The Infatuation: 15 Best Restaurants in Santa Fe
Experience the best Restaurants in Santa Fe
Santa Fe is home to pueblo-style architecture, a countless amount of turquoise jewelry, and an exciting restaurant scene teeming with enchilada excellence. New Mexico’s capital doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the Southwestern pastime of stuffing green chile into pretty much everything: tacos, burgers, or pupusas, you name it. You’ll find classic cheese-packed burritos along with other exciting things like white truffle masala dosas, flaky strudel perfected at 7,000 above sea level, and the largest collection of Japanese sake within miles. Whether you need a quick lunch or nicer dinner spot for your art-dealing grandparent, we’ve got you covered.
Esquina
Santa Fe’s best pizza spot is also perfect for a casual date. Esquina churns out wood-fired pies flexing perfectly-blistered crusts and smokey cheese showered with toppings like truffled pecorino and Calabrian chile. Here’s a foolproof order on a second or third date: a bottle of red, the caesar salad, and the hot pepper pie punched up with ‘nduja and two kinds of peppers. It’s a good amount of food for two people that makes for a nice but not-too-fancy pizza party spent swapping slices and whatever embarrassing stories you’re finally ready to share. The staff here is Bacchus-level passionate about grapes, so expect storytime after asking for a skin contact suggestion.
Paloma
For a big night out with great food and drinks, make plans for Paloma. We love catching up with friends while splitting this Railyard restaurant’s underrated vegetarian small plates. Standouts include the roasted carrots dolloped in a peanut-pistachio salsa macha and the El Jardin quesadilla, stuffed with buttery queso Oaxaca melted over delicata squash and nasturtium blooms. You’ll find other groups on the heated patio enjoying cocktails like the michelada verde or chamomile lychee martini. People tease that Santa Fe doesn’t have any young people, but the scene here proves otherwise.