meals (grilled cheese spiked with green chile, vegetarian soup, spinach quesadillas) from late morning through midafternoon, but pie is her stock in trade. She bakes at least 12 varieties daily—she's nimble with whatever's in season (fresh-picked plums are a special treat), and most days you can count on oven-fresh apple, cherry, chocolate cream, lemon meringue, and banana cream. On some Sunday afternoons folks dawdle on the porch, and there might be live music; a small art gallery completes the scene. The little log-cabin guesthouse just up the road is Pie-O-Neer-owned; ask about rates.

Alotta Gelato. Made on-site, the gelato here is creamy and delicious. Flavors change regularly; espresso, chocolate hazelnut, and a very unordinary vanilla are regulars, as are sorbets like raspberry and mango. It's open late if you need a nighttime snack.

Best bets here are the specials, which might include homemade ravioli Fra Diavolo with full-bodied, spicy sauce. But the kitchen, and the service, can be uneven, and folks who arrive from afar with high expectations from its buzz-worthy early days might be disappointed. Here in tiny T or C though, it is still a standout. Wood-fired pizzas, Pomodoro linguini (order it when tomatoes are in season), a good bruschetta, and a varied regional beer list are highlights, as are the zesty, deep-flavored fruit sorbets (blood orange, berry). There's an interesting wine list, too. The renovated building, with a gorgeous pressed-copper ceiling, makes for an appealing frontier-meets-modern vibe.

This beloved local joint—it opened as Scoopy's in the 1990s and longtime fans still call it that—offers all kinds of mix-ins (such as regional faves, salted and unsalted pecans) and toppings to embellish the luscious custard-style ice cream. Chili dogs are among the savory treats. There are three locations in Las Cruces.

Here's a great little place to stop on NM 12 in the northwestern reaches of the Gila National Forest. Not just because of the spicy enchiladas and chicken-fried steak, but because once you leave the hamlet of Reserve, New Mexico (population about 500), dinner options are scarce—Quemado is about 55 miles to the north. Alma and Glenwood are about 40 miles south.

Fresh flowers grace the wooden tables and light streams through the large windows at this cheerful bakery and eatery. Owner Diane Barrett's menu includes Hatch-green-chile Benedict, "Grandma's" spaghetti, steaks, and a deftly prepared lemon-caper chicken. The sandwiches are all made with wonderfully tasty house-baked bread; if you're in the mood for something sweet, don't hesitate—this chef really shines when it comes to desserts. Bottled microbrews and well-chosen wines are available. There's a popular Sunday Champagne brunch.

For a family evening out with no worries about the kids being loud or throwing their peanut shells on the floor, Farley's is the place. Choose from a huge menu of basic pub victuals: popcorn shrimp, burgers and sandwiches, salads, wood-fired pizzas, all sorts of appetizers, and, of course, beer. There are TVs everywhere, plus a few video games and pool tables.

Tuck away the breakfast burrito in a sundried-tomato tortilla; the spinach, onion, and feta cheese omelet; the kielbasa scramble; or one of the tasty bagels, and you'll be sated for hours—there's potent coffee, too. Lunch options include soups, salads, and sandwiches. Try the hummus or grilled polenta-and-provolone sandwiches, or build your own. This is a cozy spot with a handful of tables and no pretensions, but a pleasant patio doubles the size.

Owner Ray Hodges believes in hearty food and lots of it—so if you're in the mood for a heaping plate of thick barbecued pork ribs, cube steak, or deep-fried fish, this is the place for you. Late in the day, the ultracasual dining area is usually filled with hungry anglers who've stopped to relax and chow down after a day of fishing. Come in earlier in the day to buy a bucket of home-fried chicken to take with you to the lake.

The Mesa family serves up hunger-busting traditional Mexican food here, all based on old family recipes. Enchiladas and chiles rellenos (ask for the green chile on the rellenos—strangely, they charge extra for it, but it's worth it) satisfy big appetites in the cheerful dining rooms decorated with art from local artists and packed with families.

Although the food menu is scant at this quirky java spot, the coffees are good and the space comfortable for spreading out and sipping. There's free Wi-Fi.

Wander off the main drag into this place and you'll realize that it's a well-kept secret among locals. The New Mexican food here is really good, and really inexpensive. Don't be put off by the lack of charm on the outside; order at the counter, sit down at a table, and wait for the friendly staff to bring you a plate of their wonderful food. The burrito plate with red chile is big and mouthwatering, and the combo plates are H-U-G-E. Don't miss what may be the very best sopaipillas in all of New Mexico—light, flaky, and soooo good with honey.

Once a way station for the Butterfield Overland Mail and Wells Fargo stagecoaches, this restaurant in an old adobe structure has hosted many celebrities through the years, including Bob Hope and Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. Some of the Mexican recipes here date back more than a century; among the best menu choices are tostadas compuestas (red or green chile, meat, and pinto beans in tortilla shells), and enchiladas with red or green chile. Exotic birds and tropical fish inhabit the lushly planted atrium.

This light-filled corner space specializes in local, organic produce and good-for-you packaged goods. Delicious breakfasts and light lunches are also featured—think salads, soups, and tasty sandwiches. And they make a mean smoothie. Eat here in one of their booths, or take your feast with you on a picnic.

Juicy, thick steaks and seafood (from lobster to blackened catfish) are the draws at this old-school, white-stucco establishment with Spanish-style arches across the facade. Steaks are aged in-house and are reliably good. The Southwest decor is enhanced by a cactus garden. Homemade soups, desserts, and freshly baked bread add to the aromas and the cheery ambience. The bar is a popular hangout.

Hearty, delicious fare including steaks, burgers, hot sandwiches, homemade pie, Mexican pineapple cake, and delicious milk shakes are served on red-and-white checkered tablecloths here. The place is usually busy with all sorts of characters, all of whom seem very happy to be here. Service is a bit harried, but friendly.

Craft beers and classic comfort fare that favors locally grown ingredients are the draws at this bustling spot with a smart layout, excellent service, and inviting outdoor dining—complete with a view over the Mesilla Valley. Pecan wood is used for grilling steak and chicken, and burgers and rib-eyes come smothered with green chile and Amber Ale–grilled onions. Try the Napa salad, with just the right balance of candied pecans and fresh greens.

The exterior isn't much, but once inside you're given the chance to sample some serious local heat. This is Hatch, after all, and if you're game, you can tuck into some tasty authentic Mexican and New Mexican fare—enchiladas, rellenos, chilaquiles—here, produced with chiles grown in the area. Not every dish will light your lips on fire—just ask the helpful staff for suggestions tailored to your penchant for heat.

This microbrewery and restaurant is right on the main drag and is almost always full of happy locals drinking good beer and eating calzones, thin-crust pizzas, homemade soups, and big, fresh salads. It's hard to go wrong here, unless you're in a hurry. "Hurry" isn't on this menu, though the service is friendly.

This cheap and simple insider's favorite offers drive-through, carryout, or eat-in dining. If you choose the latter, step inside the bustling mural-lined space, sit down at one of the solid wood tables. Wherever you dine, take your pick from a menu that wanders from basic biscuits-and-gravy to fajitas combo plates to barbecue ribs with plenty of side dishes. Leave room for cherry pie or chocolate cake for dessert.