The 23 Must-Visit Restaurants in Santa Fe

A beloved local dive and biker haven, the Mine Shaft Tavern and Cantina offers a taste of the Wild West, featuring wood-paneled interiors and live music. Standout menu items include the mad chile burger, made with your choice of meat — including New Mexico-raised Wagyu beef — topped with fried and chopped hatch chiles, aged cheddar, and chipotle dijonnaise.

A staple in Madrid, Java Junction serves as the heart of this artistic desert community (and genuine ghost town), located just 20 minutes from Santa Fe along the Turquoise Trail. The coffee beans are freshly brewed on-site, roasted only 18 miles away. Don’t miss the homemade pies, like rhubarb and blueberry, which change daily. The coffee shop also features a shop and a bed-and-breakfast for those wishing to extend their stay.

Santa Fe Brewing Company has successfully expanded throughout Santa Fe and Albuquerque with six locations, and it’s easy to see why the brewery is a favorite at its large Beer Hall at the HQ location. The bar features an extensive outdoor lounge and 27 taps offering beers, ciders, and more. Be sure to check the website for the latest food truck offerings, ranging from barbecue to Cubanos, that pop up in the courtyard.

In recent years, this hidden gem, located eight miles northwest of Santa Fe’s central plaza, has gained a reputation for its inventive New Mexican cuisine. The menu, crafted by chef Allison Jenkins, is a vibrant showcase of seasonal offerings, enhanced by kaleidoscopic edible flowers and a variety of vegetables from the on-site garden. If you're after a remarkable wine selection paired with dishes that creatively highlight the state’s flavors, this is the place to be.

With three locations throughout the city, Second Street Brewery is a favorite among locals for its burgers, beers, and live music. The spacious Rufina Taproom is conveniently situated near the popular immersive art venue Meow Wolf, making it an ideal spot for a drink before or after your visit. Here, you'll find the brewery’s classic offerings alongside Cajun-inspired dishes, including the beloved spiced tater tots.

This casual gastropub boasts an impressive selection of sour beers and farmhouse ales, paired with a diverse menu of bar snacks that includes everything from sandwiches to risotto. The seasonal clam chowder stands out as a remarkable choice for a high-desert bar.

Chef Kewal Singh Dhindsa brings his passion for authentic South Indian cuisine from Los Angeles through New York and the Caribbean, finally landing in Santa Fe. At India House, the spacious dining area and exceptional service invite you to indulge in dishes from the tandoor oven, such as mesquite-broiled chicken wings infused with yogurt, garlic, and ginger. If you enjoy a bit of spice, don’t hesitate to ask for extra heat or recommendations; India House is happy to turn up the temperature for you.

Chef Ahmed Obo brings the diverse flavors of East Africa to the table at Jambo Cafe, inspired by his upbringing on Kenya’s Lamu Island. Since its opening in 2009, the café has delighted diners with dishes like coconut pili pili shrimp, which pairs wild shrimp with a spicy coconut tomato stew and basmati rice, along with beloved options like grilled jerk chicken and various vegetarian specialties.

Since its establishment in 1950, Maria’s has been a beloved Santa Fe dining spot. Over the years, it has seen various families and friends take ownership, yet the restaurant has consistently served comforting New Mexican classics. If you’re craving red or green chile, don’t forget to inquire which one packs more heat that day. Maria’s is especially renowned for its extensive selection of over 150 margaritas and 170 tequilas, which are definitely worth exploring.

Chef Paulraj Karuppasamy highlights local ingredients in his creative South Indian dishes. The dosas are impressively large yet light, with standout options like the green chile cheese dosa that blend local flavors with traditional recipes. For a lighter choice, consider one of the uttapams packed with a variety of mushrooms. The menu features a strong selection of vegetarian options that attract a loyal following. The wait is definitely worthwhile.

Chef Josh Gerwin is well-regarded among local foragers as an avid wild foods lover. If you visit during the rainy season, expect to see foraged delights like wild mushrooms or greens from nearby mountains featured on the menu. Nestled in an unassuming shopping center, this laid-back Mytoury attracts locals with its solid draft beer selection, casual atmosphere, and a diverse menu of sandwiches, pizzas, and enchiladas.

Since its launch just over a year ago, this bright breakfast and lunch destination has quickly become a favorite for daytime dining in Santa Fe. The compact kitchen specializes in Slovakian-inspired dishes within a laid-back atmosphere. The Hungarian goulash, crafted from locally sourced lamb bone broth, alone justifies a visit. Don’t miss the house-made cakes, pies, and pastries. For a delightful takeaway, grab some fresh gingerbread and a jar of lemonade infused with turmeric, ginger, honey, and cayenne.

This elegant Mexican Mytoury crafts its tortillas using local landrace blue corn, which is nixtamalized on-site. The result is a rich flavor that elevates Paloma's tacos—topped with carne asada, sea bass, or cauliflower—making them some of the finest in town.

As one of Santa Fe’s premier coffee roasters, Iconik boasts two additional cafes in town, with the Lupe location being the earliest to open at 7:30 a.m. It’s a beloved spot for a relaxed morning, serving dukkah-spiced avocado toast or yogurt topped with granola and berry-mint compote.

Chef Eduardo Rodriguez, originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, has been making a name for himself in Santa Fe since the launch of Zacatlán in 2020. The restaurant gained significant recognition when it was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for best new restaurant in 2022. After honing his skills at Geronimo (also featured here), Rodriguez aimed to bring authentic Mexican flavors to the area. The menu showcases a variety of regional dishes, from Oaxacan moles to Yucatecan cochinita pibil. Don’t miss the pork belly carnitas paired with date mole.

From the outside, this soup and salad shop appears to be a laid-back downtown cafe, but its menu is filled with delightful surprises. A standout dish is the Fire Ramen Noodle Soup, featuring jalapenos and customizable options with either vegan or bone broth. Another popular choice is the rice bowl topped with house-made teriyaki sauce, offering a variety of toppings such as unagi, kimchi, and tofu.

Nestled just off the main corridor of the Plaza Galeria mall, Ji Wang Noodle Shop is conveniently located near the Palace of the Governors. This small yet powerful Mytoury showcases a variety of flavors from Southern China, featuring hearty soups, freshly made noodles, Hong Kong-style chicken shu mai, and xiao long bao with various fillings. A standout dish is the Chinese tamale, a twist on the New Mexican classic similar to zongzi, filled with rice, pork, Chinese sausage, chestnut, and shiitake mushrooms, all wrapped and steamed in bamboo leaves. It offers a rare moment of tranquility in the heart of downtown.

The signature mole negro is delicate and well-balanced; the pork belly tacos are heavenly; and the chiles en nogada, sweeter than usual and made with a jalapeno balsamic reduction, provide a fresh twist on a classic dish. It’s this kind of cooking — rivaling anything you’d find in a fine dining establishment in Mexico City — that keeps this adobe-walled restaurant bustling with patrons.

Since opening La Boca in 2006 in downtown Santa Fe, chef James Campbell Caruso has seamlessly blended local Southwestern flavors with traditional Spanish techniques, creating dishes that reflect both regions. Caruso offers small plates such as trio de califlor — roasted cauliflower drizzled with harissa barbecue sauce and topped with manchego cream — alongside an impressive selection of wines from the Mediterranean and South America.

Dining at Palacio Café feels like stepping into chef-owner Damian Muñoz’s personal dining room. The breakfast burritos, generously topped with red and green chile sauces, are both famous and deeply satisfying (legend has it that breakfast burritos originated in Santa Fe). While the sauces steal the show, the paninis—such as the Cuban Reuben featuring corned beef, maple-cured ham, pickles, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing—are equally tempting.

This serene alternative to a traditional coffeehouse offers a diverse array of hot drinks inspired by chocolate-making traditions worldwide. For those looking for a less sweet option, the intense Aztec Warrior elixir—an unsweetened chocolate blend with chili, flowers, herbs, and nuts—provides a unique experience. Sweet tooth? There's an abundance of drinks along with truffles, bars, caramels, and even chocolate-covered chiles available to take home.

This expansive, hacienda-style restaurant in New Mexico features a labyrinth of adobe-walled rooms and tiled patios, making it an ideal stop after visiting the nearby Santuario de Chimayó or while traveling the scenic High Road to Taos. To savor a piece of local history, don’t miss the Chimayó cocktail, a refreshing blend of cider and tequila created by the founder during the region's apple boom over fifty years ago. It's the perfect companion to a hearty bowl of green chile stew.

Set within a charming adobe house dating back to 1756, Geronimo is renowned for its five-star dining experience, from the valet service to the beautifully presented desserts that cap off each meal. Patrons rave about the exquisite meat dishes, including elk tenderloin, rack of lamb, and foie gras, making this celebrated Santa Fe venue perfect for special occasions. Be sure to visit during major holidays like Christmas or New Year’s for their prix fixe menus and festive atmosphere. The extensive wine list allows servers to expertly recommend pairings for every dish, regardless of price.