GUADALUPE / RAILYARD / DOWNTOWN AREAS

It is advisable to make a reservation

Andiamo! • 322 Garfield St., (505) 995-9595 • Andiamo’s penne with house-made lamb sausage will have you thanking the heavens for the local sheep that make it possible while enjoying a slower pace than the hustle and bustle of the nearby Railyard.

Bumble Bee’s Baja Grill • 301 Jefferson St., (505) 820-2862 • Don’t think of it as “the world’s slowest drive-thru,” think of it as an opportunity to meditate on the satisfyingly crispy skin on that whole roast chicken. Or, go simple with a handheld burrito stuffed with some of the best guac around.

Casa Chimayó • 409 W Water St., (505) 428-0391 • Take a hint from the name and try one of the Chimayó chile-based mole dishes. Those deliciously smoky peppers grown just north of the city are famous for a reason.

Capital Coal Neighborhood Eatery • 326 S Guadalupe St., (505) 772-0192 • Picture this: A glut of micro-concepts from poké queen Dakota Weiss and her biz/life partner Rich Becker. We’re talkin’ French dips, hot fried chicken, Korean fusion, big salads and, among other things, cake in a jar so good you’ll risk the cavities time and time again.

Chile Line Brewery • 204 N Guadalupe St., (505) 982-8474 • In the increasingly popular tradition of breweries and pizzerias—in this case, Lino’s Trattoria and Pizzeria next door—pairing up, Chile Line lets you enjoy appropriately spicy pies alongside drinks like the Pinche Guey IPA. Puro Santa, baby.

La Choza (likely long wait)• 905 Alarid St., (505) 982-0909 • We’ve been saying La Choza has the best pinto beans in town since we were pinto bean-sized ourselves, and we’re not stopping now. The crowds may have grown in recent years, but so has the scope of the restaurant itself—and the New Mexican food is just as authentic as ever. Don’t forget the margaritas.

Cowgirl BBQ • 319 S Guadalupe St., (505) 982-2565 • This place has Americana down to a science, from the vintage rodeo photos on the walls to the famous butternut squash casserole and near-endless rotation of live music. People love the barbecue. And can a newspaper mention the ice cream baked potato too many times? The answer is no.

Dumpling Cafe • 500 Sandoval St., (505) 780-5890 • Praise the heavens, the owners of Dumpling Tea have brought us another spot to worship at the altar of the traditional soup dumpling—and we hear this new location specifically has locals in mind, vegetarians included.

Esquina Pizza • 403 S Guadalupe St., (505) 303-3034 • The folks behind Paloma have expanded into the corner spot next door (thus the name), birthing one of the nicer pizza joints in town. Is it pricey? A little. Is it worth it? Big time.

Kohnami • 313 S Guadalupe St., (505) 984-2002 • An impressively expansive menu ranging from sashimi to sukiyaki—plus traditional Japanese floor seating that makes you feel like you’ve temporarily stepped out of the Southwest—this Guadalupe mainstay is newly renovated and firing on all cylinders.

Lino’s Trattoria and Pizzeria • 204 N Guadalupe St., Ste. B, (505) 982-8474 • Not only does Lino’s benefit from the presence of Chile Line Brewery right next door, it also boasts a mean Frank Sinatra pasta (think fettuccini Alfredo, but with mushrooms and artichoke hearts added) and a robust lineup of open mic opportunities.

Nath’s Inspired Khmer Cuisine • CHOMP Food Hall, 505 Cerrillos Road, Ste. B101, (505) 699-5974 • Chef Nath is best known for her upscale Cambodian catering, but her CHOMP spot ensures that your tea leaves salad, turmeric noodles and tom yum cravings won’t go unfulfilled.

Nuckolls Brewing • 1611 Alcaldesa St., nuckollsbrewing.com • Nuckolls Brewing has renovated the historic Nuckolls building in the Railyard, filling it with an abundance of craft beers on tap. The sustainable beer garden is a great addition and the perfect place to enjoy a brew, and we hear it’ll start serving pizza soon. The burger is GOATed, too.

Oshias • CHOMP Food Hall, 505 Cerrillos Road, Ste. B101, (505) 699-7982 • Serving up classic brick oven pies late (for Santa Fe, anyway). So for the late-night pizza cravings, this is the place to go. They also offer gluten-free options and, as of recently, a house-made hummus with an itty-bitty spice kick.

Restoration Pizza • 1607 Alcaldesa St., Ste. B, (505) 557-6672 • We’re all about the New Mexico-themed offerings at this new Bosque Brewing offshoot. The piñon nuts on that Roadrunner pie? Yes. You can also choose to forego the traditional red sauce for an herby olive oil base that is, frankly, to die for.

Santa Fe Barbeque • CHOMP Food Hall, 505 Cerrillos Road, Ste. B101, (505) 772-0946 • Classic Southern barbecue with a New Mexican twist, and yet another reason to visit Santa Fe’s ever-improving food hall.

Santa Fe Bees Restaurant • 235 N Guadalupe St., (505) 954-1008 • One of Santa Fe’s newest eateries, serving New Mexican, Mexican and authentic Salvadoran cuisines. Go for the supreme burrito and blue flautas, and don’t skimp on the crema salvadoreña or, when the mood strikes, an excellent burger.

Second Street Brewery (Railyard) • 1607 Paseo de Peralta, Ste. 10, (505) 989-3278 • Second Street’s presence has a lot to do with the hangout vibe of the Railyard, and though perennial faves like the stuffed Alien Burger and fish & chips always deliver, find specials, one-offs, themed events and, of course, plenty of those popular local suds.

Shake Foundation • 631 Cerrillos Road, (505) 988-8992 • Green chile cheeseburgers furreal. Plus, instead of milkshakes, they’re dubbed Adobe Mud Shakes here—try one with lavender ice cream and shoestring fries for al fresco dipping.

Social Kitchen & Bar • Sage Inn, 725 Cerrillos Road, (505) 982-5952 • Self-described “South by Southwest” comfort food classics, with an emphasis on live trivia nights and oversized cocktails.

Tomasita’s •(MAKE RESERVATIONS) 500 S Guadalupe St., (505) 983-5721 • On the list of legendary local haunts, surely Tomasita’s deserves a spot near the top. Eat all the New Mexican you can handle or belly up to the full bar—that means margaritas—and don’t forget about the Randy Travis Plate, a dish with two porkchops named for the country musician.

Whole Hog Café • 320 S Guadalupe St., (505) 474-3375 • With so many barbecue sauce options to choose from, we highly recommend you make yourself a little flight of dipping options to alternate. And come on, that Volcano sauce they only serve at the counter is just daring you to taste it.

DOWNTOWN

El Callejón • 208 Galisteo St., (505) 983-8378 • Though some of us still miss the El Paseo bar that once lived within this space, delicious tacos and mole from the El Callejón crew absolutely soften the blow.

Del Charro Saloon • Inn of the Governors, 101 W Alameda St., (505) 954-0320 • We’ll just remind you for the bazillionth time that Del Charro has a tasty and affordable menu (the burger is particularly beloved) and that when you order a margarita, you get a shaker with the extra sips. Tequila and burger lovers, your ship has come in.

Fiesta Oaxaca • 135 W Palace Ave., Ste. 101, (505) 982-9525 • Mexican rather than New Mexican, and we’d like to think that most folks in Santa Fe know the difference. If not, expect tacos and burritos with items like barbacoa (beef), al pastor (pork) and mole. They’ve got vegetarian stuff, too!

Low ‘n Slow featuring Hawt Pizza • Hotel Chimayó, 125 Washington Ave., (505) 216-1066 • We take our lowriders in Santa Fe seriously, as you can tell by this bar’s loving tribute to the storied cars; and anecdotal evidence suggests Hawt makes some of the best pizza in local history.

The Matador • 116 W Water St. • Follow the dulcet tones of punk rock down the stairs to one of Santa Fe’s most beloved dive bars. They pour ‘em strong here, so make sure to pace yourself.

Plaza Café • 54 Lincoln Ave., (505) 982-1664 • It’s not just a restaurant—if you grew up in Santa Fe, you’ve probably consumed enough Plaza Café food for it to be a permanent part of your epigenetic makeup by now. Before we get all emotional, though, let us just say: blue corn breakfast enchiladas. That is all.

 

Pranzo Italian Grill • 321 Johnson St., (505) 984-2645 • The former Sanbusco staple resurrected by chef Steven Lemon won over our hearts with dishes like the paglia e fieno (with olive oil, garlic, peas, prosciutto di Parma and parmesan cream) and some of the tastiest pizzas in town.

 

San Francisco Street Bar & Grill • 50 E San Francisco St., (505) 982-2644 • Back and better than ever, this Plaza institution boasts a great bar and classic pub fare with a taste of Santa Fe. Don’t leave without trying the best grilled cheese in town.

 

Upper Crust Pizza • 329 Old Santa Fe Trail, (505) 982-0000 • The top echelon of downtown pizza can be eaten on the premises or delivered to much of Santa Fe. Make sure green chile is among your chosen toppings and note the unique crust flavor and unexpectedly fresh and delicious salads.