Santa Fe School of Cooking
The Santa Fe School of Cooking, conveniently located in the heart of downtown, has been teaching the flavors of the Southwest for more than 35 years, with hands-on classes focused on regional cuisine. Interactive classes dive into practicing with ingredients like red and green chiles, blue corn, and local spices, often paired with history and cultural context. Not only will you learn how to cook delicious Southwest dishes, but you'll also understand why Santa Fe food tastes the way it does. 🌽
See MoreSantacafé
Santacafé is a longtime fine-dining institution housed in a restored adobe building near the historic Santa Fe Plaza. Known for blending New American cuisine with Southwestern flavors, their menu focuses on seasonal ingredients, high-quality meats, and thoughtful wine pairings. Desserts here are also special with unique options like the Banana Pudding Sundae. Its elegant courtyard, a recipient of the Most Popular Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in America 2023, makes Santacafé especially popular for special occasions.
See MoreTumbleroot Brewery and Distillery - AlegrĂa on Agua Fria
🍻 Award-winning Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery is one of Santa Fe’s most creative beverage producers. They’ve been creating small-batch beer, spirits, liqueurs, bitters, and canned cocktails from scratch, using organic, garden-grown, and wild-harvested ingredients since 2018. The distillery is especially known for its gin, vodka, and rum, all made on-site using New Mexico water and ingredients like juniper berries, prickly pear, stone fruit, sage, and desert herbs.
Their intimate tasting room and bottle shop let visitors taste their award-winning creations. This location, AlegrĂa on Agua Fria, is located in a historic venue featuring an outdoor patio, live music, and rotating food offerings—it feels like a local hangout!
See MoreRowley Farmhouse Ales
Independently owned Rowley Farmhouse Ales, an award-winning brewery and farm-to-table gastropub, focuses on American- and European-inspired farmhouse beers brewed with a New Mexico twist. Many of their beers incorporate local ingredients such as chile, honey, and herbs, and are fermented using traditional methods. The food comes from local farms and is made in-house. This is a great stop for beer lovers looking for something distinctly regional.
See MoreThe Ranch House
The Ranch House BBQ Bar & Grill is a no-frills favorite for classic New Mexican comfort food, especially barbecue and authentic Texas-style smoked meats. Expect dishes like brisket, smoked chicken wings with the mango sauce, green chili cornbread, and even vegan options. They also use local and natural beef whenever possible and smoke meats with Texas oak on The Ranch House Smoker. The Ranch House features a full bar, tap room, and an open-air patio, and is rustic but hip, local, and deeply rooted in Santa Fe’s everyday food culture! 🔥🌶️
See MorePosa's Tamale Factory & Restaurant
Posa’s El Merendero Tamale Factory is a Santa Fe institution famous for its 100-percent handmade tamales, which have been produced here since 1955. Tamales are made daily using traditional recipes and can be ordered fresh, frozen, or by the dozen. It’s a must-stop for anyone wanting to taste an authentic piece of New Mexico’s culinary heritage.  🫔
See MoreJambo Cafe
For a detour of traditional Southwestern dishes, check out Jambo Cafe. One of Santa Fe’s most beloved restaurants and winner of numerous awards, Jambo Cafe seamlessly blends African, Caribbean, and New Mexican flavors into bold, spice-forward dishes like jerk chicken, chickpea berbere stew, coconut curries, and Kenyan-style beef kabobs. The menu reflects the chef’s background in East African cuisine, with influences from the Caribbean and Southwest. Jambo Cafe is casual, vibrant, and consistently packed for a reason.
See MoreFrench Pastry Shop & Restaurant
If you’ve got your heart set on something sweet, make sure you visit the French Pastry Shop in La Fonda on the Plaza. The family-owned shop was founded by natives from France and has been serving Santa Fe since the 1970s. They are beloved for their classic French pastries made from scratch.
Favorites include both sweet and savory crepes, French classics like croque monsieur and salade Niçoise, and beautiful patisserie like éclairs and fruit tarts. Dine in this cozy shop for breakfast or lunch or take a treat to go.
See MoreSweetwater Harvest Kitchen
Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen focuses on internationally-inspired dishes using locally-sourced, clean ingredients with a strong emphasis on gluten-free and plant-forward options. The menu highlights organic produce, grass-fed meats like bison, and naturally gluten-free dishes. Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen, is gluten-free, paleo, vegan and vegetarian friendly, and is a great choice for health-conscious travelers who don't want to sacrifice flavor.
See MoreDr. Field Goods Kitchen
Farm-to-table Dr. Field Goods Kitchen is a modern café known for its New Mexico fusion. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients from small, local family farms to create a menu featuring the flavors of New Mexico, South America, Europe, and Asia. The menu includes creative entrées like Red Chile Miso Glazed Scottish Salmon, and inventive sandwiches, salads, burgers, pizza, and more.
See MoreSecond Street Brewery at The Railyard
With two Santa Fe locations, the Second Street Brewery is one of Santa Fe’s most popular brewpubs, serving award-winning house-made beers alongside a full menu of classic pub-style food with a New Mexico twist. The brewery is known for approachable ales, seasonal releases, and crowd-pleasing dishes like green chile burgers. Both locations have a laid-back atmosphere makes it a favorite with locals and visitors alike. They also have gluten-removed beers available!
The Rufina Taproom near Meow Wolf has a 4,000-square-foot taproom with a large dog-friendly patio where you can catch free live concerts by local musicians. The location also serves as the production brewery and canning line. The Railyard location is set in the heart of the bustling arts and shopping district and has a sunny patio where guests can enjoy free concerts in the summer or just relax and watch the trains pull in. The Railyard location also has ciders and wines to try.
See MoreKakawa Chocolate House
This is a must-stop for chocolate lovers! Kakawa Chocolate House specializes in artisanal chocolates and historically accurate drinking chocolates inspired by Mesoamerican and historic European traditions. Kakawa's elixir menu includes rich mixes made with cacao, spices, and chilis based on centuries-old recipes. They also have truffles, caramels, traditional French mendiants, spicy chili chocolates, solid dark chocolate bites, and unique and rare chocolate bars. Stop here for a unique and educational experience that ties chocolate to Santa Fe’s global history.  🍫
Fun fact: Kakawa is an Olmec word, meaning cacao or chocolate. The Olmecs are the first known major culture in Mesoamerica.
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