Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a beautiful place to visit and is best known for its rugged desert environment full of culture and some of the best Southwestern-style food in the country. This region served as the inspiration for many of the works created by Georgia O’Keeffe, who captured the brilliant red and purple mesa mountains which are the background to your view as you dine at some of the restaurants in the area.
From chicken schnitzel to crab cakes, and blue corn enchiladas, Santa Fe restaurants have it all. With many unique and charming restaurants to enjoy in the city, you will easily find a restaurant to experience what may become your favorite place to eat anywhere in the world. Looking for some hot takes and travel tips on where to find the best grub in town? Below are some of the best places in Santa Fe to eat and different cuisines to experience during your New Mexico vacation!
TL;DR
- Best family-friendly restaurant: Sweet Santa Fe
- Best restaurant with a bar: Coyote Cafe and Cantina
- Best burger joint: Santa Fe Bite
- Best Mexican restaurant: La Choza Restaurant
- Best restaurant for couples: The Staab House
- Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant: Blue Heron Restaurant
- Best fine dining: Geronimo
- Best places for breakfast: Tia Sophia’s
- Best takeout restaurant: The Shed
- Best outdoor dining: Luminaria Restaurant and Patio
Best Restaurants in Santa Fe, New Mexico
1. Sweet Santa Fe
Address: 8380 Cerrillos Rd #414, Santa Fe, NM 87507
Sweet Santa Fe is one of the most charming, family-friendly restaurants in the area, offering a cafe-style menu and delicious desserts. If you love sandwiches, salads, chips and dips, pizzas, candies, treats, homemade pies, and sweets, this is the restaurant you want to experience.
Sweet Santa Fe serves breakfast and lunch using local ingredients and state-grown products, including New Mexico lavender, green and red chile, artisan coffee beans, and Santa Fe’s “Best Bagel!” Additionally, when you want the finest locally crafted chocolate, Sweet Santa Fe should be your vacation’s first and last stop. Once you taste these decadent treats, you will find ways to drive by this sweet shop to have an excuse to stop in for more fantastic chocolate goodies.
Don’t feel like going out? Do not miss out on experiencing Santa Fe’s finest cafe menu items and sweet treats in your hotel room from Sweet Santa Fe.
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2. Coyote Cafe and Cantina
Address: 132 W Water St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Experience one of the area’s finest restaurants from a rooftop bar offering fantastic views of the surrounding landscapes. Did you know the Coyote Cafe and Cantina is one of the town’s most famous and celebrated restaurants with good food? It is a must-visit to experience what keeps others coming back multiple times to enjoy dinner and drinks and why it is a local favorite.
One of the best things about the Coyote Cafe and Cantina is the rooftop view. See Santa Fe from a new perspective and head up to the rooftop bar for a meal, appetizers, or a beverage. There is no other place in Santa Fe like this restaurant and the view makes dining at this location worth the experience.
This restaurant is one of the best places for tacos, including steak and Al Pastor tacos. Other menu items include Southwestern-inspired seafood, green chile chicken enchiladas, and tamales. When visiting New Mexico, plan to chill at this amazing location, serving some of the area’s finest menu creations at the Coyote Cafe and Cantina.
3. The Shed
Address: 113 1/2 E Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
If you are looking for the best red chile enchiladas, blue corn specialties, decadent desserts, delicious food, or great margaritas, you will want to enjoy dining at The Shed. This restaurant has a friendly atmosphere and thanks to the top-notch hospitality, everyone who dines here leaves with a full stomach and a smile on their face.
What makes the red chile enchiladas at The Shed so unique? The fact that the chiles are sourced directly from a local farm guarantees freshness. Just thinking about farm-fresh chiles and all the amazing creations available at The Shed is enough to get the taste buds going, which is one of the reasons many visitors return to this restaurant every time they are in Santa Fe.
The Shed serves lunch and dinner, and as one of the most popular restaurants in town, you must arrive at least 30 minutes before they open for dinner to get your name on the list. Otherwise, you should expect to wait up to 45 minutes to an hour before getting a table.
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4. Luminaria Restaurant and Patio
Address: 211 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Luminaria Restaurant and Patio is home to the award-winning green chile cheeseburger, one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes. However, many people rave about the truffle fries with shaved parmesan and citrusy aioli served with the burger. This restaurant is set in the Inn and Spa at Loretto Santa Fe, where visitors can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, or dessert.
One of the best things about Luminaria Restaurant and Patio is enjoying a meal out on the tranquil patio under the stars, surrounded by flowering vines and lanterns. The dining area is a beautiful setting and a must-experience when vacationing in the area, and don’t forget to try their strawberry-jalapeno margarita.
Dining at Luminaria Restaurant and Patio is an experience many locals and visitors in the area prefer because of the warm, welcoming feeling you get the moment you walk in the door. You can also enjoy the fabulous menu from Luminaria Restaurant and Patio in the comfort of your hotel room by ordering online for delivery.
5. Santa Fe Bite
Address: 1616 St. Michaels Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87505
The Santa Fe Bite is the best place in the area to get a mouthwatering burger, such as their famous green chile cheeseburger. And if cheeseburgers are not something you want, this restaurant serves amazing fresh tacos, sandwiches, and fish and chips, with a side of French or sweet potato fries.
If you can restrain yourself from overeating, save room for dessert because their milkshakes are fabulously creamy and the chocolate cake looks absolutely decadent. Or if desserts are not your thing, stick around after eating for a relaxing glass of wine or beer.
This restaurant is a small place with few tables, but the food has a significant impact, and locals and visitors go out of their way to experience the excellence of this Santa Fe staple. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, with a beer and wine list and thick rich shakes. Dine-in, patio seating, and carryout are available from Santa Fe Bite, allowing you to enjoy this restaurant’s amazing menu where you want.
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6. The Staab House
Address: 330 E Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
If you are looking for a relaxing bar experience when visiting the area, stop by the Staab House at the La Posada Resort & Spa. The bar is set in what was once the library for a Victorian mansion, and you cannot beat the ambiance of this romantic setting. Fireplaces offer places to snuggle up on loveseats, and the outdoor patio is a serene setting perfect for enjoying date night under the stars.
The master mixologists at The Staab House can create anything your heart desires from the bar. Not sure what to drink with your meal? Ask the mixologist for a recommendation you will love.
The Staab House hosts live music on select evenings that you can enjoy while eating dinner. Then after dinner, take a romantic stroll through the resort’s lush six acres with beautifully landscaped areas.
7. Blue Heron Restaurant
Address: 242 Los Pinos Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87507
In the Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort, visitors will find the Blue Heron Restaurant serving dishes infused with local flavor and tradition. This restaurant uses the finest and freshest ingredients from the Ojo Caliente Farm and others throughout the Southwest region. Visitors can enjoy a warm indoor setting with an inviting atmosphere or sit outside during the warmer months to enjoy a meal with beautiful views of the water.
Blue Heron offers visitors menus featuring locally sourced, seasonally available fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Starters, main dishes, desserts, and beverages are available to order for take out for enjoyment in your hotel room or to take to a local park for a picnic.
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8. Radish & Rye
Address: 505 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Radish & Rye is one of the best farm-to-table restaurants, serving fantastic cuisine options and the most extensive American whiskey offerings. Many visitors look forward to enjoying dinner at Radish & Rye as their farewell dinner to end their vacation; however, this restaurant is so excellent you should stop by on your first night and then plan to experience it one more time before you leave.
If you appreciate excellence, this elegant upscale restaurant is a must-experience, and you will not be disappointed. Make sure to order the chef’s signature chile corn bake, which is fantastic, and foodies also love the pan-seared trout, sea bass, and grilled asparagus. The extensive menu offers something for everyone wanting to enjoy a fine dining experience.
9. Geronimo
Address: 724 Canyon Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Geronimo is set in the heart of Canyon Road, where many visitors love to visit for a fine dining experience in a cozy 1756 adobe home. Your dining experience will surround you with thick adobe walls, wood beams, and kiva fireplaces, which help create a cozy feeling. The eclectic seasonal menu also provides unique dish creations that everyone at your party will love. Try the elk tenderloin, it really is something else!
Many people love the beautiful, historic building but end up falling in love with the entire experience after dining at this restaurant. Geronimo is a popular restaurant with limited seating, so if you plan on being in Santa Fe and want to dine at this restaurant, you can make your reservations early.
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10. Terra
Address: 198 NM-592, Santa Fe, NM 87506
Looking for incredible regional cuisine with a twist? The Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe is the home to Terra, a farm-to-table restaurant serving continental and Southwestern dishes. This fine-dining restaurant serves the best New Mexico flavors with menu items crafted with regional and global influences. Plus, you will love the elegant setting that has fantastic mountain views.
Terra’s signature dish is the steak for two and is the perfect date night dinner when paired with a glass of wine from the restaurant’s extensive wine list. Terra serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with various specialty menus available throughout the year.
11. Tia Sophia’s
Address: 210 W San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Need some good, honest food? Tia Sophia’s serves down-home northern New Mexico-style food that attracts visitors worldwide who want to come and experience authentic local cuisine. The local crowd dine at Tia Sophia’s for the delicious menu options, including their famous dishes, such as breakfast burritos, green chile stew, stuffed sopapillas, hand-held breakfast rolls, chalupas, tacos, huevos rancheros, and red and green chile.
Suppose your body is too weak to drag your carcass to Tia Sophia’s for a breakfast burrito. In that case, experience Tia Sophia’s in the comfort of your hotel room by getting that sucker delivered.
12. La Choza Restaurant
Address: 905 Alarid St, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Voted by readers of the Santa Fe Reporter, La Choza Restaurant is the #1 New Mexican restaurant in the area. Enjoy lunch or dinner in an establishment that is dedicated to preserving generations of traditional cooking, including their award-winning red and green chile.
One of the best things about dining at La Choza Restaurant is enjoying the outdoor patio during the summer and grabbing a margarita from the bar. Dining inside puts you in a cozy atmosphere with bright colors and a friendly environment, perfect for preparing your taste buds for a fantastic meal.
Want to enjoy these tasty vittles from home? Get your favorite New Mexican cuisine delivered to your door or via curbside pick-up from La Choza Restaurant.
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13. El Farol
Address: 808 Canyon Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501
El Farol is the perfect place for locals and visitors to gather with friends and family, and with a name that means “warmth” and “light,” there is no wonder why so many people love dining at this restaurant. This Spanish restaurant specializes in tapas in a unique environment with live music and entertainment. El Farol is the perfect place to grab a drink and enjoy some tapas while spending the day shopping and exploring the cute shops and galleries found along Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
Locals hail El Farol as one of Santa Fe’s most iconic and historic bars and restaurants, featuring rustic adobe vibes and an exquisite menu. You can go right with everything on the menu because everything is delicious, including the Tres Leches Cake, which is a must for dessert.
Are you ready to relax in the comfort of your hotel room after exploring Santa Fe? Ordering from El Farol is the perfect option and the restaurant’s amazing cuisine options can be delivered to your door.
14. San Marcos Cafe
Address: 3877 State Rd 14, NM-14, Santa Fe, NM 87508
Set about 25 minutes from downtown Santa Fe, the San Marcos Cafe serves down-home New Mexican-style food that everyone loves. Though this is a tiny cafe, it is very charming, and the home-cooked specialties and local favorites make it an incredible place to dine.
Some popular dishes at San Marcos Cafe include the stuffed acorn squash and huevos rancheros. Oooh… don’t forget the fresh homemade cinnamon rolls as a starter.
San Marcos Cafe serves breakfast and lunch items, perfect for enjoying when looking for a relaxed, Santa Fe-style home-cooked meal.
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15. Arroyo Vino
Address: 218 Camino La Tierra, Santa Fe, NM 87507
Arroyo Vino is an off-the-beaten-path restaurant known for serving some of the most creative New Mexico cuisine available in the area. Seasonal menus include Kaleidoscopic edible flowers and an array of fresh, locally sourced vegetables, making this a must-experience when dining in Santa Fe.
The restaurant serves dinner from Tuesday through Saturday, and the menu is available for to-go or pick-up. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and when dining outdoors, you have terrific views of the stars above.
Arroyo Vino is the premier destination in Santa Fe for visitors wanting unique dining creations and a fantastic wine selection. The wine store is where you can take some of the wines you enjoy for dinner home.
Do you want to relax in your hotel room after a long day exploring Santa Fe? Place your order online and have a mouthwatering meal from Arroyo Vino delivered to your door.
16. Dolina Bakery & Cafe
Address: 402 N Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Are you looking for a quiet breakfast and lunch spot in Santa Fe with an airy atmosphere? Dolina Bakery and Cafe is one of the city’s most beloved cafes, serving Slovakian-inspired food.
The restaurant’s vibe is laid back, providing diners with a relaxed atmosphere that keeps them coming back for more. The Hungarian goulash, made with locally sourced lamb bone broth, is one of the most popular menu items ordered and makes the trip to this restaurant worth it.
The bakery at Dolina Bakery and Cafe creates amazing house-made cakes, pastries, and pies that are a must when in Santa Fe. Even if you do not have time to dine at the cafe, stop by and pick up some sweet treats to take to your hotel room or back home.
Discover why so many locals and visitors make their way to Dolina Bakery and Cafe by enjoying great coffee, fresh baked goods, and savory homemade soups. Dine-in and takeout service is available from Dolina Bakery and Cafe.
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17. La Boca
Address: 72 W Marcy St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
La Boca is the place to go when looking for a mixture of regional Southwestern ingredients and traditional Spanish cooking techniques. When dining here, your palette will travel everywhere from New Mexico to Mexico, Spain, and back to Santa Fe. The restaurant’s extensive wine selection also features Mediterranean and South American wines.
If you want to sample traditional Southwestern cooking with a unique twist, you do not want to miss out on dining at La Boca when visiting Santa Fe. After dining at La Boca, you will see why Pasatiempo Magazine has called this restaurant the “most influential restaurant in Santa Fe.”
La Boca serves lunch and dinner, and the entire menu is available for takeout. Make your reservations for La Boca early or place your to-go order to experience this amazing restaurant’s creations as you relax and prepare for another busy day of touring Santa Fe.
18. Palacio Cafe
Address: 209 E Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
When you visit Palacio Cafe, it is like stepping into the dining room of the chef/owner, Damian Munoz because everyone is like family and you can enjoy lovely, home-style cooking! The Santa Fe-inspired sauces make Palacio Cafe so famous, and they are amazing, especially the red and green chile sauces used to smother the breakfast burritos.
But, if you are not up for enjoying these soul-satisfying sauces, you can select from various paninis, including the Cuban Reuben. The Palacio Cafe has one of the city’s most extensive lists of sandwiches available on the menu, all of which are made using the finest, and freshest Boar’s Head Premium Deli Meats and Cheeses. Sandwiches can also be served with a side of fries or a bag of chips to fill any gaps left in your tummy!
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19. Iconik Coffee Roasters, Lúpe
Address: 314 S Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Iconik Coffee Roasters is a local Santa Fe coffee shop and roaster that is a favorite morning haunt, especially for locals and visitors wanting a fantastic cup of coffee before starting their day. This restaurant also serves light, simple breakfast fare, such as granola and dukkah-spiced avocado toast, perfect for enjoying while sipping coffee. Iconik Coffee Roasters offers coffee, snacks, and desserts throughout the day.
Morning coffee is a dilemma for some (myself included). You need coffee to function in the morning, but you need to function in order to get coffee.
Luckily there is a solution – just have the iconic coffee Iconik Coffee Roasters are known for delivered to your door as you prepare for your day in Santa Fe. You’re welcome.
20. Paloma Restaurant
Address: 401 S Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
The Paloma Restaurant is an upscale Mexican restaurant with some of the best tortillas made in-house from local landrace blue corn. These tortillas enhance the flavors of the restaurant’s tacos, especially those topped with carne asada, sea bass, or cauliflower.
Known for serving the best tacos in town, the lively dishes at the Paloma Restaurant include authentic and fresh interpretations of Mexican cuisine. The menu is diverse, with many options; the biggest challenge is choosing only one meal to eat, which is why you will most likely return to this restaurant more than once during your Santa Fe vacation.
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21. Cafe Pasqual’s
Address: 121 Don Gaspar Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert in a quaint adobe structure where you can experience comfort foods made in Southwestern style at Cafe Pasqual’s. Dining at this restaurant is magical, and many locals love to go to Cafe Pasqual’s to experience dining as the vacationers do.
When dining at this restaurant, you will be surrounded by bright colors, lots of memorabilia, and everything that reminds you that you are in the heart of New Mexico. No matter what you order, you will receive a tasty meal with the same care and quality every time you dine at Cafe Pasqual’s. Portions are enormous, and you will not leave this restaurant hungry; chances are you will take some of your meals back to your hotel to snack on later.
Being a small restaurant, it can get busy. So be prepared to wait a bit, but there are plenty of shops and things to see nearby, and you will not have a problem passing the time waiting for your table. After eating lunch, stop by Cafe Pasqual’s Art Gallery next door to see some fantastic and unique collections showcasing Santa Fe artists.
22. Plaza Cafe
Address: 54 Lincoln Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
As Santa Fe’s oldest restaurant, the Plaza Cafe will take you back in time in a family-friendly retro setting serving all the finest Southwestern comfort food you can handle. This restaurant is the place to go for friendly service in a historic setting, providing you with delicious menu items, including everything from breakfast to appetizers and burgers to New Mexican cuisine.
One of the best things about dining at the Plaza Cafe is the unique menu creations crafted by the Razator family. Since its opening in 1905, this restaurant has been serving authentic traditional dishes and some unique dishes crafted by fusing the flavors of New Mexico with traditional Greek cooking. It’s also home to the Frito Pie, a Santa Fe staple!
If you want to experience a piece of Santa Fe history, while enjoying some of the best cuisine in the area, make your way to the Plaza Cafe in the downtown area. If you do not have time to enjoy dining inside the restaurant or on the patio, order Plaza Cafe to go and enjoy it at a local park or in the comfort of your hotel room.
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