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$$$ | The Plaza |
This cheerful cubbyhole is owned by James Beard Award–winning chef and cookbook author Katharine Kagel, who champions organic, local ingredients, and whose expert kitchen staff produces mouthwatering breakfast and lunch specialties like huevos motuleños (eggs in a tangy tomatillo salsa with black beans and fried bananas) and mahi-mahi tostadas. Dinner offerings range from chicken enchiladas to warm Thai noodle salad. The café's shop offers souvenirs such as cookbooks, aprons, and baseball caps, and there's an art gallery next door selling bronzes, ceramics, glassware, and more. Don't be surprised by the lines out front—it is on every tourist list for a reason (reservations are available for dinner only and strongly recommended).
121 Don Gaspar Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Smoked trout on potato pancakes
- Colorful folk art and murals
- Long waits without reservations (only available for dinner)
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$$$$ | The Plaza |
A Santa Fe hot spot since it opened in 1987, this pioneer of contemporary Southwestern cuisine has been renovated and modernized over the last decade under the guidance of owner Quinn Stephenson. Today, the restaurant serves some of the most consistently perfectly executed cuisine in the city, led by a professional and knowledgeable culinary team. The wine list is one of the most impressive in town, and the cocktails are creative. The adjacent Coyote Cantina sits on the rooftop space and offers a lively social scene with more casual fare. On the ground floor sits the private dining room called the Den, which is available for special-occasion rentals.
132 W. Water St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Consistently excellent food and staff
- Impressive wine list
- Creative cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | The Plaza |
Since its 2021 opening, this family-owned and -run restaurant has quickly become one of Santa Fe's favorite dining spots, thanks to chef David Sellers's reputation for great food and his goal of ensuring that Horno remains attainable for locals. Unlike the sticker shock many downtown eateries impose, Horno has a seasonal, rotating menu of delectable street food dishes with global influences at decent prices. It is also one of the few spots open on Monday year-round, making it the go-to hang-out spot when most other restaurants are closed. Sellers was also crowned winner of the popular annual TACO WARS competition in both 2019 and 2023.
95 West Marcy St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Interesting and varied wine list
- Convivial atmosphere
- Constantly changing menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch
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$$$ | The Plaza |
An eight-time James Beard nominee, chef/owner James Campbell Caruso is known for his authentic yet creatively updated Spanish tapas, which are served at both his intimate dining room called La Boca, and the more lively, bustling Spanish pub located directly behind it and aptly named Taberna. La Boca has a more leisurely and romantic vibe and its big windows look out onto fashionable Marcy Street, while Taberna offers a livelier, communal atmosphere featuring live music and ample seating, spilling out into a cloistered courtyard. A full meal in either spot can also include authentic paella, and both areas are similarly priced, though the main restaurant is a tad more expensive. In both, you'll find a long list of fine Spanish wines and sherries. La Boca Bodega is another addition where guests can buy olive oils, spices, chorizo, and more. It also features a coffee bar that serves bocadillos (sandwiches), pastries, and charcuterie boards.
72 W. Marcy St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Fine Spanish meats and cheeses
- Extensive selection of authentic Spanish tapas
- Nice variety of Spanish sherries
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$$$ | 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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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | The Plaza |
Expect to wait in line at this downtown eatery that's been family operated since 1953, serving flavorful New Mexican food and popular margaritas. Even if you're a devoted green chile fan, definitely try the locally grown red chile the place is famous for; it is rich and earthy, with a bit of spice. Other specialties include red chile enchiladas, green chile stew with potatoes and pork, and charbroiled Shedburgers. The large selection of soups and salads will appeal to all visitors, and be sure to save room for their famous mocha cake. The rambling, low-doored, and atmospheric adobe dating from 1692 is decorated with folk art, and they have kept prices remarkably fair considering the iconic location.
113½ E. Palace Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Red-chile enchiladas and posole
- Mocha cake
- Historic adobe setting dating from 1692
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$ | The Plaza |
This family-run downtown joint has been in operation since 1974, serving some of the area's best New Mexican breakfasts and lunches. Order anything and expect a true taste of local tradition, including perfectly flaky, light sopaipilla; Tia's delicious burritos stuffed with homemade chorizo disappear fast on Saturday so get there early. Mammoth chile-smothered breakfast burritos will hold you over for hours on the powdery ski slopes during winter. Be aware that the red and green chiles are spicy and you're expected to understand this elemental fact of local cuisine.
210 W. San Francisco St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Huge breakfast burritos
- Popularity with locals
- Traditional New Mexican cuisine, down to the fiery chiles
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$ | 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
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$ | The Plaza |
The cities of Oaxaca and Santa Fe actually have several things in common (a thriving art scene, a complex history, and fantastic food), and this modern Mexican eatery brings a bite of Oaxacan culture into its dishes based upon Mesoamerican culinary traditions. A tribute to the cuisine of its namesake region, the star of the show here is, of course, mole, which you can enjoy with a number of mouthwatering sauces over meats and vegetables. Diners can also choose from authentic tacos, burritos, and quesadillas with dine-in and take-out options.
135 West Palace Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Variety of creative mole sauces
- Festive and colorful interior
- Fantastic tacos
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed. No dinner Sun.
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$$$$ | The Plaza |
The Southwestern-accented and Mediterranean fare created by chef Jose Rodriguez here is beautifully presented, and the scenery, especially during the warmer months, is part of the charm. Get a table on the patio surrounded by hollyhocks, flowering shrubs, and centuries-old adobe walls, or for a musical meal (evenings only), sit in the restaurant's adjacent Club Legato, which features live jazz and talented singers. Some favorite entrées include Moroccan lamb tagine or pan-seared ruby trout. An impressive on-site wine shop sells many of the estimable vintages offered on the restaurant's wine list.
125 E. Palace Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Perfect Moroccan lamb tagine
- Gorgeous patio and live jazz in bar
- On-site wine shop
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$$ | The Plaza |
Run with homespun care by the Razatos family since 1947, this café has been a fixture on the Plaza since 1905. The food runs the gamut of New Mexican fare, including salads, sandwiches, burgers, and tacos (don't miss the delicious crispy avocado tacos). Prices have jumped significantly in recent years, but it is still a preferred stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner by locals. A South Side branch ( 3466 Zafarano Drive 505/424–0755) is also run by members of the Razatos clan and is close to Cerrillos Road hotels.
54 Lincoln Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Known For
- Great vegetarian options
- Retro diner charm
- Breakfast all day
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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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
