Santa Fe is often dubbed the “City Different” for its unique lifestyle, formed by a convergence of cultures — Spanish, Mexican, Indigenous, and Wild West. While the food scene draws on those historic influences, it is also evolving all the time, energized by newcomers who arrive constantly to enjoy the city’s art, architecture, and proximity to natural wonders and the high desert.
Meals in Santa Fe range from established fine-dining restaurants where you can get dressed up, to leisurely spots where you can arrive in hiking shorts after a day in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. No matter where you go, though, the entire city is suffused with the laid-back, can-do attitude of the Southwest. The city is also the gateway to the surrounding communities of northern New Mexico, offering a home base for visitors to explore Chimayo, Madrid, Taos, and Española, which all offer culinary adventures of their own.
Whether you’re looking for iconic home-style New Mexican cuisine or a high desert take on global cuisine, the City Different has it. Here are the 21 essential eats in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Note: The inclusion of restaurants offering dine-in service should not be taken as an endorsement for dining inside. Studies indicate a lower exposure risk to COVID-19 outdoors, but the level of risk is contingent on social distancing and other safety guidelines. Check with each restaurant for up-to-date information on dining offerings. For updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the City of Santa Fe COVID-19 info site.
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