Santa Fe Restaurants

Eating out is a major pastime in Santa Fe and it's well worth coming here with a mind to join in on the fun. Restaurants with high-profile chefs stand beside low-key joints, many offering unique and intriguing variations on regional and international cuisine. You'll find restaurants full of locals and tourists alike all over the Downtown and surrounding areas. Although Santa Fe does have some high-end restaurants where dinner for two can exceed $200, the city also has plenty of reasonably priced dining options.

Waits for tables are very common during the busy summer season, so it's a good idea to call ahead even when reservations aren't accepted, if only to get a sense of the waiting time. Reservations for dinner at the better restaurants are a must in summer and on weekends the rest of the year.

So-called Santa Fe–style cuisine has so many influences that the term has become virtually meaningless, especially with many of the city’s top eateries embracing a more international approach to cuisine, albeit all the while sourcing more and more from local farms and ranches. At many top spots in town, you’ll detect Latin American, Mediterranean, and East Asian influences. Yet plenty of traditional, old-style Santa Fe restaurants still serve authentic New Mexican fare, which combines both Native American and Hispanic traditions and is quite different from Americanized as well as regional Mexican cooking.

Santa Fe's culinary reputation continues to grow not just in terms of restaurants but also in businesses that produce or sell specialty foods and beverages, from fine chocolates and local honeys and jams to increasingly acclaimed New Mexico wines, beers, and spirits. Don't miss Santa Fe Farmers' Market, one of the best in the Southwest.

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  • 1. Coyote Cafe

    $$$$ | The Plaza

    A Santa Fe hot spot since it opened in 1987, this pioneer of contemporary Southwestern cuisine has been renovated and modernized over the last decade under the guidance of owner Quinn Stephenson. Today, the restaurant serves some of the most consistently perfectly executed cuisine in the city, led by a professional and knowledgeable culinary team. The wine list is one of the most impressive in town, and the cocktails are creative. The adjacent Coyote Cantina sits on the rooftop space and offers a lively social scene with more casual fare. On the ground floor sits the private dining room called the Den, which is available for special-occasion rentals.

    132 W. Water St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
    505-983–1615

    Known For

    • Consistently excellent food and staff
    • Impressive wine list
    • Creative cocktails

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 2. Sassella

    $$$$ | The Plaza

    Chef Cristian Pontiggia's enthusiasm and desire for perfection are both evident via the artfully presented dishes served here. The native of Lombardy, Italy, presents elegant food with some whimsical molecular gastronomy flare, and he has racked up multiple awards from the international Chaine de Rotisseurs Society. Guests can treat themselves to an eight-course prix-fixe degustation menu, which includes a smattering of house-made pastas, seafood, meat, cheeses, and dessert (wine pairing is an additional fee). The restaurant also has a full bar with Italian-inspired cocktails, and be sure to check out the on-site deli offering all kinds of wonderful Italian cured meats and cheeses to take home.

    225 Johnson St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
    505-982–6734

    Known For

    • Wide selection of amari
    • Sous-vide wild boar with asparagus and black truffle demi-glace
    • Special tasting menus and wine dinners

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Sun. No lunch Tues. and Wed.
  • 3. Whoo's Donuts

    $ | Railyard District

    With a near-fanatical following for its traditional and creative doughnuts, Whoo's offers mouth-watering flavors that incorporate outside-of-the-box combinations and local flare. For those preferring savory over sweet, try the delicious handheld breakfast burritos. A selection of organic coffee and tea is also available.

    851 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505, USA
    505-629–1678

    Known For

    • Green chile apple fritters
    • Blue corn blueberry doughnuts with lavender icing
    • Organic coffee and tea

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 4. Zacatlán

    $$$$ | Railyard District

    Chef Eduardo Rodriguez led some of Santa Fe’s most famous kitchens for nearly 25 years before opening his own eatery, naming it after the north-central Mexican region of his birth. The culinary marriage between the southwestern United States and Mexico shows up in dishes like mole negro chilaquiles (eggs, Chihuahuan cheese, black beans, chicken, and mole sauce) for brunch and whole fried snapper with crab saffron risotto, calabacitas (sautéed zucchini), and salsa Veracruz for dinner. Sweets include flan de elote and churros, and the patio is charming for brunch in warm weather.

    317 Aztec St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505, USA
    505-780–5174

    Known For

    • Southwest meets Mexico flavors
    • Intimate atmosphere
    • Fresh, creative cuisine

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Wed.
  • 5. Blake's Lotaburger

    $ | The Plaza

    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.

    404 N. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
    505-983–4915

    Known For

    • Green chile cheeseburgers
    • Thick milkshakes
    • Local family favorite
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  • 6. Dolina Cafe & Bakery

    $ | The Plaza

    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.

    402 N. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
    505-982–9394

    Known For

    • Eastern European pastries
    • Eclectic and hearty breakfast-brunch fare
    • Farm-fresh local ingredients

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No dinner
  • 7. Ecco Gelato and Espresso

    $ | The Plaza | Café

    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).

    128 E. Marcy St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
    505-986–9778
  • 8. La Lecheria Ice Cream

    $ | Railyard District

    Take a break from wandering the markets, stores, and galleries of the Railyard with an adventurous dive into seasonal ice cream flavors like red chile honey, butterscotch miso, citrus basil, and sweet corn (traditionalists can still enjoy a scoop of vanilla bean, mint chip, or chocolate sea salt). Santa Fe native Joel Coleman brings years of experience to this old-fashioned creamery that sources organic dairy and eggs, forgoing preservatives and stabilizers. La Lecheria ice creams are also sold by the pint in select stores and appear on the occasional restaurant dessert menu (visit their website for latest spots). Guests can also find baked goods in their Railyard shop. 

    500 Market St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
    505-428–0077

    Known For

    • Family-friendly atmosphere
    • Organic ingredients
    • Unusual ice cream flavors
  • 9. The Anasazi Restaurant, Bar & Lounge

    $$$$ | The Plaza

    This romantic restaurant with hardwood floors, soft lighting, and stone walls has a menu that presents upscale versions of classic fare such as steak, fish, and chicken. For a less formal vibe, have dinner and cocktails at the convivial bar or enjoy breakfast on the lively street-side patio. A tasting table in the center of the space is available for reserved private tequila tastings.

    113 Washington Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
    505-988–3030

    Known For

    • Pleasant patio in warm weather
    • Delightful cocktails and lively bar scene
    • Extensive wine and tequila lists
  • 10. The Compound

    $$$$ | East Side and Canyon Road

    This folk-art-filled restaurant, with decor by famed designer Alexander Girard, is one of the most well-known dining spots in town. The oft-changing menu is devoted to seasonal and local ingredients with a variety of meats, fish, and pastas. The extensive, and expensive, wine list will please the most discerning oenophile. Lunch is as popular as dinner with the chicken schnitzel a popular favorite. In warm weather, enjoy the charming patio while younger folks prefer sitting at the u-shaped bar that has a more social atmosphere than the dining room.

    653 Canyon Rd., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
    505-982–4353

    Known For

    • Excellent wine list
    • Small yet lively bar area
    • Cozy dining room and lovely outdoor patio

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 11. The Teahouse

    $$ | East Side and Canyon Road

    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.

    821 Canyon Rd., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
    505-992–0972

    Known For

    • Fine teas and coffees
    • Serene garden seating
    • Excellent breakfasts
  • 12. Whoo's Donuts

    $ | Railyard District | Café

    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).

    851 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505, USA
    505-629–1678

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