Santa Fe, New Mexico, with its rich history and vibrant arts scene, has always been a destination for those wanting an immersive cultural experience. The city's culinary landscape has blossomed in recent years, offering diverse dining options that cater to the sophisticated palate. Over the last 18 months, several new restaurants have opened their doors or found their footing and a loyal following as one of the area's latest culinary hits. Each of these excellent eateries brings unique flavors and innovative dishes to the city's already impressive food scene. Below, we offer our recs for the best new restaurants in Santa Fe.
Alkemē
227 Don Gaspar Avenue
Alkemē has quickly become one of Santa Fe's most talked-about dining destinations. In 2024, this innovative restaurant was a Best New Restaurant semifinalist in the James Beard Foundation Awards, a testament to its excellence and creativity. Adopting a "Culture-to-Table" aesthetic, the fusing of Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Korean, and Hawaiian Pacific Rim cuisines in the middle of New Mexico has proven a resounding success. The restaurant's ambiance is calm, simple, and unpretentious, allowing diners space to converse and savor meticulously crafted plates of bao buns, succulent braised short ribs, crispy turmeric cod, and Vietnamese crepes a la carte or via one of three tasting menus.
Casa Bonita
1814 Second Street
Occupying the old Second Street Brewery building, Casa Bonita Restaurant opened in early March and was an instant hit among those who regularly dine in Santa Fe's Triangle District. Four months later, the acclaim continues to grow. Specializing in New Mexican cuisine, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, the food is excellent and a welcome addition to the city's culinary scene. The restaurant's interior is cozy and welcoming, offering a significant update and ambiance to a historic building that sat vacant for far too long. Don't miss Mariachi Sundays, where a live Mariachi band serenades the brunch crowd from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Mille
451 W Alameda Street
Santa Fe is fortunate to claim a handful of French-focused eateries, but one of the best is also one of the newest, the year-old French cafe and bakery Mille. Located at the corner of W Alameda and Water Street, Mille has quickly become a beloved spot in Santa Fe, showcasing many French staples, including daily, made-from-scratch croissants, pastries, and muffins. For those seeking more than just a grab-and-go, Mille is a spirited spot for the brunch and lunch crowd (the cafe closes at 3:00 PM with last seatings at 2:20 PM) with a variety of crepes, salads, and sandwiches. And, should you need to satisfy a sweet craving, Mille has plenty, including cream puffs, eclairs, macarons, tarts, and made-to-order cakes.
Restoration Pizza
1607 Alcaldesa Street, Suite B
In early 2023, Albuquerque's best gourmet pizza made its way to the Santa Fe Railyard, opening its doors and pizza ovens to a community itching to up its pizza game. A little over a year later, the outstanding Restoration Pizza made an indelible mark on Santa Fe foodies. From their selection of classic pizzas to the gourmet signature offerings, which include such artistry as the La Luz (mozzarella, bacon crumble, spinach, and ricotta), the Roadrunner (basil pesto sauce, mozzarella, grilled chicken, and pine nuts), and the Green Chile Cheeseburger (self-explanatory), this transplanted pizza joint is on its way to beloved community favorite status.
Santa Fe Bees Restaurant
235 N Guadalupe Street
While authentic New Mexican, Mexican, or Salvadoran cuisine is not difficult to find in Santa Fe, finding all three under one roof is more challenging. Santa Fe Bees Restaurant, on N Guadalupe Street just to the northwest of downtown, addresses this discrepancy with an array of outstanding, flavorful dishes, including wonderful flautas and a burrito that quickly gained a loyal following as one of the region's best. The restaurant also cooks an impressive breakfast menu for those seeking to start their day with an absolutely perfect Huevos Rancheros.
Escondido
1101 Paseo Corazon
Tentative opening early August 2024
While still a month from its soft opening, our final restaurant is worth a mention thanks to the lofty expectations heaped upon it. Few restaurants in recent memory have the pre-opening hype of Escondido. In the works since early 2022, the anticipation stems from this being the debut restaurant for three-time Food Network champion Chef Fernando Ruiz. So hotly anticipated, patrons are snapping up memberships to Escondido, with one of the perks being an early invitation to sample, pre-opening, the locally sourced cuisine inspired by Coastal, Central, and Northern Mexico. For those also exploring luxury living in the area, Santa Fe luxury real estate offers a perfect complement to the exquisite dining experience.
Ready to Explore Even More of Santa Fe?
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