Santa Fe Restaurants
By Jerry Jacobi and Anna Hamilton
We put this list together to highlight some local restaurants that we like and you otherwise might not think about. However, we have only listed a FRACTION of the good restaurants available. For example, many of the hotels in downtown Santa Fe have good restaurants associated with them. You can (and should) pick up a restaurant guide at the visitor’s information office at the Convention Center. NOTE: If you didn’t like it, it was Jerry’s idea. If it’s spelled wrong, that was Anna (oops).
Walking distance:
- The Shed. 113 E. Palace Ave, just east of the Plaza. Local and tourist favorite, moderately priced. Famous for their great red chili and mocha cake for dessert.
- Burrito Company, 111 Washington Ave, ½ block east of Plaza, local favorite, quick in and out.
- La Boca, 72 E. Marcy, one block east of Convention Center, Mediterranean and Spanish tapas, excellent, good wines, a bit pricey.
- Tia Sophia’s, 210 W. San Francisco, local favorite, one of the best – do not miss, moderately priced, breakfast and lunch only (get there early).
- French Pastry Shop, in La Fonda Hotel, 100 E. San Francisco. Local favorite, breakfast and lunch only.
- Sleeping Dog Tavern, 114 W. San Francisco Street, downstairs, new, but good burgers, etc.
- Café Paris, 31 Burro Alley, excellent breakfast, lunch and dinner. Outdoor courtyard dining, French and continental.
- Plaza Café, on the Plaza, 54 Lincoln, local favorite, quick in and out, usually very busy.
- Rooftop Pizzeria, 62 E. San Francisco, at the south end of the Santa Fe Arcade, next to the five and dime. Excellent pizza, rooftop looking south, busy!
- Marble Brewery, also in the Santa Fe Arcade, faces the Plaza, have beer and coffee, snacks.
- Louis’s Corner Restaurant, 2 blocks south of Plaza on W. Alameda, continent, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- La Casa Sena (also Cantina), 125 E. Palace, one block east of Plaza, delightful courtyard, moderate to high priced, lunch and dinner.
- Catamount Bar and Grille, 125 E. Water Street, one block south of Plaza, a sports bar, American food, young after work crowd.
- Blue Corn Café, 133 Water, one block south of Plaza, New Mexican and American food, beer and wine, lunch and dinner.
- Pasquale’s, corner of Don Gaspar and E. Water, a tourist favorite, expensive.
- Del Charro, Alameda in the Inn of the Governor’s, 2 blocks south of Plaza, excellent burgers, lunch and dinner, covered courtyard.
- Ore House, southwest corner of Plaza, southwestern food, popular, have a patio, moderate to higher priced.
- Coyote Café, 132 W. Water Street, has a rooftop cantina, one block south of Plaza, excellent contemporary food and drinks, moderate to high end.
- 315 Bistro,315 Old Santa Fe Trail, 2 blocks south and east of Plaza, continental and French, lunch and dinner, moderately to higher priced, have patio dining.
- Pink Adobe, 406 Old Santa Fe Trail, New Mexican and seafood, well liked local, moderate to higher priced.
- India Palace, 227 Don Gaspar, one block south of Plaza, eastern Indian food, lunch (including buffet) and dinner, moderately priced, great mango pudding.
- Upper Crust Pizza, 329 Old Santa Fe Trail, good quick lunch, pizza, Greek.
- Osteria, 58 S. Federal, one block east of Convention Center, Italian, good eating, moderately priced, have patio dining.
- La Casa Sena, 125 E Palace Ave Ste 20, Santa Fe, NM 87501, (505) 988-9232.
- SantaCafe, 235 Washington, modern American/southwestern, dinner only, expensive but good.
- Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza, 321 W. San Fransisco, 2-3 blocks west of Plaza, good pizza and salads.
A little further away:
- Bumble Bee’s Baha Grill, 301 Jefferson, 3 blocks west of Plaza, Best of Santa Fe winner, good fresh food.
- Burt’s Burger Bowl, 235 N. Gudadupe, 3+ blocks west of Plaza, burgers and New Mexican.
- Clafoutis, 402 Guadalupe, good French food, good prices (but not cheap).
- Mucho Gusto, 839 Paseo de Peralta, tucked into a courtyard, moderately priced lunch and dinner, a hidden treasure, have mole which few restaurants serve.
- Geronimo, up Canyon Road, well known and good, very expensive.
- The Compound, up Canyon Road, well known and good, James Beard best chef of the southwest, very expensive.
- El Farol, up Canyon Road, good, moderate to expensive, good Spanish/Mediterranean tapas and paella.
- Tomasita’s, 500 S. Guadalupe, near the Railyard, excellent and moderately priced northern New Mexican, always very busy.
- 2nd Street Brewery, on 2nd Street, and at the Rail Yard. Excellent place to gather, general continental/American food, moderately priced.
- Atrisco, in DeVargas Mall, Mexican food, good, moderately priced.
- La Choza, 905 Alarid, tucked in near the railyard, really good New Mexican food, local favorite.
- Cleopatra, 418 Cerrillos Rd in the Design, middle eastern deli.
- El Centro Pizza, 418 Cerrillos Rd in the Design, New York style pizza.
- Ying Yang, on Cerrillos Rd in the Design Center, about 3 blocks south and west of Plaza, good Chinese food.
- Zia Diner, 326 S. Guadalupe, have a patio, moderately prices, good American and southwest, good desserts.
- The Cowgirl, 319 S. Guadalupe, locally famous bar and grille.
- Pranzo’s Italian Grilled, in Sanbusco mall, good moderately priced.
- Stazione, 530 S. Guadalupe at the Railyard, steak and seafood, moderately priced.
- Baja Tacos, 2621 Cerrillos Road, a “hole in the wall” drive through, but good homemade food and cheap!
Also, check out these bars:
- Blue Corn
- Cowgirls
- El Ferol
- El Matador
- Pink Adobe
- Second Street Brewery
- Tin Star
