The 22 Best Restaurants in Santa Fe, New Mexico
The best restaurants to seek out in Santa Fe, according to a local dining expert
Sante Fe is the oldest capital city in the U.S., and its historic culture — forged over generations by Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and American communities — has earned it the nickname the City Different. That legacy of cultural exchange is still alive and well today, especially in the restaurant scene. There are plenty of must-visit spots for classic New Mexican food made from scratch, dishes like carne adovada and plump sopapillas that warm the soul. But the city is also full of restaurants that blend influences from around the world, resulting in items like green chile cheese dosas or carnitas with date mole.
If you’re interested in the region’s famous chile culture, come in the fall, when you can guarantee restaurants are using the freshest peppers available and wisps of smoke hover over roasters set up in front of grocery stores. Just remember: The green chiles, on average, tend to be hotter, but you’ll live. When in doubt, just say you want “Christmas.” Servers will know what you mean.
No matter where I go in the world, nowhere is quite like Santa Fe. Not Mexico, its distant cousin with its own culinary traditions. Not European cities that lack that distinct chile spice. Not fast-paced Southwestern counterparts, which can’t match Santa Fe’s slight slopes, piñon trees, or turquoise sunrises. It really is a City Different.
In this latest refresh, we’ve revamped our write-ups to include even more relevant info for diners, including a rough range of pricing for each destination — ranging from $ for quick, inexpensive meals with dishes largely under $10, to $$$$ for places where entrees exceed $30.
Karen Fischer is an independent writer, editor, and reporter who specializes in food writing that highlights desert communities, aquaculture, and culinary traditions of the American Southwest and Gulf South. Additional contributions by Justin De La Rosa and Willy Carleton.
