Food & Drink

Food & Drink in Santa Fe

Dining in Santa Fe is a culinary journey filled with vibrant flavors and cultural influences. From traditional New Mexican cuisine featuring rich red and green chile sauces to modern interpretations blending local ingredients with global techniques, Santa Fe offers something for every palate. Explore charming adobe-style restaurants tucked into historic neighborhoods, bustling cafes serving up hearty breakfasts, and upscale eateries showcasing the region’s finest ingredients. Whether you’re savoring a classic blue corn enchilada or indulging in a gourmet fusion dish, dining in Santa Fe promises to sate your appetite.

Practical Tips

  • Many spots close mid-afternoon and mid-evening; check hours.

  • Patio dining is common but the weather cools quickly after sunset.

  • For groups, secure reservations 1–2 weeks ahead, longer in summer.

Fine Dining


Santa Fe’s fine dining blends Southwestern ingredients with global technique, often in intimate adobe spaces or along Canyon Road. Expect tasting menus, deep wine lists, and polished service.

  • Geronimo • Canyon Road

    • Details: Dinner daily 4:45–11:00 pm • Price: $$$$ • Reservations: OpenTable

    • Notes: 1756 adobe setting, AAA Four Diamond. Dress code business casual.

  • Sazón • Downtown

    • Details: Dinner Mon–Sat from 5:00 pm • Price: $$$$ • Reservations: OpenTable

    • Notes: 2022 James Beard Best Chef SW. Chef’s degustación menu available.

  • The Compound • Canyon Road

    • Details: Lunch and Dinner • Price: $$$$ • Reservations: Resy

    • Notes: Mid‑century interiors, AAA Four Diamond.

  • Radish & Rye • Midtown/Guadalupe

    • Details: Dinner Tue–Sat from 5:00 pm • Price: $$$ • Reservations: OpenTable

    • Notes: Farm‑inspired cuisine, extensive bourbon list.

  • Paloma • Downtown

    • Details: Dinner Tue–Sun • Seasonal patio • Price: $$–$$$ • Reservations: Rest

    • Notes: Agave‑focused bar, handmade tortillas.

Best Brunches

A late-morning favorite here. Look for blue-corn pancakes, huevos rancheros with red, green or Christmas chile, and fresh-baked pastries. Many spots offer sunny patios and a variety of beverages (coffee, tea, matcha, etc.)

World Cuisine

Beyond New Mexican classics, find Spanish tapas, Mediterranean, Japanese, and more flavors!

  • Palace  • Downtown

    • Dishes inspired by Chef Franco’s career in some of the most notable kitchens of the world. Sourcing ingredients from local farms and ranches, fresh seafood from the coasts and beyond

  • Alkemē  • Vietnamese Cuisine Reimagined

    •  Asian elevated dining experience, culinary masterpieces that pay homage to heritage with meticulous attention to detail 

  • La Boca • Spanish tapas

    • Charcuterie, paella nights, and sherry flights.

  • Izanami at Ten Thousand Waves • Japanese izakaya

    • Shareable plates; book ahead

  • Paper Dosa • South Indian

    • Crisp dosas and uttapam; vegetarian‑friendly.

  • Jambo Café • African‑Caribbean

    • Signature stews, coconut chicken, and house hot sauce.

  • Andiamo! • Italian

    • Cozy neighborhood options with seasonal menus.

  • Leo’s • Thai & Malay 

    • Amazing Thai & Malay inspired restaurant & bar. No reservations possible.

  • Modern General • Midtown

    • Details: Breakfast and lunch daily • Price: $$

  • Tune‑Up Café • Midtown

    • Details: Daily 7 am–10 pm, Sun from 8 am • Price: $$

  • The Teahouse • Canyon Road

    • Details: Breakfast, brunch, lunch • Price: $–$$

  • Cafecito •  Baca District - Near Railyard •  Breakfast/Lunch/Brunch

    • Details: Monday to Saturday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm, Sunday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Coffee Shops


Tons of locally owned coffee shops with items for all preferences - matcha, espresso, loose teas, you name it! 

  • Iconik Coffee Roasters • Lena St,  Guadalupe St and Cerillos Rd

    • Details: Lupe daily 7:30 am–5:00 pm 

  • Ohori’s Coffee • Multiple

    • Details: Local roaster with several cafes 

  • Sky Coffee • Railyard

  • Teahouse• Canyon Rd

  • Betterday Coffee • Solana/Alameda

    • Neighborhood espresso bar with steady hours and seating; a good stop before the River Trail.

    • Details: Daily 7:00 am–5:00 pm

  • Downtown Subscription • Garcia Street (near Canyon Road)

    • Details: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm daily

  • Travel Bug• Downtown near the Plaza • Coffee, Maps, Travel Guides, Gear & more

    • Details: Monday to Saturday 9:00 - 6:00, Sunday 12:00 - 4:00

Bakeries


From French patisseries to New Mexican pan dulce, bakeries showcase laminated doughs, fruit hand pies, and chile‑infused sweets. Go early as favorites sell out by late morning. Coffee shops deliver excellent offerings too!

  • Mille• DowntownWater St.

    • Beloved French bakery; specialties and quiche.

  • Clafoutis • Midtown

    • Another French bakery; arrive early for pastries 

  • Sage Bakehouse • St. Michael’s

    • Artisanal breads and sandwiches; limited hours.

  • Dolina Café & Bakery • Midtown

    • Breakfasts from around the world, pastries

  • Chocolate Maven • Cerillos Road

    • Cafe & Bakery - like the name suggests, Chocolate Cake central!

  • Baked & Brew • Baca Street

    • Converted gas station with baked goods, coffees, teas and more!

Family-Friendly Restaurants

Relaxed spots with kids’ menus, roomy tables, and quick service. Look for breweries and cafes with patios where families and groups can spread out.

  • Second Street Brewery • Railyard and Rufina

    • Kids’ menus, roomy tables, and casual service.

  • Tune‑Up Café • Midtown

    • Friendly staff and comfort classics.

  • Blue Corn Café • Downtown

    • New Mexican staples with an easygoing vibe.

  • Atrisco Café & Bar • DeVargas Center

    • Local favorite with generous portions.

Outdoor Dining


With 300+ days of sun and cool evenings, patios are a way of life. Courtyards, rooftop views, and shaded gardens make al fresco meals comfortable from spring through fall.

  • Plaza Cafe • Downtown & Southside

    • Lovely flower lined outdoor patios at both locations.

  • La Boca • Downtown

    • Tapas with sidewalk and patio seating.

  • Paloma • Downtown

    • Courtyard patio with creative cocktails.

  • Cowgirl BBQ • Railyard area

    • Lively patio with live music schedule.

  • The Teahouse • Canyon Road

    • Shaded garden perfect for brunch or a light lunch.

Wineries & Distilleries in and around Santa Fe

Northern New Mexico’s high desert yields bright, food-friendly wines and artisanal spirits with a sense of place.


Featured Tasting Rooms and Producers:

  • Gruet Winery Tasting Room • Downtown

    • Celebrated New Mexico sparkling wines.

    • Tip: Try the extended bubbly flight.

  • Hervé Wine Bar • Off the Plaza

    • Elegant flights and small plates from the Lescombes family.

  • Vivác Winery • Dixon (about 50 minutes)

    • Estate reds and whites; lovely valley setting on the High Road.

  • Black Mesa Winery & Cidery • Velarde (45 minutes)

    • Wide range plus ciders; low-key tasting patio.

  • La Chiripada Winery • Dixon (about 50 minutes)

    • One of NM’s oldest small wineries; rustic charm.

  • Santa Fe Spirits • Distillery and tasting room

    • Colkegan mesquite-smoked single malt, Expedition vodka, barrel-aged apple brandy.

  • Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery • Rufina District

    • Creative gin and agave spirits plus live music.

Suggested Routes

  • Embudo Valley loop: Vivác, La Chiripada, Black Mesa

  • In-town tastings: Gruet, Hervé, Santa Fe Spirits

Practical Tips

  • Many rural tasting rooms are closed early or weekdays off-season; check hours.

  • Designate a driver. Distances and altitude make tastings feel stronger.

  • Summer brings heat; keep water and sun protection handy.