Your Trip to Santa Fe: The Complete Guide SEE FULL GUIDE prev next Nightlife in Santa Fe Best Time to Visit Weather & Climate Top Hotels 48 Hours in Santa Fe Day Trips Things to Do Shopping Best Museums Top Hikes Art Galleries Meow Wolf Foods to Try Best Restaurants Your Trip to Santa Fe: The Complete Guide close Overview United States New Mexico The 12 Best Restaurants in Santa Fe, New Mexico By Laura Ratliff Laura Ratliff Senior Editorial Director Instagram Twitter Laura Ratliff is TripSavvy’s senior editorial director. She joined the TripSavvy team in April 2019 after spending two years as a freelance travel writer and editor, where she spent more than 200,000 miles on a plane each year. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 12/12/19 Courtesy of Santacafé First-time visitors to Santa Fe, New Mexico, might expect their trip to be full of traditional Mexican food like tacos, quesadillas, and burritos. While Santa Fe has plenty of those things, you might be surprised to find that New Mexican cuisine has its own unique cornucopia of spices, ingredients, and techniques. Of course, it's not all red and green chile here—the city has a veritable motherlode of fine dining and international cuisine, too. 01 of 12 Tomasita's Courtesy of Tomasita's View Map Address 500 S Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501-2618, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-983-5721 Web Visit website This railyard favorite has drawn crowds since its opening more than 40 years ago. Run by the same family for three generations, Tomasita's is a perfect introduction to New Mexican cuisine, serving a menu packed with green chile, red chile, posole, and other hearty plates. The hot sopaipillas (a pillowy bread pocket served with honey) are the only way to end a meal here. 02 of 12 Santacafé Courtesy of Santacafé View Map Address 231 Washington Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-984-1788 Web Visit website Steps from Santa Fe's vibrant plaza in a historic building, the white-walled Santacafé serves upscale renditions on American favorites, often with a New Mexican twist. The restaurant was one of the city's first fine-dining destinations when it opened in 1983 and still to this day relies on local sourcing for many of its dishes, like the grilled filet mignon, served alongside red chile and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. On a beautiful day (of which Santa Fe has many), sit on the patio. 03 of 12 Cafe Pasqual's Courtesy of Cafe Pasqual's View Map Address 121 Don Gaspar Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501-2119, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-983-9340 Web Visit website One of those rare restaurants that's beloved by tourists and locals alike, Cafe Pasqual's (named for San Pasqual, the folk saint of Mexican and New Mexican kitchens and cooks) has been a downtown staple for more than 40 years. With an emphasis on organic and sustainable cuisine, Pasqual's seats just 50 diners at a time and is dedicated to making everything—from chile sauces to ice cream to bread—in-house. The colorful dining room is filled with hand-painted Mexican tiles and murals by Leovigildo Martinez, a renowned Mexican painter. 04 of 12 Geronimo Courtesy of Geronimo View Map Address 724 Canyon Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-982-1500 Web Visit website A classic along the gallery-filled Canyon Road, Geronimo's elegant setting in a circa-1756 adobe home draws diners in to celebrate special occasions or just enjoy a night out at one of the city's most beloved restaurants. The menu leans toward meaty dishes like New Mexico-raised lamb, locally-sourced elk, and lobster cooked over Mesquite. Continue to 5 of 12 below. 05 of 12 The Shed Courtesy of The Shed View Map Address 113 1/2 E Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-982-9030 Web Visit website The battle for the best chile is hotly contested in Santa Fe, and most people will tell you that The Shed serves up some of the best. Whether you prefer green, red, or Christmas (that's both), the chile at The Shed is kicky, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. Try the green chile in a spicy stew of roasted chiles, pork, and potato, and sample the red in a blue corn burrito stuffed with pinto beans, cheddar cheese, and onion. 06 of 12 Harry's Roadhouse Courtesy of Harry's Roadhouse View Map Address 96 B Old Las Vegas Hwy, Santa Fe, NM 87505, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-989-4629 Web Visit website Quirky and casual, Harry's Roadhouse is a breakfast and lunch hotspot with a menu full of Mexican and New Mexican classics—think migas, huevos rancheros, and blue corn waffles—and early morning favorites. At dinner, the menu skews a bit more international but everything remains excellent, year-after-year. 07 of 12 Plaza Cafe Daxis / Flickr / Creative Commons View Map Address 54 Lincoln Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-982-1664 Web Visit website Santa Fe's oldest restaurant serves up New Mexico-inspired diner fare from its prime location on the city's plaza. While there are plenty of comfort food favorites like chicken fried steak and spaghetti and meatballs, Plaza Cafe really shines with its regional takes on these beloved favorites. An otherwise classic meatloaf gets stuffed with corn and green chile, while a pork chop dinner comes with a side of calabacitas, a veggie-packed side of squash, corn, tomato, onion, and garlic. 08 of 12 Sazón Courtesy of Sazon View Map Address 221 Shelby St, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-983-8604 Web Visit website A Mexico City native, Chef Fernando Olea has been cooking in Santa Fe since 1991. He's famous for his wide-ranging menu of different moles, all expertly paired with specific proteins and other accouterments. There's also an extensive list of mezcal, tequila, and wine, including a strong showing of Mexican wines from the Valle de Guadalupe. Continue to 9 of 12 below. 09 of 12 Izanami Restaurant Courtesy of Ten Thousand Waves View Map Address 21 Ten Thousand Waves Way, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-982-9304 Web Visit website A Japanese izakaya in Santa Fe? It's true, but Izanami isn't your typical restaurant. Tucked away near the Santa Fe ski basin, Izanami is part of Ten Thousand Waves, a spa and hotel inspired by Japanese mountain resorts. Spend a day languishing in the relaxing baths before enjoying a chef-curated omakase, or shared small plates. 10 of 12 Arroyo Vino Courtesy of Arroyo Vino View Map Address 218 Camino La Tierra, Santa Fe, NM 87507, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-983-2100 Web Visit website A hybrid wine shop and bistro, Arroyo Vino is worth trekking slightly outside the city center. With a predictably strong wine list, Arroyo Vino's food skews French and Mediterranean, with dishes like swordfish "steak frites," served alongside sunchoke pureée, hand-cut fries, and pink peppercorn beurre blanc. Wine might be the star of the show, but you'd be remiss not to try a cocktail, too; warm up with the A Hot Toddy, made with Iwai Japanese whiskey, Bigallet China-China, saffron, and bitters. 11 of 12 Maria's Courtesy of Maria's Santa Fe View Map Address 555 W Cordova Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87505, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-983-7929 Web Visit website Maria's margaritas—all 100 of them—are large and strong. The exhaustive menu seems overwhelming at first, but with every margarita made from 100 percent agave tequila, you can't go wrong. Try Santa Fe's anniversary margarita, made with El Jimador agave silver tequila, Triple Sec, green chile (natch), and lemon juice. Of course, the food is excellent too—try the blue corn enchiladas, a local favorite. 12 of 12 The Compound Courtesy of The Compound View Map Address 653 Canyon Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501-2762, USA Get directions Phone +1 505-982-4353 Web Visit website A romantic fine-dining staple, The Compound is helmed by Mark Kiffin, a James Beard award-winner for Best Chef of the Southwest. Serving New American cuisine with an occasional Southwestern accent, The Compound is a longstanding foodie favorite in the city, especially catering to diners who are looking for luxury ingredients like sweetbreads, foie gras, diver scallops, and more. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email