Santa Fe is often referred to as the „city different” because of its unique lifestyle, characterized by a convergence of cultures – Spanish, Mexican, Indigenous and Wild West. As the food service scene draws on these historical influences, it continues to evolve, driven by newcomers who keep arriving to enjoy the art, architecture, and proximity to natural wonders and the high desert.
Meals in Santa Fe range from established fine-dining restaurants where you can dress up to cozy spots where you arrive in hiking shorts after a day in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. No matter where you go, the whole city is permeated with the laid-back, doable attitude of the Southwest. The city is also the gateway to the surrounding northern New Mexico communities, providing a base for visitors to explore Chimayo, Madrid, Taos, and Española, each with their own culinary adventures.
Whether you’re looking for iconic home-style New Mexican cuisine or a highly desolate version of global cuisine, City Different has it. Here are the 21 must-eat dishes in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Price key
$ = under $ 10
$$ = $ 10- $ 20
$$$ = $ 30- $ 40
$$$$ = over $ 40
Note: A number of Santa Fe restaurants have resumed dine-in service, but their inclusion here should not be taken as an endorsement for food as there are still safety concerns. Studies suggest that there is a lower risk of exposure outdoors, but the level of risk when dining on the patio depends on restaurants adhering to strict social distancing and other safety guidelines. For the latest information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit Santa Fe City Covid-19 Information Page.