South Side

The majority of Santa Feans live on the South Side, which encompasses a vast stretch of relatively level mesa land. What this largely middle-class and in some places sprawly part of town lacks in scenic beauty—especially along traffic-choked and strip-mall-lined Cerrillos Road—it makes up for in convenient services. It’s also where you’re going to find most of the area’s mid-range and budget chain accommodations and fast-food restaurants, along with an increasing number of genuinely notable eateries, from down-home neighborhood favorites like Horseman’s Haven and Tecolote Café to inspired contemporary spots like Harry’s Roadhouse, Midtown Bistro, and Dr. Field Goods Kitchen. One burgeoning sub-neighborhood on the South Side, the Midtown Innovation District, has sprung up along Siler Road—just off Cerrillos Road—and is anchored by the spectacular new Meow Wolf art complex as well as a growing number of hip breweries, eateries, galleries, and art studios.