Our Top Restaurant Picks
Breakfast/Lunch
Dolina
Favorite Plate: Any and all of the pastries, or get the Chicken and Waffles for breakfast!
About: Our favorite spot for breakfast or lunch, great pastries and dishes with an Eastern European influence. Walking distance from most casitas!
Iconik Coffee
About: Great house roasted espresso and espresso drinks. Horchata Latte (often comes with a side biscochito cookie too!) Guadelupe location is walking distance from most casitas!
Tia Sophia's
Favorite Plate: Huevos Rancheros with green chile, or any of the daily specials
About: Well known local spot for NM specialties, breakfast and lunch only!
Lunch/Dinner + the rest of the day
La ChozaDolina
Favorite Plate: Any and all of the pastries, or get the Chicken and Waffles for breakfast!
About: Our favorite spot for breakfast or lunch, great pastries and dishes with an Eastern European influence. Walking distance from most casitas!
Iconik Coffee
About: Great house roasted espresso and espresso drinks. Horchata Latte (often comes with a side biscochito cookie too!) Guadelupe location is walking distance from most casitas!
Tia Sophia's
Favorite Plate: Huevos Rancheros with green chile, or any of the daily specials
About: Well known local spot for NM specialties, breakfast and lunch only!
Lunch/Dinner + the rest of the day
Favorite Plate: Enchiladas with Carne Adovada (get them with both red and green chile aka 'Christmas')
About: Located in the old adobe headquarters of turn of the century Mercer Ranch, La Choza’s warm, friendly atmosphere, authentic dishes, great margaritas, and colorful decor welcomes those needing to get their chile fix. Or if your taste buds aren’t up to the heat, there are plenty of other scrumptious dishes to entice you. La Choza is truly Santa Fe dining that reflects the heritage of past & present and is the sister restaurant to another locals’ favorite, The Shed.
Favorite Plate: Pepperoni, green chile, and goat cheese pizza & the silver house margarita (but call ahead to make sure they are doing pizza)
About: Bar & Grill just north of town in Tesuque, also has a fantastic Specialty Grocery Store · Wine, Beer & Spirits
Cowgirl Santa Fe
Favorite Plate: Bowl of chuckwagon chili Frito pie (Our Texas-style ground beef & brisket chili with bean, veggies, and Fritos. Served with jalapeños, red onions, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and jalapeño cornbread)
About: Late in 1987 a small group of New York City restaurateurs were poking about for the next new dining concept when a couple of gals (Sherry from Texas and Pam from Colorado) came up with the idea of promoting the culture of the American Cowgirl through the foods of the American West and Southwest. Soon enough, they’d roped in a talented chef from south Texas and started gathering family recipes as well as their favorite regional road-trip recipes. Fast forward a couple of decades later and the Cowgirl BBQ occupies almost the entire block where it started, now having added a Billiard Parlor, a commercial catering kitchen, and several private party rooms. The patio is one of the most inviting summertime venues for locals and tourists alike and the Cowgirl has become a local institution.
The Compound
Favorite Plate: The Chicken Schnitzel (This is an off-menu item that can still be ordered and we highly recommend it)
About: The Compound Restaurant has a heritage rich in history and regional influences. Before its incarnation as a restaurant, this adobe home was the centerpiece of a group of houses on Canyon Road known as the McComb Compound. In the earlier part of the 20th century, when Santa Fe was far away from the rest of the world, movie stars, industrialists, and socialites visited, where they enjoy a secluded getaway. Eventually, Will and Barbara Hooton acquired the main house and converted it into a restaurant. It was their decision to bring in designer Alexander Girard, who gave The Compound Restaurant its distinctive look. Girard is best remembered locally for The Compound Restaurant design and his generous donation of more than 106,000 pieces to Santa Fe’s International Folk Art Museum.
Favorite Plate: Locally Raised Center Cut Beef Tenderloin & Frites (Sautéed Organic Chard with Bacon, Hot & Spicy Hollandaise, Au Poivre Sauce, Horseradish, Caramelized Onion & Hand Cut Russet Potato Frites)
About: Warm and inviting, the elegant "Borrego House" was built by Geronimo Lopez in 1756. Thick adobe walls, kiva fireplaces and wood beams surround.
La Casa Sena
Favorite Plate: Pan Seared Ruby Trout (Arborio rice, sauteed spinach, lemon vinaigrette)
About: Tucked away in a historic building with an enchanting garden courtyard, La Casa Sena feels like a hidden gem nestled in the heart of the Santa Fe Plaza. Featuring Mediterranean cuisine, an award-winning wine list, and a spectacular patio we hope to provide a magical experience to locals and visitors alike. By sourcing regional ingredients and creating beautiful dishes, Chef José Rodriguez has a deep appreciation for cultivating a local clientele.
Favorite Plate: Fettuccine with Portabella and Cremini Mushrooms (Spinach, tomato, fried artichokes, truffle oil, and parmesan)
About: Andiamo grew out of the relationship Joan Gillcrist has with food. The Gillcrist family came together around the table. From an early age, Gillcrist took food seriously. “Food was very central to our social lives. It was a way for us to bring people together, especially those who didn’t have a place to go.”
El Farol
Favorite Plate: Patatas Bravas (Marble potatoes, garlic aioli, spicy tomato sauce) & Gambas al ajillo (shrimp, garlic, chili, olive oil) & Coles de Bruselas (brussels sprouts, bacon, balsamic reduction) They often have live flamenco
About: El Farol has provided locals and visitors with over a century of memorable experiences since 1835. We feature traditional Spanish tapas, small plates that pack big flavors, as well as paella, steaks, and daily specials. Patrons enjoy our dinner shows featuring the musicians and dancers of the renowned National Institute of Flamenco. Our bar, once referred to as, "...one of the best bars on earth!" by The New York Times, features classic margaritas, sangria, signature cocktails, and live music. Our walls are graced with murals painted by famous artists, including Alfred Morang.
Izmi Sushi Bar
Favorite Plate: Miso soup, Kelly Salad (Cucumber, Crab, Spicy Mayo & Masago), Shogun Roll (Shrimp Tempura, Cucumber, on top Spicy Tuna & Unagi Sauce)
About: Small bistro with an easygoing vibe plating Japanese classics such as sushi rolls, ramen & tempura.
The Bull Ring Steakhouse
Favorite Plate: Rib Eye (16oz) Beautiful marbling & Potatoes Au Gratin (in a Cream Sauce, topped with Melted Sharp Cheddar)
About: The Bull Ring features indoor and outdoor dining areas and a bar separated from the main dining area that gives a variety of light and surroundings similar to the original classic adobe. The Santa Fe hospitality that made patrons feel they’d been specially invited is more than preserved, it’s enhanced by the convenience and continuing attention of the servers.
Favorite Plate: Enchiladas or stuffed 'Sopapillas' with green chile
About: The Shed, a dining institution since 1953 is located on Palace Avenue just east of the plaza. Look for the small, vividly colored wooden sign that marks the entrance. The restaurant occupies nine quiet rooms behind Prince Patio, a sunny brick and flagstone courtyard shaded by trumpet vines and adorned with roses in the summer. Customers can downshift a couple of centuries and have one of the more satisfying experiences Santa Fe has to offer --
Coyote Cantina: The Coyote Cantina is considered one of the best rooftop venues in the City Different. Situated atop the Coyote Cafe, the Cantina offers Southwestern dining complete with the signature Coyote flavors and flare, plus all the mixology. The atmosphere is casual, relaxed, and is open all year round. Great for happy hour as you watch the sunset bounce off the historic adobe walls of downtown Santa Fe.