Restaurants in Santa Fe

Santa Fe is a food-loving city. It is especially acclaimed for its northern New Mexican cuisine, which uses regional ingredients such as red and green chillies and blue corn tortillas, and is a cut above the standard Tex-Mex fare served elsewhere in the southwest. Still, Santa Fe offers a range of cuisines to suit every palate and budget, from Indian, Asian, Italian and Spanish restaurants to American grills and Continental fine dining.

The Santa Fe restaurants below have been handpicked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over US$50)
Moderate (US$25 to US$50)
Cheap (up to US$25)

These prices are for an average three-course meal for one with a half bottle of house wine or equivalent. They include Santa Fe’s 8.188% sales tax but not a service charge or tip. A minimum tip of 15% is expected in both restaurants and bars. More should be left for exceptional service and in high-end establishments.

Amaya

Price: Expensive
Cuisine: American

Set in the Hotel Santa Fe, the only Native American-owned hotel in the city, Amaya accents its seasonal foods from around the country with local Pueblo and northern New Mexico ingredients. The menu might feature such dishes as pomegranate-glazed tribal wild salmon or citric ancho chilli-glazed elk tenderloin. The atmosphere is casual, with a blazing fireplace in winter and a summer patio surrounded by gardens, hummingbird feeders and mountain views.

Address: 1501 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Telephone: +1 505 955 7805.

Ristra

Price: Expensive
Cuisine: American, French

A lovely Victorian cottage filled with contemporary art, Ristra offers a shimmering bar where guests wait for tables to enjoy such dishes as black mussels with chipotle (smoked jalapeno) and mint and achiote-grilled elk tenderloin. The menu expertly blends the flavours of France and the southwest. The atmosphere is elegant, yet also warm and inviting, and there’s a delightful patio for seasonal al fresco dining.

Address: 548 Agua Fria Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Telephone: (505) 982 8608.

Pranzo Italian Grill

Price: Expensive
Cuisine: Italian

Located in the Railyard district, this has long been a Santa Fe stalwart for fine Italian dining. There’s a good selection of pastas and pizzas, but where Pranza excels is in its house specialities. These can include braised lamb shank, cioppino (mixed seafood stew) or pappardelle with duck confit. There are also special wine pairing dinners. On weekend nights, pianist David Geist entertains in the Geist Cabaret.

Address: 540 Montezuma Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Telephone: +1 505 984 2645.

The Shed

Price: Moderate
Cuisine: Mexican

This family-owned restaurant has been pleasing customers for three generations with its creative cooking and northern New Mexican cuisine. The setting is delightful: it’s nine cosy, colourful rooms in a 17th-century hacienda are reached through a sunny courtyard off the Plaza. The Shed’s spicy chilli is processed fresh daily in its own mill. Favourite dishes include the red chilli enchilada plate and spicy carneadovada (marinated roasted pork).

Address: 113 East Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Telephone: +1 505 982 9030.
Website:

Café Pasqual’s

Price: Moderate
Cuisine: New Mexican

Crowds fill this friendly, happy eatery near the Plaza morning, noon, and night. Using ingredients that are seasonal, fresh, organic or naturally raised, the menu features New Mexican, Asian and Mediterranean dishes. Specialities include smoked chillies with beef strips and eggs, ahi tuna salad and chicken mole enchiladas. Hand-painted Mexican tiles and murals give this small café, which seats only 50, a festive air.

Address: 121 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Telephone: +1 505 983 9340.
Website:

Andiamo!

Price: Moderate
Cuisine: Italian

This casual neighbourhood trattoria is set in a historic building in the Railyard District. With the Santa Fe Farmers Market on its doorstep, it is dedicated to using the finest local, seasonal ingredients to prepare delicious, classic Italian fare, such as penne with spicy lamb sausage, grilled redbird chicken or the homemade ravioli of the night. There’s an award-winning wine list too and service is warm and genuine.

Address: 322 Garfield Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Telephone: +1 505 995 9595.

Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen

Price: Cheap
Cuisine: New Mexican

Maria’s is best known for its margaritas. There are over 200 on its drinks menu, all made with premium ingredients. That said, the food is also excellent at this casual, down-home cantina. Enjoy classic dishes such as sizzling fajitas or blue corn enchiladas beneath the wooden beams of the main dining room or on the patio where diners are serenaded by mariachi minstrels.

Address: 555 West Cordova Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Telephone: +1 505 983 7929.

Tomasita’s

Price: Cheap
Cuisine: New Mexican

Housed in a century-old, former station house in the Railyard, Tomasita’s menu is based on traditional family recipes handed down through the generations. Chilli rellenos (roasted, stuffed chillies) are a house speciality, and sopapillas (fluffy pastries with butter and honey) are served with every meal. Locals rate its red and green chilli (a paste made of red or green chillies) as some of the best in Santa Fe.

Address: 500 South Guadalupe, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Telephone: +1 505 983 5721.
Website:

Del Charro Saloon

Price: Cheap
Cuisine: New Mexican

More of a watering hole with bar food than a proper restaurant, Del Charro is the place to find good cheap eats in Santa Fe. Daily specials like pulled pork sliders and country fried steak are just US$6. The excellent stuffed green chilli cheeseburger is made with locally raised, grass-fed beef. Located at the Inn of the Governors hotel, it’s a casual, friendly, generous-portioned place for budget-minded travellers.

Address: 101 West Alamada Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Telephone: +1 505 954 0320.
Website:
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