3 Best Restaurants in Day Trips from Santa Fe, New Mexico

A rollicking old bar and restaurant adjacent to the Old Coal Mine Museum, this boisterous place—there's live music many nights—was a miners' commissary back in the day. Today it serves impressive burgers (available with Angus beef, Wagyu beef, buffalo, or mushroom-veggie), along pizzas, tacos, and other comfort fare. There's a fine selection of local craft beers on tap, plus first-rate margaritas. 

You can't miss the vivid murals on the building in sleepy Peñasco that houses both a vintage theater and an intimate restaurant where acclaimed chef-owners Kai Harper Leah and Ki Holste serve up tantalizing farm-to-table fare, from bountiful salads and juicy burgers to triple-layer chocolate cake. This is the best restaurant on the High Road, hands down. Espresso drinks and dessert also hit the spot. You can dine on the side patio in warm weather.

This brightly colored and elegant restaurant is a welcoming spot for a delicious lunch or dinner that's within walking distance of the city's several downtown museums and historic sites. The kitchen turns out a mix of New Mexican, American, and Continental dishes, including grilled jumbo shrimp wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon, Greek salads prepared with locally made feta, and tender steaks. Unfortunately, it's open only on weekdays.