Santa Fe seems to fly under the radar in many aspects. It is charming, vibrant, and unassuming. There are so many facets of this city to keep you coming back for more, and the restaurant scene is certainly one of them. Here are a number of restaurants to consider when visiting Santa Fe whether it is your first trip or return.
1. Geronimo. This restaurant is a short Uber ride from the main square. I would advise booking a reservation in advance. The atmosphere inside is simple, yet elegant. It felt more on the formal side versus casual. For this reason, they do not accept children under the age of 10. They offer a selection of cocktails and a wine list. I started with a cocktail and then moved on to a bottle of red. The vegetarian tasting menu appealed to me the most with the endive salad, mushroom & sherry bisque, and the risotto. This does update on a regular basis. They also have an a la carte menu as well. The meal was great and so much food. I would recommend this restaurant without hesitation for a formal evening.
2. Sazon. This is a Latin American restaurant with tasty speciality cocktails. I knew we were in for a great evening after they brought their small corn tortillas with different mole sauces along with our first round of cocktails. Normally, I am not much of a mole fan. But, after trying their tasting, my mindset began to shift. The cocktails were well executed. I tried the Diego Rivera and was not disappointed. We had a fantastic appetizer and then the Sopa de Amor. You cannot skip this menu item. As I was not very hungry, I just had a salad for my main course. They do offer the option of a degustacion menu with one seating per night at 7:30pm. On a future visit to Santa Fe, I would love to return and try the tasting menu here. Again, I would advise reservations and book well in advance if you have interest in the tasting menu.
3. Paper Dosa. This is a casual Indian restaurant. We walked in without a reservation and did not have to wait for a table. They serve South Indian Cuisine with beer and wine options. I thought this was wonderful for enjoying a laid back dinner, particularly if you enjoy Indian cuisine.
4. The Shed. This might be the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch. The place was packed, and we did have to wait for a table. They served up great margaritas and your standard Mexican food. You will get a lively atmosphere and a good time.
5. The Compound. This restaurant is definitely more on the formal/stuffy side. Once seated, I started out with a cocktail. They have a short list that contains a variety of spirits. My starter was good but not memorable. These thoughts continued through to my main course. Perhaps it was just the evening, but this restaurant would not be at the top of my list for a return. I did visit with a large party, which I think can make service and the experience a little different. This restaurant has been around since 1966 and tends to receive rather amazing reviews. For this reason, I may give it another chance in the future.
6. Izanami. This is the restaurant at Ten Thousand Waves Spa. The vibe is upscale Japanese bar food with sushi, grilled, and hot options on the menu. If you are enjoying services at Ten Thousand Waves, it may be convenient to enjoy lunch here prior to or following your visit. The food here was enjoyable with lovely scenery, but I would only return with a planned spa visit.
7. Radish & Rye. I visited this restaurant on my second trip to Santa Fe. While they have updated the menu since my visit, I will still offer my thoughts on the experience. The menu is smaller than many of the other options listed, which can be both a positive and negative. Sometimes too many choices is overwhelming, but a smaller menu can be limiting. I felt this restaurant was good, but it would not be my first choice if returning for a weekend getaway.
8. SkyFire at Bishop’s Lodge. This Auberge property offered the city yet another luxury place to stay. Along with that came another dining choice. SkyFire is the main restaurant and bar on property. I tried both appetizers/drinks and also lunch at this restaurant. The food was very good and the atmosphere is definitely part of the experience. There are a few reasons to consider dining here. If you stay on property, you cannot deny the convenience. Bishop’s lodge is a short drive from the main square, so it is easy to walk over for a lovely lunch. Finally, if you do not stay at Bishop’s Lodge, this is a great way to see the property and it is definitely worth a look.
9. La Boca. This modern Spanish cuisine offers a menu of tapas with a number of enticing choices including paella. I loved this meal, and the service was very attentive. They feel sherry is the perfect accompaniment to tapas, and they offer a single tasting versus a flight to add to your selections. I ordered lighter tapas only and found them all very enjoyable. This is a restaurant I would return to on a future visit.
10. Gruet Tasting Room. Although this isn’t a restaurant, it is certainly not to miss if you love bubbles and snacks. Gruet produces really tasty bottles of sparkling wine while maintaining very reasonable prices. A visit to their tasting room allows you to try and also purchase bottles that you don’t see available for purchase as readily. For snacks, they offer the option for caviar pairings. Limited seating is available indoors, and they also have patio seating as well. Reservations are recommended. I have been here both with and without a reservation, and it can get rather busy at certain times of the day and particularly on the weekends. This is located just inside the St. Francis hotel.
11. Cafe Pasqual’s. After seeing crowds gather around the door during my first visit, I had to know more about Cafe Pasqual’s. On my next trip, I made my way to Cafe Pasqual’s right when they opened. I was seated at one of their large family style tables with other parties. From the first bites, I immediately understood the lines congregating in the past. This place was fabulous. Their focus on organics and sustainability is also something that drew me in. With all the options in Santa Fe, I would recommend this as a perfect choice for lunch.
On a return visit to Santa Fe, I would love to find my way back to many of these restaurants. It is hard to say that there were any true “misses” on this list. Sazon and Cafe Pasqual’s stand out in my mind the most if forced to choose a lunch and dinner option. There is most definitely more to explore, and I look forward to updating and adding to this list.
