Best things to do in Santa Fe

Our Local Expert Says:

Thanks to its central location right on the Plaza, the aptly-named diner is always packed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. In a town that gets mediocre reviews for service, the Plaza is some of the friendliest and most efficient in town, consistently. Sit at the counter for a milkshake—the waitress will call you darlin'—and get your weather forecast on the bulletin board on the wall. Great chicken mole, tortilla burgers, and Greek salads. It's all good here!

Description:

Santa Fe's best example of diner-style eating, this cafe has excellent food in a bright and friendly atmosphere right on the plaza. A restaurant since the turn of the 20th century, it's been owned by the Razatos family since 1947. The decor has changed only enough to stay comfortable and clean, with red upholstered banquettes, Art Deco tile, and a soda fountain-style service counter. Service is always quick and conscientious, and only during the heavy tourist seasons will you have to wait long for a table. Breakfasts are excellent and large, and the hamburgers and sandwiches at lunch and dinner are good. I also like the soups and New Mexican dishes, such as the bowl of green-chile stew, or, if you're more adventurous, the pumpkin posole. Check out the Greek dishes, such as vegetable moussaka or beef and lamb gyros. Wash it down with an Italian soda, in flavors from vanilla to Amaretto. Alternatively, you can have a shake, a piece of coconut cream pie, or Plaza Cafe's signature dessert, cajeta (apple and pecan pie with Mexican caramel). Beer and wine are available.

Our Local Expert Says:

The optional audio headset is well worth it. Next door the four star O’Keefe Café is one of the top three in town. Small and intimate, with a good wine selection. Reservations: 505.946.1065 Lunch, brunch and dinner - try Saturday brunch.

Description:

The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, inaugurated in July 1997, contains the largest collection of O'Keeffes in the world: currently 1,149 paintings, drawings, and sculptures, and 1,851 works by other artists of note. It's the largest museum in the United States dedicated solely to an internationally known woman artist. You can see such remarkable O'Keeffes as Jimson Weed, painted in 1932, and Evening Star No. VI, from 1917. The museum presents special exhibitions that are either devoted entirely to O'Keeffe's work or combine examples of her art with works by her American modernist contemporaries. My favorite in recent years brought together works of O'Keeffe and photographer Ansel Adams. The rich and varied collection adorns the walls of a cathedral-like, 13,000-square-foot space -- a former Baptist church with adobe walls. O'Keeffe's images are tied inextricably to local desert landscapes. She first visited New Mexico in 1929 and returned for extended periods from the '20s through the '40s. In 1949 she moved here permanently. An excellent film at the museum depicts her life.

Description:

Following Georgia O'Keeffe's appreciation for sparse interiors, this restaurant has refined minimalist decor, with much more elaborate food. It's a place of clean lines and innovative color use. Large black-and-white photographs of O'Keeffe stirring stew and serving tea adorn the walls. This is a good place to stop in between museums or, in the warm months, to sit on the open patio and watch the summer scene pass by. The food is excellent, but for a nice dinner (in winter), the atmosphere lags behind that of places in a similar price range, such as Santacafé and Geronimo. The menu is eclectic, with a good balance of chicken, lamb, fish, and vegetarian dishes, some in salad and sandwich form (at lunch), along with more elaborate entree offerings. Most recently for lunch I had the crab cakes with chipotle aioli. Dinner might start with a crispy shrimp and watercress salad and move onto fennel-crusted halibut with Parissienne potatoes. Finish with a coconut crème brûlée. There's also a children's menu. The restaurant has a notable wine list and offers periodic wine tasting menus.

Description:

The Farrell Fischoff gallery will interest all art aficionados. From contemporary art, to sculptures and paintings, to watercolors and mixed media, this gallery features the eclectic work of emerging artists. Works of modern artists are displayed as well. The hours of this small gallery are by appointment only, so call ahead if you'd like a viewing.

Description:

Many rank the Santa Fe Opera second only to the Metropolitan Opera of New York in the United States. Established in 1957, it consistently attracts famed conductors, directors, and singers. At the height of the season, the company is 500 strong. It's noted for its performances of the classics, little-known works by classical European composers, and American premieres of 21st-century works. The theater, completed for the 1998 season, sits on a wooded hilltop 7 miles north of the city, off US 84/285. It's partially open-air, with open sides. A controversial structure, this new theater replaced the original, built in 1968, but preserved the sweeping curves attuned to the contour of the surrounding terrain. At night, the lights of Los Alamos can still be seen in the distance under clear skies.

The 8-week, 40-performance opera season runs from late June through late August. Highlights for 2009 include the world premiere of The Letter, composed by Paul Moravec, the first performance at the Santa Fe Opera of Gluck's Alceste, and new productions of Verdi's La Traviata and Donizetti's The Elixir of Love. All performances begin at 9pm, until the end of July when performances start at 8:30pm and...

Description:

Just across the street from the bosque-shaded Santa Fe River sits the Inn on the Alameda, a cozy stop for those who like the services of a hotel with the intimacy of an inn. Built in 1986, with additions over the years, it's now a little like a village, with a number of buildings and casitas. All are pueblo-style adobe, ranging in age, but most were built in the late 1980s. The owner, Joe Schepps, appreciates traditional Southwestern style; he's used red brick in the dining area and Mexican equipae (wicker) furniture in the lobby, as well as thick vigas and shiny latillas in a sitting area set around a grand fireplace. The rooms follow a similar good taste, some with refrigerators, CD players, safes, and kiva fireplaces. All rooms have comfortable beds, good linens, robes, and well planned bathrooms with tile. The trees surrounding the inn -- cottonwoods and aspens -- add a bit of a rural feel to the property. If you're an art shopper, this is an ideal spot because it's a quick walk to Canyon Road. A full-service bar is open nightly. Breakfast is delicious, with bakery items and always a hot dish.

Description:

Nidah means 'your life' in native American. Located at the Eldorado Hotel, the spa offers treatments which are connected to the native American Medicine Wheel. The directions north, south, west and center mean restoration, vitality, purification and harmony respectively. Fresh plants and herbs (aloe, desert clay, juniper and blue corn) found in New Mexico are sourced for each of the treatments as also are semi-precious stones like turquoise, which have healing properties for the mind and body. The spa offers a Vichy shower, salon services, caviar manicure and pedicure, salt scrubs, massages, body wraps, facials, and head to toe treatments. Appointments are recommended.

Description:

Offering culinary tours of Santa Fe and the surrounding area, the Santa Fe School of Cooking has earned national awards for its light-hearted approach to cooking instruction. The Farmers Market class is a day trip to the Santa Fe Farmers Market, where you learn to select the best produce. Then, back at class you will be shown award-winning methods for preparing a mouth-watering salsa. The school also offers a six-day tour of Northern New Mexico's villages and traditional cooking.

Our Local Expert Says:

St. Francis Cathedral can be enjoyed for five minutes or two hours; it depends on your time and spirit.

Description:

Just east of the Santa Fe Plaza lies one of North America's oldest Catholic churches: Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. The basilica dates back to 1598 when Franciscan friars entered what is now New Mexico in the company of Spanish colonists from Mexico City. Archbishop Lamy commissioned this French Romanesque cathedral in 1869, and it took more than 15 years to complete. It is still maintained by the archdiocese of Santa Fe. This long-standing landmark houses many religious relics including the chalice used by Lamy and the oldest Madonna in the United States. Daily masses are held in the Cathedral and the public is welcome for tours and prayer. Outside the huge front doors is Our Lady of Conquistadora, the oldest representation of the Virgin Mary in the United States. Admission is free.

Our Local Expert Says:

Pasqual's gets raves as the best breakfast spot in town, by both locals and tourists alike. The cozy downtown restaurant oozes charm; try their smoked trout hash. The line's usually out the door, but if you're willing to elbow up to the community table, you can usually score a seat sooner.

Description:

For a taste of the flavors and atmosphere of a Mexican Cafe, this is a fantastic place to eat. Do not let the lines out front deter you. They are an indication of the special treat that awaits you inside. This award-winning cafe serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. For breakfast the Fresh Char-grilled Trout or Huevos Rancheros are delicious. A lunchtime favorite is the Grilled Salmon Burrito. The dinner menu includes entrees like Niman Ranch Filet Mignon, Chile Rubbed Salmon Filet and a wonderful combination plate.

Our Local Expert Says:

A reliable local bar, with big-screen TVs for sports, a decent menu (wings, burgers, Cajun chicken sandwich, etc), live music on the weekends, and a roomy pool hall upstairs, the Catamount is a sure thing.

Description:

The post-college crowd hangs out at this bar, where live rock and blues music play on weekends. Food is served until 11pm, and there is also a billiards room.

Description:

World-renowned chef and cookbook author Mark Miller put this place on the map decades ago. Now under new ownership, it has gained new popularity as a place for innovative food in a festive environment. The atmosphere blends warm colors and creative lighting to make for a memorable meal. The waitstaff is efficient and friendly. The menu changes seasonally, so the specific dishes I mention may not be available. Past favorites have included sautéed Italian porcinis or prawns over corn cakes with chipotle butter and guacamole. For a main course look for delights such as pan seared white miso halibut with roasted lobster jus, wasabi mashed potatoes, and braised baby bok choy, or the "Cowboy Cut," a rib-eye with "borracho" beans, red chile onion rings, and roasted fingerling potatoes. You can order drinks from the full bar or wine by the glass.

Coyote Café has an adjunct establishment. In summer, the place to be seen is La Nueva Cantina, where light Mexican fare and cocktails are served on a festively painted terrace. Try the guacamole and chips, the crispy calamari strips, or the jalapeno rellenos with buttermilk roasted garlic sauce.

Description:

Over the course of this trail, there is an 800 ft elevation change of mostly vertical relief. In fall, the aspen trees are awash with gold, making this trail a stupendous way to revel in autumn's glory. The length of this hike can be extended by taking one of a myriad of trails intersecting with it.

Our Local Expert Says:

Tucked into a pretty courtyard on Palace Avenue, the Shed is a favorite for New Mexican cuisine and margaritas. Instead of sopapillas, they serve garlic french bread with their entrees—the best of which include green-chile chicken enchiladas and pollo adobo. Small, low-ceiled rooms and corner fireplaces (kivas) give the building great Santa Fe ambience.

Description:

This longtime locals' favorite is so popular that during lunch lines often form outside. Half a block east of the plaza, a luncheon institution since 1953, it occupies several rooms and the patio of a rambling hacienda that was built in 1692. Festive folk art adorns the doorways and walls. The food is delicious, some of the best in the state, and a compliment to traditional Hispanic and Pueblo cooking. The red chile cheese enchilada is renowned in Santa Fe. Tacos and burritos are good, too. The green-chile stew is a local favorite. The Shed's Joshua Carswell has added vegetarian and low-fat Mexican foods to the menu, as well as a variety of soups and salads and grilled chicken and steak. Don't leave without trying the mocha cake, possibly the best dessert you'll ever eat. In addition to wine and a number of beers, there's full bar service. The cantina style bar is a fun place to schmooze, and the brick patio is well shaded.