© 2020 History in Santa Fe
Website images courtesy of the Palace of the Governors and La Herencia Photo Archives.
Menu
Menu
Santa Fe has an unusually high number of really good and diversified restaurants for a such a small town. First and foremost, are the numerous restaurants that serve northern New Mexican cuisine, which is a blend of Native American, Spanish and Mexican food. The foundation of our local cuisine is the red and green chile. In fact, the red chile ristra that you see hanging in front of buildings and homes has become a ubiquitous Santa Fe tradition. New Mexico boasts as being the chile capital of the world and it’s a multi-million-dollar industry. Chile was introduced to the state during the 16th century by the Mexican Indian servants who accompanied the Spanish colonists to the region. The Pueblo Indians quickly adopted chile into their diets, as well as the Anglo settlers in the 19th century. Locally grown chile, primarily from the southern part of the state, is harvested in the autumn. The green chile peppers are roasted and then frozen for use in popular dishes throughout the year. The rest of crop is allowed to ripen and then dried for red chile dishes. The three most popular New Mexican restaurants frequented by our visitors are The Shed, Tomasitas and La Choza. Please note that all three of these establishments are closed on Sunday. Two New Mexican restaurants open on Sunday in proximity to the Santa Fe plaza are Atricos and Maria’s Mexican Kitchen. There are numerous restaurants around town serving New Mexican food that are all very good.
Many of us old-time locals often venture north to eat New Mexican food that’s reminiscent of our childhood, since some of these dishes are no longer served in Santa Fe restaurants. A good example of authentic New Mexican cuisine can be found in Las Comidas de los Abuelos,
(The Foods of Our Grandparents), which I published in 2003. The cookbook features 490 authentic New Mexican recipes by local contributors.
Many of us old-time locals often venture north to eat New Mexican food that’s reminiscent of our childhood, since some of these dishes are no longer served in Santa Fe restaurants. A good example of authentic New Mexican cuisine can be found in Las Comidas de los Abuelos,
(The Foods of Our Grandparents), which I published in 2003. The cookbook features 490 authentic New Mexican recipes by local contributors.
The Santa Fe Farmer’s Market and La Montañita Co-op Food Market contribute to the vitality of the city’s fabled food reputation. All of the cultural festivals during the summer’s high season feature food booths and food trucks serving an array of food that caters to just about everyone.
In September Santa Fe hosts the Wine & Chile festival that showcases, not only our chile, but New Mexico’s burgeoning wine industry, as well. Food tours and food trucks are plentiful around Santa Fe throughout the year.
There are approximately five hundred restaurants in Santa Fe. The list below is broken down by location, type of cuisine and excludes fast food and chain restaurants.
Agoyo lounge – Southwestern – innonthealameda.com/agoyo-lounge
Anasazi Restaurant – Southwestern –rosewoodhotels.com/en/inn-of-the-anasazi-santa-fe/dining/anasazi-restaurant
Blue Corn Café -Brewery & Restaurant – bluecorncafe.com
Bouche Bistro – French – bouchebistro.com
Bull Ring – Steakhouse & Fine Dinning – santafebullring.com
Bumble Bee’s Baja Grill – Mexican – bumblebeesbajagrill.com
Burrito Company – New Mexican –burritocompanysf.com
Cafe des Artiste – French – http://www.cafedesartistessf.com/about.html
Cage Pasqual’s – Mexican & Southwestern – pasquals.com
Chez Mamou – French – chezmamou.net
Chopstix Oriental – Chinese – facebook.com/Chopstix-Oriental-Food-To-Go-
Coyote Café – Southwestern – coyotecafe.com
Del Charro – Southwestern – delcharro.com
Dinner for Two – Bistro – dinnerfortwonm.com – *Fabulous tableside Cesar Salad!
Dolina Bakery & Cafe – dolinasantafe.com – *Love their Banana Cream Pie!
Dumpling Tea – No website, 66 E. San Francisco – 646-945-5000
El Flamenco – entreflamenco.com – *Flamenco performances.
El Meson – Spanish – elmeson-santafe.com -*Live entertainment.
Estevan – Regional – estevanrestaurante.com
Fiesta Oaxaca – Mexican – http://www.fiestaoaxacasantafe.com
Fire & Hops – Upscale Pub – fireandhopsgastropub.com
French Pastry Shop – French – thefrenchpastryshop.com
La Plancha – Latin American – laplanchadeeldorado.com
IL Vicino – Italian – ilvicino.com
Izmi Sushi – facebook.com/pages/category/Sushi-Restaurant/izmi-sushi-224884777717/
Julia – American/Southwestern – laposadadesantafe.com/dining/julia-spirited-restaurant-bar
La Boca – Spanish – labocasantafe.com – *Love their grilled artichokes!
La Casa Sena – American & New Mexican – lacasasena.com – *Singing waiters.
La Plazuela – American & New Mexican – lafondasantafe.com/la-plazuela – *Unique setting.
Los Magueyes – Mexican – los-magueyes.letseat.at
Market Steer Steakhouse – hotelstfrancis.com/dining-nightlife
Mucho Gusto – Mexican – muchogustosantafe.com
Old House – American – eldoradohotel.com/dining-nightlife
Ortiz Restaurant – Southwestern – hilton.com/en/hotels/sfehihf-hilton-santa-fe-historic-plaza/dining
Osterria D’ Assisi – Italian – osteriadassisi.com
Palace Prime – Steak & Seafood – palaceprimesf.com
Palacio Café – New Mexican & American – palaciosantafe.com
Pink Adobe – thepinkadobe.com
Plaza Café – New Mexican, Greek & American – plazacafesantafe.com -*Established in 1947, a true plaza landmark!
Rio Chama – Steak House & Fine Dining –riochamasteakhouse.com
Rooftop Pizzeria – Italian –rooftoppizzeria.com
Santa Café – Fine Dining – santacafe.com *Historic building with great patio!
Santa Fe Farmer’s Market Café – American – santafefarmersmarket.com/cafe
Santarepa Cafe- Latin American – https://www.santarepacafe.com
Sassella – Italian – sassellasantafe.com
Sazón – Mexican – sazonsantafe.com
Staab House – Upscale bar fare – laposadadesantafe.com/dining/the-staab-house
The Burger Stand – Burgers – burgerstandnm.com
The Shed – New Mexican –sfshed.com – *Long wait times, try and go during off hours.
Thunderbird Bar & Grill – Mexican & American – thunderbirdsantafe.com
Tia Sophia’s – tiasophias.com
Trattoria A Mano -Italian – trattoriaamano.com
Upper Crust Pizza – Italian – uppercrustpizza.com
Vanessie – American – fenixvanessiesantafe.com *Doug Montgomery on the piano, a true Santa Fe tradition!
Atrisco Café & Bar – New Mexican – atriscocafe.com -*You’ll meet Locals!
Crackin Crab – Seafood – crackin-crab-santa-fe
Hilltop Bar & Grill – lodgeatsantafe.com/dining-nightlife across from mall
Jinja Bar & Bistro – Asian Fusion – jinjabistro.com -* You’ll meet Locals!
Sabor Peruano – Peruvian – saborperuanosf.com/
Santa Fe Bar & Grill – Southwestern – santafebargrill.com -*Try their homemade peanut butter ice cream pie!
Betterday Coffe Shop – thebetterday.us
Masa Sushi – no website – 982-2334 – *I’ve enjoyed their sushi for twenty years!
Milad Betterday Kitchen – Persian – miladbistro.com
Montañita Coop – lamontanita.coop
Pho Kim – Vietnamese – no website – 505-820-6777
Valentina’s – Mexican – no website – 505-988-7165 – *Mariachi Music Wednesday & Thursday evening!
Amaya @ Hotel Santa Fe -Native American/Southwestern – hotelsantafe.com/amaya
Andiamo – Italian – andiamosantafe.com
Boxcar – American/Southwestern – boxcarsantafe.com
Cafecito – International – cafecitosantafe.com
Counter Culture – counterculturesantafe.com
Cowgirl – Barbeque & Comfort Food – cowgirlsantafe.com – *Live entertainment.
Joseph’s of Santa Fe- Fine Dining – josephsofsantafe.com
Kohnami – Japanese – kohnamirestaurant.com
La Choza – New Mexican – lachozasf.com
Luminaria – Southwestern – hotelloretto.com/eat-drink/luminaria-restaurant-patio
Paloma – Mexican – palomasantafe.com
Railyard Second Street Brewery & Restaurant – secondstreetbrewery.com/the-railyard
Tomasitas – New Mexican – tomasitas.com
Tune-Up Café – tuneupsantafe.com – *Across St. Francis Drive.
Whole Hog – Barbeque – wholehogcafenm.com
Caffe Grecco – New Mexican & American – caffegrecosantafe.com
El Farol – Spanish elfarolsantafe.com -*Flamenco Performances/Live Entertainment
Geronimo – Fine Dining –geronimorestaurant.com
Museum Hill Café – museumhillcafe.net -* At Museum Hill, great view!
The Compound – Fine Dining – compoundrestaurant.com – * Restaurant designed by Alexander Girard. Lunch in the garden an absolute delight!
The Teahouse – Tea & Food – teahousesantafe.com -*Start your gallery crawl here.
Clafoutis – French – clafoutis.biz
Cleopatras – Mediterranean – cleopatrasantafe.com
Dulce – Bakery – dulcebakery.com
Love Your Body Vegan Café & Deli – bodyofsantafe.com
Maria’s – New Mexican – marias-santafe.com * Try their margarita menu.
Mariscos La Playa – Seafood – no website – 505-982-2790
Modern General – Bakery, Juice Bar & Lunch – moderngeneralfeedandseed.com
New Baking Company – Bakery & Lunch – facebook.com/pages/The-New-Baking-Co-1165326013579222
Radish & Rye – Fine Dining – radishandrye.com
Restaurant Martín – Fine Dining – restaurantmartin.com
Paper Dosa – Southern Indian – paper-dosa.com
Pizza Centro – Italian – pizzacentronys.com – 3 locations
Pyramid – Mediterranean – pyramidcafesf.com
Saigon Café – Vietnamese – no website – 505-988-4951
Saveur- French – facebook.com/pages/Saveur/118069561553280
Shake Foundation – Burgers – shakefoundation.com
Vinaigrette – A Salad Bistro – vinaigretteonline.com -*Love the Beet Goes On salad!
Yin Yang – Chinese – https:/yinyangchinesesantafe.com
Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Cafe – Vegetarian – chaishoppe.com
Chocolate Maven – Bakery & Café – chocolatemaven.com
Chow’s Asian Bistro – Chinese – mychows.com/menu/santa-fe-menu
El Parasol – New Mexican – elparasol.com/santa-fe-cerrillos-road *Take out only. Love their chicharrón Christmas burrito (red & green chile).
Felipe’s Tacos – Mexican – felipestacos.com
India House – Indian – indiahousenm.com *Best lunch buffet in Santa Fe!
Jambo Café – African – jambocafe.net *Award winning cuisine.
Kai Restaurant – Japanese & Sushi – kaisushisantafe.com
Los Portillos – Mexican – no website – 505-992-0500
Lu Lu’s Chinese Cuisine – chineserestaurantsantafe.com
Loyal Hound Pup – New Mexican & American – loyalhoundpub.com
Madame Matisse – French & Bakery – madamematisse.com
Mampuku Ramen – Japanese Izakaya & Ramen – no website – 505-772-0169
Midtown Bistro – Fine Dining – midtownbistrosf.com
Pho Ava Vietnamese Restaurant – no website – 505-557-6572
Pizzeria Espiritu – Italian – pizzeriaespiritu.com
Red Enchilada Restaurant – New Mexican/ Salvadorian – no website – 505-820-6552
Rowley’s Farm House -Taproom & Gourmet Comfort Food- rowleyfarmhouse.com
The Pantry – New Mexican & American – pantrysantafe.com
Santa Fe Bite – New Mexican & American – santafebite.com
Second Street Brewery & Restaurant – secondstreetbrewery.com
Sunrise Family Restaurant – New Mexican & American – sunrisefamilyrestaurantnm.com
Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen – Global Cuisine – sweetwatersf.com
Yamas Greek Rotisserie – Greek – yamasgreek.com
Castros Café – New Mexican – cafecastrosf.com
Dr. Field Goods Kitchen – Farm to Table – drfieldgoods.com
The Kitchen – Vegetarian – thepswkitchen.tumblr.com
Mariscos Costa Azul – Mexican & Seafood – mariscoscostaazul.com
Piccolino – Italian – piccolinosantafe.com
Rufina Taproom – Brewery & Restaurant –secondstreetbrewery.com/rufina-taproom
Tortilla Flats – New Mexican – tortillaflats.net
Wok – Chinese – woksantafe.com
Blue Heron – American – sunrisesprings.ojospa.com/dining
Café Grazie – Italian – cafegraziesantafe.com
Capitol Grill – American – capitolgrillsantafe.com
Cleopatras – Mediterranean – cleopatrasantafe.com
El Comal – Mexican – no website – 505-471-3224
El Parasol South – New Mexican – elparasol.com/santa-fe-south
Joe’s Dining – joesdining.com
Plaza Café Southside – New Mexican, Greek & American – plazacafesouth.com
Posa El Merendero – New Mexican – posaszafarano.com
Blue Corn Brewery & Restaurant – bluecornbrewery.com
Thai Cage & Noodle Treats – Thai – thaicafent.net/
The Pantry Dos – New Mexican & American – thepantrydos.com
The Ranch House – Barbeque – theranchhousesantafe.com
Chapin & Mex Restaurant – Guatemalan & Mexican – chapin-mex-restaurant.business.site
El Kochi Loco – Mexican – no website – 505-920-0330
El Rey de Pollo – Mexican – no website – 505-570-1380
La Cosina de Doña Clara – Mexican – mexicanrestaurant.business.site
P C’s Restaurant & Lounge – New Mexican – no website – 505-473-7164
Puerto Peñasco – Mexican & Seafood – no website – 505-438-6622
Arroyo Vino – Fine Dining – arroyovino.com La Tierra – 599 South 18 minutes from Santa Fe
Bourbon Grill – Steakhouse – bourbongrillsantafe.com – Old Las Vegas Hwy 12 minutes from Santa Fe Plaza
El Nido Tesuque – Fine Dining – elnidosantafe.com – US-84 W – 13 minutes from Santa Fe
Gabriel’s – Southwest & Mexican – gabrielsofsantafe.com HWY. 285 – 12 minutes north of Santa Fe
Harry’s Roadhouse – harrysroadhousesantafe.com – Old Las Vegas Hwy -12 minutes from Santa Fe Plaza
Izanami – Japanese – tenthousandwaves.com/food – NM-475/Hyde Park Road – 10 minutes from Santa Fe
Tesuque Village Market – Gastro Pub –tesuquevillagemarket.com US-84 W – 13 minutes from Santa Fe. * Reminiscent of 1970s Santa Fe.
Terra – Fine Dining – fourseasons.com/santafe/dining – US-84 W 16 minutes from Santa Fe
Angelina’s – New Mexican – facebook.com/AngelinasRestaurantEspanola
El Paragua – New Mexican – elparagua.com
El Parasol – New Mexican – elparasol.com – take out only. *The Khalsa vegetarian burrito was inspired by the Sikh community south of Española.
Socorro’s – New Mexican – socorros-restaurant.business.site -*Traditional New Mexico Lenten menu leading up to Easter.
Most restaurants in Santa Fe serve vegetarian dishes, the ones listed below are either exclusively vegetarian/vegan or offer that type of cuisine. My favorite is India House, not only do they have the best lunch buffet in Santa Fe, many of their dishes are vegetarian.
Apothecary Restaurant – Santa Fe Plaza Area – santafeoxygenbar.com/apothecary
Love Yourself Café- De Vargas Center – loveyourselfcafe.net
Vinaigrette – A Salad Bistro – South Capitol – vinaigretteonline.com
Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Cafe – Midtown –chaishoppe.com
India House – Indian – Midtown- indiahousenm.com
The Kitchen – Vegetarian – Meow Wolf – thepswkitchen.tumblr.com
Tibet Kitchen – Southside – facebook.com/Tibet-kitchen-Santa-Fe-2136607186593711
Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen – International – sweetwatersf.com
Chocolate has a storied history in New Mexico that began with our neighbors to the south in Mexico. Listed below are the places to find chocolate catering to all palates. My favorite continues to be Señor Murphy, which was established in 1971. In addition to their piñon chocolates, they make an array of chile treats including red and green chile brittle.
Chocolate & Cashmere – Santa Fe Plaza Area – chocolatecashmere.com
Kakawa Chocolate House – 2 Locations: Santa Fe Plaza Area & Meow Wolf District kakawachocolates.com
Señor Murphy – Since 1971, 3 locations: La Fonda, De Vargas Center & Santa Fe Place Mall (Southside) senormurphy.com
The Chocolate Smith – South Capitol – chocolatesmith.com
© 2020 History in Santa Fe
Website images courtesy of the Palace of the Governors and La Herencia Photo Archives.