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$$$$ | The Plaza |
A Santa Fe hot spot since it opened in 1987, this pioneer of contemporary Southwestern cuisine has been renovated and modernized over the last decade under the guidance of owner Quinn Stephenson. Today, the restaurant serves some of the most consistently perfectly executed cuisine in the city, led by a professional and knowledgeable culinary team. The wine list is one of the most impressive in town, and the cocktails are creative. The adjacent Coyote Cantina sits on the rooftop space and offers a lively social scene with more casual fare. On the ground floor sits the private dining room called the Den, which is available for special-occasion rentals.
132 W. Water St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Consistently excellent food and staff
- Impressive wine list
- Creative cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | East Side and Canyon Road |
This bastion of sophisticated contemporary cuisine occupies the historic Borrego House, built in 1756 by Geronimo Lopez, a massive-walled Canyon Road adobe with intimate white dining rooms, beamed ceilings, wood floors, fireplaces, and cushioned bancos (banquettes). It's a popular destination for a special meal, perhaps local rack of lamb with roasted leeks and a Merlot–natural jus reduction or mesquite grilled Maine lobster tails with a creamy garlic chile sauce. Desserts are artful and rich and the wine list is extensive. The restaurant is known for both its cuisine and its highly refined service, along with steep prices to match. In summer you can dine under the front portal; in winter the bar with fireplace has a sexier, less formal vibe.
724 Canyon Rd., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Sophisticated contemporary fare
- Beautiful 18th-century Canyon Road adobe setting
- Cozy bar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | The Plaza |
Owner Quinn Stephenson (who also owns fine dining institution Coyote Cafe) now runs this long-acclaimed member of Santa Fe's culinary vanguard with a lighter menu focused on fresh, fusion cuisine, and it remains one of Santa Fe's must-eat destinations. The minimalist, elegant restaurant is located two blocks north of the Plaza in the historic Padre Gallegos House and offers inventive dishes from chef Dale Kester. The playful bronze animal sculptures found both indoors and out add an earthy-yet-ethereal atmosphere. The inviting shaded patio is pretty, quiet, and the place to see-and-be-seen during warm weather while the private dining room seats about 12 and can be rented out for special occasions.
231 Washington Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- One of the city's dining institutions
- Fantastic patio popular with locals and visitors alike
- Creative cocktails and impressive wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.
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$$$$ | The Plaza |
Chef Cristian Pontiggia's enthusiasm and desire for perfection are both evident via the artfully presented dishes served here. The native of Lombardy, Italy, presents elegant food with some whimsical molecular gastronomy flare, and he has racked up multiple awards from the international Chaine de Rotisseurs Society. Guests can treat themselves to an eight-course prix-fixe degustation menu, which includes a smattering of house-made pastas, seafood, meat, cheeses, and dessert (wine pairing is an additional fee). The restaurant also has a full bar with Italian-inspired cocktails, and be sure to check out the on-site deli offering all kinds of wonderful Italian cured meats and cheeses to take home.
225 Johnson St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Wide selection of amari
- Sous-vide wild boar with asparagus and black truffle demi-glace
- Special tasting menus and wine dinners
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun. No lunch Tues. and Wed.
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$$$$ | Railyard District |
Chef Eduardo Rodriguez led some of Santa Fe’s most famous kitchens for nearly 25 years before opening his own eatery, naming it after the north-central Mexican region of his birth. The culinary marriage between the southwestern United States and Mexico shows up in dishes like mole negro chilaquiles (eggs, Chihuahuan cheese, black beans, chicken, and mole sauce) for brunch and whole fried snapper with crab saffron risotto, calabacitas (sautéed zucchini), and salsa Veracruz for dinner. Sweets include flan de elote and churros, and the patio is charming for brunch in warm weather.
317 Aztec St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505, USA
Known For
- Southwest meets Mexico flavors
- Intimate atmosphere
- Fresh, creative cuisine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Wed.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | The Plaza |
The Southwestern-accented and Mediterranean fare created by chef Jose Rodriguez here is beautifully presented, and the scenery, especially during the warmer months, is part of the charm. Get a table on the patio surrounded by hollyhocks, flowering shrubs, and centuries-old adobe walls, or for a musical meal (evenings only), sit in the restaurant's adjacent Club Legato, which features live jazz and talented singers. Some favorite entrées include Moroccan lamb tagine or pan-seared ruby trout. An impressive on-site wine shop sells many of the estimable vintages offered on the restaurant's wine list.
125 E. Palace Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Perfect Moroccan lamb tagine
- Gorgeous patio and live jazz in bar
- On-site wine shop
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$$$$ | Railyard District |
Set in a rustic yet modern space, Radish & Rye stands out both for its deftly crafted American food and one of the best small-batch bourbon selections in the Southwest. The kitchen focuses on "farm-inspired" victuals—seasonally rotating dishes like roasted beets and labneh cheese with piñon vinaigrette, and grilled local pork chops with bacon, polenta, and wild mushrooms. Be sure to choose one or two of the tasty sides, such as duck-fat fingerling potatoes, bourbon-pickled jalapeños, or green chile corn bake. Already eaten dinner elsewhere? Stop in for a slice of bourbon pecan pie with crème Anglaise and chantilly or an Abuelito cocktail (Buffalo Trace bourbon, smoked dark tobacco, Carpano Antica, and bitters).
505 Cerillos Rd., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Local and seasonal ingredients
- Bourbon pecan pie
- Encyclopedic list of small-batch bourbons
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | The Plaza |
Having cooked at some of the best restaurants in town (Geronimo, the Old House, Anasazi), acclaimed James Beard–nominated chef Martín Rios now flexes his culinary muscles in his own simple, elegant restaurant with a gorgeous patio. Rios prepares progressive American cuisine, which is heavily influenced by his French culinary training. Dinner entrées include a delicious vegetarian-tasting plate, maple leaf duck breast, and New Zealand lamb.
526 Galisteo St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Daily-changing vegetarian tasting plate
- Wine and cocktails made with local spirits
- Attractively landscaped patio
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
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$$$$ | The Plaza |
James Beard Award-winning, Mexico City–born chef Fernando Olea has been working his culinary magic at different Santa Fe restaurants since 1991 and now offers his upscale take on regional Mexican fare, complete with an exhaustive list of artisan tequilas and mezcals, at Sazón. Within the handsome dining room warmed by a kiva fireplace and filled with Frida Kahlo and Day of the Dead–inspired artwork, the focus is on one of Mexico's greatest dishes, mole. The waitstaff begin the dining experience with a sampling of mole sauces and small, fluffy tortillas to try each one—you can then order one of the night's featured proteins with whichever mole you prefer. You can also try the chef's prix-fixe (degustation) menu, and don't miss the infamous "Sopa de Amor" of poblano chile cream, blue crab, and Amaretto whipped cream. Save room for the unabashedly rich Volcán de Chocolate cake and the surprising helado de mole poblano (hickory-smoked mole poblano ice cream in chocolate).
221 Shelby St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- House-made mole sauces
- Chef's set degustation menu
- Encyclopedic selection of artisan mezcals
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch
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$$$$ | The Plaza |
This romantic restaurant with hardwood floors, soft lighting, and stone walls has a menu that presents upscale versions of classic fare such as steak, fish, and chicken. For a less formal vibe, have dinner and cocktails at the convivial bar or enjoy breakfast on the lively street-side patio. A tasting table in the center of the space is available for reserved private tequila tastings.
113 Washington Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Pleasant patio in warm weather
- Delightful cocktails and lively bar scene
- Extensive wine and tequila lists
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$$$$ | 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
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.
